FOUR NEW CLUBS TO JOIN BOYS' DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY FOR 2019-20 SEASON

One Hundred and Fifty Clubs, 535 Teams Will Compete in 13th Season of Boys' Academy

CHICAGO (March 7, 2019)- As part of its mission to impact everyday environments to develop world-class players, the U.S. Soccer Boys' Development Academy will expand its membership for the 2019-20 season with the addition of four new clubs and the introduction of new age-group teams at 14 clubs, bringing the Boys' Academy to 150 total clubs that field 535 teams.

Two MLS clubs, Inter Miami CF and Austin FC, highlight the new additions. Both Academies will be fully-funded, offering cost-free opportunities for elite players. These two Academies will lay a foundation for their clubs' first teams before they begin play in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Already a member of the Girls' Academy, SC del Sol will expand its programming to the Boys' Academy at the U-13 and U-14 levels, while Real Salt Lake - Arizona will join the Academy as an affiliate of Real Salt Lake's successful Academy in Herriman, Utah.

2019-20 BOYS' DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY CLUB ADDITIONS

Club Location Age Group(s) Conference Austin FC Austin, Texas U-14 Central Inter Miami CF Miami, Fla. U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16/17, U-18/19 East Real Salt Lake - Arizona Tempe, Ariz. U-13, U-14 West SC del Sol Phoenix, Ariz. U-13, U-14 West

ACADEMY CLUBS ADDING AGE GROUPS FOR 2019-20 SEASON

Club Location New Age Group(s) Conference Cedar Stars Academy - Bergen Carlstadt, N.J. U-18/19 East LA Galaxy San Diego Carlsbad, Calif. U-16/17 West Los Angeles Football Club Los Angeles, Calif. U-16/17 West Los Angeles Premier Futbol Club La Cañada Flintridge, Calif. U-14 West Met Oval Queens, N.Y. U-18/19 East Minnesota United FC Minneapolis, Minn. U-16/17 Central Murrieta Surf Murrieta, Calif. U-14 West New York Soccer Club Purchase, N.Y. U-18/19 East Queen City Mutiny Charlotte, N.C. U-15 East San Antonio FC San Antonio, Texas U-16/17 Central Tampa Bay Rowdies Tampa Bay, Fla. U-16/17 East Total Futbol Academy Los Angeles, Calif. U-15 West Valeo FC Newton, Mass. U-13 & U-14 East Ventura County Fusion Ventura County, Calif. U-13 & U-14 West

New clubs and new age-group teams were selected for admission to the Academy following a thorough review process by U.S. Soccer based on a number of factors, including:

Academy leadership and quality of coaching staff

Desire to embrace Development Academy philosophy and core values

Infrastructure and investment of resources

Player production history, player pool depth and geographic location

Market analysis

"The opportunity for the current Academy clubs to expand their pathway for players is a result of the daily work of leaders and staff to create optimal environments," said Jared Micklos, U.S. Soccer Youth National Teams Director. "The addition of a new market in Phoenix, Ariz. and two new cost-free MLS Academies will drive development at the highest level and create more opportunities for top talents."



In addition to the new clubs, 14 current Academy clubs will add new age-group teams for the 2019-20 season. After fielding teams up to the U-16/17 level last year, Cedar Stars Academy - Bergen, Met Oval, and New York Soccer Club will expand to U-18/19 and offer Academy programming at all age groups. Los Angeles Football Club and Minnesota United FC began their Academies at younger age groups, built them up year-by-year, and will expand to U-16/17 in the coming season. Similarly, LA Galaxy San Diego, San Antonio FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies will field U-16/17 teams in 2019-20. Queen City Mutiny and Total Futbol Academy will add U-15 teams after competing at the U-13 and U-14 levels this season, while Los Angeles Premier Futbol Club and Murrieta Surf will add U-14 teams. Valeo FC and Ventura County Fusion only had teams at the U-12 age group this year but will expand to the U-13 and U-14 levels for the coming season.

BOYS' DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY BY THE NUMBERS

2018-19 2019-20 Age Groups Clubs Age Groups Clubs U-13 132 U-13 137 U-14 127 U-14 135 U-15 90 U-15 93 U-16/17 82 U-16/17 88 U-18/19 78 U-18/19 82 Teams: 509 Teams: 535

At the start of the 2019-20 Boys' Academy season, the following age eligibility dates will be in effect:

U-18/19: Players born Jan. 1, 2001 or later

U-16/17: Players born Jan. 1, 2003 or later

U-15: Players born Jan. 1, 2005 or later

U-14: Players born Jan. 1, 2006 or later

U-13: Players born Jan. 1, 2007 or later

The expansion of the Girls' Academy to 71 clubs that encompass 342 teams was announced last month. The 2019-20 regular season and event schedule will be released by June 1, 2019.

ABOUT THE ACADEMY

Following a comprehensive review of elite player development in the United States and around the world, U.S. Soccer created the Development Academy in 2007, subsequently growing the program year over year. In Fall 2017, the Academy expanded its programming to include a Girls' Development Academy.

The Academy focuses on positively impacting everyday club environments to maximize youth player development across the country. The Academy's philosophy is based on increased training and fewer but more meaningful games using international rules of competition.

Entering its 13th year in 2019-20, the Academy season will be comprised of teams across five age groups in the Boys' program: U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16/17 and U-18/19, and five age groups in the Girls' program: U-14, U-15, U-16, U-17 and U-18/19.



