The club soccer teams at the Iredell County Recreation Department now have a feeder program in place. The United Soccer Academy, which offers programs for youth players, is putting the finishing touches on its facility in Mooresville.??
?It?s been difficult to get it off the ground, but we are finally there now,? said John Curtis, the director of youth development at ICRD soccer.
The idea is for the academy in Mooresville to funnel its young players to ICRD?s club teams instead of joining clubs in Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Huntersville or elsewhere outside of Iredell County.
?You know how good Lake Norman (high school) soccer is, and if you go over there, half of their kids don?t play (for a club) in Iredell County,? said Bobby Gordon, United Soccer Academy?s director. ?They don?t play here locally, and ICRD is not known because it?s a recreation department.?
There are no official ties between USA and ICRD soccer, and students at the academy are not required to join club teams at ICRD. Curtis said he hopes the use of Premier UK soccer coaches at USA and ICRD soccer will entice players to move from one program to the other.
?It can benefit (ICRD soccer) because of the younger ages,? said Rick Tallent, president of ICRD soccer. ?Between the ages of 7 and 10, that is when a kid, in any sport, probably learns the most knowledge about the sport, and definitely with the training when they come of age to join ICRD, they already have the basic skills and fundamentals.?
The academy emphasizes skill development instead of winning.
?There is plenty of time for winning later on,? Tallent said.
USA offers classes in five age groups from ages 3 to 12. The academy, located on Raceway Drive in Mooresville, had its grand opening Friday and is in its first week of classes. It has six 3-on-3 outdoor soccer fields and an indoor field.
The youth academy is part of a new direction at ICRD, which does not offer competitive youth programs to players less than 10 years old. The club brought in Andy Thompson as its director of coaching as it tries to get to a new level with its competitive club teams. Thompson has worked with Premier UK for two years and is certified to coach by the UEFA, the governing body of European soccer.?
Curtis is also familiar with European soccer. He made 19 appearances from 1997 to 2000 for Manchester United in the Barclay?s Premier League in England. He is also licensed to coach by the UEFA.
??We are trying to make a big push with ICRD,? Curtis said. ?What we would like to do is have the kids go straight to ICRD and join the Classic and Challenge programs.
?(USA wants to) keep the talented local kids within the county and to get to the stage where instead of attracting the best kids to go elsewhere, to get their best kids (from outside Iredell) to come here.?
Tallent said ICRD soccer will still offer its recreational soccer programs for players who do not want to join the competitive club teams.
?We?re just trying to offer every child something so no matter their background or skill level, we offer soccer (to them),? Tallent said.
For more information on the United Soccer Academy, visit the academy?s website at www.unitedsocceracademy.net. You can also visit www.icrdsoccer.com for facts on ICRD soccer.
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