What is the Development Academy?

[kingkahn1000]

i play for the Chicago Fire Academy

[sahrflex]

I play for DC United Academy its really cool

[98raza20]

Also MLS has not improved. Look at the Russian PL, formed in 2001 it is ranked very highly by fifa and eufa. look at mls formed in 1993 one of the worst top tier leagues in the world, and everything says you shouldn't. Americans have money, their sports opsessed and have a large population. Look their are 18 teams in mls, say each one got an average of 20,000 attendence a yr (18 x 20,000=360,000) so for a population of 310 million only 360,000 attended a MLS soccer match on average in a year.

[BEASTOFNEWYORK]

@98raza20 no one looks at fifa rankings, they rank slovenia ahead of the usa and mexico and are league is better then the russian league more players that play in the epl came from the mls. you also have to look at tv ratings as they move up the mls will make more money.

[aspiringfootballer]

i should send a video of myself, haha. naw. i live in a small town in canada. theres not much opportunity...

[Atomboy10]

"more training, less games" wow, seriously, how will the kids be good if they don't gain any experiences? they will notice their flaws and try to get better at it

[98raza20]

@Atomboy10 Well it in European academies. the Ajax academy who produced practicaly the entire Dutch National team, Van Persie, Van Der Sar, Wesley Sneijder, ect use it and if you want players like them you use there techniques. that's the problem with American programs, there more intrested on where the kids team is on the leaderboard/table than they are on the kids development, in england until you turn 16 academy teams don't play competitive matches it's friendly matches w/ other academies

[BEASTOFNEWYORK]

@Atomboy10 Basketball example, michael jordan the best time to improve your game is in the gym by yourself.

[soyloser10]

i truely wish i could tryout for fire academy (closest academy to me) but even still is far away from my house. if only every one had the chance to tryout for an academy team, then you would actually be able to see who is the best. i'm not saying that teams arn't good enough as it is, but other ppl who truely have what it takes to play at the highest level dont get a chance. def. agree, soccer in the US has improved. wayy more than anybody expected.

[fiffian]

This is true!USA is not a traditional soccer country but it's not dramatic,he could become it!Don't forget USA was reached the semi-finals in 1930 against 1930,and the 8th of finals against Italy(lost 1-0 anly)in 1990,quarter finals in 2002 against Germany lost 1-0 only!

USA rise on in soccer,is a certitude!And MLS growed up year after year and compet wiht Mexican teams more larger today!

USA is on the good way for becoming agreat soccer nation,believe me!

[HardyFan111]

yah i play for odyssey academy its in fresno california we r going 2 manchester england cuz we won the national cup last yr so we r going 2 go play teams from all over the world

[jdcsoccer]

I bet I could defend all of those players if you put me 1v1 with them

[adiogolycos]

There are way too many boys/mens that are overlooked and not noticed...I think USA is too large (population) to build a great national team...i know that sounds silly but look at the numbers.

USA 304mil - 0 world cup titles

BRAZIL 191mil - 5 titles

ITALY - 60mil - 4 titles

[Atlanta2NewYork]

how many play soccer ?

[fcmilsweeper9]

A lot of people play soccer in the us, but it is a far smaller amount of the population then 'traditional' soccer countries. Yes, we have 304 mil (ish) but we havnt been competing at the level we now are for more then like 5-7 years. Brazil has won titles like 50 years ago jeez.

[juvex777]

how can i get into this?

[fcmilsweeper9]

Try out for a team thats in the academy. Search Us soccer development academy at google and you can find a team around you

[sritacco]

if you think about the improvement of U.S. soccer in the past 10 years it's impressive. Some things but not all are working.

[scamersrus]

i play in this league

[XceptionelX]

I think that players these days are trying to just show off and use their skills rather then being competitive and wanting to win.

[haloMaiiFranchise]

I think watching soccer is the best way to get ur skills...watching la Ligas, EPL, italian leagues helps

[thatguyyouhopetobe]

USA is only going to be going up in the World soccer ranks in the years to come.