These curricula are a resource for coaches at the partner clubs, which has allowed Sounders Academy to supplement the quality of player development in each of these key markets.Īdded Lock: “If we’ve been able to raise the standards and coaching at these partner clubs, that’s fantastic. In terms of curriculum sharing, the Sounders Academy staff has created dozens of highly-detailed training sessions for the U-8 to U-12 age groups - each contains diagrams of specific drills with instructions, coaching points and key questions to ask players, fortifying the kids’ understanding of key soccer principles - that aim to develop technical, creative, autonomous and intelligent players. Youth National Team call-ups in the past two years. In fact, there are 33 players from Partner and Affiliate clubs currently on Sounders Academy teams, with seven of these prospects receiving U.S. With prospects like Bwana, Marlon Vargas (Central California Aztecs), Ray Serrano (Spokane Sounders) and Sam Rogers (Eastside FC) joining the Rave Green pathway from Partner Clubs, the efficacy of this initiative is clear to see. This allows him to identify talent, but also to form relationships with all of the coaches so they can contact him with any player recommendations they may have.” “He does a good job of going to these clubs and running field sessions on a monthly basis. “Henry Brauner, our Head of Recruitment, is really involved with the Partner Clubs,” said Lock. Sounders Academy staff members regularly visit and run training sessions for Club Partner teams across various age groups, allowing them to systematically scout and positively impact the development of players, which has led to more informed and holistic evaluations. After playing in the academy, S2 and the University of Washington, he reached MLS. Rookie midfielder Handwalla Bwana joined Sounders Academy from Official Partner Seattle United. We’ve been able to do all that alongside our partners.” “It’s enabled us to make more and better informed decisions, to have a sense of togetherness, and, ultimately, to raise standards of play. “We couldn’t be happier with the Club Partners that we’ve made so far,” said Sounders FC Director of Player Development and Academy Director Marc Nicholls. READ: International clubs interested in Sounders Academy talentįast-forward three years, and Sounders FC now has six Official Youth Partners - Seattle United, Twins City Soccer Association (North Carolina), Spokane SC Shadow, Eastside FC, Central Washington Sounders (Yakima), and Northwest United (Bellingham) - as well as two Youth Affiliate Clubs, PacNW (Tukwila and Renton) and Central California Aztecs.All of this helped charter a pathway for Seattle United players into the Academy and, in the case of Homegrown Player Handwalla Bwana, up to the First Team. Back in 2015, Seattle Sounders FC announced its first ever Official Youth Club Partner, Seattle United.Īs a result of this symbiotic relationship, the Sounders shared training curriculums, coaching education, youth programming, on-field training sessions with Sounders Academy coaches and other club resources.
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