Columbus Crew officially announce U-13/14 Dev. Academy team, expand into Pickerington, Ohio
Crew Soccer Academy announced on Thursday that it has added a U-13/14 boys team to the Crew Soccer Academy player development system, becoming the first fully funded program offered to this age group in the state of Ohio. Simultaneously, Crew Juniors, the Columbus Crew’s youth development system, and Pickerington Area Soccer Association also announced a formal partnership to form Crew Juniors Pickerington. Further details of both announcements were not disclosed.
The newest Crew Soccer Academy U-13/14 squad will compete in the highest youth competitive platform in the country – U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy – which is adding the new U-13/14 level beginning fall of 2013.
“We are extremely excited to introduce our new Crew Soccer Academy U13/14s this fall,” said Andrew Arthurs, Columbus’ senior vice president of soccer business development and Crew Juniors executive director. “It is certainly a critical stage in a player’s development, and we know that U.S. Soccer’s standards and expectations have clearly made a difference in the older Development Academy age groups over the past five years.
“Our CSA U-13/14 head coach, James Field, has already been hard at work with these age groups by offering more frequent training, fewer but more meaningful matches, and a true focus on player development. We look forward to having this fully funded level joining our CSA program this fall.”
Crew Soccer Academy is a charter member of the USSDA and is one of the country’s most decorated youth academies, producing eight professional players and 19 players who have been called into United States youth national teams since 2008. The U-13/14, U-15/16 and U-17/18 levels within the USSDA will provide the top opportunities, exposure and levels of play for players born from 1995-2000.
One of the few fully funded programs (across all three age groups) in the United States, Crew Soccer Academy is the only such program in the state of Ohio. Interested players should visit http://www.thecrewyouth.com for CSA U13/14 tryout information.
The partnership with Crew Juniors Pickerington provides families in surrounding communities an outstanding local option to be connected with one of the most comprehensive youth soccer models in Major League Soccer and the nation. With the partnership, the local Crew Juniors system will now serve more than 1,500 families.
“We are very excited to welcome PASA as a key partner within our Crew Youth system,” said Arthurs.
“We have seen first-hand the enhanced opportunities that building comprehensive relationships with local youth organizations provides to the communities that they serve. Adding a like-minded partner like PASA will allow us to help them deliver a first class experience to the residents of Pickerington, while welcoming them into a youth system that doesn’t have limits when local players are ready for higher levels.”
Located in Pickerington, Ohio, PASA Select Soccer was formed in the fall of 1972 for the sole purpose of providing children an opportunity to play, learn and enjoy the sport in the Pickerington community. PASA owns and maintains its own soccer specific facility, one of the finest in Central Ohio. Through the years, hundreds of dedicated volunteers have kept that vision alive by sharing their time, effort and talent.
Crew Juniors Pickerington will offer comprehensive, top quality and local programming to all levels of players, and will now also provide a pathway to the highest levels of youth soccer in the country when players are ready for those opportunities.
