The Houston Dynamo and Chicago Fire have joined DC United, Chivas USA and the New York Red Bulls as teams that can now sign players who have graduated from their youth academies to their senior rosters, MLS sources told SBI on Monday.
The Dynamo and Fire have submitted lists of players who have spent two years in their respective teams youth programs, with both teams having established programs for the required two years. There is no word yet on whether either Houston or Chicago is intending to sign any youth academy players before the start of the 2008 season.
Houston and Chicago bring the number of MLS teams that can sign youth academy players to five. New England and Toronto are the only established MLS teams that still do not have youth academies in place but both are in the process of trying to establish programs that will launch during the 2008 season.
Share your thoughts on this news below.
The Revs have a “Academy” program which is little more than a area summer camp for kids and once in a while for highschoolers. They are not associated with any of the premier teams in the area. http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/YouthSoccer/
Its really a shame there are a lot of good youth clubs around and the area would benefit if they actually put a real youth development program together.
This is exactly what’s needed in MLS. I’m looking forward to TFC establishing a system around the GTA… should be great.
I’m psyched. If you had told me around 1990 that in less than two decades there would be American soccer clubs with real youth academies I’d be extremely and pleasantly surprised.
This is real good. I this kid in the Fire’s system who I saw play for his high school team is a REALLY good player. He just joined and he’s only 15 so give him a couple years and I think he can do extremely well.
Toronto FC has announced its youth program and has started accepting registrations for tryouts.
I thought the Revs had a system already. Or was that they were simply sponsoring some local leagues around the NE area?
Great news!
So at least for every 5 god awful decisions the league makes they make 1 good one. 😉
exciting news