Barça Residential Academy in Casa Grande AZ

[Anonymous]

I mentioned in another post that my son had gone to Barça in AZ for the 20-21 school year, his junior year, and there was some interest in the experience. And then a friend in Phoenix happened to text me yesterday asking about ASU Preparatory Academy because they have an athlete in another sport considering their online program, so it’s been fresh in my mind.

I could write a LOT about the experience, which was largely colored by Covid (they worked hard to keep the boys in a “bubble”) but for now will just offer some overall thoughts about our experience with the program. Be forewarned that my perspective is that of a mom whose oldest suddenly left home in the middle of high school and is less about the soccer.

DS, then 15 and a rising junior (end of summer birthday) was offered a spot on their second team after attending a camp and tryout in summer of 2020. Remember that summer? We had no idea if there would be high school soccer that fall or even in person high school or club opportunities. (I have family in AZ which made me feel a little better about it but in truth he barely got to see any of them because of Covid restrictions.) DS was offered the spot on a Tuesday and orientation was that Friday—AZ schools start at the beginning of August. So it was a really quick decision and highly emotional and there was a lot of information we didn’t have at the time. It seemed like the best way for DS to continue to play soccer that year. He only went because of Covid and there was no way I would have been ok with him returning for his senior year.

Boarding there was a positive experience for DS, he was in a communal living environment with a large group of boys instead of spending a lot of the year doing online learning from his room. He made friends with a diverse group of boys from all over the US and a few foreign countries. Had a wonderful roommate. He liked his coaches and had constant access to trainers and nice facilities. He grew up a lot that year. Visits were really limited due to Covid and they didn’t travel out of state until spring. There were no local students on campus so it was all boys.

Education was terrible. ASU Preparatory Academy is a charter school—chartered by Arizona State University (insert ASU joke here). It’s supposed to be a college prep school but coming from a top public high school at home, DS felt school was a joke, even the classes that were supposed to be “honors.” Kids arrived with a 1.5 gpa and left with a 4.0. We didn’t have time or access to get any substantive information about the school component before we sent him down there. When I walk into our high school now with my younger kid, I still get sad about him missing out on the great teachers he would have had. Then again it was 2020-2021 and school was somewhat of a sh!tshow here too from what classmates’ parents told us that year. But his peers from home are now attending UCLA, Penn, Brown, Harvard, Rice, SLACs and our top state schools.

Soccer—DS was on the second team, which we knew going in. We were told there would be movement and opportunities to train/play with the first team but the only time we saw this happen for anyone was if there was an injury or quarantine of a first team player. (I feel like most soccer clubs tend to over-promise on this.) Our perception after the year and talking to parents whose kids stayed the next year or two was that while the second team players are good, they’re there for the fees they bring in and not a priority for recruiting or development. We NEVER got film—there were always technical issues. But DS definitely improved and came home playing at a much higher than he had been when he arrived at Barça.

The school says that all their graduates have gone pro or gotten scholarships—a lot of those scholarships are to places like Utah Valley University. Again, academics aren’t great and a lot of the boys are more focused on professional opportunities. A handful have gone to top D1 schools but that’s the exception. They do also have kids who commute for soccer from Tucson and the Phoenix area—DS didn’t get to know them as well.

It’s late so I’ll stop now but will try to answer any questions tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mentioned in another post that my son had gone to Barça in AZ for the 20-21 school year, his junior year, and there was some interest in the experience. And then a friend in Phoenix happened to text me yesterday asking about ASU Preparatory Academy because they have an athlete in another sport considering their online program, so it’s been fresh in my mind.

I could write a LOT about the experience, which was largely colored by Covid (they worked hard to keep the boys in a “bubble”) but for now will just offer some overall thoughts about our experience with the program. Be forewarned that my perspective is that of a mom whose oldest suddenly left home in the middle of high school and is less about the soccer.

DS, then 15 and a rising junior (end of summer birthday) was offered a spot on their second team after attending a camp and tryout in summer of 2020. Remember that summer? We had no idea if there would be high school soccer that fall or even in person high school or club opportunities. (I have family in AZ which made me feel a little better about it but in truth he barely got to see any of them because of Covid restrictions.) DS was offered the spot on a Tuesday and orientation was that Friday—AZ schools start at the beginning of August. So it was a really quick decision and highly emotional and there was a lot of information we didn’t have at the time. It seemed like the best way for DS to continue to play soccer that year. He only went because of Covid and there was no way I would have been ok with him returning for his senior year.

Boarding there was a positive experience for DS, he was in a communal living environment with a large group of boys instead of spending a lot of the year doing online learning from his room. He made friends with a diverse group of boys from all over the US and a few foreign countries. Had a wonderful roommate. He liked his coaches and had constant access to trainers and nice facilities. He grew up a lot that year. Visits were really limited due to Covid and they didn’t travel out of state until spring. There were no local students on campus so it was all boys.

Education was terrible. ASU Preparatory Academy is a charter school—chartered by Arizona State University (insert ASU joke here). It’s supposed to be a college prep school but coming from a top public high school at home, DS felt school was a joke, even the classes that were supposed to be “honors.” Kids arrived with a 1.5 gpa and left with a 4.0. We didn’t have time or access to get any substantive information about the school component before we sent him down there. When I walk into our high school now with my younger kid, I still get sad about him missing out on the great teachers he would have had. Then again it was 2020-2021 and school was somewhat of a sh!tshow here too from what classmates’ parents told us that year. But his peers from home are now attending UCLA, Penn, Brown, Harvard, Rice, SLACs and our top state schools.

Soccer—DS was on the second team, which we knew going in. We were told there would be movement and opportunities to train/play with the first team but the only time we saw this happen for anyone was if there was an injury or quarantine of a first team player. (I feel like most soccer clubs tend to over-promise on this.) Our perception after the year and talking to parents whose kids stayed the next year or two was that while the second team players are good, they’re there for the fees they bring in and not a priority for recruiting or development. We NEVER got film—there were always technical issues. But DS definitely improved and came home playing at a much higher than he had been when he arrived at Barça.

The school says that all their graduates have gone pro or gotten scholarships—a lot of those scholarships are to places like Utah Valley University. Again, academics aren’t great and a lot of the boys are more focused on professional opportunities. A handful have gone to top D1 schools but that’s the exception. They do also have kids who commute for soccer from Tucson and the Phoenix area—DS didn’t get to know them as well.

It’s late so I’ll stop now but will try to answer any questions tomorrow.

Thank you for taking the time to share. Did your son improve enough to benefit his soccer goals? Is he playing in college or going pro?

Would you think the experience is worth it so long as a player is on the first team?

Are those the kids that are going to play D1 or go pro?

[Anonymous]

Thank you for posting OP. What does your son think of the experience? Does he think it was worth it not just in terms of his development but in terms of personal growth?

What was his schedule like in the program?

Where did your son wind up for college?

[Anonymous]

Wow. Thank you for posting. Great insight. I've had friends do something similar (mainly abroad) to report the same re: academics. I believe that is expected, though.

It reminded me of this article about the "forgotten" academy kids. It's a tough road.

https://theathletic.com/1721538/2020/04/12/premier-league-manchester-united-city-academy-released/

[Anonymous]

Academics are the reason we didn’t consume any of those places. School first, soccer 2nd.

[Anonymous]

^ consider

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Academics are the reason we didn’t consume any of those places. School first, soccer 2nd.

+1
I'm glad we always chose academics first as well.

By the end of his Junior year our DS was burned out between academics and Travel soccer and didn't want to consider playing in College.

[Anonymous]

Interesting story - thanks for posting.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting. We know a kid who started there a few weeks ago and I had heard the academics were sub par.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for posting OP. What does your son think of the experience? Does he think it was worth it not just in terms of his development but in terms of personal growth?

What was his schedule like in the program?

Where did your son wind up for college?

He does think it was worth it. But he was also really grateful to be home for his senior year—when we went in over the summer to talk to his high school counselor (who had played college and semi-pro soccer and worked out DS’ schedule so he could skip a class once a week to get to training an hour away) we walked the entire empty high school campus and he just kept marveling at what a great school it is.

I don’t really recall his schedule, but they definitely worked around the hottest times of day during the warmer months.

He’s going to college at a large state school (dare I say flagship?) about 10 hours from home that doesn’t have men’s soccer. He was still 17 when he graduated and went to Europe to play during his gap year. Unfortunately he had a bad injury soon after arriving there and came home to rehab for several months. In the spring he played UPSL for a little while, and decided to hang up his boots. He considered playing D3 at a SLAC where he really liked the coach and had a generous merit scholarship but decided the school wasn’t a good fit.

He took a pair of cleats and a ball to school with him and says maybe he will try out for the club team next year, but for now he’s happy going to the gym, bodybuilding a little, running, looking forward to ski season, etc. He ran a half marathon a couple of weeks ago. He’s happy.

[Anonymous]

I’m from Casa Grande and my kid plays soccer here in NoVA for a local club team. Interesting to read about your son’s experience living and training at the Franny Granny. It blows me away that it’s thought of as a youth soccer destination. I can’t imagine what you thought as you rolled through town and pulled up there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m from Casa Grande and my kid plays soccer here in NoVA for a local club team. Interesting to read about your son’s experience living and training at the Franny Granny. It blows me away that it’s thought of as a youth soccer destination. I can’t imagine what you thought as you rolled through town and pulled up there.

I had never heard of Casa Grande but you raise a good question — why put a “youth soccer destination” in the middle of nowhere? I guess because it’s a good combination of cheap + low rainfall?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m from Casa Grande and my kid plays soccer here in NoVA for a local club team. Interesting to read about your son’s experience living and training at the Franny Granny. It blows me away that it’s thought of as a youth soccer destination. I can’t imagine what you thought as you rolled through town and pulled up there.

OP here. I actually have a LOT of family there but I’m not really close with them and don’t visit since my grandparents died. I’m sure you would know some of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m from Casa Grande and my kid plays soccer here in NoVA for a local club team. Interesting to read about your son’s experience living and training at the Franny Granny. It blows me away that it’s thought of as a youth soccer destination. I can’t imagine what you thought as you rolled through town and pulled up there.

I had never heard of Casa Grande but you raise a good question — why put a “youth soccer destination” in the middle of nowhere? I guess because it’s a good combination of cheap + low rainfall?

It’s actually a great facility. Photos and information here.

https://www.grandesports.com/

Grande Sports Center was originally training grounds for the San Francisco Giants and opened in 1961. this article has some cool photos from those days: https://www.azcentral.com/picture-gallery/sports/mlb/cactus-league/2019/02/28/francisco-grande-resort-and-baseball-stadium-casa-grande-san-francisco-giants/3015150002/

The “dorm” is total 1960s hotel—most boys are in a two story cinder block building that’s more motel-like but some end up in the main hotel tower. There’s a restaurant and bar in the main hotel.

The city of Casa Grande (locals do NOT pronounce the e on the end—it’s just Grand) is largely a farming community that’s gained some industry and a lot of retirees—it’s on I-10 and close to I-8.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m from Casa Grande and my kid plays soccer here in NoVA for a local club team. Interesting to read about your son’s experience living and training at the Franny Granny. It blows me away that it’s thought of as a youth soccer destination. I can’t imagine what you thought as you rolled through town and pulled up there.

I had never heard of Casa Grande but you raise a good question — why put a “youth soccer destination” in the middle of nowhere? I guess because it’s a good combination of cheap + low rainfall?

It’s actually a great facility. Photos and information here.

https://www.grandesports.com/

Grande Sports Center was originally training grounds for the San Francisco Giants and opened in 1961. this article has some cool photos from those days: https://www.azcentral.com/picture-gallery/sports/mlb/cactus-league/2019/02/28/francisco-grande-resort-and-baseball-stadium-casa-grande-san-francisco-giants/3015150002/

The “dorm” is total 1960s hotel—most boys are in a two story cinder block building that’s more motel-like but some end up in the main hotel tower. There’s a restaurant and bar in the main hotel.

The city of Casa Grande (locals do NOT pronounce the e on the end—it’s just Grand) is largely a farming community that’s gained some industry and a lot of retirees—it’s on I-10 and close to I-8.

Not questioning that the soccer facilities are nice, only the decision to site it in the middle of nowhere.