MLS Academies & Education

[Anonymous]

It seems to me that the MLS academies have a mix of required online schooling and in-person school.

What is the quality of education at these academies?

Which academies have the best schools?

Is there any option to pick your child’s education, whether an online program or a local school?

I’m assuming this is the setup in football academies abroad?

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I think you would be hard pressed to have an outside education while at one of these academies, that could accommodate the schedule. Many soccer or sports academies prioritize 2-3 hours of sport specific and fitness/ weight training during the mid-morning time to develop/ work kids while they are fresh. Then, they have online school or an unperson set up for the remainder of the time.

[Anonymous]

It's a shame that parents have to face the decision between sacrificing their kid's education for the hopes of a professional soccer career which, in all likelihood, will not turn out to be highly-compensated even for the miniscule percentage of kids who make it to the professional game.

Clubs need to offer top-notch academics to prepare the kids for the real world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a shame that parents have to face the decision between sacrificing their kid's education for the hopes of a professional soccer career which, in all likelihood, will not turn out to be highly-compensated even for the miniscule percentage of kids who make it to the professional game.

Clubs need to offer top-notch academics to prepare the kids for the real world.

Didn't realize all kids not playing academy soccer and trying to become professionals attend top-notch schools and are stellar all A's academic performers.

[Anonymous]

I don't know about MLS academies but the academics at the Barca residential academy in Arizona is a complete joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems to me that the MLS academies have a mix of required online schooling and in-person school.

What is the quality of education at these academies?

Which academies have the best schools?

Is there any option to pick your child’s education, whether an online program or a local school?

I’m assuming this is the setup in football academies abroad?

Thank you!

There's an academy within an academy if you will. Those are kids that have a higher chance of going pro. The other academy kids can attend online school and pay their own way or attend public. Those online schools tout a 100% graduation rate... take that as you will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know about MLS academies but the academics at the Barca residential academy in Arizona is a complete joke.

It's the same with MLS academies. I bet the kids who graduate out and play for a good school have a tough time with their academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know about MLS academies but the academics at the Barca residential academy in Arizona is a complete joke.

It's the same with MLS academies. I bet the kids who graduate out and play for a good school have a tough time with their academics.

You're not betting, you're hoping and wishing ill will

You probably don't have the intellectual capacity to realize many of the parents of academy players are highly educated individuals who know how to get their kids to achieve academic excellence

Sipping your haterade while being miserable

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know about MLS academies but the academics at the Barca residential academy in Arizona is a complete joke.

It's the same with MLS academies. I bet the kids who graduate out and play for a good school have a tough time with their academics.

You're not betting, you're hoping and wishing ill will

You probably don't have the intellectual capacity to realize many of the parents of academy players are highly educated individuals who know how to get their kids to achieve academic excellence

Sipping your haterade while being miserable

To OP’s questions, does that mean parents have a choice as to what online program to use? Or are they allowed to put their kid in public or private school, assuming the school accommodates the training and practice schedule?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know about MLS academies but the academics at the Barca residential academy in Arizona is a complete joke.

It's the same with MLS academies. I bet the kids who graduate out and play for a good school have a tough time with their academics.

You're not betting, you're hoping and wishing ill will

You probably don't have the intellectual capacity to realize many of the parents of academy players are highly educated individuals who know how to get their kids to achieve academic excellence

Sipping your haterade while being miserable

To OP’s questions, does that mean parents have a choice as to what online program to use? Or are they allowed to put their kid in public or private school, assuming the school accommodates the training and practice schedule?

Yes, you can choose any online program to use. Some choose to attend public/private school. The only caveat is that you need to be excused from school 4x a week between certain hours for the commute and team training.

[Anonymous]

Here's what I know from my experience, not direct, but through kids at our club that have gone on to play at academies and a family member.

Family member first. Joined DCU only for their U18 year, essentially their senior year of HS. They are able to participate on their online school from their home district and will graduate with a local HS diploma. Right now their are committed to play in college.

Other club players are at a variety of other programs from Charlotte to Philly Union. Academic program is what you make of it - meaning, kids are pretty focused on soccer first and school second.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's what I know from my experience, not direct, but through kids at our club that have gone on to play at academies and a family member.

Family member first. Joined DCU only for their U18 year, essentially their senior year of HS. They are able to participate on their online school from their home district and will graduate with a local HS diploma. Right now their are committed to play in college.

Other club players are at a variety of other programs from Charlotte to Philly Union. Academic program is what you make of it - meaning, kids are pretty focused on soccer first and school second.

Would you know enough about these players to know whether they were academically high achievers or not? Are they still able to have access to AP classes for example?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's what I know from my experience, not direct, but through kids at our club that have gone on to play at academies and a family member.

Family member first. Joined DCU only for their U18 year, essentially their senior year of HS. They are able to participate on their online school from their home district and will graduate with a local HS diploma. Right now their are committed to play in college.

Other club players are at a variety of other programs from Charlotte to Philly Union. Academic program is what you make of it - meaning, kids are pretty focused on soccer first and school second.

Kids can't be focused on soccer and academics equally?
How many hours per week is dedicated to soccer training and games?
8 hours training and 1 maybe 2 games

Plenty time left for academics, no?

[Anonymous]

Meanwhile in the real world

"Approximately 35% of U.S. public high school graduates take at least one AP exam, according to the College Board. Specifically, in the class of 2023, 34.7% of graduates took at least one AP exam. Additionally, 21.7% of graduates in the class of 2023 scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam.
This means that while a significant portion of students engage with AP courses, a smaller percentage achieve a score that could potentially grant them college credit"

Yet people on here having fainting spells about all academy players not taking AP courses when in regular school only a few are doing so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's what I know from my experience, not direct, but through kids at our club that have gone on to play at academies and a family member.

Family member first. Joined DCU only for their U18 year, essentially their senior year of HS. They are able to participate on their online school from their home district and will graduate with a local HS diploma. Right now their are committed to play in college.

Other club players are at a variety of other programs from Charlotte to Philly Union. Academic program is what you make of it - meaning, kids are pretty focused on soccer first and school second.

Kids can't be focused on soccer and academics equally?
How many hours per week is dedicated to soccer training and games?
8 hours training and 1 maybe 2 games

Plenty time left for academics, no?

I can only share what I know anecdotally from my HS age DD who is friends with some of the players at the academies - meaning, there's a lot more soccer going on than school for those that want that experience. Between soccer training and other soccer related items - film review, weight/speed training, it's a lot. But in my opinion, it could be the same if you are a high level basketball player, football player, etc.