MLS Academies & Education

[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.

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?

I can really only share about my family member - he has always done well in school, but wasn't taking tons of advanced classes. Honor Roll student, but not valedictorian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

That’s a massive presumption based on someone asking if academy educations has access to AP classes. Why so aggressive and defensive?

I just want to know if families have a choices or whether AP classes are options for these academy programs. Ideally, families are allowed to pick their own online program or have the kid go to a local school. Can anyone share specifically which MLS academies have AP options and/or allow families to choose public or private?

[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?

What you are talking about is a New England style Private Boarding School that specializes in sports performance. But like IMG academy, you have to pay for that sports and academic balance out of pocket (unless your kid is so good, they earn a reduced tuition.)

Hockey families know all about this conundrum, they call it "snack-bar hockey school." Essentially, the kids are at the Hockey Rink so much, they complete online school work at the Hockey Rink snack bar in between workouts. Real European soccer academies have kids practice about 18-20 hours per week. The academic demands are often very light. (Online tests, online assignments, online click-to learn everything.)

Also, the TSJ program has kids completing sports and athletic training for 2-3 hours each morning during school and have online schooling the rest of the time.

I know there is no way your kid could attend "public school" but skip out for 3 hours every morning 8am to 11am daily to complete the training requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

What you are talking about is a New England style Private Boarding School that specializes in sports performance. But like IMG academy, you have to pay for that sports and academic balance out of pocket (unless your kid is so good, they earn a reduced tuition.)

Hockey families know all about this conundrum, they call it "snack-bar hockey school." Essentially, the kids are at the Hockey Rink so much, they complete online school work at the Hockey Rink snack bar in between workouts. Real European soccer academies have kids practice about 18-20 hours per week. The academic demands are often very light. (Online tests, online assignments, online click-to learn everything.)

Also, the TSJ program has kids completing sports and athletic training for 2-3 hours each morning during school and have online schooling the rest of the time.

I know there is no way your kid could attend "public school" but skip out for 3 hours every morning 8am to 11am daily to complete the training requirements.

Except the fact that they spend about 4hrs a day on academics and it is mandated by FIFA, UEFA and the national federations

"Educational Requirements:
UEFA mandates that young players in academies continue their education alongside football training.
Academies must provide study rooms and teaching staff to support players' academic needs.
This can include providing access to tutors, online classes, and even delegating to nearby educational centers"

During the season, depending on cyclical workload, they may do 15 to 18 hours a week training

[Anonymous]

High school education is mandated by law in every state in the US, so comparing stats on HS kids overall like "how many take an AP class" is irrelevant. A lot of those graduates are going to going military or into a trade. the real question is if your kid goes to and MLS Academy and doesn't make it pro (the likely outcome), do you envision them going to college. If the answer is yes, then the academic options available while they are at the academy leave a lot to be desired.

Given the time commitments (and the time of day for training) the public school option is almost impossible unless you have a really accommodating school district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:High school education is mandated by law in every state in the US, so comparing stats on HS kids overall like "how many take an AP class" is irrelevant. A lot of those graduates are going to going military or into a trade. the real question is if your kid goes to and MLS Academy and doesn't make it pro (the likely outcome), do you envision them going to college. If the answer is yes, then the academic options available while they are at the academy leave a lot to be desired.

Given the time commitments (and the time of day for training) the public school option is almost impossible unless you have a really accommodating school district.

This is a relevant comment when there are numbers to show that MLS Academy players who don't go Pro and want to go to colleges have a low acceptance rate.

[Anonymous]

Those posting should do their own research. There are good options for academy players who also prioritize academics. They may not be traditional brick-and-mortar options, but they do exist for athletes who care about their education.

[Anonymous]

1) a local BSC kid is going to Nashville from Landon and is doing YSC Academy, the same program with Philly Union. I imagine that his family had the same questions and I suppose YSC has had to deal with this in the Philly market which has a similar parent base built on academics as the DMV.

2) Stanford Online High School is a high-level option.

3) There are 168 hours in a week. Public school and many private waste 3-4 hours daily in inefficiency. There are much better pure learning methods but the social aspect is important for most kids. An academy player has his social covered so they just need meat and potatoes academics to get the job done.

4) The days of being at Westpoint and going to the NFL are over. You can still go to an academy and then go Ivy but the perfect path is a lot harder academically but you will have academy experience to compensate for it. At a certain point, you do have to make choices. Are you going to spend an extra hour daily on AP science or your first touch?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) a local BSC kid is going to Nashville from Landon and is doing YSC Academy, the same program with Philly Union. I imagine that his family had the same questions and I suppose YSC has had to deal with this in the Philly market which has a similar parent base built on academics as the DMV.

2) Stanford Online High School is a high-level option.

3) There are 168 hours in a week. Public school and many private waste 3-4 hours daily in inefficiency. There are much better pure learning methods but the social aspect is important for most kids. An academy player has his social covered so they just need meat and potatoes academics to get the job done.

4) The days of being at Westpoint and going to the NFL are over. You can still go to an academy and then go Ivy but the perfect path is a lot harder academically but you will have academy experience to compensate for it. At a certain point, you do have to make choices. Are you going to spend an extra hour daily on AP science or your first touch?

I guess for the men's side, but so many successful women went to top tier colleges like Stanford IN PERSON and still thrived. Plenty of examples in the NFL of particularly linemen taking advantage of scholarships to top academic colleges to get even better jobs after their playing career as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1) a local BSC kid is going to Nashville from Landon and is doing YSC Academy, the same program with Philly Union. I imagine that his family had the same questions and I suppose YSC has had to deal with this in the Philly market which has a similar parent base built on academics as the DMV.

2) Stanford Online High School is a high-level option.

3) There are 168 hours in a week. Public school and many private waste 3-4 hours daily in inefficiency. There are much better pure learning methods but the social aspect is important for most kids. An academy player has his social covered so they just need meat and potatoes academics to get the job done.

4) The days of being at Westpoint and going to the NFL are over. You can still go to an academy and then go Ivy but the perfect path is a lot harder academically but you will have academy experience to compensate for it. At a certain point, you do have to make choices. Are you going to spend an extra hour daily on AP science or your first touch?

I guess for the men's side, but so many successful women went to top tier colleges like Stanford IN PERSON and still thrived. Plenty of examples in the NFL of particularly linemen taking advantage of scholarships to top academic colleges to get even better jobs after their playing career as well.

"Plenty of examples in the NFL"?
Or a few examples?

[Anonymous]

DC is laughing a new online school ran by the scouts wife.. hmm...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is laughing a new online school ran by the scouts wife.. hmm...

Is it funny because the person running the online school is not an experienced educator or not experienced with online schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is laughing a new online school ran by the scouts wife.. hmm...

Where is this info from? She runs SAI Academy? A lot of other academy teams are with SAI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1) a local BSC kid is going to Nashville from Landon and is doing YSC Academy, the same program with Philly Union. I imagine that his family had the same questions and I suppose YSC has had to deal with this in the Philly market which has a similar parent base built on academics as the DMV.

2) Stanford Online High School is a high-level option.

3) There are 168 hours in a week. Public school and many private waste 3-4 hours daily in inefficiency. There are much better pure learning methods but the social aspect is important for most kids. An academy player has his social covered so they just need meat and potatoes academics to get the job done.

4) The days of being at Westpoint and going to the NFL are over. You can still go to an academy and then go Ivy but the perfect path is a lot harder academically but you will have academy experience to compensate for it. At a certain point, you do have to make choices. Are you going to spend an extra hour daily on AP science or your first touch?

I guess for the men's side, but so many successful women went to top tier colleges like Stanford IN PERSON and still thrived. Plenty of examples in the NFL of particularly linemen taking advantage of scholarships to top academic colleges to get even better jobs after their playing career as well.

Difficult discussion but the women in the U.S. has benefitted from our pro-woman stance on equality in politic terms. Their success is not reflective of our development systems. For example, there is about 20% more competition for the men coming out of the Middle East that women do not have to deal with. This is just one slice of the pie.

How many women NWSL Next academies are there? That answers your question on why a woman can get a high education in the U.S. and still achieve the highest level of soccer. Anything is possible on the men’s side but just not likely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1) a local BSC kid is going to Nashville from Landon and is doing YSC Academy, the same program with Philly Union. I imagine that his family had the same questions and I suppose YSC has had to deal with this in the Philly market which has a similar parent base built on academics as the DMV.

2) Stanford Online High School is a high-level option.

3) There are 168 hours in a week. Public school and many private waste 3-4 hours daily in inefficiency. There are much better pure learning methods but the social aspect is important for most kids. An academy player has his social covered so they just need meat and potatoes academics to get the job done.

4) The days of being at Westpoint and going to the NFL are over. You can still go to an academy and then go Ivy but the perfect path is a lot harder academically but you will have academy experience to compensate for it. At a certain point, you do have to make choices. Are you going to spend an extra hour daily on AP science or your first touch?

I guess for the men's side, but so many successful women went to top tier colleges like Stanford IN PERSON and still thrived. Plenty of examples in the NFL of particularly linemen taking advantage of scholarships to top academic colleges to get even better jobs after their playing career as well.

Difficult discussion but the women in the U.S. has benefitted from our pro-woman stance on equality in politic terms. Their success is not reflective of our development systems. For example, there is about 20% more competition for the men coming out of the Middle East that women do not have to deal with. This is just one slice of the pie.

How many women NWSL Next academies are there? That answers your question on why a woman can get a high education in the U.S. and still achieve the highest level of soccer. Anything is possible on the men’s side but just not likely.

LOL - well imagine if the middle east actually treated women equally?!?!

It's not just that - it's that women's soccer is still held up on a pedestal compared to men's soccer in the US. Our best athletes don't give AF about soccer on the men's side and it is what it is. So please keep telling me how the US women are doomed to fail *eventually*.