Hockey families have been attending boarding schools and academies for decades to get there players a leg up in terms of getting them into the minors.

Friends of ours defiantly said schooling was important and the Online School or "Snackbar Schooling" as they termed it, was the lowest quality. TPH has multiple programs and is essentially online school.

You'd have to be absolutely sure your kid is a true athlete to sign up for this as academically you're doing them no favors.

So we are not interested in the academy/school program but would be interested in private coaching from the track coach (our HS track coach is so so terrible). Does anyone know if TSJ is going to offer track coaching opportunities outside the academy? I can’t find any info on their site

This will all be interesting to watch.

TSJ is clearly onto something, in a market where parents are competitive and have cash to drop on this stuff.

Not convinced it'll work, but certainly seems like they're moving in that direction.

Anonymous wrote:Will sports training improve now at the St. James?

I will believe it when I see it!!

This. The people I know on St. James teams have universally complained about the organization and structure. How does that change without change from the top?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The St James has hired the very good track and field coach from South County HS to lead the St James track and field academy program. But last time I was at the St James- there was no track?

https://va.milesplit.com/articles/356177/state-champ-coach-hutton-moving-to-direct-st-james-program

Interesting. Looks like the St. James is going all in on their academy. They recently hired Josh Taylor to head their squash program and he's arguably one of the best coaches in the world if you are familiar with the sport. Top pros routinely fly in to train with him.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/josh-taylor-appointed-head-of-squash-academy-teams-at-the-st-james-302380995.html

This makes sense because I think of the students currently in the Academy program, the squash players are probably the only actually elite athletes. The rest of the them seem like kids whose parents just want them out of the house for the maximum time and minimum inconvenience.

Bethesda soccer club is also starting its own high school under the same umbrella organization that St James is using.

They want to become another IMG at a much lower price point (to start).

The academics will be marginal at best. Plan is that kids do online virtual learning at their own pace with just a teacher that floats around to help. Only like 4 hours of school per day and then 4-6 hours of training.

I guess you save some $$$s on travel teams because St James will be your school and travel team and it’s wrapped into annual fees.

I can see Sidwell losing it’s top girls’ players…as well as WCAC football players opting for this model.

Will sports training improve now at the St. James?

I will believe it when I see it!!

And now Tamika Dudley to lead girls basketball.

Anonymous wrote:The St James has hired the very good track and field coach from South County HS to lead the St James track and field academy program. But last time I was at the St James- there was no track?

https://va.milesplit.com/articles/356177/state-champ-coach-hutton-moving-to-direct-st-james-program

Interesting. Looks like the St. James is going all in on their academy. They recently hired Josh Taylor to head their squash program and he's arguably one of the best coaches in the world if you are familiar with the sport. Top pros routinely fly in to train with him.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/josh-taylor-appointed-head-of-squash-academy-teams-at-the-st-james-302380995.html

The St James has hired the very good track and field coach from South County HS to lead the St James track and field academy program. But last time I was at the St James- there was no track?

https://va.milesplit.com/articles/356177/state-champ-coach-hutton-moving-to-direct-st-james-program