Hi, I coach in the area and I attended one semester there of training after finishing college. at the time, I trained with their U19 boys team which was prepping for the Dallas Cup, and was aspiring to play on a PDL team that summer, which I ultimately decided not to do... but I was there for about 5 months.

It is not worth it, in my opinion. The reason is that all of the training is more "team focused" and at the older ages, which is most of the kids attending, the coaches focus on things like tactical formations, getting the teams ready for games, all 11v11 stuff. What I saw was players (on the boys and girls side) arrive with expectations that somehow IMG was the magic pill and they were going to become significantly better players.

If you aren't already a standout player by 9th-12th grade, start with taking a look at the player's technique and the speed of the technique. If they can't do every primary skill of the game with both feet at high speed and precision, then putting them in the IMG academy and focusing on team tactics will not make them any better. the technique breakdowns will still be there and hold the player back.

The players who did well at IMG were players who already came in with a complete skill set. Those players were basically "showcased" and many of them would have had success reaching the next level whether or not they attended the IMG academy.

For example there was a former MLS player, Michael Parkhurst who spent a year there before going off to play at Wake Forest, either taking a gap year or his senior year of high school. Then he made the olympic U23 team and then played in MLS.

Nowadays though there are USL 1 and 2 teams that aspiring players can play on. IMG used to be one of the only place that players could go to and their ticket in was just being at a minimum level and paying the fees.

In my opinion, let's say you live in the DC area... find a reputable trainer to train your son or daughter 2x a week, get touches on the ball every day, subscribe to Techne Futbol and spend hours with it each week, try out for the most competitive team you can get on, or if they are 18-19, join a competitive adult league.

There are also mens and womens amateur teams locally that you can try out for with former college players who still train and play at a high level. Go to sport and health, sign up for one of their EP (elite performance) sessions or get a coach, and you are doing more just by all of that than the IMG academy can do for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:300,000 for a high school degree.

I’ll pass

Actually it's $350,000.

This is what I don't understand about these academies. Are they for rich athletes who have bad grades, so they can get into colleges? Are they really trying to develop high level talent? I see talented kids at tryouts whose families may struggle to cough up $3000 to play on a top team. What does 85K get you? There must be a point of diminishing returns.

Anonymous wrote:300,000 for a high school degree.

I’ll pass

Actually it's $350,000.

300,000 for a high school degree.

I’ll pass

IMG is like the elite private schools in the northeast. For those who can afford it, great access to networks of people and opportunities. It may not lead to a pro career. But plenty of peripheral opps for someone who loves the game. Coaching, media, sports agencies.

Anonymous wrote:IMG is peak pay to play. Similar to Barca's residential academy in Arizona. The money these cost are more than just paying for your child to go to college out of state.

Yea, but if I’m not mistaken the Barca residential program also has their A team fully funded. It’s the B team that you pay $80k on. I would sent my kid in a heart beat if he was good enough to get his tuition covered

IMG was awesome, first to do what they were doing in the US. When DA changed rules about international players they took a big hit.

There is a girl that played for Baltimore Armor and was a US Camp callup last year that attended IMG this year. Thats about all I know.

When my son was playing in DA a few years ago, I noticed that the the IMG Academy DA teams were rarely competitive. I’m not sure they made the DA playoffs in any age groups those years. I thought it was bizarre that parents would pay so much for mediocre soccer/poor academics when almost all the other DA programs around the country were free. I think the IMG academy is still good for tennis and maybe some non-soccer sports. I know Montverde Academy/SIMA in Florida is traditionally very strong in soccer and produces a lot of recruits and some pros., for boys anyway.

Open. Previous poster. That is IMG ($85k)

It's more than $70k--I think next year is $85k plus of course airfare and incidentals.

https://barcaresidencyacademyusa.com/college-commitments/

2021 - one power 5 commit
The rest are a mixed bag.
70K per year.
Is that worth it?

IMG is peak pay to play. Similar to Barca's residential academy in Arizona. The money these cost are more than just paying for your child to go to college out of state.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience with this?
Just found out that one of my daughter's former teammates moved there in January.
She was an decent player but not college bound in DC (CCL 1 level).
Is IMG just a money grab? Does it produce great players?
Just so curious about it from anyone who knows.
It is $50K for the spring semester!
Does anyone have actual experience with it (or know someone who does) for soccer?

It’s legit. They have produced stellar athletes. But not everyone becomes a Landon Donavon. If you go there you’ll probably be looked at by all the top schools just because of how much prestige that academy has. But at the end of the day not all kids will play big time D1 or pro. IMG gives your child a world class education and sports training.

My buddy’s child went there for a post grad year, but man it’s expensive

Does anyone have experience with this?
Just found out that one of my daughter's former teammates moved there in January.
She was an decent player but not college bound in DC (CCL 1 level).
Is IMG just a money grab? Does it produce great players?
Just so curious about it from anyone who knows.
It is $50K for the spring semester!
Does anyone have actual experience with it (or know someone who does) for soccer?