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MLS Columbus Crew SC

Columbus Crew SC Launches Pre-Academy Program

October 6, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS - Columbus Crew SC today announced that the Club has finalized plans to launch a Pre-Academy program. The Pre-Academy program will consist of supplemental training groups at the Boys' Under-9/10 and U-11/12 levels, both of which will be free-to-play for trialists who are selected to the groups. Tryouts for the program are set to take place on October 21 and October 28, with registration for the tryouts now open.

"We are proud to announce the creation of our Pre-Academy program," said Crew SC President and General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. "The Pre-Academy program will give us a chance to work with other youth clubs as we work to identify and develop local talent at a younger age. Additionally, I would like to thank the Haslam and Edwards families for their investment in player development by making this free-to-play competitive roster possible. Their generosity will help us to develop the next batch of great Academy, and hopefully someday, First Team players."

The Pre-Academy program - which is slated to meet once a week and serve as supplemental training for players who are in other clubs or in unstructured environments - would provide a path for players into the Crew SC Academy. Currently, the Crew SC Academy is composed of teams at the U-14, U-15, U-16/17 and U-18/19 levels. Crew SC's current First Team roster features three players who are Crew SC Academy products: Sebastian Berhalter, Aboubacar Keita and Aidan Morris.

"Our hope is that the Pre-Academy program will serve as a touch point for the broader Central Ohio soccer community with Crew SC Academy, allowing us to invite players, coaches, families, and directors into our environment in a collaborative way," said Crew SC Academy Director Kelvin Jones. "We believe that by allowing youth players to remain in their clubs while also training under Crew SC Academy methodology, we can provide them with a path to the professional level that begins at an earlier age."

Tryouts for the Crew SC Pre-Academy program will take place on Wednesday, October 21 and Wednesday, October 28. The tryouts will be overseen by a Crew SC Academy coach and adhere to the Crew SC Academy curriculum and training methodology. Parents of children interested in participating in the U-9/10 tryouts may register here, while those interested in participating in the U-11/12 tryouts may do so here. Registration closes on Friday, October 16.

For more information on Crew SC Academy, please visit columbuscrewsc.com/academy.

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