USL Indy Eleven

Indiana's Team Announces Indy Eleven Academy

Published on May 6, 2024 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Indy Eleven News Release


INDIANAPOLIS - Indy Eleven has today announced the addition of Indy Eleven Academy as part of the club's mission to grow soccer across the state of Indiana starting at the grassroots level.

Previously the Indiana Fire Academy, the Indy Eleven Academy will support youth soccer players across the Hoosier State, with approximately 6,000 competitive soccer players as part of the program. The launch will also include Indiana Fire North (Middlebury) and Indiana Fire South (Evansville) as well as affiliate clubs SCSA (South Central Soccer Academy), Cutters and Alliance.

"Today is a significant day for Indy Eleven and the sport of soccer across the state of Indiana," said Indy Eleven President & CEO Greg Stremlaw. "As Indiana's team, we are excited to welcome this new level of soccer as part of Indy Eleven's Pathway to Pro. With our previously established youth programs and our award-winning Pro Academy, Indy Eleven is committed to growing the game at all levels culminating with our USL Championship men's team, National-Champion USL W League team and our upcoming USL Super League franchise. We look forward to continuing to grow the World's Game under Indy Eleven by supporting players at all levels of the soccer pyramid."

Beginning at the youth soccer level, Indy Eleven currently has more than 18,000 affiliated soccer players from over 20 communities across Indiana and into Illinois as part of its Club Affiliate Program, an initiative with the goal of growing accessibility to the sport by supporting recreational soccer programs at partnering youth soccer clubs.

Continuing on its Pathway to Pro, the Indy Eleven Pro Academy competes at the highest level of youth soccer in the United States, with boys programs in MLS NEXT and girls programs as part of the ECNL.

The Eleven currently have the only established MLS NEXT program operating in Indiana and the program is coming off its third consecutive U20 Academy Cup Championship, while also winning the inaugural U20 Academy League National Championship in 2021 and the U15 Academy Cup in 2023.

Since 2019, Indy Eleven has signed 22 players to USL Academy contracts, making the club one of the premier player development destinations in the USL Championship. In November, the Boys in Blue signed Academy-product Diego Sanchez to his first professional contract after spending three seasons (2021-23) on a USL Academy Contract. He is the second Indy Eleven Pro Academy player to sign a professional contract with the club.

Falling in line as part of Indy Eleven's Academy umbrella, the newly established Indy Eleven Academy will compete at the competitive travel level and collaborate high performance and help feed the Pro Academy, donning Indy Eleven's crest. The Indy Eleven Academy will offer the highest standards for technical direction and health and safety and will follow the US Center for SafeSport standards of excellence, while also offering best-in-class elements to support not only players, but also staff and parents.

Ken Yerkes, President of the Academy, echoed Stremlaw's remarks, saying "The Academy is pleased to expand its partnership with Indy Eleven to bring closer together the premier youth soccer program in the state and Indy Eleven - Indiana's Team - to create the best possible soccer environment and opportunities for our members and players. Last year's W League Championship shows what our collaboration can achieve; we look forward to continued collaborative success in the years ahead based on our expanding relationship."

In addition to the on-field accolades and commitment of Indy Eleven, and in direct connection with the ever expanding footprint of the club across Indiana and its mission to grow the game of soccer, the city of Westfield announced in December a transformative long-term collaboration with Indy Eleven and Bullpen Ventures, solidifying a landmark public-private partnership of Grand Park, America's leading youth sports campus and home to the official training center of Indy Eleven and W League gamedays. Under the partnership, Grand Park is poised for an evolution that includes the creation of a dynamic sports and entertainment district.

"As Grand Park's youth soccer home team since the Park's inception, we are delighted that the Eleven will work with Bullpen Ventures to ensure our home park operates at the highest standards for years to come," Yerkes added. "The synergies are endless."

In its formal announcement, the City of Westfield reported that it selected the partnership to establish the newly formed entity, Grand Park Sports & Entertainment. Indy Eleven and Bullpen Ventures will manage the facility around youth sports while attracting large sporting and entertainment events and diversifying Grand Park's current sports offerings. Keystone Group, an Indianapolis-based leader in mixed-use development projects, will be the City of Westfield's development partner for Grand Park.

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