USL1 Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

Red Wolves Academy Selected to Compete in Inaugural USL Academy Cup Presented by Puma

April 16, 2021 - United Soccer League One (USL1)
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC News Release


CHATTANOOGA, Tn. - The United Soccer League announced today the 37 clubs that will compete in the 2021 Academy Cup, presented by Puma, which will take place at the Hillsborough County Tournament SportsPlex in Tampa, Fla. on May 28-31, 2021. The USL Academy Cup features some of the country's most elite youth players from the U-13 and U-17 age groups and will build on the success of the first two regional events held prior to the pandemic. Among the 74 teams competing, the Red Wolves will have two teams competing in the 2008 and 2004 age group.

"We are excited about the opportunity our players have to play in this event each year against other professional academies and top talent from the US," said Academy EVP Derek Greene. "This is another way for our players to develop, to be seen, and to compete at the highest level in the country."

The cup competition will see academy teams from clubs in all three senior divisions of the USL represented, with clubs from the Championship, League One and League Two as well as representation from MLS clubs all competing against one another to represent a growing footprint that reaches 22 states across the country. These events will be designed to better identify and accelerate the development of elite youth players with the potential to reach the professional ranks. In addition, a U-17 Girls Division will be included at this year's event, after the USL announced a complementary women's pathway to the overall Academy platform in 2019. This new female-specific age group will serve to further enhance the mission of USL to provide proven pathways for all players, especially with the continued growth of the women's game at the senior team levels.

"The USL Academy Cup is a prime example of the great work being done by our clubs and their youth affiliates to develop youth soccer across the country," said Liam O'Connell, Technical Director of the USL. "We are incredibly excited to see our teams take the pitch this year at the cup and to witness our clubs continue to make an impact in youth soccer and the development of youth players across the American soccer landscape."

"The USL Academy Cup is a prime example of the great work being done by our clubs and their youth affiliates to develop youth soccer across the country," said Liam O'Connell, Technical Director of the USL. "We are incredibly excited to see our teams take the pitch this year at the cup and to witness our clubs continue to make an impact in youth soccer and the development of youth players across the American soccer landscape."

In just over 2 years of existence, the Red Wolves Academy has achieved a top 100 ranking out of all academies in the US, admittance into ECNL, one of the top youth leagues in the country, placed over 40 young men and women into collegiate soccer programs and as recently as two weeks ago had its first player sign a professional contract with the Red Wolves Professional team.

For more information on the Chattanooga Red Wolves Academy visit http://chattredwolvesyouth.com/. For more information on USL Academy Cup conference alignment and to stay up to date on the competition structure, schedule release, and more, visit www.usl-academy.com/academy-cup.

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