CHARLOTTE — Charlotte MLS is excited to announce its lineup of fully funded Academy programming for the 2020-21 season.
The club will field full-time teams at U14 and U17 age groups, in addition to part-time programs for U12 and U13 levels.
Charlotte Discovery Program
U12 (2009) and U13 (2008) age groups are eligible to participate in the Charlotte Discovery Program, which begins in September 2020. Selected players will train two days a week, and return to their parent club teams for the remainder of the training week and games.
These flexible training groups will form teams that will represent Charlotte MLS at events throughout the year.
As part of this program, the club also intends to establish regional training centers throughout its Homegrown territory of North Carolina and South Carolina.
“This exciting new program will enable us to work together with local clubs,” says Charlotte MLS Academy Manager Dan Lock. “We will train and identify the best U12 and U13 prospects on a regular basis, while they remain playing in their home environments.”
Full-Time Teams
The U14 team will comprise the very best 2007 and 2008 players. The U17 team, meanwhile, will focus on an elite group of players selected from the 2004, 2005 and 2006 birth years.
The full-time teams will train four nights a week and represent Charlotte MLS Academy on weekend games in the US Soccer Development Academy leagues.
Additionally, the U17 team will also compete in the Prestigious MLS Generation Adidas Cup. This lauded competition is exclusive to MLS academies in the US and includes professional international opponents.
Both teams will also compete in additional international events at different times within the year.
“We believe our plan for 2020-21 is the best way to develop the local talent and will allow our Academy to organically grow through to the 2021-22 season,” says Lock. “It will help us achieve our long-term goal of providing two Homegrown players for our first team roster each year from 2022 onwards.”
Charlotte MLS is also exploring options for additional programming for U19 players. Additional information will be announced in due course.
“We are delighted to announce our Academy programming for the coming season,” says Charlotte MLS Technical Director Marc Nicholls. “This is a significant long-term investment from the club’s management and ownership into youth development, our community and Charlotte MLS’ long-term success.”
All players are encouraged to register their interest for the 2020-21 season. To register, and for more information on the Charlotte MLS Academy, click here.
