Club teams sabotaging TFC academy, coach says

[fan]

Toronto FC's much heralded youth soccer academy that starts today at BMO Field is in danger of being scuttled by the very same groups that have made a laughing stock of the Canadian Soccer Association, a prominent coach told Sun Media yesterday.






Club teams sabotaging TFC academy, coach says

By DEAN MCNULTY, SUN MEDIA


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Toronto FC's much heralded youth soccer academy that starts today at BMO Field is in danger of being scuttled by the very same groups that have made a laughing stock of the Canadian Soccer Association, a prominent coach told Sun Media yesterday.

Barry MacLean, a two-time national championship winning men's and women's soccer coach at Wilfrid Laurier University, is blaming a lighter than expected registration of young players at the TFC academy on local amateur organizations that allegedly are urging their top players to stay away.

MacLean, who is acting as a guest coach at the TFC academy tryouts, said such behaviour will only result in Canada's brightest and best young player's having their development stifled.

Messages were left for several local soccer clubs yesterday by Sun Media, but none would respond to MacLean's criticism. Ontario Soccer Association CEO Guy Bradbury said in a telephone interview yesterday that the issue of club teams keeping players away from the TFC academy has not crossed his desk.

"I'm not aware of that happening," he said. "Nobody has contacted my office about it."

MacLean said he has heard from several soccer people that it is happening and that the sport will be poorer for it.

Heres the link
http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/Oth...86598-sun.html

[rick10]

what benefits can you get from the toronto fc academy. Aside from a better development , what else are they offering young players to come play for them?

Is there any money involded? international tournaments? do they have to pay to play for the toronto fc?

I m trying to think what good reasons can attached the young good players to their clubs. As far as i know there is not money involved in rep and in most cases the players have to pay for their own registration every year right?. I remember when i play oysl , we had to pay our own registration and also get our own rides to the games

[forthegoodofthegame]

There are very few reasons why anyone would want to participate in the TFC youth academy. The MLS has a poor history of developing players from their own academies. Largely in part due to the poor reserve league that they have. The reserve league only plays a handfull of games every year and it's just not enough for quality development.

I heard Barry Maclean is the agent of Mo Johnson and that is the reason he is promoting TFC so much.

[jimmynow]

the kids do not have to play for TFC... TFC has rights to keep 2 players per year away from other MLS teams at draft time if the kid has been in the academy for 2 years. Otherwise the kid has every right to leave and pursue options elsewhere.

here are other details:

http://web.mlsnet.com/t280/youth/academy/faq/

[JB_Tito]

quote:Originally posted by rick10

what benefits can you get from the toronto fc academy. Aside from a better development , what else are they offering young players to come play for them?

Is there any money involded? international tournaments? do they have to pay to play for the toronto fc?

I m trying to think what good reasons can attached the young good players to their clubs. As far as i know there is not money involved in rep and in most cases the players have to pay for their own registration every year right?. I remember when i play oysl , we had to pay our own registration and also get our own rides to the games

It's free.

TFC Academy

Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions. Information will be posted as we finalize details for the TFC Academy.

Q: What is the Toronto FC Academy?
A: The Toronto FC Academy is a fully-funded, player development program designed to provide elite young Canadian soccer players with an opportunity to reach their technical, tactical, mental, and physical potential with Toronto FC.

Q: What will be the age of the TFC Academy players?
A: Toronto FC will start with both a boys U-18 and U-16. Players will need to be born in the years 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994 to be eligible for the squad.

Q: How will players be selected for the TFC Academy?
A: Players will be selected from the TFC Academy Open Tryouts. All players who wish to tryout must register online at www.torontofc.ca, and must meet the age requirements. Players will also be assessed through the existing District / Regional / Provincial scouting and player development programs in place at the Ontario Soccer Association.

Q: What will be the cost for the players who make the TFC Academy?
A: There will be no cost for the players that make the TFC Academy teams. The players who enter the program will have their training expenses and equipment provided for them. In addition to training and equipment, travel expenses for TFC Academy related tournaments and games will also be covered.

Q: Will Toronto FC provide housing?
A: Toronto FC will not be providing any housing accommodations in year one. Players that are accepted into the program will need to make their own arrangements. All players will be expected to attend all training sessions.

Q: How many players will be selected for the TFC Academy?
A: No cap has been placed on the number of players in the TFC Academy. The plan is to select approximately 20-30 players for each team.

Q: Will players in the TFC Academy be allowed to play for their local clubs?
A: Players enrolled in the TFC Academy will not be allowed to play for any additional soccer clubs. Toronto FC will be the player's club.

Q: How often will the TFC Academy train?
A: Players will train three to four days a week. The schedule for training will be released once the squads are announced.

Q: Where will the TFC Academy train?
A: Training sessions will take place at BMO Field on the Exhibition Grounds. The grounds are accessible by car, TTC, and by GO Train. The stadium offers opportunities for access to professional locker rooms, strength and conditioning room, media conference room, players lounge, as well all the medical facilities required for a modern professional sports team.

Q: Who will be coaching the TFC Academy?
A: Mike Matkovich (Toronto FC assistant coach) will be the Academy Director. Qualified and highly professional Head and Assistant coaches will be hired and announced as we approach the beginning of the training season.

Q: Will participation in the TFC Academy affect college/university eligibility?
A: A player's eligibility will not be affected by participating in the TFC Academy.

[ag futbol]

quote:Originally posted by forthegoodofthegame

There are very few reasons why anyone would want to participate in the TFC youth academy. The MLS has a poor history of developing players from their own academies. Largely in part due to the poor reserve league that they have. The reserve league only plays a handfull of games every year and it's just not enough for quality development.

I heard Barry Maclean is the agent of Mo Johnson and that is the reason he is promoting TFC so much.

Well I think it's necessary to differentiate what's going on here. The reserve league for the Dev roster is separate from the "youth teams" TFC fields. I agree that MLS's record on developing talent has been spotty, but it's getting better and it's safe to say it already surpasses what the amateur clubs are offering.

The Barry Maclean thing stinks like rotten fish. I understand that it's important to develop good business relationships but having this guy as an agent / club coach creates a clear conflict of interest in my mind.

[JB_Tito]

MacLean is not TFC Academy Coach,he is around because of situation with Mike Matkovich

"MacLean, who is acting as a guest coach at the TFC academy tryouts."

[Bertuzzi44]

Did/do the Whitecaps have the same problem with their youth setup?

[bungey]

Club teams want to hang onto their best young players instead of inviting them to go join another club? Shocking! How dare they! Don't they know that TFC has arrived and automatically deserves access to all the best players in Canada without a fight?

The TFC needs to realize that these clubs have been around for years and they are serious about soccer. Of course they will try to keep their players, and it's up to TFC to prove that they're the better option to lure these players away.

I'm a bit stunned by the arrogance of TFC that they think local clubs will encourage their young players to leave for an academy that's about to open for its first year of operation.

[VPjr]

I've emailed a bunch of club execs and coachs from Ontario that are on my mailing list about this issue. I've received replies from a few. None of the people who have replied to me are aware of coaches in their club holding players back from trying out.

If I am a club coach and one of my players gets chosen to the TFC academy, I'd be happy for the kid and proud that my club has done a good job of developing that player.

1 big question....does anyone think TFC has an obligation to pay the youth clubs a development fee when they pluck a kid from their club? If there is any arrogance on the part of TFC, it's that they have decided to start up an academy that will draw from the local player pool without any mention (publicly) of compensation to the clubs who will be losing players permanently (because these kids are not allowed to play for anyone but TFC).

I think the academy is a great idea but there needs to be some commitment on the part of TFC / MLSE to show goodwill to the clubs that developed these players.

Maybe if they promised to pay some type of transfer fee if the player makes it through the 1 year of the program, clubs might be more receptive. Just a thought.