11/27/2023 0 Comments Academy battery powered fanIf you were a player talented enough to play professionally but weren’t in a place that could offer a professional club or training, you were likely headed somewhere that did. It’s a reality that still existed until recently in many places. “Two hours from Boston, three hours from New York City in a very small town and I always wondered, ‘is the only way I can make it by leaving home at a young age?’” “I myself grew up in somewhat rural New England,” said O’Connell. When United’s Head Academy Scout Lucien Starzynski called to ask about the possibility of Waggoner becoming part of the program, the three-hour commute each way from Taos wasn’t realistic.Īs the primary architect of the USL Academy program, there’s an element of Waggoner’s story that resonates more strongly than most for USL Technical Director Liam O’Connell. With soccer being my sport, I was like, ‘Well, this is this is great, I love this.’”Īs the club built out first its High Performance Program, establishing a first step for youth players, and then its fully-fledged – and fully-funded – Academy program, and there was now a pathway for Waggoner to take aim at something bigger. “It was really cool to be able to see New Mexico having a professional level. “In the first season I went to game,” he said. Then, in a moment of providence, New Mexico United arrived on the scene. Starting in indoor soccer and then going to rec league, Waggoner’s talent emerged. “I would watch that video every night, and then try to do what he did, and it just grew from there.” ![]() “My mom showed me a video of Pelé when I was young,” Waggoner said recently. ![]() Within our current model of development, we believe we have created a great match for our families.Taos, New Mexico, is a town of approximately 6,500 people.Ī resort town in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, it’s mostly known for skiing.īut if Taos native and New Mexico United Academy star Alex Waggoner has his way, it’ll become known for much more: soccer and the notion that top-class American talent can come from anywhere. Our goal for game play at the Junior Academy level is to limit travel while playing the most competitive games. We will ensure teams are placed in the appropriate level to ensure competitive games and a great experience that allows for personal growth and increased team cohesion. One tournament will be local and the other will require a hotel stay. ![]() The competition is fantastic and our league play will never take place in Junior Academy farther away than Charleston.ĭuring the fall and spring we will play in two tournaments per season. When we play in Charleston our teams play multiple games in one day maximizing our trips out of town. The CPL League schedule is organized in a manner where home games take place at Jennifer Ross Soccer Complex or USCB – Bluffton Campus and away games take place two or three days a season in Charleston. We believe this organization of meaningful league play and appropriate level tournaments will provide our players with opportunities for extensive individual and team growth. U8 through U12 Junior Academy teams compete in the CPL League as well as participating in multiple tournaments each season. Teams are organized by location and skill level to ensure each player has a successful on field experience working towards their individual and team goals. Within the Junior Academy, the 8 and 9 year old players train twice a week while 10, 11, and 12 year olds train three days a week for 1.5 hours. Junior Academy Director Kian Brownlee and his staff hold numerous coaching certifications to provide the best training in the region and will provide a level of compassion to ensure each player has a well rounded and positive experience. The Academy Curriculum is taught in an organized fashion at each location by our certified master coaches.
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