ALBION SC BOYS MLS NEXT

What is the MLS NEXT Youth Development Platform?

The MLS NEXT Youth Development Platform is a partnership between MLS and the top youth clubs around the country to provide the best youth players in the U.S. with an environment designed to produce the next generation of college, professional and National team players. The Platform will consist of elite year-round competition, as well as player identification initiatives, coaching education opportunities, and additional programming to create the premier player development environment.
With a focus on maximizing each player’s potential, the new development platform will not only provide high-level, year-round competition for players, but will provide important programming, education and innovation in the key areas of player development:

Player Identification
Coaching
Environment
Personal Growth
Community Outreach

ALBION SC has earned national distinction as an organization with a history of producing quality players. As a founding member of the MLS NEXT Youth Development Platform, ALBION SC will continue to maintain its high standards on and off the field and be a national leader in player development.

ALBION SC MLS NEXT

Program Goal

To develop world-class players and coaches in an effort to place them at the college, professional and National team levels.

Program Objectives

To provide the best environment for world-class development. We commit to:

Putting the players first
Hiring and developing the best coaching staff
Developing a winning mentality
Staying on the forefront of innovation
Playing attractive soccer
Teaching the game in a holistic way
Being transparent
Doing what’s right
Improving every day
The future and constant innovation

Core Values

Program Structure
Youth to College, National Team, Professional Pathway

We offer a progressive pathway for players at the U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U19, and Professional level. Through this structure, we have the ability to fast-track player development and promote youth players. With a commitment to innovation and high-performance, along with optimal structure and resources, we are the model club for player and coach development in the United States.

Vertical Integration

The MLS Elite Academy is connected and aligned with the other areas of the club in order to facilitate proper player development. This requires a consistent training curriculum and methodology. Our coaches collaborate and create the ideal training and game playing scenarios for each player in the program.

Professional Staff

ALBION SC hires and attracts experienced coaches that have played and coached at the most elite levels. These coaches are all credentialed with a US Soccer A or B license and are experienced with elite level programming and team management. Our staff includes the following positions:

Technical Director
Academy Director
Academy Administrator
College Placement Director
Head Coach
Assistant Coach
Goalkeeper Coach
Sports Performance Coach

Philosophy

We believe in an age-based developmental philosophy that can be defined as follows:

Train to Learn
U13-U14. At this stage players are primed for the long-term demands of the 11v11 game. During this period, there is heavy emphasis on technical and soccer IQ components of the game. Our teaching is geared towards perfecting our game model and style of play. We strive to develop a winning mentality every day.

Train to Compete
U15. At this stage players are better prepared for the physical and mental demands of the 11v11 game. While we continue to perfect our game model and style of play, we will introduce different tactical elements that give us the competitive advantage over our opponents. We compete every day and exude a winning mentality in everything that we do.

Train to Win
U16-U19. At this stage players are ready to compete and must show the desire to win at all times. We will showcase our players and teams at the highest levels possible.

Academy Resources and Initiatives

Financial assistance for players that qualify
Individual Development Plans for each player
Access to all home game footage
Classroom access for team meetings and video analysis
Position-specific training
Age-based developmental model
Comprehensive curriculum and teaching methodology