South Carolina’s only U.S. Soccer Development Academy club is leaving the program after nine years, because of its inability to “consistently provide practice and game fields and the recent defectionof players back to the high school or local academy ranks,” reports of The Post and Courier’s Andrew Miller.
“We’re really hoping that we cancome back and continue the Academy next year,” said S.C. Battery Academy executive director Clark Brisson. “We’re exploring some different options and hopefully wewill be able to return for the 2017-18 season.”
Shilo Tisdale, the coach of powerhouse Wando High School, said, “I know there are some kids at Wando that play for The Academy,so they’ll probably come out next year. We’re lucky, we have a good bit of depth in our program, but I think there will be other high schools that benefit a lot if they get some of theirkids back. I’m all for anything that promotes the game. I think this will benefit high school soccer.”