Philadelphia Union Outlines Youth Academy Plans

• Philadelphia Daily News, Wednesday, September 30, 2009 4:30 PM

Philadelphia Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz and Coach Peter Nowak announced a partnership with YSC Academy, a youth soccer academy based in Wayne, Pa. Sakiewicz and YSC Academy founder Richie Graham conveyed a plan akin to one used by many top club teams in Europe.

As opposed to other American programs, this program plans to be "club neutral." Regardless of their allegiances to local clubs, young players will have a chance to take advantage of the academy's coaching, spearheaded by director Iain Munro. The academy plans to accept not only players living in the suburbs, most of whom already play on travel teams, but also city children who might not have access to high level instruction. As part of the plan to find and nurture area talent, Sakiewicz noted that the program has discussed opening satellite campuses in Philadelphia, Reading, South Jersey and Delaware. "Ultimately this is about finding the next great player - or two, or three - right here at home to play in our stadium in Chester," Sakiewicz said.

"There are a lot of talented players out there who are never found because they just don't have the resources," Sakiewicz added. "This program is out to create as big a net as possible and finding those special players that want to learn and get better. That's what this is about."

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