[U.S. DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY] In its first season of Academy play, the MLS Portland Timbers are off to a strong start. Their U-15/16 team is unbeaten with a 3-0-2record.
“We had tryouts in the beginning of July and I thought we might be lucky to get 100 players out,” Timbers Academy co-director Mike Smith
The Timbers have regional training centers through much of the state and southernWashington.
“We didn’t want to deny anybody to join the Academy because of distance and we work within the parameters of the best practice rules,” Smith said. “Wehave players who live over 100 miles away and are able to train regularly each week. The players have made that commitment and it’s been really successful.”