[DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY] The Seattle Sounders FC’s Youth Academy teams will begin play in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy beginning next season following thetransfer of membership from Washington Premier Football Club. WPFC will operate the current WPFC Academy teams until the end of the 2009-10 season in July.
“Our current workingrelationship with WPFC has been great,” said Darren Sawatzky, Sounders FC Director of Youth Development. “We currently run the South RegionalTraining Center (RTC) at the Washington Premier complex. The president, directors, and coaching staff have been tremendous with a shared goal to further develop soccer players in WashingtonState.”
Current WPFC Academy players will be invited into the Sounders FC Youth Academy tryout process. Open tryouts begin on March 10.
“WPFC strives to help itsplayers compete at the highest levels of youth soccer, and our relationship with the Sounders FC is a natural extension of that practice,” said CharlieDent, WPFC President. “We appreciate the substantial investment of Sounders FC in youth soccer in our community, and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficialrelationship.”