USL Feature
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The Richmond Kickers celebrate their 20th season this year, opening the USL PRO season with a pair of games against long-time rival the Charleston Battery. But as the senior team celebrates, the club is sowing the seeds for future success in its academy program, which has been just as integral a part of the club through the course of its history.
And for Kickers Director of Coaching Leigh Cowlishaw, seeing players develop in the club’s youth system and then move on to play college soccer, and even professionally, has been a remarkably rewarding part of his time with the club.
“I think the most rewarding part, regardless if it’s academy or whatever league or program we’re part of,” Cowlishaw said, “is seeing a player come through our youth ranks, and to see the enthusiasm and improvement in ability, and to see them go on to play at the highest level possible, be it in college or hopefully, as we move forward, more players in the professional ranks.”
Having a professional team at the top of the club’s system is obviously a benefit to the academy program. Many of the Kickers players are involved in helping coach some of the club’s younger teams, with Cowlishaw overseeing the older age groups. Cowlishaw believes gaining the insight the players provide, and for some of the club’s top youngsters getting the opportunity to train alongside professionals, offers players the ability to accelerate their improvement as they prepare to make the jump to college soccer.
“Outside of MLS we have a huge advantage because we have several of our academy players train and play games with the pro team,” Cowlishaw said. “That’s an important piece, because they learn so much from the professional players. Several of our pro players will train during the academy season and our offseason as well, and that just allows our academy players to see the type of level that’s required and also the professionalism that’s needed.”
That has allowed a number of players to go on to play Division I college soccer, with Christopher Spates and Haydon Bennett both signing with West Virginia University and Daniel Lauretano signing with Virginia Tech from this year’s class. Ultimately, Cowlishaw hopes to see players like the aforementioned trio have the opportunity to play professionally, even if it’s not necessarily for the Kickers.
“That’s a nice component, but the ultimate goal is to try and maximize each player’s potential wherever they go,” Cowlishaw said of players returning to Richmond to play professionally. “If it’s higher than us, fantastic, if they end up back in Richmond and playing for their local team, that works out well as well.”
Before they move on, though, Cowlishaw expects some of the current academy side will at least get the chance to train with the senior team, with training camp starting soon for the upcoming USL PRO season. Should one of them prove good enough, it might even open up the opportunity for some playing time.
“If we have players that are good enough, and need to be playing at that level in order to improve and continue their development then we’re going to do that,” Cowlishaw said. “If they can help the pro team as squad players and they can contribute then it works great for the pro team, it works fantastic for a kid, prior to college, continuing to improve as a soccer player.”
In the end, though, Cowlishaw hopes that every player that comes through the Kickers’ academy is as prepared as possible for their future in the game, however far it may take them.
“Hopefully it sets a foundation where they’re prepared for the expectations of college and the professional ranks, if they have the desire and the talent to make it that far,” he said.