Next Generation Series News Release
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
TAMPA, Fla - United Soccer Leagues announced today that Southern Soccer Academy has been formally accepted into the Next Generation Series, a comprehensive, elite development platform for clubs to best prepare their young players for the challenges which await them at the next level.
Since 1988, Southern Soccer Academy (SSA) has sought to be the premier youth soccer club in the southeast and in 2012 SSA finished sixth in the Super Y-League First 11 rankings for performance on and off the field. This commitment to player development has built the club into a national powerhouse.
“Our players will certainly benefit from the plan set in place by the NGS program,” SSA Director of Soccer Steve Gummer said. “The fact that the program is being run by market leaders makes us very excited, and we are glad to be part of this new venture from the very beginning.”
In 2013, SSA will begin competition in the Next Gen Series - an exciting, new youth soccer initiative undertaken by USL and IMG Academy, established to provide players, coaches and clubs the opportunity to take part in an eight month, elite-level league. The platform will consist of U12 and U14 boys and girls teams competing from August through April that will also feature two evaluation/competition events at IMG. Top players will be identified through the NGS Player Tracking Program and invited to attend the NGS ID Training Camp at IMG.
“Southern Soccer Academy is a leading organization when it comes to developing top-class talent,” former Major League Soccer player and NGS Director Abe Thompson said. “Shaquell Moore is a great example of this, being named a team captain for the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team. We’re excited to work with SSA to help develop the next wave of elite players.”
Experts in the field of developing world-class athletes through its state-of-the-art facilities, education, and philosophy IMG Academy will help propel NGS players to the next level.
“NGS allows players to come out and play out of their comfort zone and try to do new things under match conditions without the worry of making mistakes,” said Scott Dean, IMG Academy Director of Soccer. “Allowing the player to learn through the game by trial and error will speed up the process of development.”
SSA’s mission statement reads: To enhance the growth and participation of youth soccer by promoting player development and fostering healthy competition in an environment that is enjoyable and sporting for all participants regardless of individual ability as well as creating a more challenging environment for those players who strive to reach their fullest potential.
More than just another youth soccer league NGS features a forward-looking, innovative, comprehensive, and unique development program designed to develop the complete elite youth soccer player through a defined regimen of training, competition, testing, and evaluation.
The inspiration for NGS was the repeated and consistent message received from top youth soccer clubs and coaches that they were seeking a fresh development initiative specifically geared toward younger teams and players. NGS was launched to fill the void by providing a comprehensive platform for clubs to best prepare their young players for the challenges which await them at the next level.
“The most important advantage to us is the philosophy of the program and the development side of the player and the team, playing in an environment where everyone is on board with playing the game the right way, through a passing and moving concept and letting players feel relaxed when playing,” Gummer continued. “The teaching of the game comes to mind and the openness of the program to develop the player is a true must for us.”
Three of Southern Soccer Academy’s teams attended the 2012 Super Y-League North American Finals at IMG Academy with the U16 boys winning the national championship as forward Tyler Edwards took home the Golden Boot award.
The world’s largest and most advanced multi-sport training and education complex, IMG Academy hosted myriad soccer team training camps in 2012, including clubs such as the Seattle Sounders, D.C. United, Columbus Crew, Sweden’s Malmö FF, as well as the U.S. Women’s National Team preparing for the London Olympic Games and the Antigua & Barbuda Men’s National Team preparing for World Cup qualifying.
To learn more about the Next Gen Series please visit www.NGSsoccer.com.