COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer and Brad Friedel's Premier Soccer Academies, the first full-scholarship youth soccer academy in the United States, announced today that they have joined forces to advance youth player development in the state of Ohio and beyond.
The Crew, with a long history of firsts, has been considered one of the most creative and successful organizations in soccer for the past 12 years. PSA is the newest and most innovative youth development organization in the United States. Together, their aim is to combine their significant resources to benefit boys and girls of all ages and skill levels.
The two organizations will co-manage and implement a number of camps for girls and boys between six and 18 years of age, 5-a-side tournaments (for boys, girls, men, and women of all ages), PSA residential programs, PSA Experience programs, Crew Experience programs, All-Star Camp Experience events, and other related programs.
At the centerpiece of the relationship is PSA's youth club (Cleveland United), which will become an official affiliate of the Crew's youth system (Crew Juniors), and will eventually be designated the PSA Crew Juniors. This affiliation will form the basis of a collaborative relationship with the Crew Soccer Academy teams, which will compete in the new U.S. Soccer Development Academy starting this year.
"The partnership with PSA is a perfect fit for our vision of youth player development in the state of Ohio," said Crew General Manager Mark McCullers. "Additionally, we are thrilled with the opportunity to collaborate with Brad Friedel, one of the most decorated and successful players in U.S. soccer history and a former Crew player."
Players on the Crew Soccer Academy team roster, along with players in the PSA club system, will have the opportunity to further their development in the PSA residency program free of club fees and travel expenses - a value of up to $35,000 per year.
"I have always had an affinity for, and good relationship with, the Crew. In my opinion, they have one of the better run organizations in the MLS and their new attention to youth development is exciting to see," said Brad Friedel, Co-Founder of Premier Soccer Academies and a Crew goalkeeper from 1996-97. "This is the main reason I helped to set up PSA, so that other entities, such as the Crew, would put their time and money behind youth development to further the sport in the United States. Their ownership is taking the right approach to developing talent which fits perfectly within our vision and the programs we offer."
Tryouts for the PSA Crew Juniors will be held Nov. 4 and Nov. 11 at the PSA Campus in Lorain, Ohio. For more information on specific tryout times for ages U9-U18, please visit the official PSA Web site at www.gopsa.com. Player identification and tryouts for Crew Soccer Academy teams will be by invitation and will be conducted at the Crew's Obetz Training Facility and PSA's complex.
Dates and locations for all PSA/Crew 2008 camps and 5-a-side tournament will be announced by the end of October.
