AC Milan is one of the biggest names in the world of soccer, rivaling Manchester United, Real Madrid, and FC Barcelona as the most popular team on the planet. But no one has the global programming offered by AC Milan, which has operations in over 50 countries.
AC Milan is likely the only club in the world to have a structured and coherent youth program in the Americas. From identifying talented youngsters to camps and tournaments, the Italian giants are everywhere. Youth players that attend AC Milan Jr. camps have the chance to earn an invitation to Milan, which is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The best of the best live the “Milan experience,” getting face to face with players, touring facilities, and eventually training as part of an elite international team under the AC Milan umbrella.
These elite teams then participate in tournaments like the AC Milan Continental Cup in Cleveland, Ohio. This tournament is one of the fastest growing in North America and has quite an international flavor, thanks to teams from 20+ countries. The Cleveland event is tied into AC Milan qualifying tournaments in Tulsa, Orlando, and in Colombia. This allows players to compete at the very highest level with the event becoming the key cog in AC Milan’s presence in the Americas.
And what an event it is. The Continental Cup is part of an international youth sports festival also supported by the Cleveland Indians (MLB) and Cleveland Cavaliers. Three giants of sport putting their brand and talents behind the youth, an amazing concept in a world where pro athletes are often misunderstood.
Why choose Cleveland for this festival? Cleveland is a sports town and also happens to be one of the best soccer markets in all of North America. The tradition of excellence in Cleveland goes all the way back to the Cleveland Stokers, who passed the torch to the Cobras, Force, Crunch, City Stars, and now AFC Cleveland.
Why all the interest in the America game? Lots of reasons, many centering on promoting their global brand to a sea of people that are truly warming up to the beautiful game. The most important being the raw talent of the American footballer and the sheer number of players in the U.S. Eighteen million players in the U.S. to be precise. AC Milan has taken notice in a big way, sending resources and talented individuals to the Americas to find the next generation of Serie A legends.
Eddie Marles, AC Milan youth program coordinator for the Americas, is excited about the potential of American players, saying that our game is extremely fast, physical, and tactically organized. “The side of the game that the U.S. is lacking is creativity,” Marles commented in an interview with ISNSoccer.com. That creativity is slowly being added by players from Africa and South America and a top-class national team coach like Jurgen Klinsmann.
AC Milan is doing their part, expanding their presence in soccer academies across the country, spreading the Italian style of soccer to elite American players. Cleveland will benefit from this as well, thanks to an affiliation with a prominent local club and an academy announcement in the coming days and weeks. Truly something that will change the face of the soccer landscape in Northeast Ohio for years to come.
Want to be part of the very best? Come on out to Cleveland this summer to see tournaments, camps, and academies all under the AC Milan brand. Like we always say “it is going to be a great summer of soccer.”
Posted in Youth Soccer by .
The closing of Brad Friedel’s Premier Soccer Academies was a huge blow to soccer in Northeast Ohio, one of the top markets in North America. There has been no comparable product to develop soccer until now.
The SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio is everything that PSA was and more. And they have enormous resources to guarantee stability and longevity for all of their sports programs, including a full-fledged residential soccer academy. They are not a short-term project that will fade away, but rather a long-term vision for soccer and sports in this country.
The problem with the term “academy” is that everyone uses it whether they are truly an academy or not. Cleveland, Akron, and Canton may claim to have such programs, but no one can match what SPIRE has planned for their academy. Only IMG in Bradenton, Florida can even compete with what is happening in Geneva and they may even be surpassed in a year or two.
In the fall of 2012 post-graduate students will enter the residential soccer academy for the first time. In the fall of 2013 the program will expand to high school athletes. The academy is designed to improve the individual, taking care of all aspects of the athlete’s life from academics, training, nutrition, and psychology.
According to Head Coach Marco Koolman, formerly with Boston College and Franklin Pierce, it is the “development of the total player.” The Dutch may have cornered the market on total football, but SPIRE has it covered when you talk about the total player.
Providing a professional environment is critical when talking about player development. This environment can certainly be called professional, but also intense and rigorous. Students will train at least twice a day along with a demanding in-house academic program. That’s right players will live, breathe, and learn soccer and take care of their education at the same time, living and working at Olympic-grade facilities on the SPIRE campus.
Innovative? Yes. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely yes. It is an investment in a player and a person with the end goal being increased scholarship opportunities for college and a shot to play at the next level. Will this academy produce top college prospects? Future professional players? Yes and yes.
The soccer academy is just the tip of the iceberg for SPIRE, which offers programs in almost every sport imaginable. They already are home to premier youth and adult indoor leagues that draw from teams all over the Midwest. Geneva’s location is convenient for almost everyone, being in the middle of a soccer-rich region.
SPIRE’s plan is bold, but one that the beautiful game has needed for a long time. The academy system has been the heart of soccer in Europe, paying huge dividends over the years. Programs like SPIRE’s academy will give American players a chance, making us competitive in the global game, even pushing us closer to a World Cup victory.
ISN is committed to showing the promise and potential of SPIRE and its impact on the beautiful game here in the Midwest and across the country. A series of feature articles are planned, starting in March. For further information about the SPIRE Institute, please visit http://www.spireinstitute.org.
The University of Akron was abuzz this week with news of the hiring of former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel. But it was the men’s soccer team that claimed yet another award after yet another successful season under the expert tutelage of Caleb Porter.
The team claimed the Collegiate Athlete of the Year award, beating out Cleveland State’s Norris Cole and Kent State’s Dustin Kilgore at the 2011 Greater Cleveland Sports Awards.
While the program did not win another national title, it did send Darren Mattocks to MLS as the #2 overall pick and several others (Luke Holmes, Matt Dagilis, Michael Balogun) to likely careers in the NASL, USL, and NPSL.
Other winners at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards included Mitch Trubisky (High School Athlete of the Year), Jessica Beard (Amateur Athlete of the Year), Asdrubal Cabrera (Athlete of the Year), Austin Carr (Lifetime Achievement Award), and Brandee Kelly (Courage Award).
Jan 12
30
WPS Suspends Play for 2012 Season
Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) announced today that its Board of Governors has voted to suspend the 2012 season to permit the League to focus on the resolution of certain pending legal issues and the challenges that now face the League as a result of its ongoing dispute with a former owner.
“We are proud of what the League has accomplished in the first three seasons, but we do recognize the necessity to resolve our existing legal and operational issues so that we can continue to support and grow WPS the right way,” said Sky Blue FC Owner Thomas Hofstetter. “This was a very difficult decision, but one we as owners feel is the best business decision for the League at this time.”
The Board voted on Monday morning to suspend the 2012 season. Over the last year the league has faced significant challenges, including a lengthy and expensive legal battle with a former owner. The litigation has diverted resources from investment in the league and has forced the Board to take action, suspending the 2012 season in order to address the legal issues head-on before moving forward with competition.
“We firmly believe there is a place in the global sports landscape for Women’s Professional Soccer,” said WPS CEO Jennifer O’Sullivan. “Making the decision to suspend the 2012 season was a difficult and painful one, but it is necessary to take the time to address current issues and solidify our business in order to provide appropriate support needed to achieve the League’s long-term goals. Those that take part in our League – players, partners and fans – deserve the best, and that is what we are taking the time to ensure we deliver when we resume play in 2013 and beyond.”
WPS has established its plans to return to play in 2013, and all five owners of the League’s existing teams – Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, Philadelphia Independence, Sky Blue FC and Western New York Flash – will remain active with the CEO, Jennifer O’Sullivan, in the governance of WPS throughout the current year.
“We are deeply grateful to our fans and partners for the tremendous support they have shown for WPS, our players and the sport,” added O’Sullivan. “With our supporters and athletes in mind, we are committed to complete the hard work necessary to resume play in 2013 and reestablish WPS as the premiere women’s professional soccer league in the world.”
Jan 12
29
Sand and the Beautiful Game
Beach soccer is on the rise in the U.S. It is a game played in Virginia, California, even the Great Lakes in Ohio and Michigan.
But when you want to talk about beach soccer, you talk to Florida Beach Soccer FC. They are the leaders in the sport, landing some serious hardware in 2011.
The most impressive was the Major Beach Soccer Men’s National Championship, claimed by FBS on December 18th after a 1-0 victory over Team Spartan in Clearwater, Florida. It must be a lucky place for Florida Beach Soccer as they already claimed a major championship there in July. FBS was also victorious at major tournaments in Virginia Beach and Trinidad & Tobago.
Why all the success for FBS? Experience, experience, experience. They know the sport better than anyone in America.
Current USA Beach Soccer National Team players? Check. Former USA Beach Soccer National Team players? Check. Professional players? Check. World-All Stars? Check. The #3 player in the world? Check. Simply put, Florida Beach Soccer is loaded.
And the media is finally taking notice. FBS was the star of the winter edition of USL Breakaway on Fox Soccer Channel. Highlights and interviews helped the club get national exposure thanks to an event run by North America’s largest soccer league.
The club is a leader off the field as well, landing the only kit sponsorship in all of beach soccer. Florida Beach Soccer recently signed a five-year deal with Admiral Sportswear, the brand once worn by Manchester United, the New York Cosmos, and the English national team.
Captain Francis Farberoff is one of the big reasons for the success of Florida Beach Soccer. He grew up in Brazil, eventually bringing his talents to St. Thomas University in Miami. He became a star midfielder and would play in amateur and semi-professional leagues before turning pro on the beach.
Professional beach soccer player? That is what FBS is all about. Promoting the sport anywhere they go with the vision of growing the sport into pro leagues from coast to coast.
It is quite a goal, but certainly a possible one according to Farberoff. The game is one of skill, small fields, and big goals. No walls, uncertain surfaces, direct kicks from anywhere …. every aspect of the game is a challenge. In other words, beach soccer is entertaining for players, coaches, and most importantly the audience.
If clubs follow the path blazed by Florida Beach Soccer, then they will have a chance to make it big.
Posted in Beach Soccer by .
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