They've only played together since the Fall. Prior to that they were all on teams at the various affiliates. They are a combined U13/U14 team, which means kids born no earlier than 8/1/01, so some of those kids will be turning 15 later this year.
NYCFC Academy - General Discussion
- Thread starter NYCFC_Dan
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They've only played together since the Fall. Prior to that they were all on teams at the various affiliates. They are a combined U13/U14 team, which means kids born no earlier than 8/1/01, so some of those kids will be turning 15 later this year.
In practice no - they are at the end of the day just friendly tournaments. However, entry is entirely invitational by the tournament's organisers; there's no application process to become a part, although I'm sure teams do do some canvassing to put their names into the hat. In many cases therefore, the organisers would probably argue that if they are seen inviting a u-14 team to a u-16 tournament then it will be seen as a sign that they couldn't find anyone better from the "right" age group - a bit like if you announced you were going to have a tournament from clubs from the NYC area and then invited teams from Boston and Philadelphia too. I suppose it's possible that some tournaments do have actual written self-imposed age guidelines, if only to avoid being challenged about their selection policy by other entrants in the event of a controversy.
I think there is also a tendency to avoid doing this on a team level, too, since the difference in physicality between u-14 and u-16 can be noticeable. You don't want the smallest boy on your team going home with his ankle in a cast because he was too slight to ride a challenge from the opposition's biggest two-years-older bruiser. Obviously the difference in physicality is simply an accepted part of football at the adult level, but at the younger levels you have to be seen to be protecting your kids to a certain extent at least. It's alright to promote one or two lads if they are clearly ready for the challenge but if you do it for an entire team then you're expecting all of your players to step up to the challenge, and there's always a handful who aren't ready for that.
I guess this raises another question of how they manage promoting kids up ahead of their age group. Or perhaps it just means that (again, based on IF our academy is really better than other local competition) we win a lot of age appropriate tournaments handily but also play a number of 1 year difference friendlies. I.e., have our u14 play the Columbus u15, etc. This would challenge the team if they aren't getting the competitive experience they need from age appropriate tournaments.
That's what I'm saying. Resources = time commitment, coaches, facilities, organizational structure and playing time. The commitment has been made to provide all of that and the money necessary to succeed.
Reyna definitely has. I believe there is another one from our academy that has but his name escapes me.
Yeah I thought so too. I looked quick but couldn't see any. I saw a couple kids from our affiliates but they're not on our academy team.
Will Citron also plays defense for NYCFC academy and he was included in a US u-14 roster.
He'll probably get a call from Frank Lampard to cheer him up.
Some things to think about:
- Squabs never gave up a goal in the entire tournament. Either that speaks highly of our defense or of the quality of the opponents.
- We scored a lot having the top two goalscorer in the tournament. Gio won the golden boot if they give that out.
- Great experience for these kids and you get better from defeat even in such a terrible way. 2nd international tournament for a team that's only been together for 2 years.
- Our academy is going to be the best in America.
These kids got to play in the Champions League, sort of (listen with audio)
And this isn't our jersey, at all...
- Squabs never gave up a goal in the entire tournament. Either that speaks highly of our defense or of the quality of the opponents.
- We scored a lot having the top two goalscorer in the tournament. Gio won the golden boot if they give that out.
- Great experience for these kids and you get better from defeat even in such a terrible way. 2nd international tournament for a team that's only been together for 2 years.
- Our academy is going to be the best in America.
These kids got to play in the Champions League, sort of (listen with audio)
And this isn't our jersey, at all...
Watch the video just above your comment. That actually is the kit the kids played in. The stripes are virtually impossible to make out, but you can see based on the badge, which clearly is not the NYCFC logo in the video, but does look like the one in that graphic. Also, you can just - just - make out in the video that the Adidas stripes end above the sleeve patch, but extend closer to it than the MLS kit stripes do.
Huh. I couldn't get a freezeframe that good but in the video it really looked like they were using a black and white, shield-type crest.
Playing two games a day on back to back days caught up to them but still cool they went all the way, even if they lost on penalties. Excellent experience for the regardlesss.
I did notice Dallas cup Twitter was retweeting these tweets .....maybe they get an invite?
I did notice Dallas cup Twitter was retweeting these tweets .....maybe they get an invite?
