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How will the Development Academy affect high school?

Corner Kicks

on August 24, 2007 2:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

It seems as though no matter what year, a new season always means a new controversy for boys soccer in Illinois.

Earlier this week, I wrote about U.S. Soccer's new plan - the nationwide Development Academy http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/boys_soccer/516825,CST-SPT-socc20.article.

The Chicago Magic, Chicago Fire and Sockers F.C. plan to have teams involved. The IHSA doesn't allow high school players to play both - club and high school - at the same time. So that means more than 150 players throughout the Chicagoland area may skip the 2008 high school season.

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2 Comments

By goalieglove on August 24, 2007 6:40 AM

It's all about money with the club.

By Steve K on August 28, 2007 2:40 PM

I am concerned about the message this sends to the kids. These are high school kids. Is our society about sports first or about education first? Soccer already has an 11 month season, longer then ANY other sport, just ask the parents of club players. I tell kids I coach that education comes first, so now what message is Soccer preaching to the kids, Education or Soccer.

What is next a grade school development league? Lets start a baseball development league, lets start a basketball development league, lets start a football development league! This is no different then Basketball drafting High School kids for a pro team.

When does a line get drawn, who is going to be responsible enough to step up and stand for education, these are high school kids. This league is 30 games of traveling around the country playing soccer, again these are high school kids.

If soccer does not want to police itself, then SOMEONE needs to step in and set boundry lines for soccer.