IMG Soccer Academy

The IMG Soccer Academy is the United States Soccer Federation's (USSF) full-time residency program for the US Under 17 Men's National Team. Started in 1999, it has become integral in developing the United State's top youth soccer prospects. The residency program gives elite players the opportunity to train in a professional environment as MLS does not have a youth academy system currently in place. The academy has grown from an initial 20 players to 30 in 2002 and then to 40 in 2003. The program is now split into a U16 squad and a U17 squad.

Related Topics:
United States Soccer Federation's - Men's National Team - 1999 - Soccer - MLS - 2002 - 2003

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The IMG Soccer Academy is part of the IMG Academies located in Bradenton, Florida. A typical day for the student/athelete at Bradenton is classes in the morning followed by atheletic training in the afternoon. Students at the academy take accelerated courses and graduate high school a year early, making the players who do not turn pro immediately some of the most heavily recruited prospects in college soccer.

Related Topics:
IMG Academies - Bradenton - Florida - College soccer

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The academy can trace its roots back to Project 2010 which highlighted ways the USSF could make the men's national team a legitimate threat to win the World Cup by the end of the decade. Two programs that were born from Project 2010 were Generation adidas (previously called Project-40) and the Bradenton academy. The academy was started in January of 1999 with backing of International Marketing Group (IMG) and Nike.

Related Topics:
Project 2010 - World Cup - Generation adidas - International Marketing Group - Nike

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