In their inaugural year as a member of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy program, Sacramento Republic FC’s Academy are enjoying the journey and capturing key wins along the way.
Republic FC’s Academy features three age groups this season—U-13/14, U-15/16 and U-17/18—each who are more than halfway into their respective seasons, with the U-17/18s looking poised for playoffs and the U-15/16s just three points out of playoff spot.
In their inaugural year as a member of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy program, Sacramento Republic FC’s Academy are enjoying the journey and capturing key wins along the way.
Republic FC’s Academy features three age groups this season—U-13/14, U-15/16 and U-17/18—each who are more than halfway into their respective seasons, with the U-17/18s looking poised for playoffs and the U-15/16s just three points out of playoff spot.
Leading the way is the U-17/18 side, who have lost just once since November 2015, holding a 13-4-5 record and currently ranked no. 18 overall in the country. Following them are the the U-15/16 team who sit on a three-match win streak with a season record of 10-10-2 and are just three points out of playoff position. Meanwhile, the U-13/14 team, whose age group is not ranked by the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, currently hold a record of 12-4-2.
For the Academy’s staff, the program’s strong start is a testament to the hours they’ve put into planning and developing a training curriculum designed to bring out the best in each youth player. The Academy’s training program is modeled to provide players a regiment similar to that of a first team player.
A typical session begins with the players quickly suiting up into their training gear before heading out to the field to begin warming up. If they have any knocks or injuries, they go to the athletic trainer, who is present at each session for all age groups. The players are then put through different drills, from shooting and passing drills to set piece plays. Most sessions end with a scrimmage.
“We have the boys out four to six days a week training,” said Academy Director Rod Underwood. “Our coaches have to provide a full weekly plan and every session is logged, every session is reviewed by me before approved; so it’s actually a lot of detail at every level. Coaches probably spend preparing for a session three to four hours beforehand. We have resources that help us provide a top-level environment for our players.”
The importance of having the opportunity to play in a U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy is not lost on the players. The Academy is composed of players throughout the Sacramento region who played at a diverse range of youth clubs prior to joining the program. Although the skills learned at the club level are invaluable, joining the Republic FC Academy allows local players to compete at the highest level of youth soccer available in the country.
“It’s a whole different level from club soccer,” said U-17/18 midfielder Aroon Molina. “Every practice is hard and everything, from the coaches to each session, has been top notch. It’s helpful to have a trainer that you can go to and there’s just so many resources that you wouldn’t get with regular youth clubs.”
The training is clearly paying off for the Academy and it’s players. Since this fall, the program has already had two players called into the U.S.Men’s National Team youth development camps. In November 2015 U-15/U-16 Academy goalkeeper Mason Finnell was selected to attend a U-15 U.S. Boys’ National Team Camp. More recently, U-17/18 defender David Burns was invited to participate in the U-20 U.S. Men’s National Team Camp in January.
“To be noticed and to be included in those sort of elite groups like the national team is important,” said Underwood. “It shows some respect for our program, some respect for our players and respect for what we’re doing and that’s important.”
Furthermore, seven f the club’s U-17/18 players have already committed to play at various NCAA D1 programs next fall. Defenders David Burns, Mackenzie Harrington, Samuel Dadzie and Nabilai Kibunguchy committed to Cal, Sacramento State, Cal State Northridge and UC Davis, respectively. Midfielder Will DuBay committed to Loyola Marymount University, while fellow midfielder Jeff Dukes committed to San Jose State. The lone forward in the group, Joseph Restani, committed to Saint Mary’s College.
Sacramento Republic FC eventually hope to create a pipeline for local talent, developing players in the Academy for the first team. A few U-17/18 players have had the opportunity to train with the first team, and Kibunguchy and Restani were called to Republic FC Head Coach Paul Buckle’s rosters for the preseason friendlies on Feb. 13 and 20. Although both were unused subs, their call-ups provide a glimpse of what the Academy and first team relationship can become.
“We have some very important pillars for us,” said Underwood. “Number one we want these guys to be good people, number two we want these players to be exposed and have a chance at national teams, and we want to get them into elite colleges. We want to make sure that one days these kids sign for the first team.”
Despite the strong start to the program, Underwood is not feeling complacent. True to the Republic FC indomitable spirit, Underwood wants to see even more out of the program as it develops over the next few seasons.
“We feel good about where we are, with the group in general but we feel like we could be a lot better,” said Underwood. “We have a lot of room to grow but for a first year group you know together so overall it’s been good. Our philosophy is to develop the best players we possibly can to have a long term impact on the game.”
Republic FC’s Academy is on the road this weekend on Saturday, Apr. 2 and Sunday, Apr. 3. However, both the U-17/18 and U-15/16 teams return home to play their NorCal rivals, the San Jose Earthquakes Academy on Saturday, Apr. 9 at Cosumnes River College. Kickoff for the U-15/16 match is at 4:30 p.m. followed by the U-17/18 match at 7:30 p.m. Both matches are open to the public and admission is free.
While the 2015-2016 Academy season continues through June and July, Sacramento Republic FC are already looking toward the 2016-2017 season. The club is expanding their Academy program to include three new sides, including two U-12 team and a U-13 team in addition to the U-14, U-15/16 and U-17/18 program.
Tryouts for the upcoming season will be announced at a later date. For more information about Republic FC’s Academy program or to be notified of future tryout opportunities, visit www.sacrepublicfc.com.
Leading the way is the U-17/18 side, who have lost just once since November 2015, holding a 13-4-5 record and currently ranked no. 18 overall in the country. Following them are the the U-15/16 team who sit on a three-match win streak with a season record of 10-10-2 and are just three points out of playoff position. Meanwhile, the U-13/14 team, whose age group is not ranked by the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, currently hold a record of 12-4-2.
For the Academy’s staff, the program’s strong start is a testament to the hours they’ve put into planning and developing a training curriculum designed to bring out the best in each youth player. The Academy’s training program is modeled to provide players a regiment similar to that of a first team player.
A typical session begins with the players quickly suiting up into their training gear before heading out to the field to begin warming up. If they have any knocks or injuries, they go to the athletic trainer, who is present at each session for all age groups. The players are then put through different drills, from shooting and passing drills to set piece plays. Most sessions end with a scrimmage.
“We have the boys out four to six days a week training,” said Academy Director Rod Underwood. “Our coaches have to provide a full weekly plan and every session is logged, every session is reviewed by me before approved; so it’s actually a lot of detail at every level. Coaches probably spend preparing for a session three to four hours beforehand. We have resources that help us provide a top-level environment for our players.”
The importance of having the opportunity to play in a U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy is not lost on the players. The Academy is composed of players throughout the Sacramento region who played at a diverse range of youth clubs prior to joining the program. Although the skills learned at the club level are invaluable, joining the Republic FC Academy allows local players to compete at the highest level of youth soccer available in the country.
“It’s a whole different level from club soccer,” said U-17/18 midfielder Aroon Molina. “Every practice is hard and everything, from the coaches to each session, has been top notch. It’s helpful to have a trainer that you can go to and there’s just so many resources that you wouldn’t get with regular youth clubs.”
The training is clearly paying off for the Academy and it’s players. Since this fall, the program has already had two players called into the U.S.Men’s National Team youth development camps. In November 2015 U-15/U-16 Academy goalkeeper Mason Finnell was selected to attend a U-15 U.S. Boys’ National Team Camp. More recently, U-17/18 defender David Burns was invited to participate in the U-20 U.S. Men’s National Team Camp in January.
“To be noticed and to be included in those sort of elite groups like the national team is important,” said Underwood. “It shows some respect for our program, some respect for our players and respect for what we’re doing and that’s important.”
Furthermore, seven f the club’s U-17/18 players have already committed to play at various NCAA D1 programs next fall. Defenders David Burns, Mackenzie Harrington, Samuel Dadzie and Nabilai Kibunguchy committed to Cal, Sacramento State, Cal State Northridge and UC Davis, respectively. Midfielder Will DuBay committed to Loyola Marymount University, while fellow midfielder Jeff Dukes committed to San Jose State. The lone forward in the group, Joseph Restani, committed to Saint Mary’s College.
Sacramento Republic FC eventually hope to create a pipeline for local talent, developing players in the Academy for the first team. A few U-17/18 players have had the opportunity to train with the first team, and Kibunguchy and Restani were called to Republic FC Head Coach Paul Buckle’s rosters for the preseason friendlies on Feb. 13 and 20. Although both were unused subs, their call-ups provide a glimpse of what the Academy and first team relationship can become.
“We have some very important pillars for us,” said Underwood. “Number one we want these guys to be good people, number two we want these players to be exposed and have a chance at national teams, and we want to get them into elite colleges. We want to make sure that one days these kids sign for the first team.”
Despite the strong start to the program, Underwood is not feeling complacent. True to the Republic FC indomitable spirit, Underwood wants to see even more out of the program as it develops over the next few seasons.
“We feel good about where we are, with the group in general but we feel like we could be a lot better,” said Underwood. “We have a lot of room to grow but for a first year group you know together so overall it’s been good. Our philosophy is to develop the best players we possibly can to have a long term impact on the game.”
Republic FC’s Academy is on the road this weekend on Saturday, Apr. 2 and Sunday, Apr. 3. However, both the U-17/18 and U-15/16 teams return home to play their NorCal rivals, the San Jose Earthquakes Academy on Saturday, Apr. 9 at Cosumnes River College. Kickoff for the U-15/16 match is at 4:30 p.m. followed by the U-17/18 match at 7:30 p.m. Both matches are open to the public and admission is free.
While the 2015-2016 Academy season continues through June and July, Sacramento Republic FC are already looking toward the 2016-2017 season. The club is expanding their Academy program to include three new sides, including two U-12 team and a U-13 team in addition to the U-14, U-15/16 and U-17/18 program.
Tryouts for the upcoming season will be announced at a later date. For more information about Republic FC’s Academy program or to be notified of future tryout opportunities, visit www.sacrepublicfc.com.
