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Prep boys soccer programs feel impact of development academies

 
Palm Harbor University goalkeeper Hayden Grooms, right, decided to stick with high school soccer even though he had an opportunity to play in a developmental academy. (Douglas R. Clifford, Times)
Palm Harbor University goalkeeper Hayden Grooms, right, decided to stick with high school soccer even though he had an opportunity to play in a developmental academy. (Douglas R. Clifford, Times)
Published Jan. 14, 2016

The 2011-12 season was a banner one for high school boys soccer in Tampa Bay. Four teams — three public and one private — made the state championship game in their respective classifications with Tampa Prep winning out in Class A.

The following season the U.S. Soccer Federation moved its Development Academy boys teams from a seven-to 10-month schedule — September through June — a shift in direct conflict with the high school season.

The move was deemed necessary to accelerate the development of youth players, but it also forced the most talented boys prospects to choose between playing for their academy or prep team.

Since the overlap took place, the number of area high school teams playing in state title games has dwindled. In the 2012-13 season, Tampa Prep defended its state title and Steinbrenner made the 4A final. No bay area team has made a state championship game since.

"It's a good question as to whether development academies have had a direct result on area high schools not winning state titles," said Wiregrass Ranch coach Dave Wilson, whose team lost in the 4A state semifinals last season. "I know the quality of high school soccer has been affected."

Wilson had three players defect to the Clearwater Chargers academy team this season. The biggest loss was Brendan Duran, a senior who was a three-year starter and the team's third-leading scorer last season.

Other teams are in similar situations. Palm Harbor University, which advanced to the 5A region final a year ago, had two players opt for the academy program. Last year, Sunlake lost Remi Pimm, who led the nation in goals (64) during the 2013-14 season.

"One of the hardest things is not knowing what you're going to have from year to year," Wilson said. "That said, I don't know if the losses have been enough to prevent a team from winning it all."

The Development Academy was created in 2007 to provide youth players with training on a European-based model — more practices, fewer games and a greater emphasis on technical skill. Competition comes from within the more than 90 academy teams, which include two in the bay area — the Chargers and Tampa Bay United. The focus is on three mandatory training sessions a week in addition to one weekly game.

There are exemptions for private school players on athletic scholarships. They're allowed to play club and prep soccer as long as they show their club written proof of their scholarship.

"That is a rule that came from the U.S. Soccer Federation, not from the academy teams themselves," Clearwater Chargers director of operations James Di Nobile said. "It gives players under scholarship the chance to do both because that school already has an investment in the student-athlete, which seems fair."

But that rule has irked public school coaches.

"It just doesn't give us a level playing field," Sunlake coach Sam Koleduk said. "Some private school teams have a handful of guys playing academy and we lose those kids. That just doesn't seem fair."

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Public schools have won state titles in the three highest classifications (5A-3A) each of the past two seasons, but none among area teams.

The emergence of top amateur clubs and their participation in elite showcase events draw the interest of college coaches, who find an attractive option on their limited budget to watch —and recruit — players at one event. Di Nobile said the Chargers' academy program will have 10 players sign with colleges in February and about six more sign in the following months.

But academy soccer is not for everyone. Palm Harbor University goalkeeper Hayden Grooms plays for the Chargers club team and had a chance to join the development academy program but decided to stick to high school soccer.

"My high school coach said last year he wanted me to be a captain this year, and that I could make a bigger impact here than in academy, which ultimately I think is true," said Grooms, who will play at the club level in college.

Newsome senior Josef Gutsche played soccer for the developmental academy three years before joining his high school team this season. His older sisters played high school soccer at Newsome and he wanted that experience. And he wanted to kick for the football team.

Some believe the defection of players has actually helped the high school game.

"To me, it's as strong as ever," St. Petersburg coach Rui Farias said. "The talent is spread out and games are really even and competitive. It's exciting."

But academy soccer is not going anywhere. In fact, it's expanding. Di Nobile said there are plans next season to add an 11- to 12-year-old team.

And development academy soccer will not just be for boys. Girls soccer could be included within the next two years.