San Jose Earthquakes Pre-Academy League Announcement
The San Jose Earthquakes have officially launched the Pre-Academy league, consisting of 7 training centers throughout Northern California. The goal of the Pre-Academy is to help identify and develop future collegiate and professional players at an earlier age. Tryouts for San Jose area players will be held December 5th, 6th & 7th, 2011 at Watson Park in San Jose, CA. Complete tryout information provided at the end of this article.
The Pre-Academy will be open to high-level players with 97, 98, and 99 birth years. The regional training centers will compete against one another in the San Jose Earthquake Pre-Academy league and participate in 5 MLS showcase tournaments. The Pre-Academy tournaments will feature only MLS teams including the LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps, Chivas USA, and San Jose Earthquakes. The top players from the Earthquakes Pre-Academy league will be selected for the MLS showcases as well as the Generation adidas Cup, a tournament featuring all 19 MLS pre-academy teams played during the week of the MLS All Star Game. Selected players will continue to play with their current teams in their local leagues and participate in other soccer activities including ODP and state competitions. Training for the Pre-Academy will be one day a week starting the 1st week of December with games beginning the 2nd week of December. The first MLS showcase will take place over President’s Day weekend this Feb.
The cost for the Pre-Academy league will be a one-time fee of $275.00 per player covering SJ Earthquakes training gear, training and coaching fees, and participation in games. Player evaluations and recommendations for the U14 Pre-Academy program will begin this December. Pre-Academy league will begin this December and games will be played through February. Additional league games and MLS Showcase events will be played in May and June of 2012. Away travel is not included in the Pre-Academy fee; scholarships for qualifying players may be available.
San Jose Earthquakes training centers and Pre-Academy teams are being formed in:
San Jose Pre-Academy Pool Coaching Staff
- Ian Russell (SJ Earthquakes Assistant Coach) - preacademy@sjearthquakes.com
- Mark Hogenhout (Former Seattle Sounders FC Player)
- Mike Graczyk (Former SJ Earthquakes Player - Current Stanford Asst. Coach)
- Rafael Baca (Current SJ Earthquakes Player)
- Steven Beitashour - (Current SJ Earthquakes Player - Leland HS Graduate)
San Jose Area Tryout Information & Registration
Date: December 5th - 6th & 7th
Time: 7:15-8:45PM
Location: Watson Park - Google Map Link
Tryout Registration: Click Here
*Tryouts for the other Pre-Academy training centers will be announced shortly. Players should try out in their geographical region.
Other Pre-Academy Pools
