This story was originally published in New England Soccer Journal. Hartford Athletic supporters can apply the code HA25 at checkout for 25% off either a year-long digital or all-access subscription. Launched in March 2013, New England Soccer Journal covers youth soccer up to the professional ranks across the entire region. Click here for more info and to subscribe.
When the USL Academy League was announced in early May, questions immediately surfaced about what that meant for Hartford Athletic, the only USL Championship side in New England.
Answers have arrived, with the club announcing Wednesday plans for a youth platform that focuses on being an additive experience to Connecticut youth soccer rather than a disruptive one. Bruce Mandell, chairman of Hartford Athletic, stressed exactly that during an interview with New England Soccer Journal.
“Our goal here is to be respectful to the premier clubs, especially, and the same for the town and travel teams,” Mandell said about the second-year club’s plans. “We want to provide access and opportunity for their kids, and do it in a way that’s respectful to their business models.”
Rather than launching a year-round academy like Connecticut’s top talent might find at the New England Revolution or New York City FC, Hartford’s simply fielding a team in the 2021 USL Academy Cup. Hartford’s team for the annual tournament will pool together U-15 through U-19 players via an open tryout, agnostic of background or résumé.
They’ll also participate in a weekly practice for 10-to-12 weeks before the USL Academy Cup, with Hartford’s first-team coaches overseeing each opportunity. Mandell said it will be a paid experience, though scholarship assistance is available to those who need it.
Liam O’Connell, the USL’s senior director of youth development, said it’s important that Hartford works with the state’s pre-existing soccer infrastructure. That includes Oakwood and Beachside as academy clubs, FSA FC and Connecticut FC in the Boys ECNL, and the likes of Northeast United and AJAX Premier as premier clubs.
“From my experience, a lot of pro clubs stake their flag and try to say, ‘We’ll show you how to develop future pros,’” O’Connell said. “But the reality is the first step often needs to be really collaborative, and that’s what they’re doing at Hartford. They want to build a pathway for aspiring professionals, but do it in partnership and with solid relationships. It’s not just, ‘Hey send us your best players for this tournament.’ It comes with a reciprocal relationship.”
That give-and-take, as O’Connell put it, contains a youth soccer affiliate program that’ll come at no cost for town travel and recreational clubs. Hartford has also reaffirmed its partnership with Premier League side Southampton FC, with player and coach education opportunities. Select players could train with Southampton, and Mandell stressed that head coach Radhi Jaïdi, who recently led Southampton’s U-23 team, feels local talent could fit into the English club’s academy.
“Maybe the players don’t get signed by Southampton, but they have the opportunity now,” Mandell said. “And that’s coming from Radhi, who was overseeing a crucial part of their youth development pathway.”
Asked if a full academy system could arrive – one that’s complete with a director of youth development, plus youth teams in the new USL Academy League that’s launching next spring – Mandell gave a simple “no.” Hartford’s plans could evolve to include that, but they’re instead focused on supplementing what’s deep-rooted in Connecticut youth soccer.
Another focus, Mandell said, is uncovering the next Alfonso Vazquez (Windham, Conn.), a forward who’s the all-time leading scorer in Connecticut high school history with 149 career goals. He attended a preseason tryout for the first team, and signed a professional deal after catching Jaïdi’s eye.
Mandell is adamant that there are more players out there like Vazquez, a 17-year-old whose pathway was separate from the academy and prep school ones that often produce local professionals.
“We’re going to have young teams in the future,” Mandell said. “We’re looking for talent, and we’d love for it to be local talent that comes into this system, signs and then plays.”
In terms of professional opportunities at young ages, Mandell noted how Connecticut has often been caught in between two situations. Those in the state’s northern and eastern parts can drive to the Revolution Academy, though the distance leads to someone like Stanford-bound goalkeeper Eliot Jones (New Britian, Conn.) joining New England’s residency program. Conversely, those in the southern parts like Yale-bound forward Andres Jasson (Greenwich, Conn.) join NYCFC’s academy.
Now, Mandell hopes that Hartford can provide a solution that’s additive to Connecticut’s traditional academy and club experiences. He also carries big aspirations for what the youth-to-pro pathway – one that’s game-centric instead of a year-round academy – could provide.
“The number one strategy is we want to help grow Connecticut to become a dominant youth soccer powerhouse,” Mandell said. “Already, there’s so much work being done at the grassroots, the town, the rec, the premier, the academy levels. We have great players being developed here, and now this can add to it.”
For more info on how you can get your team involved as an Official Hartford Athletic Youth Soccer Affiliate contact ldonatelli@https://www.hartfordathletic.com.
This story was originally published in New England Soccer Journal. Hartford Athletic supporters can apply the code HA25 at checkout for 25% off either a year-long digital or all-access subscription. Launched in March 2013, New England Soccer Journal covers youth soccer up to the professional ranks across the entire region. Click here for more info and to subscribe.
When the USL Academy League was announced in early May, questions immediately surfaced about what that meant for Hartford Athletic, the only USL Championship side in New England.
Answers have arrived, with the club announcing Wednesday plans for a youth platform that focuses on being an additive experience to Connecticut youth soccer rather than a disruptive one. Bruce Mandell, chairman of Hartford Athletic, stressed exactly that during an interview with New England Soccer Journal.
“Our goal here is to be respectful to the premier clubs, especially, and the same for the town and travel teams,” Mandell said about the second-year club’s plans. “We want to provide access and opportunity for their kids, and do it in a way that’s respectful to their business models.”
Rather than launching a year-round academy like Connecticut’s top talent might find at the New England Revolution or New York City FC, Hartford’s simply fielding a team in the 2021 USL Academy Cup. Hartford’s team for the annual tournament will pool together U-15 through U-19 players via an open tryout, agnostic of background or résumé.
They’ll also participate in a weekly practice for 10-to-12 weeks before the USL Academy Cup, with Hartford’s first-team coaches overseeing each opportunity. Mandell said it will be a paid experience, though scholarship assistance is available to those who need it.
Liam O’Connell, the USL’s senior director of youth development, said it’s important that Hartford works with the state’s pre-existing soccer infrastructure. That includes Oakwood and Beachside as academy clubs, FSA FC and Connecticut FC in the Boys ECNL, and the likes of Northeast United and AJAX Premier as premier clubs.
“From my experience, a lot of pro clubs stake their flag and try to say, ‘We’ll show you how to develop future pros,’” O’Connell said. “But the reality is the first step often needs to be really collaborative, and that’s what they’re doing at Hartford. They want to build a pathway for aspiring professionals, but do it in partnership and with solid relationships. It’s not just, ‘Hey send us your best players for this tournament.’ It comes with a reciprocal relationship.”
That give-and-take, as O’Connell put it, contains a youth soccer affiliate program that’ll come at no cost for town travel and recreational clubs. Hartford has also reaffirmed its partnership with Premier League side Southampton FC, with player and coach education opportunities. Select players could train with Southampton, and Mandell stressed that head coach Radhi Jaïdi, who recently led Southampton’s U-23 team, feels local talent could fit into the English club’s academy.
“Maybe the players don’t get signed by Southampton, but they have the opportunity now,” Mandell said. “And that’s coming from Radhi, who was overseeing a crucial part of their youth development pathway.”
Asked if a full academy system could arrive – one that’s complete with a director of youth development, plus youth teams in the new USL Academy League that’s launching next spring – Mandell gave a simple “no.” Hartford’s plans could evolve to include that, but they’re instead focused on supplementing what’s deep-rooted in Connecticut youth soccer.
Another focus, Mandell said, is uncovering the next Alfonso Vazquez (Windham, Conn.), a forward who’s the all-time leading scorer in Connecticut high school history with 149 career goals. He attended a preseason tryout for the first team, and signed a professional deal after catching Jaïdi’s eye.
Mandell is adamant that there are more players out there like Vazquez, a 17-year-old whose pathway was separate from the academy and prep school ones that often produce local professionals.
“We’re going to have young teams in the future,” Mandell said. “We’re looking for talent, and we’d love for it to be local talent that comes into this system, signs and then plays.”
In terms of professional opportunities at young ages, Mandell noted how Connecticut has often been caught in between two situations. Those in the state’s northern and eastern parts can drive to the Revolution Academy, though the distance leads to someone like Stanford-bound goalkeeper Eliot Jones (New Britian, Conn.) joining New England’s residency program. Conversely, those in the southern parts like Yale-bound forward Andres Jasson (Greenwich, Conn.) join NYCFC’s academy.
Now, Mandell hopes that Hartford can provide a solution that’s additive to Connecticut’s traditional academy and club experiences. He also carries big aspirations for what the youth-to-pro pathway – one that’s game-centric instead of a year-round academy – could provide.
“The number one strategy is we want to help grow Connecticut to become a dominant youth soccer powerhouse,” Mandell said. “Already, there’s so much work being done at the grassroots, the town, the rec, the premier, the academy levels. We have great players being developed here, and now this can add to it.”
For more info on how you can get your team involved as an Official Hartford Athletic Youth Soccer Affiliate contact ldonatelli@https://www.hartfordathletic.com.
