As officially announced by the United States Soccer Federation Development Academy, Metropolitan Oval has been awarded the U15 and U16/17 Boys Development Academy (DA) teams in addition to its existing U12, U13 and U14 DA teams. This will complete Met Oval’s “Path to Pro” development pathway offered through its Youth Center of Excellence. With programs based in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island, Met Oval can now offer talented players of the region the tools, the expertise and the platform needed for success.
Metropolitan Oval is a leader in elite player development having placed over 30 youth players into professional academies here and abroad over the past 3 years. This includes 2 former Met Oval academy players who made their 1st team debuts for NYC FC this month in the preseason. Met Oval’s successful partnership with NYC FC has provided a route for the most talented players in the region to attain their goal of playing professionally.
“Metropolitan Oval has been a part of US Soccer’s Development Academy for over a decade and this expansion is a tribute to the work our staff has done developing elite caliber players. The Oval and our Youth Center of Excellence is a unique talent greenhouse that blends a wholly owned facility, the highest licensed coaches and a curriculum built around technically advanced, possession oriented play.” said Sporting Director and Board Member, Jeffrey Saunders.
“We are proud of how our athletes are developing both on and off the field,” said Director of Coaching Filippo Giovagnoli. “By expanding the ages of the Development Academy it will only encourage the growth of the players and help them to reach their goals of playing collegiately and professionally.”
Tryouts for USSF Development Academy teams ( 2007-2002 born) will commence in April and conclude in June. Check the website for dates and times in the coming weeks.
www.metropolitanoval.org
About:
The Metropolitan Oval is a USSF Development Academy dedicated to developing the New York regions elite level soccer talent at our Youth Center of Excellence while offering youth of all backgrounds the opportunity to play soccer in a committed environment. Our professional pathway places players in youth national team programs, MLS and Int'l academies and collegiate programs. In the past years, Met Oval has placed more youth players in MLS and Int'l academies then any other club in the region. Met Oval is an affiliate partner of NYC FC and a Nike Premier Club.
The Met Oval's soccer facility in Queens was originally built in 1925 by immigrants from Germany and Hungary, and remains the most historic soccer facility in the United States. The Met Oval is a Non Profit organization and the only New York City soccer club that owns its own field and related facilities and now has additional programs in Long Island and Brooklyn.