CARSON, Calif. (Wednesday, June 11, 2014) – The LA Galaxy announced today that the LA Galaxy Academy and LA Galaxy South Bay have partnered to present the Pre-Academy Program as an innovative player development program within the club’s youth ranks. As a result of the partnership, the Galaxy have a greater foothold and strengthen their presence in the soccer rich South Bay region.
The LA Galaxy South Bay Pre-Academy Program is designed to provide every participating Under-9 to Under-12 player with the opportunity to develop all of the necessary skills and abilities that will prepare them to one day be able to play in the LA Galaxy Academy.
Forward Kevin Negrete recently joined the LA Galaxy Academy Under-14 team after spending time with LA Galaxy South Bay’s youth teams, exemplifying the way the player development process should work within the club’s structure.
“The LA Galaxy Academy is excited to support all youth players in their quest to develop into quality players and people,” said the LA Galaxy Academy Director Pete Vagenas. “We understand what it takes to be successful at the highest level and as a result want to share our resources and knowledge with our youngest players through LA Galaxy South Bay. We look forward to continuing to develop this Pre-Academy Program further in order that we may see more and more players like Kevin Negrete work their way into LA Galaxy Academy.”
The LA Galaxy South Bay Pre-Academy Program has a comprehensive curriculum that is designed to develop the complete soccer player by implementing physically and mentally demanding training sessions, and off-the field education on things such as proper nutrition and game analysis.
The creation of the Pre-Academy Program expands the Galaxy’s reach within the California youth soccer community, provides the club with a unique opportunity to develop players at a younger level and creates younger teams, allowing the club to a deeper player pool for the Galaxy Academy.
Additionally, the LA Galaxy also announced that current LA Galaxy South Bay Boys Director of Coaching and Interim Technical Director Michael Quigley has been named as the LA Galaxy Academy Under-13 head coach. Quigley will retain his position as the Galaxy South Bay Boys Director of Coaching in addition to his new duties as head coach of the LA Galaxy Academy U-13’s.
“I am delighted to have been selected to work with the Under-13 LA Galaxy Academy team as this group of young players has a very bright future in the Academy program,” said Quigley. “I believe the relationship that we have created and that is continuing to evolve will serve the needs our younger players as well as the LA Galaxy Academy and in time, the first team.”
In addition to coaching the LA Galaxy Academy U-13’s, Quigley’s role is to oversee the development of the boys program from the U-7 to U-18 levels and also to serve as a direct liaison between the LA Galaxy South Bay Pre-Academy Program and the LA Galaxy Academy.
Quigley has been involved with the South Bay club for eight years and his achievements as both director and coach have been significant. In just the last several years, his teams have won State Cup (2010 & 2011), were semi-finalists (2013), and reached the quarterfinals (2012 and 2013).
LA GALAXY U-18’S PLACED IN GROUP B OF 2013-14 ACADEMY PLAYOFFS: The Development Academy conducted its 2013-14 Playoff draw on Tuesday from U.S. Soccer House as the U-17/18 teams were placed into eight groups of four teams. The LA Galaxy U-18’s were placed in Group B of the 2013-14 Academy Playoffs alongside Montreal Impact FC, Chicago Magic PSG and Real Colorado. The Academy Playoffs will take place from June 23-27 at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana and feature 32 teams, with 19 automatic qualification spots and 13 wild card berths. The automatic qualifiers included the top two teams from the Southwest and Northwest divisions and the top three teams from the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Atlantic, Frontier and Mid-America Divisions. The LA Galaxy Academy Under-18 team claimed the Southwest Division Championship in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy after crushing Strikers FC by a score of 14-1 on May 31 at StubHub Center’s Field 5 in what was the LA Galaxy U-18’s last game in the USSDA regular season. The Galaxy U-18’s had already qualified for the 2013-2014 Academy Playoffs earlier in May after receiving an automatic bid to the 2013-14 Postseason. The Galaxy U-18’s Academy Playoffs schedule will be announced in the coming days.
LA GALAXY U-16’S DRAWN INTO GROUP D OF 2013-14 ACADEMY PLAYOFFS: The LA Galaxy U-16’s were placed in Group D of the 2013-14 Academy Playoffs alongside D.C. United, Concorde Fire and Sockers FC. The Academy Playoffs will take place from June 23-27 at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana. In April, the LA Galaxy U-16’s qualified for the 2013-2014 Academy Playoffs as the team received an automatic bid to the 2013-14 Postseason. The Galaxy U-16’s Academy Playoffs schedule will be announced in the coming days.
LA GALAXY ACADEMY U-14’S TRAVEL TO INDIANA FOR 2013-14 U-13/14’S NATIONAL SHOWCASE: The Galaxy Academy U-14’s will play three games this weekend at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Indiana as part of the 2013-14 U-13/14’s USSDA National Showcase. The first game of the showcase for Mike Muñoz’s team will be a match against Solar Chelsea SC U-14’s on Friday, June 13 at 4 p.m. at Grand Park Sports Campus’ Field 12. The Galaxy U-14’s complete schedule is detailed below.
| Game | Date |
|---|---|
LA Galaxy U-14’s vs. Solar Chelsea SC U-14’s | Saturday, June 13 |
| Game will be played Grand Park Sports Campus - Field 12 at 4:00 p.m. | |
LA Galaxy U-14’s vs. Sockers FC U-14’s | Saturday, June 14 |
| Game will be played at Grand Park Sports Campus - Field 30 at 4:00 p.m. | |
LA Galaxy U-14’s vs. Toronto FC U-14’s | Saturday, June 16 |
| Game will be played at Grand Park Sports Campus - Field 30 at 11:00 a.m. | |
