Last week, the U.S. Soccer Development Academy fell in the economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Its absence opens up the opportunity for a new system to be put into place, one that could be more efficient and effective than its predecessor.
Fred Lipka, Major League Soccer technical director of youth development, said, although unprepared, that the league is committed to taking over this comprehensive development academy with its own program. Lipka announced a new youth development effort on the same April 15 day that U.S. Soccer jettisoned their academy.
At the same time, Lipka pledged that every club, both stemming from MLS and not, will have a place to play.