PURCHASE, N.Y. | The goal of the New York City FC Academy is to create a pipeline to the Club’s first team.
While that is the end goal, there are many other objectives that have been set as the first squad of Under-13/14 year olds progress in their soccer careers.
“It’s important to have the right culture,” Sporting Director Claudio Reyna said. “We aren’t just starting an academy – it’s a school environment where we’re creating the right competitive atmosphere while at the same time making sure we have a family atmosphere at the Club.”
The family-style atmosphere has been in full effect all summer as members of the New York City FC Academy went up to the Club’s training facility at SUNY Purchase to watch training and interact with players on the first team.
The academy players were able to gain first-hand insight into what it’s like being a professional soccer player – how to act, how to weight train, what to eat, how to practice.
“It’s a great mentorship program we started this year and we’re thinking of doing it every summer,” Reyna said. “The first-team players have been fantastic sharing their experiences as both youth and professional players. The mentorship program is the first of many opportunities where we’ll link the academy and the first team.”
Forward Patrick Mullins was happy to interact with the future of New York City FC.
“They’re as excited to be a part of the Club as much as we are,” Mullins said. “That’s the feeling we want from top to bottom – we want the academy kids to feel like they’re right in with the first team and we want to feel part of what the Club is doing with the academy as well.
“It’s an all-club, all-family affair.”
The New York City FC Academy, comprised of 16 players from the Club’s Youth Affiliates and elsewhere, begin their inaugural season on Saturday.
Kickoff against the New England Revolution Academy is 3 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
