A Non-Profit Soccer Academy? But that’s unAmerican!
By: Laurie | November 26th, 2007There is a full-time soccer boarding school in Florida that costs its participants $37,900 in annual tuition.
This post is not about that school.
Instead, it’s about a very different kind of school, run by Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
In August, 23 boys from eight countries ranging from 12 to18 years old arrived at PSA in Lorain to live and train year-round.
They live on an $10 million campus that covers 58 acres, in rooms better than most college dorms. They are cooked meals by a top-level chef, have 3½ soccer fields to train on — including one indoor facility just steps from the dorms — and elite coaching.
And it’s all free.
Free?!? As in, not for profit?!? What a nefarious, subversive idea. Why in the world would somebody do something like that?
“It’s up to more people in my generation to come back and bring our experiences, bring it to the United States and really help at the grass-roots level,” Friedel said. “The people around the world and in the United States are more aware of soccer than they’ve ever been. We need to keep them more intrigued than they’ve ever been.”
The best news? People are starting to notice. The academy recently announced an affiliation with the MLS team the Columbus Crew.
Thank you, Brad. You’re giving me hope for the game in America.
.
.
The Offside Blogging Team can also be found at these Offside blogs:
Roma | World Cup | LA Galaxy | Serie A | Les Bleus | Gli Azzurri
 |
Soccer Forums | Team/International Results |  |
 |  |
Category: 
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share
      |
Comments
-
Too good to believe…not only is Brad an excellent goalkeeper but he is also doing it for the love of the game..something most people in this part of the world will just not understand!
Posted from
United States
-
It’s really refreshing to see such a classy move by such a well respected player. He has chosen the ultimate tool, love of the game, instead of the make-investors-smile one, profit, and people really are noticing. Applauds for Brad Friedel, a man who can really grow soccer in America.
Posted from
United States -
if its so free why do you have to pay 37,900 dollars
Posted from
United States -
how do u get to be one of the 23 boys
Posted from
United States
Comments are closed
Home 
