CHARLESTON, S.C. (Jan. 5, 2009) – FC Westchester will be one of a dozen premier clubs that will have its U14 and U15 teams take part in the new Northeast Pre-Academy League, a league designed to get players ready to take part in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. The new league, announced today by US Club Soccer, is set to kick off in February 2009.

The 12-team Northeast Pre-Academy League features well-known member clubs in seven states, all but one of which are current members of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. In addition to FC Westchester, participating clubs include: Albertson SC (N.Y.), Bethesda SC (Md.), Blau Weiss Gottschee (N.Y.), FC Greater Boston Bolts (Mass.), Match Fit Academy (N.J.), Metropolitan Oval (N.Y.), Oakwood SC (Conn.), PDA (N.J.), PA Classics, Seacoast United (N.H.) and Red Bull (N.Y.).  Each club will support a team in both the U-14 and U-15 age groups.

"We are huge fans of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy program and FC Westchester’s leadership believes that the Academy program and the tenets that guide it should be practiced at earlier ages by the Academy clubs," said FC Westchester Director of Coaching David McCollum. "The U-14 and U-15 leagues provided by US Club Soccer for Academy clubs in the Northeast will allow the clubs to begin the Academy process two years earlier, and that is a great benefit to our players and the players of the other clubs that are participating."

Said Tony Lepore, Director of Scouting for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy: "I am very excited about the newly-formed U-14 and U-15 Northeast Pre-Academy League as an age-appropriate modification to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy model setup. It will enhance these younger-age players’ development by applying U.S. Soccer’s ’Best Practices,’ which emphasizes player development ahead of results and includes a healthier calendar, a better training-to-game ratio and more meaningful games throughout the season.

"The league also provides U.S. Soccer with an opportunity to scout and identify players for U-14 and U-15 national pools and will serve as a great format for USSF scouts and technical advisors to observe and provide ongoing feedback to clubs regarding their approach to developing players at these crucial pre-academy age groups," Lepore added.

"The league will also help future academy players - and their parents - to better understand and prepare for all aspects of the 15/16 and 17/18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy league."

Gerry McKeon, director of coaching at PDA and also an assistant coach with the U.S. U-15 National Team, noted his PDA club is “pleased to be participating with like-minded clubs that place player development above winning trophies." He added, "These clubs understand that player development is the No. 1 priority when it comes to competitive youth soccer."

The 66-game tentative schedule, which lasts through June, is available at www.usclubsoccer.com. All 12 teams will play each opponent once. The teams will not participate in a season-ending playoff, and the champion will be determined based on cumulative points at the end of the regular season.