Local Soccer Academy Adds Under-16 Team

The Lexington United Soccer Club bills its Lexington Player Development Academy as a slightly different take on the club-team experience. It's convenient, cheap and apparently in high demand.

But this isn't any old bargain-basement soccer program. It's more like a soccer steal.

As a supplement for players already registered with LUSC, the player development academy offers the professional training and competiveness common with club teams, but without the high cost and heavy travel.

The LPDA, led by Lexington United director of coaching Brendan Donahue, was started two years ago with just two teams. It quickly caught on and demand grew, prompting the creation of an under-16 boys' team for the upcoming winter and spring seasons.

Donahue led a tryout for the new squad at the Lincoln Park fields on Tuesday evening.

"The whole point of (the LPDA) is to offer Lexington families the ability to have sort of a club-level experience with professional coaching, without having to drive all over the state," Donahue said. "Again, the point with the U-16 is that it gives families an option where the kids can continue to develop at home without having to pay thousands of dollars.

"It's a similar experience (to club) at probably a better value in a lot of ways. There are several club teams that are worth that commitment, but having been involved with a lot of them, it's a mixed bag."

About 30 prospective players showed up for the tryout. To be eligible, players must be younger than 16 on Aug. 1, making most freshmen and sophomores in high school this fall.

Since the LPDA was created, Donahue said it was understood the program would have to expand. It started at just the under-12 level.

"After the first year of the U-12s, there was a big call from the parents that participated in that wondering what do we do now when they go on to U-14?" he said.  "We expanded to U-14 this past year, so again they had a positive experience."

In addition to the new boys' U-16 team, other age levels offered through the academy are U-12 and U-14 for both boys and girls. Donahue, who coaches the U-12 boys and girls, but will not coach the U-16s, said there are currently no plans to add a U-16 girls' team. But he did not rule out any future expansion. There was a greater call for a boys' squad, he said.

Many of the athletes that tried out figure to play at the jayvee or varsity level during the fall high school season. The LPDA schedule kicks in during the winter months with indoor training and competition in an indoor league. Once spring hits, the team will play a season in the Massachusetts Soccer Conference.

"I'll be interested to see what our level looks like," Donahue said before the tryout. "I think they'll all be committed players. I think they'll all be kids that enjoy playing and can play at a high level, but still have plenty of room to develop."

But it's not for everyone. Donahue, with the help of Chris Ethier, ran the prospective players through a number of drills, focusing on footskills while testing the players' prowess on the pitch.

Of all that tried out, only about 16 players will join the inaugural squad.