When U.S. Soccer's Development Academy was launched a year ago, San Diego Surf club player Jacob Holt observed in anticipation.
Holt knew that he would be old enough to take his turn this year, and now is realizing the opportunity with the Surf Academy boys team in the under-16 age division under the banner of U.S Soccer's program to raise the sport's level of play in this country.
“Seeing the other guys last year made us excited to become part of the academy team,” said Holt, a midfielder who serves as the Surf captain. “Little kids look up to you. It's a great experience.”
The influence of the academy program is being felt in both of its age groups at the 28th annual Surf Cup youth tournament that began a three-day run yesterday for Under-16 to Under-19 teams at the San Diego Polo Club.
Along with the Surf, the Nomads of San Diego are competing in the Under-16 boys super brackets, and for the first time, there is a special boys academy division that includes the Surf U-18 academy team.
The elite tournament acts as a preseason for the academy teams that will launch a 30-game schedule among their own ranks next month. There are 64 academy teams at each level.
Surf midfielder Josh Cintas remembers becoming acquainted with the academy program over the course of last year.
“I started learning more and more about it, and I felt it should be really good,” said Cintas, who was among those who made the U-16 team and joined the Surf from another club. “College coaches are at games. You travel. You play all the best teams.”
In joining the Surf, Cintas reunited with Holt after the two helped Cathedral Catholic High win the Division III section title and reach the regional finals last school year.
Some 50 players auditioned for the Surf U-16 academy team during a two-week tryout, and 36 remain in the program, including a “B” team.
“These guys make it fun,” said Eric Bucchere, who coaches the team with Colin Chesters. “They're here because they want to be, and they're working hard for the right reasons.”
The Surf, which has seven players away for a tournament in England, lost to the Ambush 93 Red of Alpharetta, Ga., 2-0 and to the South Bay Force Blue of Manhattan Beach 2-1 on the opening day.
Still, Academy players can look forward with much anticipation.
“It will be amazing,” Holt said. “It's all that a soccer player could want.”
