Home Forums Long Island & Eastern New York Soccer Message Boards BOTN Main Message Board USL Academy League?

Has anyone heard the rumors about a USL Academy opening on Long Island?
https://youtu.be/pWBbYEcvvnk

Yes, I have. I had a conversation with two people at the USA over a year ago and during that conversation they shared with me that they planned to do a youth league on Long Island for the fall 2020 season. So I’m wondering if what you’re referencing is what they told me they plan to do?

With DA dropping out the game there is some money on the table for USL franchises to go after, but its a long shot. Keep in mind USL has 3 tiers so I am talking about the first tier. Third tier clubs that have teams include Cedar Stars and Manhattan SC, but they just play to make some extra money and pitch it to the young kids in the club. These clubs are not launching a full USL youth academy.

In the tri-state NY market the problem is Red Bull and (soon) NYCFC will have their second teams playing in USL and they have their own youth academies so USL will have to compete with the MLS youth academies. This concept may work in a market that does not overlap with MLS, but I don't see it working in tri-state NY. It will be tough to recruit a kid in a USL academy vs. NYCFC or Red Bull academy which has a pro player pathway. It all comes down to money and fields (which is really what separates most of the top clubs from the rest of the pack in youth soccer).

Will the USL academy be fully funded and free for the player or pay to play ? If its free they can compete. If not, I don't see players paying a premium to be on a USL academy

You also have to sort through field issues. To get the USL youth academy you need a USL pro player team stadium / infrastructure to secure a franchise and that is usually a big deal breaker in this region. If you look at the current USL teams, beyond Philly Union and Red Bull second teams (and soon NYCFC as they are converting their old U18/19 DA team into a USL team in early 2021) this is why you see no franchise anywhere close to our region.

David Villa announced he is part of a group (Queensboro FC) launching a USL franchise in Queens and playing at York College starting 2022

LIJSL Academy will be part of Super Y, which I believe is affiliated with USL.

LISC has been selected for particpation for p[lay in the USL Academy for Boys. They talked about it in their parent zoom meetings over the summer. Their rough rider team is in USL2

Will players be motivated to join as USL2 youth academy ? I don't think so. Will it be fully funded / free like the MLS youth academy or pay to play ?

There is not a USL2 Youth Academy. There is one USL Academy. LISC via LI Rough Riders affiliation would be playing in the same league as a Queensboro FC Youth Team.

From the USL Academy Webpage

All USL Academy League programs will be required to have a certain amount of the player’s participation expenses (i.e. coaching, facilities, uniforms, travel, etc.) at least partially subsidized. As clubs assess to what extent they are able to do this, the following must be taken into consideration:

- Participation Fee Limit

- Affiliate Collaboration

- Player Scholarships

- Partners Considerations

- Free-Play Model

There are three levels of play in USL, USL Championship, USL2 and USL3. LI Rough Riders play in USL3.

Quick internet search says the people above were right and the Rough Riders are in usl 2...but, you know, facts tend to be unnecessary these days.

It must be, right? It does make a lot of sense since their geographic reach and sheer number of teams is larger than the MLS. Who knows, maybe it could lead to a USL2 pro team based on Long Island.

Posted today this is all about economics. MLS is not going to fund big dollars into USL franchise so they will just add another age group to their academy at U23 and run it like they run the youth program. They avoid major fees and expenses associated with USL "standards".


The Athletic’s Jeff Rueter has reported that Major League Soccer (MLS) is planning to launch a new U-23 league which could begin play in 2021. Meanwhile, another report from Phill Grooms at the Beautiful Game Network has broken the news that at least three MLS clubs – Portland Timbers, Philadelphia Union and Orlando City SC – are already in the process of pulling their second teams out of the USL Championship or USL League One. The two reports appear to be setting the stage for a potential exodus out of the USL for many other MLS clubs who currently use it for their second-team platforms.

How is USL?

What is the deal with this LIJSL Academy??? And playing in Super Y league? Be a bit overmatched???

LIJSL is trying to keep relevant and up their image with programs they believe are selling points to their member clubs, but IMO they are one too many mornings and a thousand miles behind.

LIJSL dropped the ball a long time ago, and are now faced, whether they know it or not, with both EDP and NYCSL seeking to dominate and take Long Island.

BOTN has been privy via our covert underground to hear some of the plans that are being formulated for the 2022-2023 season and beyond which will include cooperation from our local academies which in the end will hurt revenue streams for many of our town clubs.

Next Spring should look a lot different from this Spring if LIJSL doesn't get competent human help onboard no later than yesterday.

If the LIJSL Executive Bunch and town clubs think along with ENYYSA that EDP is their friend they clearly are seriously mistaken.

LIJSL has been trying to keep relevant for many years now. Has not been working as you allude to. Throwing these LIJSL kids, even if they are "top players" (In the LIJSL), against the kind competition that has been in Super Y league in the past, is not a good thing. Assuming you agree?? Not that is all about winning, but they may not even be able to compete. So this amounts to nothing more than a money grab it appears.

NYCSL has been trying to dominate LI for years now since GG started it. EDP becoming more so visible on LI in last couple years.....How do the powers that be at LIJSL not already know this? Their heads that far in the sand???

Be interesting to hear the info BOTN privy to. On one hand, the academies that have popped up here on the island are for the most part good because you generally (everyone calm down, I said generally) get better training than your regular town clubs and definitely get to play better competition. However, for the person that realizes that their kid just wants to play soccer and knows that it is not the be all end all, that studying and moving on to a decent college is where it is at, not having an affordable place to play would not be good. Hopefully academies and more so academy prices, do not dominate the market totally.

LIJSL and NY Club are sister leagues now, so some of these teams are playing in both leagues.

Teams have been playing in both leagues for years.
But sister leagues? That is an interesting take. Teams that wanted a little more competiveness from their usual LIJSL schedule played NY Club as well. Kept their foot in the LIJSL to keep their town club happy, yet got more from NY Club. Perhaps things have changed with other leagues such as EDP and the like becoming more relevant now.