Three Potomac-area clubs form Virginia Development Academy

(via Virginia Development Academy) – Prince William Soccer, Inc., Virginia Soccer Association, and Chantilly Youth Association have formed Virginia Development Academy (“VDA”) with the intention of improving long-term player development for both boys and girls at all levels of the game.

VDA will begin by forming teams to participate in the boys U.S. Soccer Development Academy at the U-12, U-13 and U-14 age groups in 2016-17, which will take the spot in the top boys league previously occupied by VDA member PWSI.

In addition to Development Academy play, VDA will select players to participate in boys and girls college showcases in addition to their respective Virginia NPL team’s schedule.

Cooperation between the three clubs began this past summer with a meeting between technical leaders to develop a common curriculum in zone 1 (U8-U10) along with participation for the clubs U9 and U10 age groups in the newly formed Youth Development League – Virginia.

“The goal of the Virginia Development Academy is to provide our players with a platform to play at the highest levels in the game.” explained VSA Technical Director Matt Lacey, “We have identified that to create an environment to consistently produce players of this caliber it is vital that we get the zone 1 structure and environment correct during practices and games.”

Lacey explained that VDA intends to accomplish this for all three member clubs’ memberships by placing representing the top of the player development pyramid in hopes that it will foster new aspirations for players of all levels no matter their starting.

PWSI Technical Director, Mike Cullina added, “Clearly, our aim is to be a destination for the top male and female players in Northern Virginia to train together and compete in national level competition, but those players represent a very small percentage of our organizations. This isn’t a merger of clubs, rather, it’s a merger of ideas and cooperation toward developing a Champion’s League player and improving the quality and enjoyment of players and coaches at all levels of the game.”

VDA will look to grow upon each club’s established college recruiting and coaching education programming and also plans to expand recreational and futsal player and coaching development.

“PWSI and VSA are exceptional organizations that have developmental goals in line with ours.” said Oscar Feliu, CYA’s Technical Director of the joint venture, “We all have the common goal to provide the best quality educational programs in the country.”

Feliu said the three organizations will share methodology, training methods, and philosophy with the intent to provide players with what they feel will be the best environment in the Northern Virginia region both on and off the field.

VDA will be governed by a six-person board of directors, with each member club contributing two representatives.

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Editor’s Note: The following press release confirms and provides more details on what we reported here on SoccerWire.com last Friday. Full disclosure, both PWSI and VSA are SoccerWire.com Premier Club Partners.