IMG Academy Soccer: The Inside Scoop

IMG Academy, located in Bradenton, Florida, is a prestigious boarding school and training destination for many major U.S. sports including soccer.

You may have heard about IMG before but don’t know much about it. I’ve covered it all.

The academy covers over 600 acres and offers a variety of programs consisting of sports camps for youth athletes, adult camps, a boarding school, including a post-graduate/gap-year program, events, professional and collegiate training, group hosting, and corporate retreats.

In this article, we’ll explore IMG Academy soccer and what it entails.

Soccer at IMG Academy

Among the many sports programs offered at IMG Academy, soccer stands out as one of the most popular and successful.

IMG Academy Soccer program is one of the most comprehensive soccer training programs available. The program offers year-round soccer training for players of all ages and skill levels, from youth to post-grad athletes.

Like all academies, IMG is designed to provide players with a complete soccer training experience, including technical, tactical, physical, and mental training.

The soccer training is led by a team of world-class coaches and trainers with many years of experience in coaching and playing at the highest levels of soccer.

They provide individualized instruction, feedback, and support to each player, helping them improve their skills and develop their game to the next level.

IMG Academy Leagues

IMG Academy offers both boys’ and girls’ youth soccer programs. The leagues that they are part of are:

IMG Academy Girls

• Girls Academy (GA): Formerly known as the Development Academy (DA), the GA is the most competitive all-girls league in the U.S. From U13-U19, the girls compete on a regional and national stage.
• Development Player League (DPL): The DPL is a girls’ elite soccer league in the United States. Founded in 2017, the league is designed to expand the player pool for participating clubs and create a highly professional training environment and competitive model for aspiring soccer players.

IMG Academy Boys

• MLS NEXT: MLS NEXT is the highest tier of youth soccer for boys. It is managed, organized, and controlled by Major League Soccer (MLS), the top professional soccer league in North America.
• USYS Sunshine Academy Conference: The league is part of the (13) USYS National League Conferences, which is a network of leagues that provides a pathway for youth soccer players to compete at a high level in the sport.

Is IMG Academy Worth it for Soccer Players?

For the right player and family, the school can open up opportunities for really elite soccer players.

But, this would be an ideal place for a very small percentage of kids.

More kids would be better off attending their local public high school or playing club soccer.

IMG Academy Soccer program has produced some of the best soccer players in the world. But, so have the top clubs in the U.S.

What I’m trying to say is that it’s not the only option to make it to the next level. There’s are many ways to slice to college and pro pie.

IMG Academy Alumni

IMG Academy has produced some of the best American soccer players. Some of the alumni include:

• Jozy Altidore – “Jozy” Altidore is a professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer (MLS). Altidore is a former soccer student who graduated in 2006.
• Freddy Adu – Freddy Adu was a young sensation and a former professional soccer player who played as a forward for various teams in MLS and abroad. Adu is a former IMG Academy Soccer student who trained at the academy in 2003.
• Omar Gonzalez – Omar Gonzalez is a professional soccer player who plays as a center-back for New England Revolution. Gonzalez is a former IMG Academy Soccer student who graduated in 2005.
• Michael Bradley – Michael Bradley is a legendary American soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Toronto FC in MLS. Bradley is a former student who trained at the academy from 2002-2004.
• Mallory Swanson – Mallory Swanson (formerly known as Mallory Pugh) is an American professional soccer player who plays for the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the USWNT.

The program has also helped many players earn scholarships to play soccer at some of the top colleges and universities in the United States.

Final Thoughts on IMG Academy

I’m a firm believer that you can succeed in almost any environment if you want it bad enough.

For soccer players, IMG Academy has a great reputation and has produced many D1 college and professional male and female players.

On one hand, private schools such as IMG, offer a more specialized and intensive training experience compared to many other schools, which can be beneficial for players looking to improve their skills and compete at a higher level.

However, IMG Academy is expensive and totally out of reach for most American families. The prestige and exclusiveness of the school does come at a cost.

From my research, the yearly tuition ranges from $65,400 to $87,900! They do offer scholarships but it may only put a dent into your wallet. And, compared to free public schooling, most families go this route.

If you are afforded an opportunity to attend their school, I think you have to weigh out factors like a social life, budget constraints for your family, and future opportunities.

Or, does it make more sense to attend your local middle or high school and play club soccer at the MLS NEXT, Girls Academy, or ECNL level?

Lots to think about!

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