For four Academies – the 2011-12 Development Academy season is almost over. 

 

Yes, the calendar does say January, but the reality of high school sports forces teams like South Carolina United Battery, Concorde Fire, Georgia United, and Birmingham United to squeeze 20 game schedules into five months. 

 

In the Southeast Division of the Development Academy, and especially among the U18 teams, the presence of high school soccer has forced coaches into managing rosters with a lot of games in a short period and coming out of the gates screaming to start the season.

 

“We came out in the first part of the season not knowing what to expect because, lets face it, our players have never faced most of the Academy teams,” said Georgia United head coach Ray Tomlin. “As we went forward, the competition got progressively tougher, but after a few wins we had the confidence we could play at that level.”

 

Georgia United joined the Development Academy this season after combining teams from four clubs based in the greater Atlanta area. 

 

Tomlin’s U18 team sits third in the division standings with a very respectable 9-7-7 record overall. Directly above them in second place is local rival, and perennial Development Academy playoff participant, Concorde Fire. 

 

“We have a squad that is pretty much the same as last year’s U16 team and we got through the season injury free - those were the keys to our start,” said Concorde Fire U18 head coach Adrian Powell. His team is 9-6-6 heading into break. 

 

The Concorde Fire and Georgia United U18 teams have played 21 and 23 games, respectively, in four months and will not take the field again until June. 

 

“The high school season in Georgia is a lot of work for the kids,” said Tomlin. “They play a lot of games – up to three a week – in a short two and a half month season.” 

 

The story for South Carolina United is the same according to Battery U18 head coach Clark Brisson, but he said that he is “not as down on [high school soccer] as some people.”

 

Battery does have five games in the months of January and February, but will also take a lengthy break when high soccer starts in the Gamecock state at the end of February. 

 

Brisson’s squad is top of the division with an overall record of 8-3-7 and a division record of 5-1-6. 

 

All three coaches agreed the future for the Southeast Division is a ten-month schedule, which teams in California and Texas have already switched to, that would eliminate high school soccer for Academy players in that area. 

 

“I think it would be the best thing for our program,” said Tomlin about moving away from high school soccer. “It would also be the best thing for the Academy overall.”

 

“It is definitely the way forward,” said Powell. “It is something we are taking a look at right now.”

 

{mosimage:250}“That is what U.S. Soccer wants, and that is what we are shooting for,” Brisson added about eliminating the high school break. “Right now, we are having some discussions about implementing that in 2012 or 2013.”

 

On the other hand, Brisson and Powell said that their players seemed happy to play for their high schools, especially the seniors with one last chance to play in front of classmates. 

 

For this season, the clubs are working with the schedule, and the coaches seem pleased with how their teams have played over the first four months, especially with certain players. 

 

Brisson said that center back Garrett Blodgett, who recently joined the Battery, is having a “standout season.” The coach also highlighted forwards Eli Dent and Nestor Jaramillo who have combined for 20 goals. 

 

The South Carolina club picked up a huge bonus last month when U.S. U17 World Cup defender Joseph Amon joined the roster. 

 

“[Amon] had an ankle fracture in the World Cup game against Germany, so that took him out until the Showcase in Florida,” said Brisson. “He brings a lot of experience and bite to the team so that will help out tremendously.”

 

The Battery is not the only team with a U17 World Cup player in the Southeast Division though. Jamaica’s Patrick Palmer, who played in two games for the Reggae Boyz at the Youth World Cup in Mexico, joined Georgia United at the beginning of this season. 

 

Tomlin said that Palmer’s dad, who is a resident of the United States, was looking for a place for his son to play after graduating high school in Jamaica.

 

“[Palmer] joined us a little late and picked up an injury, but once he got going he was instrumental,” said Tomlin. The forward notched six goals in his first 13 games and has another year of Development Academy soccer ahead of him. 

 

Along with Palmer, Tomlin thought the trio of Brandon Barbero, Connor Davis, and Kevin Hady were key to his team’s success so far. 

 

Georgia United rivals Concorde Fire is littered with talent as well, Brisson said it was one of the best teams his side has faced this year. Two names stood out above the rest though in defender Reed Norton and midfielder Holden Fender.  

 

“[Norton] is a modern day left back,” said Powell. “He is very attacking minded and has a great left foot.”

UCLA-bound Fender is the defensive midfielder for the Fire who Powell described as having a “great range of passing” and “very committed.” 

 

The competitive Southeast Division, which is highlighted by plenty of individual stars, will only be dormant for a few weeks. The Florida clubs, which have only played half their games and occupy the bottom half of the table, start back up in March as part of their seven-month schedule.