LA Galaxy giving youth academy players great opportunities

LA Galaxy are giving their youth academy players great opportunities as they attempt to further their development and craft successful senior players.

In late January, the Galaxy gave the chance to the U15, U16, U17 and U18 players as well as the Pateadores Development Academy to play on the Home Depot Center pitch so they could experience what it is like to be a professional soccer player.

“Every week we try to improve our program and do as much as we can to show the boys that they’re really a part of our club,” said Trevor James, the Galaxy’s Director of Player Development. “We don’t want them to come in, train and leave. Having the opportunity to play in the stadium is great for our club, great for the area and of course I think it was good for Pateadores.”

“From the very first day of the season the boys come out with their families and watch a first team training session,” James added.

“They do exactly what we do with the first team on its first day, and we have a media day where they do headshots and what not. That’s how we kick off our season.”

Throughout the season, the youth players will use the Carson facility’s training fields, locker rooms and players lounge and also have access to all the specialists coaches that the professionals get to use which is all part of developing the players.

“From the start we tell them that it’s a year-long commitment and this is what we’re going to do, so their responsibility is to uphold their part of the agreement,” James said further.

“We provide as much as we can for them, and in turn they train, perform in games and are respectful to others. Those things are all part of how we want to develop players.”