Ahead of the 2017 United Soccer League season, Louisville City FC will again train at the prestigious IMG Academy, a Bradenton, Fla., facility with professional-grade fields, on-campus housing and warm-weather climate.
LouCity made the trip last year as well, launching a season that finished with a second-place USL finish and trip to the Eastern Conference Final. The club’s board of directors moved to send players south for the preseason after inclement weather coincided with the start of training two years ago.
“Going to Florida for the preseason gives us a great opportunity to build base fitness,” said LouCity Coach James O’Connor. “I think that was the biggest thing when I look at our first year, in 2015. Eight inches of snow made it problematic.
“Going to Florida, we know what kind of weather we’re going to get. We know the quality of the pitch. We know the equipment we can use. All of that allows us to put a structure in place.”
LouCity’s players are set to report back to Louisville later this month for physical testing. They’ll leave for IMG on Feb. 12 and return Feb. 25 to begin local training for the 2017 season, which opens the weekend of March 24-26.
At IMG, LouCity will have access to multiple fields – both indoor and outdoor – as well as a 65,000 square-foot performance center. Elite teams of specialists are available to assist with rehabilitation, weight training and mental conditioning.
“If you look at our injury prevention record, the last two years have been really good,” O’Connor said. “Part of the credit goes to the base fitness work we do. It’s high-intensity work with double sessions that first week every day. It needs to be done. It gives us insight into a few other things as well, because we begin to see aspects of players’ character. It all plays a part in what we’re trying to do.”
Since 1999, IMG has served as home to U.S. Soccer’s full-time residency program for the U-16 and U-17 men’s national teams. More than 300 players have participated, with at least 100 of them moving on to Major League Soccer or European leagues. Notable alumni include Landon Donovan, Demarcus Beasley, Tim Howard, Eddie Johnson and Michael Parkhurst.
Most days at IMG will begin with an early breakfast and 8 a.m. session, with more training at 4 p.m. Through the process, O’Connor’s also aiming to build team chemistry.
“People go on about team spirit and bonding,” he said. “One of the great ways to bond is when you’re working your butt off with your teammate. You earn a healthy respect for each other, because you went through such a difficult period.”
The USL is soon set to release the full 2017 schedule, which will include 16 LouCity home games at Louisville Slugger Field and 16 away. LouCity is finalizing its preseason slate of games as well.
