On Monday, Louisville City FC and NWSL Louisville announced the formation of new Youth Academies starting in the summer of 2020. The new Youth Academy programs will start with athletes U-8 through U-19 in open tryouts later this spring.
Louisville City Academy Director Mario Sanchez said the early response to Monday’s announcement has been tremendous.
“It’s been extremely positive,” Sanchez said. “People are excited about the opportunities that local kids will have to pursue their dreams on both the boys’ and girls’ sides.”
Now that the Youth Academies have been announced, Sanchez and Louisville City’s Executive Vice President of Development James O’Connor are working on the next phase of the academy roll-out plan.
“Our next step will be to announce our full-time coaching staff in the near future,” Sanchez said. “And then we’ll be announcing our upcoming tryout dates after that.”
Sanchez said he’s heard from many members of the local soccer community since the announcement. Sanchez noted that he has four children, two boys and two girls, and to be able to have Youth Academies for both genders was a key for Soccer Holdings from the beginning.
“We have heard from a lot of people saying ‘Congratulations,’” Sanchez said. “The soccer community understands how exciting this is for our local kids. It is good to show people how important the NWSL is for our local young women and women’s sports in general. To be on the forefront of women’s soccer in this country is exciting for the city of Louisville.”
