Michael Milazzo worked in U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy program as an administrator and coach since the program launched in 2007. He joined Crew SC as Academy Director to work with Nico Estevez, the club’s Director of Methodology, to oversee the development of its young talent and align the Academy’s work with the overall philosophy of the First Team. Milazzo provided ColumbusCrewSC.com with a look behind the scenes.
You’ve gained experience in U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy since the program first started back in 2007. How does that translate to your new role as Crew SC Academy Director?
It has allowed me to witness, first hand, the progression of the USSDA and partake in its changes that have directly impacted the player development model in the U.S. We have seen many improvements over the years, but the main one that stands out was the implementation of the 10-month training and competition calendar. In addition, adding the U-13/U-14 age group has improved the overall quality of play at the U-15/16 and U-17/18 levels. The evolution has brought upon many improvements in the academy structure, on and off the field, but none more important than the acknowledgement of how crucial Zone 1 (U-8 to U-12) is on the overall player development model.
We’re now seeing everything come full circle with the addition of the U-12 and U-13 age groups in 2016. We started with just two age teams, U-15/16 and U-17/18, in 2007 while only playing during half of the calendar year. We’re now developing into a comprehensive academy program with five teams that span the ages of 11-18.
I have also seen the evolution of the MLS academies in the market place of soccer. In 2007, the playing field was mainly comprised of a traditional, pay-to-play youth soccer clubs. These particular clubs did an amazing job with the resources they had in place, however, over time, we have witnessed the emergence of the MLS academies and how they have impacted the professionalism of the game at the youth level. This has been highlighted by the importance of developing the Academy player into the First Team as a Homegrown. Human and financial resources have been put into infrastructure, staffing and facilities to develop the players, and enhance player development and coach education.
What are the overarching goals for the Crew SC Academy?
Our aim is to extend the soccer philosophy of the club to the Crew SC Academy by aligning the First Team’s way of playing, its methods, high performance model, and player-first mentality with the Academy program. This association with the First Team will pay dividends for our Academy players who have professional ambitions and the quality to become future Black & Gold players.
Our intention is to create an integrated model, and ensure a seamless transition into the First Team for these Academy players when the opportunity to train and compete with the First Team presents itself. Our Academy players must understand the First Team’s tactical approach, its methods of training, and expectations placed on the players by the technical staff.
How does the Academy relate to the First Team and its staff? How are you connected?
The First Team technical staff and Academy staff have daily interaction, especially at the EAS Training Center at Obetz and the MAPFRE Stadium offices. The Academy staff attends training every morning for a firsthand view of the methods of training and, more importantly, experiencing the professional culture that has been created within the First Team. Conversely, the First Team staff also attends Academy training sessions on a weekly basis to observe and provide feedback to the Academy coaching staff.
How do you instill the player-first culture the First Team embodies into Academy players?
When evaluating the objective of a particular training session or preparing for a competitive game, we assess how a player from the U-13/14 age group would be impacted in a positive manner by training with or competing with the U-15/16 team, for example. We’re always looking to challenge the players, and put them in situations on the field that force them to make decisions on and off the ball when the game speeds up at the next level of play.
We’re always considering the individual player development plan and model within the team model. In many cases we promote the vertical integration of the player into the next age group, if it benefits the player’s short and/or long term development pathway. This integration is even extended to the First Team. Sometimes a player will spend a few days training with the First Team prior to playing in a competitive Academy game without spending any time with the Academy team. The common values, language, principles of play and methodology allows for the movement between the Academy and the First Team to be continuous.
What kind of opportunities and interaction do Academy players have with the First Team staff and players?
During different phases of season, the First Team technical staff incorporates Academy players into their training sessions. This is very common, for instance, when a number of First Team players are away on international duty and/or when the First Team staff needs additional quality players for a productive training session. Academy players have also participated in First Team sessions when the non-rostered players are training prior to an MLS game or in reserve team games. Ben Swanson is a good example of the success of this connection as Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter was able to evaluate him in the first team environment over a longer period of time before signing him to a professional contract with the club last fall.
How important is your relationship with local youth clubs to the long-term success of the Academy?
We are proud to represent the State of Ohio in Major League Soccer and we want the state’s top players to view Crew SC as a pathway to start their professional careers. Obviously, most of these players start their youth soccer careers outside of the Crew SC youth system, so we have prioritized re-establishing relationships with many of the top youth soccer clubs in our area. We want to provide a clear pathway to the professional level, through our Academy, for the top players in the state of Ohio. And we want to work with the local clubs in this process through regular interaction, collaboration and access to the Columbus Crew Soccer Club.
What are the benefits of participating in a professional Academy for players who do not become professionals?
We recognize that the majority of players in the Academy program will not become pro soccer players. However, we see tremendous value in creating a high performance environment that allows the state’s best players to pursue their passion for the game. Our players compete against the best players in the state on a daily basis in training and against the best players in the country on their weekend games in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy and Generation Adidas Cup. The lessons that these players learn by testing themselves every day over a 10-month season against the best players in the country will apply to any future endeavor they choose to pursue after soccer.
