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DeKalb County United Soccer Club, Kishwaukee Valley Soccer Club and Northern Illinois Football Club announced on Tuesday that they will be creating a new youth academy to provide access to top-class coaching and facilities to youth players across the county.
According to a press release, the DeKalb County United Academy is designed to provide support and collaboration to youth soccer players throughout the county and further afield. The academy utilizes the support of the DKCU adult club structure while maintaining a local focus that meets the needs of all youth players in the community.
“Developing love for the game of soccer starts at a young age for many,” said John Hall, President of DeKalb County United Soccer Club, in a statement. “It is that excitement that provides players with the drive to be successful at the highest levels and through the creation of the DKCU Academy we will collectively promote the sport of soccer, provide service to our community and develop soccer players who can achieve their goals on and off the field. Whether their goals are to be successful in high school, college, the DeKalb County United adult programs or beyond. We’re excited for this next chapter as a club and we welcome the entire community to join us in building something that represents us all through courage, pride, service and integrity.”
According to the club, by coming together under the umbrella of DeKalb County United there will now be a clear pathway for the local youth soccer community to reach the highest levels of soccer. As part of the Midwest Premier League, DeKalb County United is part of a national system that provides access to professional clubs.
“Being involved with youth club soccer in this area for many years, I’m excited about the creation of the DKCU Academy,” NIFC’s Dan Carl said in a statement. “Aligning together to provide a more comprehensive program for the youth of our community makes perfect sense. The Academy comes at an important time and we can hardly wait to get started.”
The release said the academy will work to create a soccer community where the focus is on the best interests of the participants, promoting and establishing a positive soccer experience ensures athletes, coaches, families, and other support groups interact in a cohesive manner to promote on and off-field player success.
“The DKCU Academy presents a new level of professionalism, player development, and competitive playing opportunities that have never been seen in the area before,” Mike Wittrup of the Kishwaukee club said. “The bar has been raised. This is the start of something big.”