TUKWILA, Wash. - Last week, four standouts from Sounders FC Academy -- Dylan Teves (U-16), Cam Martin (U-16), Paul Rothrock (U-18) and Jackson Ragan (U-18) -- were invited to train with the first team, signaling a continuation of the club’s commitment to developing elite talent internally.
When the club announced that six players from the youth system would participate in preseason with the first team, it signaled an intent to promote promising players through the ranks. And just eight matches into the 2017 USL campaign, the heavy reliance on Academy standouts like Shandon Hopeau and Sam Rogers with Sounders FC 2 provides further evidence of the organization’s desire to integrate premier prospects.
The Sounders Academy staff firmly believes that this type of player movement and prolonged exposure to the professional game will accelerate the development of these young Sounders.
“It was really good to see a couple of our U-16s, Cameron Martin and Dylan Teves, out there training with the first team,” said Academy Technical Director Marc Nicholls.
“It supports the notion that if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”
“But all credit to Schmetzer and the first-team staff,” Nicholls continued. “Not only for bringing these guys in and giving them a chance, but believing in them.”
By far the biggest difference between the USSDA and professional ranks is the drastically increased speed of play. They may be able to rely on their athleticism and technical acumen at the youth level, but training with the first team forces the young Sounders to do more work between the ears.
“It’s just a whole different level compared to the Academy in terms of speed play and thought,” said Martin. “Playing with professional players that you look up to just pushes you to do better, and it makes you feel like you can get there one day.”
Rothrock, a dynamic attacking player capable of lining up anywhere along the forward line, echoed Martin’s sentiment.
“I think the challenge is finding a balance between playing your game and also playing simple,” said Rothrock. “You have to play a lot faster here, and I think the biggest difference is just how much you have to think.
While this exponential increase in quality can be daunting at times, the guys feel it is beneficial to their own development.
“Playing with the players that we watched growing up on TV has been a really cool experience,” said Ragan. “It’s going to help us improve in the future.”
Another benefit of increased integration is that signing players from the Academy eases the transition for other players progressing through the system. In addition to the familiarity, seeing former teammates excelling in a professional environment galvanizes these young talents.
“I think it’s just motivation to get to the next level,” said Martin. “You’re playing with these guys day-in, day-out in the Academy, and then you see them get a chance to go up. You know you have that opportunity and you just have to take your chances when they come.”
For Teves, who also joined the club from Hawaii, Hopeau’s rapid ascent from Academy standout to an exciting prospect with S2 has inspired him to elevate has game.
“I grew up playing with Shandon [Hopeau] in Hawaii, so he’s always been someone that I’ve looked up to,” said Teves. “Seeing him sign makes you feel like if they can do it, you can too. If it’s someone you’ve played with, it gives you confidence.”
With so many young Sounders making the most of their opportunities with S2 and the first team, expect more and more Academy alums to rise through the ranks and establish themselves as quality professionals.
