The Regional Development School (RDS) is a tryout-based program open to athletes ages 8-11 intended to supplement a player’s current training environment with additional group training from Crew Youth staff and access to world-class facilities at the OhioHealth Performance Center. RDS will expand Crew Youth’s ability to identify and develop local talent through Identification Sessions that will now see more players selected to continue in the Club’s Player Pathway.
Open to both girls and boys, RDS participants will receive a curriculum built around the technical demands of competitive soccer, a clear pathway into the Crew Futures presented by Bread Financial Training Program and exposure to high-level competition with other players from around Central Ohio.
“We’re proud to expand our reach and provide opportunities to a growing number of young athletes from Central Ohio and beyond,” Academy Director Brian Bliss said. “The Regional Development school will be an instrumental part of our mission to grow the game and continue to develop talent locally.”
Identification Sessions for all age groups will be held on June 15-19 and will be free to register at this link. Crew Youth will also be hosting a series of summer camps at the OhioHealth Performance Center beginning with a half day camp that starts on June 8. Registration for all camps is live now at this link.
Columbus Crew Academy is a fully funded professional academy overseen by Crew General Manager Issa Tall, Technical Director Marc Nicholls and Academy Director Brian Bliss. The purpose of the Academy is to develop professional players equipped for Major League Soccer that contribute to the success of the Columbus Crew.
The Academy serves players as young as 10 years old in the Preformation phase, and athletes become full time when the reach the Formation phase at the U15, U16 and U18 age groups. Full time Academy athletes hail from throughout the United States and internationally.
The Club offers services to its Academy players such as Crew School, which allows students to study in an academic setting with the Crew, while still completing the necessary coursework for their state online. Students from other parts of Ohio and other states also have access to the Crew’s Homestay Program, which places young athletes with generous families in the Columbus area. The Homestay program has helped give rise to notable Homegrown players such as Aidan Morris and Chase Adams.
Overall, the Academy has produced 24 Homegrown signings as Chase Adams, Quinton Elliot and Owen Presthus all signed First Team contracts earlier this year. Taha Habroune became the first-ever Homegrown to complete the pathway by signing with the Academy, Crew 2 and the First Team when he signed a contract in January of 2024 and made his MLS debut on April 13, 2024.
