What is the Youth Partnerships Program?

The Youth Partnerships Program is a partnership program of the Columbus Crew to help grow the game of soccer in the Columbus and Midwest. The program is comprised of youth soccer organizations in Columbus and the Midwest. The Crew will focus their work with these organizations in the areas of player development and coaching education in addition to providing commercial benefits to these organizations. 

What is the benefit to our youth club?

The Crew will provide a mix of technical (soccer) and commercial benefits. Examples of the benefits include, coaching education sessions, player development training, access to the Crew’s Technical/Coaching staff (e.g., 1st team, Academy), priority access to matchday activities and Crew events, and marketing opportunities at Lower.com Field.

Coach Benefits

  • Connection with Crew Youth and Academy Technical Staff
  • Access to Crew Technical Staff
  • Dedicated youth soccer contact
  • Curriculum development and support
  • Crew club methodology

Player Benefits

  • Talent identification pipeline
  • Access to Crew and/or MLS hosted events
  • On-field and classroom sessions for players, coaches, and parents
  • Crew training observation opportunities
  • Sports performance educational opportunities (e.g., workshops and modules)
www.thecrewyouth.com

Columbus Crew Pre-Academy

The Columbus Crew Pre-Academy is free-to-play developmental programming for the U10-U13 age groups. Identification (ID) sessions by invitation only are held each Fall to select a player pool in the U11 and U12 age groups. Any player selected to the training group will remain with their home clubs/environment and participate in the supplemental training team with Crew Academy one time per week.


This program extends our development pathway down to the U11 age group and allows us to work closer with the local clubs to develop talent in concert. The Pre-Academy teams will feed into our U13 and U14 programming and continue through the pathway to the full-time Academy teams that begin at U15.

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