At the core of Atlanta United’s Academy is developing its players and helping them move up to the professional level. That was one of the reasons why the U-17 and U-19 teams switched from evening to morning training sessions at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground a few years ago.
The earlier time period allowed Academy players the opportunity to train with those on Atlanta’s first and second teams. However, training from 9-11 a.m. severely disrupts a normal school day for a high schooler. The athletes needed flexible schooling that would coincide with their busy soccer schedule.
After facing this challenge for years, Atlanta United has worked with Atlanta International School to create a unique educational program for the high school aged players in the club. The program will provide a strong academic curriculum through a hybrid setting that will support each players’ club commitments. Registered students will begin classes with AIS in August 2023.
“The relationship with AIS got created from this idea of making sure to push our players on the field, while still giving them the best education off the field in a flexible environment,” Atlanta United Academy Director Matt Lawrey said. “We’re really excited about the opportunity to do that.”
Atlanta International School, a private, non-profit school for 3K – Grade 12, had everything Atlanta United was looking for in a school for its players. AIS was knowledgeable about the city and a part of the same Southern culture as the club, and the international aspect fit perfectly with the diversity found among the players on each team.
With this educational program, AIS will provide challenging academic classes for the Academy players through a hybrid system that will work for them. AIS teachers will come to the Training Ground to teach some classes in person, while players can attend others virtually. Classes will also be recorded to be viewed later, in the case that a player is traveling or otherwise unable to attend synchronously.
Traditional courses such as science, English and math will be offered alongside electives like foreign languages, business, or computer science. Academy players will also have access to a range of support resources such as college counseling.
“The program that we’ve put together… for the high school students who are in the Academy is to provide them with a really strong education, to help them with their social, emotional learning,” Head of School Kevin Glass said. “They’ll graduate with a really strong high school diploma that will stand them in great stead of success in college and in life beyond.”
Academy players will be true AIS students and have full access to the AIS community and facilities, which are located in Buckhead, just 20 minutes from the Training Ground. They will no longer have to miss out on certain high school experiences and social aspects of traditional schooling.
“They can also attend field trips, and they can go to a Friday night athletic event if they want to,” Player Welfare Specialist Stewart Lathan said. “They can even go to prom if they so desire. They really have told us again and again how much they wanted to have a social aspect to their education. This partnership is going to be able to provide that missing link.”
Academic, athletic, and social development are all essential to each Academy player at this stage in their lives, and this program allows them to be successful in each area. While a few Academy players go on to sign professional contracts, many will continue playing at the collegiate level after graduation. The program will be beneficial no matter which route they take and even after their soccer careers.
“We want all these kids that come through our Academy to be good people on the way out,” Atlanta United Vice President and Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra said. “The Noah Cobbs and the Caleb Wileys who have gone through the school program and have signed professionally, that’s helped them in that aspect, but the hundreds of other kids who have come through the Academy and gone on to win college scholarships and set themselves up for a fantastic life is also something we’re really proud of.
“Finding that balance,” Bocanegra added, “and having AIS being able to come deliver a top-tier education for these kids is awesome for us.”
