"My experience with Academy is has been good, but not great. Question is, will a 10-month Academy schedule foster a better product -- the only LEGITIMATE reason for such a move -- or merely EXPAND the length of the existing product? Can anyone here answer that question with any authority?"
Unless someone (Shibumi?...where are you?) steps up this is a great question. Logically....the answer has to be YES!! Expanding the length of the product will improve the quality of the product. The only obstacle would be if someone could demonstrate a point of diminishing returns.
Scenario: A player will play a season of soccer lasting 3 months. Option A surrounds the player with average coaching and an average training environment. Option B surrounds the player with excellent coaching and a highly competitive training enviornment.
Which option honestly provides the top level player with the better developmental environment?
This is what USSF is looking at. Not the Wando's of the world. But the other 90%....
