Until two years ago, not many people thought of Statesboro, Georgia as a place where one of the most well-structured professional soccer pathways in the country could be built. But when South Georgia Tormenta FC set up shop there in January 2018, that quickly changed.

Tormenta FC is one of only a handful of organizations in the United States with its own academy program, pre-professional side in USL League Two, and professional side in USL League One, placing it alongside clubs like the Portland Timbers and New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer or North Carolina FC and Orange County SC of the USL Championship.

Last year, the club announced a 2019-20 pilot program with an aim to break down barriers for youth soccer in America. The program will fully fund academy participation for 54 players across the southeast in an effort to make soccer accessible to the best players in the region.

“One of the things we’re going to start doing even more this spring is that our [League One] staff and our League Two staff are going to be more involved in the youth academy,” said John Miglarese, Tormenta’s Vice President of Player Development and Head Coach of the League One team. “I’m going to get direct feedback as the manager on how Player X did in training on Tuesday night. We’ll be able to track their development and decide if they’re ready to be thrown into the deep end. 

“I think for us it’s important to have my assistant coaches involved in youth academy training on a regular basis, and me being visible at that training as well so I have a finger on the pulse of what’s going on with our kids.”

Tormenta recently signed a trio of academy products to academy contracts with the first team: 17-year-old midfielder Tristan DeLoach, 16-year-old midfielder Grant Hampton, and 16-year-old goalkeeper Stephen O’Hearn. DeLoach is returning for a second year as a USL Academy signing for the club having made one appearance in League One last season, while Hampton played in four games for Tormenta 2 in League Two.

“The technical focus allows players time with the ball to work toward mastery through this portion of their development,” said Nein. “Focusing early on a technical base allows for greater success when young players are given the opportunity to participate with the League Two and League One teams.”

Products of that program, including Hampton and O’Hearn, will compete at February’s USL Academy Eastern Conference Regional Event. For players who have already begun integrating into a professional setting, the event will offer a chance to test themselves against other elite prospects at their age level.

“The most exciting piece for me about competing in the USL Academy event in February is to be able to participate against other USL clubs and see where our group fits in against organizations throughout the eastern United States,” said Nein. “I’m excited that the Tormenta academy is involved in this uniquely professional experience for youth players.”

For more information on USL Academy and the USL Academy Eastern Conference Regional Event, visit www.usl-academy.com or search #USLAcademy on Twitter.