Academy

New York Red Bulls U18 Season Preview

RB Academy U18 Group Pic

After a successful Fall campaign, the U18 group led by Head Coach Jonathan Rhodes have positioned themselves well for the spring season. Finishing with a record 12-3-2 in league play. They currently sit at the top of the MLS NEXT Flex League. Although the results are an important benchmark to measure development, they are not the ultimate goal for the technical staff who continue to focus the group on the process.

The first part of preseason for the team is to assess our growth and redefine our individual and collective objectives. Some of the U18s have had success and exposure to the pro pathway with Red Bulls II, but more are driven to follow in those footsteps. Our task is to isolate the specific areas for improvement and try to make required adjustments at the same time. Allowing them to demonstrate their individual special talents within our playing philosophy. 

The Spring will be extremely competitive with MLS NEXT organizing a multitude of events for this age group. The team will have 8-10 more league games to qualify for MLS NEXT Playoffs and MLS NEXT FLEX event. If successful, they will have a chance again to compete for a National Championship. Around the Easter period, the U18s will also compete in the internationally renowned Generation Adidas Cup. This event will help us benchmark the team against the best U18 academies in the world.

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