The Austin FC Academy teams faced off against Texas rivals FC Dallas this weekend, and one of Austin’s three teams came away with a win. While the U-14s and U-15s recorded losses, the U-13s captured yet another win in what’s been an outstanding season for the Academy’s youngest current age group.
ATXFC’s two older teams have been at the top of their age groups for most of the season -- and have had many great results -- but Academy GM Tyson Wahl has said throughout the year that the U-13 team has been the most consistent.
“Overall what impresses all of our staff about them is that they have such a good positive spirit,” Wahl told AustinFC.com on Monday. “In some ways they have short memories, so even if they do have a poor game, I think they recover from it a little bit more quickly. They’re typically having fun, while also playing at a high level.”
The FC Dallas win over the weekend did not count towards the MLS Next standings but there’s been little doubt during league matches that this team has a lot of quality. They have won five of their seven MLS Next matches (1D) and outscored their opposition 21 to 5.
While they will not be competing at MLS Next Cup next month, as that competition is restricted to U-15s and above, the team will be looking to finish out the season strong before they move up to the next age group at the end of July.
“I think they’re going to progress very well. They have a really strong core and they’re really well balanced, there aren’t a whole lot of positional needs. I think it’s going to be really interesting to see how the group progresses with physical development, social development and soccer skills to see which players start to stand out in a way.”
Goals like Homegrown contracts are a ways off for players at this age -- especially before they have really developed physically -- but with such a well-rounded group there’s little doubt that there will be players Austin FC fans hear about in the future.
Part of that future will also be shaped by the work the 4ATX Foundation has done by developing their social-emotional skills every week using the power of Restorative Practices. The sessions occur every week and Wahl noted that the players have been more than receptive to it.
“I think it has had an impact on the positivity and comfort with one another. They look forward to it. It’s one thing to say we want to develop the whole player and the whole person but I think when we’re adding programs like that and the Verde Leaders are involved in something that’s not exactly, fully soccer-related I think it shows that we do want to help develop the individual and their social-emotional skills.”
