Boys Soccer

The IMG Academy boys soccer program gives student-athletes the opportunity to reach their full potential. With over 260 soccer student-athletes placed in college over the last five years, including 140+ Division I placements, and twelve student-athletes called up to national teams to represent their countries, the program provides unmatched expertise and guidance with a proven track record for college preparedness and beyond.

IMG Academy connects motivated student-athletes to more top-tier training and resources than any other school in the world. With teams ranging from U13 through U19 in the nation’s best youth leagues, along with post-graduate opportunities for eligible players, IMG Academy’s soccer program offers unprecedented access to highly specialized coaches and mentoring that prepares every player to compete at the next level.

Boys Soccer Program

overview
athletic development
facilities
methodology
coaching staff

Overview

Program Structure

IMG Academy’s soccer program is structured across 10+ months of training and competing. The program is built around our IMG Academy Soccer Performance Plan, which optimizes the development process by combining expert coaching with an annual competition schedule that’s centered on individualized growth technically, tactically, and personally within a world-class setting.

Tracking growth & success:

IMG Academy’s soccer program and performance plan are built around periodization principles in 6-week cycles that include the following development modules:

  • Individual training
  • Team training
  • Strength training
  • Athletic & Personal Development
    • Strength and Conditioning
    • Mental Conditioning
    • Leadership Development
    • Nutrition Training
  • Athlete Management System

Student-athletes meet with their coaches to set up an individual development plan with overall long term goals, short term measurable objectives, and mutually agreed upon outcomes over the cycle. Following the 6-week period, coaches and players review their progress and set new objectives when necessary ahead of the upcoming cycle. Four times a year, players receive a report detailing their progress and future areas of focus which include strength, agility, and endurance test results as well as video review.

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Athletic Development

IMG Academy soccer student-athletes have access to proven performance training in areas like vision training, strength & conditioning, nutrition, and sports medicine. Athletic Development coaches and trainers integrate into the program's larger support system, ensuring that each student-athlete feels confident and prepared off the field as well.

Strength & Conditioning

Outwork and outlast the competition with IMG Academy’s Strength & Conditioning program. Our team of performance experts design a program that supplements sports training to help student-athletes reach their potential.

  • Speed, agility, and movement
  • Endurance & Conditioning
  • Strength and power
  • Flexibility, mobility, balance, and core

Sports Medicine

IMG Academy’s Sports Medicine program educates and helps student-athletes keep their bodies healthy during demanding training and competition schedules. Our team promotes athlete availability through preventative and corrective exercises, holistic injury evaluation & treatment and movement quality assessments.

  • Athletic training
  • Physical therapy
  • Injured athlete program
  • Corrective exercise work
  • Recovery
  • Education on injury management
  • Return-to play management
sports medicine

Nutrition

At IMG Academy, we understand how important it is for student-athletes to fuel their bodies to meet their high-level lifestyles and sport demands. Our Nutrition program maximizes student-athlete performance by equipping them with the nutrition knowledge and resources to fuel and hydrate themselves for academic, athletics and long-term health.

  • Optimal everyday nutrition
  • Performance Plate
  • Nutrient intake and timing
  • Hydration strategies
  • Supplement education
  • Pre and post-competition fueling
  • Travel nutrition
  • Energy balance
nutrition

Visual Training

Vision Training is not just about seeing – it’s about doing. Student-athletes will train their eyes to perform more quickly and efficiently through eye muscle and visual system development.

  • Hand-eye coordination
  • Peripheral vision
  • Reaction time
  • Depth perception
  • Vision strength
visual training

Facilities

IMG Academy’s boys soccer program trains and competes on the following fields and facilities on campus:

  • 20+ grass fields for soccer practices and games
  • Soccer-specific stadium attached to a dedicated soccer building with locker rooms, meeting rooms for players and teams, and coaches' offices

In addition to our fields, the soccer program has access to the Performance Center, where strength and conditioning training and other Personal Development sessions take place as well as team meeting areas.

Other Facilities

Explore our housing and amenities here

  • Dorms
  • Campus Center
  • Academic Center

Methodology

IMG Academy’s soccer program has defined age-specific workloads and training programs to ensure that student-athletes have a clear pathway to progress through the program and maximize their potential. Training includes team field sessions with an emphasis on decision-making and tactical game management, speed of play, proactive on-field thinking, individual development plan sessions inclusive of video analysis and team building / leadership, and games or scrimmages. The program has defined concepts for attacking, defending, and transition as well as set plays and systems of play that are executed across every team.

Throughout the program, IMG Academy soccer coaches leverage their professional and collegiate experience and ensure that each student-athlete has the necessary tools to achieve their goals. IMG Academy soccer coaches focus on developing the “competitor” through holistic training that includes positive decision making, accountability, and a commitment to excellence. Each student-athlete within the program is competitive and possesses key skills such as game insight and the ability to read plays, as well as position-specific qualities.

IMG Academy’s soccer program is comprised of teams ranging from U13 through U19 as well as post-graduate opportunities at the U18/U19 league level dependent on a student-athlete’s age eligibility. The program competes across two competitive platforms:

IMG Academy Boys Soccer Competitive Platforms

MLSNEXT

MLS NEXT provides the best player development experience in North America. Founded on a collaborative approach to governance and a commitment to innovation, MLS NEXT players have access to the highest level of competition, training, and personal development opportunities that will prepare them for their futures both in soccer and in life.

USYS SUNSHINE ACADEMY CONFERENCE

The US Youth Soccer Sunshine Conference is one of thirteen conferences under the US Youth Soccer National League in the Multi-State Tier. The top teams in the Conference earn advancement to the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships, part of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series. Sunshine Conference teams also have a pathway to participate in the new National League Showcase Series.

The Sunshine Conference Academy Division is a club-based league that provides a highly competitive, stable, and consistent platform for teams in the U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U19 boys age groups. The Academy Division includes former Development Academy members and other elite clubs who will have teams compete against each other over the course of a 10-month season.

Soccer Director, Don Cameron

Don Cameron has been with IMG Academy since November of 2018. He was hired as the Technical Director and now serves as the Director of Soccer.

Don comes to IMG Academy from Lonestar Soccer Club in Austin, Texas. Don was the Executive Director of Soccer from 2011-2018 and helped grow the club to 7500 players and 168 competitive soccer teams. During his tenure at Lonestar, the club placed over 1000 players in collegiate soccer programs. Don also designed a club DNA, a player development philosophy, tactical periodization and curriculums for all the players at Lonestar. He implemented a professional development program for the 68 full-time coaching staff.

Don has successfully coached at national, professional and youth levels throughout the world. He was the head coach of the U15 ECNL National champions and has successfully led multiple teams to national, regional and state championships.

Experience

  • Executive Director of Coaching Lonestar Soccer Club, 2009-2018
  • Technical Director of the Albion Hurricanes Futbol Club, 2006-2009
  • ODP Staff Coach Region II, 2005-2006
  • Technical Director Zimbabwe Womens National Team, 2000-2001
  • Executive Director of Coaching Lonestar Soccer Club, 2009-2018
  • Technical Director of the Albion Hurricanes Futbol Club, 2006-2009
  • ODP Staff Coach Region II, 2005-2006
  • Technical Director Zimbabwe Womens National Team, 2000-2001
Coach Title
Don Cameron Director of Soccer
Alex Chater General Manager
Baris Johnson Head Coach
Charles Trimmer Head Coach
Connor McCoy Coach
Eli Feuer Goalkeeper Coach
Fermin C. Torrejon Student Athlete Advisor
Gary Bruce Head Coach
George Sasvari Camp Director
Gianluca Carbone Head Coach
Hector Luis Marinaro Head Coach
Ian Collins College Placement Lead
Jair Vasquez Head Coach
Jason Peters Head Coach
Joseph Walejko Program Manager
JT Kling Program Operations Coordinator
Justin Lundholm Soccer Assistant
Kailyn Scully Program Operations Coordinator
Keith Fulk Head Coach
Luis Meneses Head Coach
Marcelo Carrera Lead Coach/Boys Program
Matias Carbone Soccer Assistant
Mel Mahler Head Coach
Michael Furlong Assistant Coach
Paul Jennison Head of Goalkeeping
Samuel Dorf Head Coach
Stephen McNeil Head Coach
Tom Shortland Head Coach
Travers Evans Student-Athlete Advisor

Program Achievements

Some impressive highlights of the IMG Academy boys soccer program include:

3 Alumni Selected In The 2024 MLS SuperDraft

MLB Draft

2023 Elite 64 19U National Champions

MLB Draft

8 alumni competed in the NCAA Tournament in the Fall of 2022

MLB Draft

Thirteen boys soccer student-athletes represented 12 countries’ national teams in 2023

MLB Draft

The U'19 Boys team was selected as inaugural member of USYS National League's Elite 64

160+ boys soccer student-athletes placed in college over the last 5 years, including 70+ DI placements

IMG Academy was home to 6-time all-start and 2007 defender of the year, Michael Parkhurst

MLB Draft

IMG Academy Soccer alumnus, Wilmer Cabrera Jr. was drafted 76th in the MLS draft & named to the All-BIG EAST First Team

MLB Draft

View Our Stories

Take an inside look at IMG Academy student-athletes and their unique journeys on campus. While each student-athlete has a unique background and story, their shared passions and goals are clear as they strive together to achieve their dreams and reach their full potential.


IMG Academy Boys Soccer Program

The Power of a Strong Mind - Marcelo Carrera

Tuition

IMG Academy boarding school is built for dedicated and passionate student-athletes. We provide the tools and resources for our student-athletes to achieve their goals in the classroom, in their sport, in college and beyond. IMG Academy tuition rates are based on the comprehensive nature of our programming and resources available to student-athletes.

2023-2024 full year soccer tuition ranges from $67,400-$89,900 depending on age and program enrollment.

Academics

Offering grades 6-12 as well as post-graduate options, IMG Academy provides soccer student-athletes with a robust academic curriculum, unmatched academic support, and resources that prepares them for the rigors of university life and beyond.

Personal Development

IMG Academy’s intentional focus on holistic personal development sets us apart from any other program. Soccer student-athletes receive unmatched on-field growth and mental development training sessions that prepare them to excel anywhere.

College Placement

It’s critical for soccer student-athletes to feel confident and equipped to find the best college fit. IMG Academy’s proven, industry-leading college placement services and technology have placed more student-athletes on college rosters than any other program in the world.

Campus Experience

IMG Academy provides soccer student-athletes with unparalleled experiences and opportunities alongside like-minded, dedicated individuals from around the world.

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IMG Academy Boarding School Application

IMG Academy is the world leader in sports education and the boarding school admits a limited amount of students annually from a large pool of qualified applicants, so we encourage interested student-athletes to submit an application as early as possible. Submit your online application to get started today.

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