A year and a half ago, sophomore Theo Huxham stepped onto the training field of the San Jose Earthquakes, a professional soccer team, to compete for a spot on the roster.
Today, Huxham plays on one of the most competitive soccer teams for his age group. “It is basically a professional team for high schoolers,” Huxham said.
Huxham said that the San Jose Earthquakes is a soccer team for high level players who wish to play at the next level.
The level of play is highly competitive compared to club teams, and even Olympic Development Program (ODP), another very selective club team. According to Huxham about 90 percent don’t make the team. Out of 30 kids, 18 are rostered and 16 receive minutes during the games.
The program currently utilizes the U-13/14, U-15/16, and U-17/18 groups for competition. According to the San Jose Earthquakes website, 79 clubs participate in Huxham’s age group, U-15/16, in 2013-14.
“Some kids that played on my ODP told me to come out and play with them on the Earthquakes, so I went with them to some tournaments. I was like a trial player then,” Huxham said.
According to Huxham, one has to be invited by the coaches in order to receive a tryout for the team.
“We call them trialists. Right now, on our team we are carrying two trial players. They come with us to games and everything, but they are not on the team,” Huxham said.
Huxham said that the level of play on the Earthquakes was dramatically higher than his other club team. “It wasn’t like an ODP game. The speed of play is much faster and more intense than what I was used to,” Huxham said.
Adding to the competitive aspect of the team, the rules are based on those of professional teams. In any given game only five subs are allowed. “Once you get subbed off you are not going back in that game,” Huxham said.
According to the Academy website, the Earthquakes train four days a week in a professional environment, and compete in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy league, the most competitive youth league in the country.
Both the demanding commitment and strict contract disqualify Huxham from playing soccer at Redwood. “Before you start playing in the beginning of the season you have to sign a contract. If you play in a high school soccer game you are suspended from Earthquakes for two games and suspended from high school for one game,” Huxham said.
While the team hasn’t left the continent, they do travel to play other Academy teams within the United States. “The weekends are pretty busy. We travel all over, even cross country,” Huxham said, referring to a trip to Florida.
They have also traveled to Los Angeles, Dallas, Canada, and Arizona, among other places.
According to the Academy schedule, clubs can expect to play 15-20 away matches in a given season, some of which require overnight travel.
While Huxham doesn’t know his plan for the future yet, he knows he wants to play in college or on a professional team, which the Academy offers.
Currently, the Academy has a professional level team, consisting of adult players who compete throughout the world.
According the Academy website, the Academy connects National Team coaches directly with the Academy clubs to develop and identify players and coaches for future Youth National Teams. Each Academy team is evaluated by a member of the Men’s Scouting Network at least 10 times each year.
