Of course this does nothing to help with the fact that only the wealthy can afford to play top level youth soccer.
MISHAWAKA — A Mishawaka native is betting big on youth soccer with plans to open a single-sport private high school catering to talented domestic and international players who hope to get college scholarships or go pro.
Founder Ethan Hunt, a 23-year-old graduate of Marian High School and Bethel University, says he expects the International Soccer Academy of America to open for classes this fall in the former Edison Lakes YMCA building.
Hunt modeled the school on European-style football academies, affiliated with professional clubs, where students go to school while developing as soccer prospects. He said the United States has soccer development academies linked with pro teams, but there are few, if any, that combine academics and soccer under one roof.
Hunt “has known for a long time that the American soccer system is not aligned with the rest of the world,” according to the school’s website, “and he has made it his goal to fix it.”
Hunt, who started developing the idea as a master’s thesis, said there are full-time schools that use similar models, but none that focus exclusively on soccer.
“I said, why don’t we just do soccer only,” Hunt said, “and then we can bring a huge draw of soccer-specific players to our area that probably wouldn’t have come here otherwise.”
Hunt said at least 50 families from the South Bend-Mishawaka area and surrounding region have inquired about applying to the school, along with 25 from abroad, in the week since he publicly announced the plans.
He said students will start class at 9:30 a.m. and finish at 4:05 p.m., followed by an hour-long study hall and two hours of soccer practice. The school will focus on in-class projects to lessen the amount of homework, and will include “mindfulness” exercises such as meditation and yoga.
“In the Midwest, you’ll never find something like this,” said James Ortega, who will be running his Futboleros academy for kids 7 to 14 at the school. “It’s very European-minded.”
For the first year, Hunt said, he will cap enrollment at 100 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students, who would range from 14 to 18 years old, will live off-campus with their guardians’ permission, or with host families.
The school, which is structured as a for-profit corporation, will come with an elite price tag: $25,000 a year between tuition and soccer-related costs, not including room and board.
“It is a lot of money,” Hunt said, “but we crunched the numbers to be able to pay our teachers, to travel to all these tournaments and have hotels included. Our fee is just about what other private schools plus club soccer would be.”
He pointed out students would also have access to private tutoring for college-entrance tests, plus round-the-clock access to athletic facilities. Some students also will be eligible for tuition assistance of up to $7,500.
Some details about the school’s academic and athletic plans have yet to fully take shape.
The school will not be part of the Indiana High School Athletic Association, so Hunt is working to determine how and where its team will compete. He said the team will likely compete in a regional “travel” league. Examples could include the Great Lakes Conference and Midwest Conference under US Youth Soccer.
Although the school will occupy a 35,000-square-foot building, it does not yet have an outdoor practice space. Hunt has had an early discussion with the city of Mishawaka about converting a city field for use by the school.
Ken Prince, Mishawaka’s city planner, said a preliminary talk several months ago centered on the baseball field at Henry Frank Park, off Day Road, as the best option. But he said the details of the idea, including potential improvements to the field and a financial arrangement, would still have to be worked out.
“We’re supportive,” Prince said of the school. “It’s a great concept if they can pull it off.”
Academically, Hunt is working on filling out the school’s planned staff of six full-time teachers. He said there are three open teaching positions for science, social studies and Spanish, which will be the school’s sole foreign language offering.
The school would not be accredited for its first year, but will seek accreditation, likely through the state of Indiana, for the 2022-2023 year, Hunt said. He said the school will teach to the state’s “Core 40” curriculum standards.
Private schools are not required to have accreditation. But a private school can choose to seek full accreditation from the state by participating in the same requirements that apply to public schools, including the ILEARN test and the state’s letter-grade rating system for schools.
“We would prefer the state come in and look at us to make sure we meet state standards,” Hunt said. “We want to give (students) the best education possible, and that really starts with the accreditation during year one.”
Because the school is structured as an S-corporation, it is required to have a board of directors. But because Hunt is the sole owner, he said, he will have the exclusive right to appoint the board members.
The International Soccer Academy of America is just Hunt’s latest big dream. In 2015, while still in high school, he ran for Mishawaka City Council.
As a city council candidate, he said, he took exception to the focus on his age. Now, he still hopes people will judge him by his qualifications.
After high school, he was an assistant coach for Marian’s top-ranked soccer team, and went on to be a manager for Bethel soccer. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management at Bethel, and this year got a master’s through an online program from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, in Spain. He also has a coaching diploma from United Soccer Coaches and took courses on soccer management, scouting and analytics from a company called Sports Management Worldwide.
Hunt has a lot at stake. He signed a six-year lease with the YMCA of Michiana for the 35,000-square-foot building, and he said he has invested a six-figure sum of money in the school, though he did not specify the amount.
But Hunt said he believes he has the market research showing the school’s appeal, and he welcomes the responsibility of determining its fate.
“I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t feel confident in the project,” he said. “If it succeeds, great. If not, that’s on me.”
Mishawaka native bets big on soccer-only private high school
International Soccer Academy of America plans to open this fall
www.southbendtribune.com
MISHAWAKA — A Mishawaka native is betting big on youth soccer with plans to open a single-sport private high school catering to talented domestic and international players who hope to get college scholarships or go pro.
Founder Ethan Hunt, a 23-year-old graduate of Marian High School and Bethel University, says he expects the International Soccer Academy of America to open for classes this fall in the former Edison Lakes YMCA building.
Hunt modeled the school on European-style football academies, affiliated with professional clubs, where students go to school while developing as soccer prospects. He said the United States has soccer development academies linked with pro teams, but there are few, if any, that combine academics and soccer under one roof.
Hunt “has known for a long time that the American soccer system is not aligned with the rest of the world,” according to the school’s website, “and he has made it his goal to fix it.”
Hunt, who started developing the idea as a master’s thesis, said there are full-time schools that use similar models, but none that focus exclusively on soccer.
“I said, why don’t we just do soccer only,” Hunt said, “and then we can bring a huge draw of soccer-specific players to our area that probably wouldn’t have come here otherwise.”
Hunt said at least 50 families from the South Bend-Mishawaka area and surrounding region have inquired about applying to the school, along with 25 from abroad, in the week since he publicly announced the plans.
He said students will start class at 9:30 a.m. and finish at 4:05 p.m., followed by an hour-long study hall and two hours of soccer practice. The school will focus on in-class projects to lessen the amount of homework, and will include “mindfulness” exercises such as meditation and yoga.
“In the Midwest, you’ll never find something like this,” said James Ortega, who will be running his Futboleros academy for kids 7 to 14 at the school. “It’s very European-minded.”
For the first year, Hunt said, he will cap enrollment at 100 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Students, who would range from 14 to 18 years old, will live off-campus with their guardians’ permission, or with host families.
The school, which is structured as a for-profit corporation, will come with an elite price tag: $25,000 a year between tuition and soccer-related costs, not including room and board.
“It is a lot of money,” Hunt said, “but we crunched the numbers to be able to pay our teachers, to travel to all these tournaments and have hotels included. Our fee is just about what other private schools plus club soccer would be.”
He pointed out students would also have access to private tutoring for college-entrance tests, plus round-the-clock access to athletic facilities. Some students also will be eligible for tuition assistance of up to $7,500.
Some details about the school’s academic and athletic plans have yet to fully take shape.
The school will not be part of the Indiana High School Athletic Association, so Hunt is working to determine how and where its team will compete. He said the team will likely compete in a regional “travel” league. Examples could include the Great Lakes Conference and Midwest Conference under US Youth Soccer.
Although the school will occupy a 35,000-square-foot building, it does not yet have an outdoor practice space. Hunt has had an early discussion with the city of Mishawaka about converting a city field for use by the school.
Ken Prince, Mishawaka’s city planner, said a preliminary talk several months ago centered on the baseball field at Henry Frank Park, off Day Road, as the best option. But he said the details of the idea, including potential improvements to the field and a financial arrangement, would still have to be worked out.
“We’re supportive,” Prince said of the school. “It’s a great concept if they can pull it off.”
Academically, Hunt is working on filling out the school’s planned staff of six full-time teachers. He said there are three open teaching positions for science, social studies and Spanish, which will be the school’s sole foreign language offering.
The school would not be accredited for its first year, but will seek accreditation, likely through the state of Indiana, for the 2022-2023 year, Hunt said. He said the school will teach to the state’s “Core 40” curriculum standards.
Private schools are not required to have accreditation. But a private school can choose to seek full accreditation from the state by participating in the same requirements that apply to public schools, including the ILEARN test and the state’s letter-grade rating system for schools.
“We would prefer the state come in and look at us to make sure we meet state standards,” Hunt said. “We want to give (students) the best education possible, and that really starts with the accreditation during year one.”
Because the school is structured as an S-corporation, it is required to have a board of directors. But because Hunt is the sole owner, he said, he will have the exclusive right to appoint the board members.
The International Soccer Academy of America is just Hunt’s latest big dream. In 2015, while still in high school, he ran for Mishawaka City Council.
As a city council candidate, he said, he took exception to the focus on his age. Now, he still hopes people will judge him by his qualifications.
After high school, he was an assistant coach for Marian’s top-ranked soccer team, and went on to be a manager for Bethel soccer. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management at Bethel, and this year got a master’s through an online program from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, in Spain. He also has a coaching diploma from United Soccer Coaches and took courses on soccer management, scouting and analytics from a company called Sports Management Worldwide.
Hunt has a lot at stake. He signed a six-year lease with the YMCA of Michiana for the 35,000-square-foot building, and he said he has invested a six-figure sum of money in the school, though he did not specify the amount.
But Hunt said he believes he has the market research showing the school’s appeal, and he welcomes the responsibility of determining its fate.
“I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t feel confident in the project,” he said. “If it succeeds, great. If not, that’s on me.”
