Competing for the first time as ALBION SC Colorado in 2024 after flying our USLA banner as Boulder County United during the 2023 league season, we kick started the 2024 Academy season winning the Academy Cup, going 4-0 across the tournament. As of August 2024, our USLA team is competing for first place in the Mountain Division and a berth in the 2024 USL Academy Cup Championships. Our USL Academy team bridges the gap between the youth game and our pre professional USL2 team and beyond. 

ALBION SC Colorado’s USL Academy program is built to ENGAGE, CHALLENGE and SUPPORT high achieving U20 players in our club and Colorado communities as we prepare players for professional and collegiate opportunities at the highest level. 

Our team is largely composed of current ALBION SC Colorado ENCL high school boys with additional high quality players and people brought in from across the club and state. With a roster of 24-32, U15-U19 players within our pool, we use this environment to aid in our player’s development needs as they pursue professional and collegiate opportunities. To ensure vertical integration along our player pathway, our USLA team trains alongside, and with, our USL2 team during the months of May-July, as USLA players are called into training and match days inline with their development needs. During our USL2 2024 season, we had five players make USL2 debuts from our USLA roster.

For match days and tournaments, we select 18 high performing players from within our pool to compete. This setup ensures a competitive training environment where players are held accountable for their performance and consistency matched with continuous feedback. 

Directed and coached by our USL GM, Sean Baumann evaluates players within the club and community to build the roster and then works individually and collectively with the players and team to engage, challenge and support the players along our USL player pathway. Sean holds his USSF ‘A’ License after playing professionally in Sweden and is a USSF ‘C’ License instructor. Having additionally worked in various age groups, he possesses a strong understanding of the age and stages of a player’s development and that each player is on their own unique journey. 

The USL Academy season runs the calendar year, January through December, with players being able to be added to our roster throughout the year at any point until November. If you are interested in being evaluated and joining the team, be sure to contact our USL GM and USLA Head Coach Sean Baumann and complete our USLA Player Interest Form. 

USL Academy plays a crucial role in our player pathway by giving valuable exposure within the USL platform to top U15 to U19 youth players. It offers a more clearly defined path for top youth prospects in their area to reach the professional level and sign directly with our USL 2 team while improving the quality of soccer in Boulder County and surrounding areas.

ALBION Colorado is committed to improving the quality and level of soccer in our community for all players interested becoming a professional soccer player.

Our USL Academy program provides a high-performance training experience through top-class coaching, club resources, and premium facilities, to ensure we deliver a program where players will truly improve and progress during their time with our club.  The program also offers a direct connection to our USL2 team, allowing youth players to see a clear next step on their path to pro.

We have met a set of standards developed by the USL across a series of categories including club identity, staffing plan, pathway and developmental framework, fitness and wellness strategies for our athletes and more.