The New York Red Bulls Academy is the multi-layered youth system of the New York Red Bulls. It is the first cost-free program in Major League Soccer that provides a professional soccer training environment for youth players in the New York Tri-State. The soccer programs are operated as part of a global approach to player development.
Through a partnership with Southern New Hampshire University, players are able to pursue their education while continuing to play professionally.
There are several levels which make up the pyramid.
Leadership
Director of Coaching Education and Youth Partnerships
Robert Montgomery oversees the Red Bulls Player Development System, including the Academy and Grassroots Training Program as Director of Coaching Education and Youth Partnerships. Prior to joining New York Red Bulls, Montgomery was the head men's soccer coach at Adelphi University, where he led the Panthers for 29 seasons. Posting a 258-224-39 record, Montgomery guided a program that had consistently been in the top 25 in the country.
He led seven of his teams to the NCAA tournament, and his 1987 squad advanced to the quarterfinals. Montgomery led the Panthers to their first Atlantic Soccer Conference regular season and tournament titles and received ASC Coach of the Year honors in 2006. He was named NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year in 1987 and 1990 and was selected NCSC Coach of the Year in 1995. Montgomery served as an associate athletic director at Adelphi from 1989 until 2006, where he was responsible for compliance and eligibility for over 250 athletes. In addition to his duties at Adelphi, Montgomery has been an assistant coach for the U14 U.S. Men's National Team since 2000.
Montgomery, who possesses a USSF "A" license, was the 1990 New York State Coach of the Year and Adelphi University Athletic Hall of Fame member became involved with the U.S. Youth Soccer Association in 1985 and coached top players from ages ranging from 12-19 in Region I.
Academy Director
On August 2019, Sean McCafferty was announced as the new Academy Director. A native of Derry, Northern Ireland, McCafferty most recently served as the academy director for the residency program at FC Barca Arizona . He previously spent fifteen years at St. Mirren F.C. in Scotland, where he began as a community coach and worked his way up to Head of Youth Development, overseeing player development and serving as manager of the reserve squad.
Senior Manager of Coach Recruitment & Education
Marguerite Ferrell hires the coaches whom will engage, inspire and teach the youth. She also manages the coaching curriculum, and ensures compliance with the club philosophy. Ferrell assists the staff in licensing and organizes an in-house coach education program consisting of over 100+ hours a year of coaches education meetings.
Training program
At the base is the training program which serves players at the grassroots level. This takes the form of soccer camps and training sessions available for youth players that want to learn more about the sport in a fun, yet professional setting. The skills clinics provide an easy and fun option for players to receive extra individualized training to help complement their regular club or team-based training sessions. The training programs also serve as a stepping stone to the Regional Development School. The RDS is accessible via tryout only, and acts as the feeder system to Red Bulls Academy teams. Players that excel during a Training Clinic will be invited to try out for the RDS program the following season.
Regional Development School
The Regional Development School operates as a satellite program which offers advanced soccer players the opportunity to develop their game on a supplementary basis, and serves as recruitment tool for the Academy teams.
The RDS offers young boys and girls ages 7 to 14 an opportunity to receive supplementary training from Red Bulls’ professional trainers. Intended solely for competitive and elite travel level soccer players, the advanced curriculum is specially designed to target individual, technical aspects of the game.
The RDS is available year-round, with a variety of programs during the fall, winter, spring, and summer
The Academy level
At the academy level, players are selected to represent Red Bulls teams; where players can ultimately progress to the Red Bulls First Team.