Soccer academy interested in expansion

America’s next soccer great may be found playing on the grass fields of Rowan College at Burlington County’s Pemberton Township campus, which became the home of the Next Gen USA soccer academy last fall.

It began leasing space at the college’s original campus in September, but a future use study indicated that the academy is interested in occupying the entire campus, possibly even buying it.

College President Paul Drayton and Next Gen spokesman Doug Homer confirmed that there is mutual interest in the possible growth of the academy, but no decisions have been made.

The school, Next Gen’s first, operates similarly to soccer academies in Europe, where standout youths are identified and invited to attend private schools run by professional soccer clubs and their staffs.

Each morning, the students participate in soccer training, followed by academic instruction, lunch, more academics, and then a short afternoon training session, Homer said.

Homer said the school is interested in boarding students, possibly by converting one of the campus’ academic buildings into a dorm.

Next Gen also envisions possibly expanding its program beyond the pitch to offer career training in other aspects of the sports industry, such as coaching, refereeing, broadcasting and athletic training.

He said the academy has also expressed interest in RCBC’s College Head Start program, which allows high school students to take college courses as part of their high school curriculum.