4-8-2024

Racine-Kenosha Counties - 

RKC Third Coast is excited to announce its participation in the USL Academy League. This will be in addition to RKC Third Coast’s USL League 2 and USL W League teams. For the summer of 2024, RKC will operate a men’s reserve team and beginning in 2025, RKC will operate both a Men’s and Women’s Academy teams.

The U20 Reserve team in the USL Academy League will serve as a direct pathway from High School ages to the first team. Players will train and play in a high performance environment led by successful college coaches and First Team staff.

With overwhelming interest this year from younger players desiring the opportunity to train and play with our USL League 2 team, we felt this was a great time to add to our young club in order to provide opportunities to develop older high school players and younger college players.

Players will experience a first team environment and mentality from the staff and club with games played at the same stadium as W-League and League 2 teams, regular training, tracking of player progress, opportunities to train with the first team when appropriate and regular access to first team coaches.

Owner Wayne Howard states, “the opportunity to start a U20 Reserve team with a league to play in is huge for our club. This allows us to invest in younger, high level talent from the area.” The team will be composed mainly of high level graduating high school seniors and younger college aged players. Additionally some League 2 team members will have the opportunity to get more substantial play experience occasionally with the Reserve squad. Additionally, “as the team is forming, we can see that these players will provide a solid core for future RKC First teams in the next 2 - 3 years.”

About RKC Third Coast:

We are a men's and women's pre-professional soccer teams, playing in the USL- League 2 for men and playing in the USL-W league for Women. Made up of mostly college aged players, who are playing during their college team's offseason to improve their game, and gain exposure to professional leagues all while keeping their NCAA eligibility.

We have made a commitment to helping these players, to helping local youth soccer clubs by promoting soccer in our communities, and to find other ways to support & improve the communities we represent

About USL Academy:

With the launch of USL Academy, United Soccer League now has an elite youth platform to offer to its clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two.

As such, these clubs can now develop a more clearly defined path for top youth prospects in their area to reach the professional level and sign directly with their senior team while improving local quality and community.

The USL Academy brand is composed of four key components: Standards, USL Academy Contracts, USL Academy Cup and USL Academy League.

About USL:

The United Soccer League (USL) is the largest professional soccer organization in North America, possessing nearly a decade of experience in bringing the world’s game to communities across the United States and Canada. Overseeing three men's leagues (USL Championship, USL League One, USL League Two), two women's leagues (USL Super League, USL W League), one elite player development platform (USL Academy), and a national youth platform (USL Super Y League), the USL is built on a proven and recognized model in international football and counts more than 200 clubs in its membership.

Based in Tampa, Fla., the USL has grown over the past decade into a model organization with strong corporate partnerships, stable organizational leadership, and a dedicated staff that provides outstanding support to member clubs and outside partners. Sanctioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation and Canadian Soccer Association, the USL is #UnitedForSoccer, moving the game forward in the United States and Canada.