The Orlando City U23s announced today the signing of Orlando City Youth Soccer (OCYS) U18 Development Academy players Michael O’Sullivan and Tristen Rehrig. Both players will be available for selection in the remaining U23 matches, and are the first OCYS players to advance into the U23 team in club history.
“This is the start of a long list of players from the youth club that we believe will play at the U23 level and hopefully on the pro team,” said U23 Head Coach and OCYS Senior Boys Academy Director Paul Shaw.
“We believe that we have a production of players who will transition from our youth club to play at a high college level and return to play for the U23s in the summer. This is just the beginning of what could be a fruitful opportunity for many of our players.”
Since its inception over a year ago, OCYS has become a vital part of the Orlando City pyramid, which incorporates the pro team, U23s and OCYS. The pyramid-model yields the opportunity for players to progress up the ranks, and has been proven to be the most effective way to produce first-team players from youth academies.
Prominent European clubs FC Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund are currently the most visible examples of how a pyramid-model can be highly beneficial for clubs and players, with the majority of their rosters consisting of players from their youth academy.
Orlando City SC Head Coach and Director of Coaching Adrian Heath has taken note of the success brought to clubs who properly employ that model, and has implanted his system in all areas of the Orlando City pyramid.
“We hope now that this is the next progression and we’re in a position where everyone in the club is playing the same system, and we hope to see more promotions because players will be more comfortable with the roles that are expected,” said Heath in an interview with OrlandoCitySoccer.com.
The U23s have two games remaining in the regular season and are currently in the race to secure a playoff position, in a very tight Southeast Division. Shaw and his staff have lost several players to their universities in the past few weeks, and will be calling upon Rehrig and O’Sullivan to be more than spectators in the crucial matches ahead.
The young Lions’ next match is away against VSI Tampa Bay on Saturday, July 13, at 7 p.m. The U23s will then return home to play their final game of the regular season against Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy on Thursday, July 18, at 7 p.m.
