Who: Home Grown Player, Manager Peter Vermes, Juniors Director of Coaching Jon Parry and other members of Kansas City technical staff
What: Press conference announcing first Home Grown Player signing
When: 2:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday, August 31
Where: Kansas City Wizards Swope Park Training Facility (6310 Lewis Rd., Kansas City, Mo 64132)
(August 30, 2010) – The Kansas City Wizards will host a press conference at 2:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday, August 31 at the Swope Park Training Facility to announce the team’s first Home Grown Player signing in club history. Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes will introduce the player and address the media at the press conference.
Major League Soccer established the Home Grown Player initiative in 2007 to permit teams to promote youth academy players to professional contracts, bypassing the league’s annual SuperDraft or traditional allocation process. These players must meet Home Grown Player regulations, including participation in the club’s youth system and residence in the team’s Home Grown territory for at least one year.
The Kansas City Wizards launched their Juniors youth development academy in 2007 to provide a professional-level environment for aspiring players to participate in. Director of Coaching Jon Parry oversees the youth program and tryouts are held annually for the U13, U15, U16, and U18 teams.
In April, MLS announced the addition of two roster spots specifically reserved for Home Grown Players. Clubs can sign up to four Home Grown Players each season, two of which may be signed to Generation Adidas contracts.
There is no minimum age for a Home Grown Player, but the players cannot be older than 24. These players are also automatically protected in any necessary expansion drafts.
The initiative has produced several promising players in Major League Soccer. D.C. United forward Andy Najar made his professional debut against Kansas City in the 2010 regular season opener and has three goals and an assist in 19 games played this year. Similarly, Los Angeles Galaxy forward Tristan Bowen made his 13th appearance of the year against Kansas City on Saturday and has two goals and an assist this season.
