MLS Next Clubs in Marietta, Georgia

Southern Soccer Academy is a 501-(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing soccer training and league play for 3-19 years-old boys and girls of all ability levels and backgrounds and league play for adults ages 19 and older. The club, in its various forms, has been in existence since 1982 and has locations within the metro Atlanta area in Paulding, Cobb, Douglas, Coweta, DeKalb, and Fulton counties, as well as in Savannah. The club in its current form came about as the 2012 merger of a number of pre-existing soccer clubs in the southwest, west, and northwest areas of metro Atlanta. The club's membership now exceeds 5,000 players on 400+ teams, making it one of the largest soccer clubs in the Southeastern US.

Leagues: MLS Next

The Atlanta United Academy, launched in 2016, is a youth soccer program aiming to be a premier club at local, regional, and national levels. It offers a pathway for talented players to potentially reach the Atlanta United first team as Homegrown Players. The academy provides selected players with free participation, experienced coaching staff, and equipment. They train and compete at the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, the same facility used by the first team. The academy includes teams across various age groups, from U-12 to U-19, and competes in MLS NEXT. Beyond MLS NEXT, the academy also has programs like the Regional Development School (RDS) and the United Juniors Program to identify and develop young players. The RDS is a tryout-based pre-academy program for advanced players aged 8-14, offering high-level training.

Leagues: MLS Next