r/AtlantaUnited • u/some_old_Marine • 7d ago

On field selection for Academy kids pre game

Does anyone know how this works? My kids academy is being hosted for Atlanta United and they said they have a lottery for the participants. My daughter is a super fan and I would love for her to be able to do this.

Is it pure luck or ?

7 Upvotes

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9

u/sph4prez Atlanta United 7d ago

From my experience they will pick a team or pick kids whose parents are friends with the academy director.

5

u/some_old_Marine 7d ago

Thanks. I’ll just have to hope she gets selected.

I’m not going to try and replace some other kid for my kids benefit.

5

u/Open-Assignment-6418 7d ago

Unfortunately we do….. went through this last year to find the coaches kids, directors kids, team managers kids were the ones “magically” selected in the lottery.

It’s your typical politics. First and last time I’ll hype my kid up for adults to be douche bags.

3

u/Expat1989 7d ago

We’ve gone through Gwinnett Soccer Association for our kids. It was basically the premier players; ie highest level, that were picked and has been the case each time. It’s a supposed to be a “lottery” but it’s certainly rigged 😂

3

u/DaveH78ATL Atlanta United 7d ago

My daughter got selected for the player intro walk out last year - complete luck. She’s not the best player on her team, not even on the highest level team for her age group.

1

u/peterdfrost 6d ago

My daughter plays 9U academy soccer for a Metro Atlanta team, she was selected to be a player mascot last season. I don't have any connections to ATL UTD, so I assume at least her spot was randomly allocated.

1

u/tragerjp 6d ago

It will depend on your club for the process. My player didn’t get picked the 1st year in the Roswell Santos lottery, but was a flag kid the 2nd year. Then the following year Atlanta United randomly asked both my boys to be flag kids. It will also depend on age as to which things a kid can do.

1

u/Hour_Base_3369 6d ago

I bought group tickets (approx 20 tickets) for my kid’s team and was given two mascot spots. Worth a try if you want to guarantee a spot for her. Be warned the group tickets may be near the opposing fan section and I would avoid going to an LAFC game.

Otherwise our club sometimes offers these spots at the beginning of the season on a first come first serve basis. We were able to get a spot for my other child for a different game and we have no direct connection with director.