Imagine you watch a kid playing in a Chicago Fire shirt for the youth Academy at the age of fifteen, who catches your eye and makes you think 'he's a bit special'. Then fast-forward five years, and he's scoring the winning goal in an MLS match for the Fire's senior team having signed directly with the club two years earlier.

For the first time ever, that scenario is possible in the future. Last July, the Chicago Fire became the first MLS team to make their Academy, which covers players from age of 13-17, free for all participants. The Academy consists of 44 players making up two teams, at U-16 and U-18 levels.

Throughout the season, Backdraft will be following the Academy closely, and today we explain the set-up and its importance for the future of the Fire.

Players in the Academy are eligible for the MLS/Chicago Fire homegrown talent identification list, from which the Fire may sign up to two players each year (as opposed to players entering the draft system, where they could be selected by any MLS Team).

The Fire's Academy is based at Toyota Park, giving the players access to first class facilities. Entering the Academy does not, importantly, jeopardize players' NCAA eligibility.

Along with similar initiatives by the Red Bulls and Brad Friedel's Crew-affiliated academy, American soccer is finally coming into line with the talent development systems common around the world. It should be an important pipeline for local talent to be piped directly to clubs.

The big question, of course, is if the players the Fire have recruited are actually likely to be MLS quality. So far this season, results have been solid, with both teams unbeaten thus far. And Backdraft will be headed to Toyota Park this Sunday to scout the squad, as the Academy takes on the U.S. Nationals in a doubleheader .

The games start at 11am; entrance is free, so there's really no reason not to come along and check out the future of the Chicago Fire. But if you can't, look for Backdraft to be keeping an eye on the progress of the program.

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