Podcast: Jon Moodey on the Black Rock FC, Northwood School partnership

Black Rock FC/Northwood School director Jon Moodey joined 'The Goal.' (Courtesy photo)

The latest guest on New England Soccer Journal’s “The Goal” podcast is Black Rock FC Founder and CEO and the director of Black Rock FC Residential Academy at Northwood School, Jon Moodey.

Moodey started his program at the Lake Placid, N.Y.-based Northwood School five years ago. He previously served as the head coach at the Berkshire School for 11 years, where he won three national prep championships. Moodey also coaches Black Rock FC’s USL League Two side, which currently has a record of 1-2-2.

Moodey joined host Matt Langone to discuss the Black Rock FC/Northwood School program and partnership, how it has developed and progressed, and how New England players factor in.

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Here are some highlights from our discussion with Moodey:

On why he started the program:

Moodey: “I was in the prep school game for many years and enjoyed that. I think the (NEPSAC) is a great league, and I really enjoyed my time there, but I also saw an opportunity for combining sort of a year-round program with a great prep school education. I thought that was something that was absent in the current soccer landscape.”

On landing New England players for the program:

Moodey: “We’ve had players from every state in New England. There’s not thousands of guys banging down the door, but there’s definitely people who see this as a good fit, and are willing to be a part of this program and are excited about that. What I see a lot is a lot of families, as well as players, feeling that in their particular region, whether it be in New England or outside, that they’re having to travel crazy hours four nights a week, or whatever, to training. Driving two hours each way to get quality training, and then doing their homework in the car and kind of juggling a lot. It puts a lot of stress and makes it harder for the student-athlete to perform on and off the field. I think for a lot of the parents, too, they get run down with that much travel, and I think what we’re finding is there’s a lot of players and parents who like the idea that they can have it all in one. Parents can come to the game and enjoy that aspect, but at the same time they’re not shuttling their kid four hours a day, four days a week, or whatever it is.”

On developing a program culture:

Moodey: “We read books as a team and we discuss different concepts. That’s one of my favorite parts of the residential academies. We have a chance to extend the conversation beyond the field, to have meals together. … Whether they’re playing foosball or playing chess away from the field, they’re just having a good summer together. They’re getting to know each other. They’re building a bond. We’re sharing and building a common dialogue.”

On the fall schedule:

Moodey: “That’s been an interesting challenge at Northwood, because we definitely want to represent the school and embrace the notion of the school participation. And we do. We actually have two uniform kits, although we have four residential academies and they all represent their school in fall competition. That’s an important part for us. We do look to play and intertwine ourselves into prep competition in the fall. We’ve also dabbled with the USL Academy League, we tried some league play. But, mainly, it’s prep stuff in the fall, and that’s largely centered around showcase events.”

The Goal” podcast is brought to you by the New England Revolution.

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