U.S. SOCCER PARTNERS WITH NIKE TO EXPAND TRAINING CENTER PROGRAM
Academy Schedule to Run from September through June Beginning in the Fall of 2012

  • Over 200 Training Center Sessions in 2012 Uncovered Additional Players for Youth National Teams

  • New Format includes Three-Day Local Combines in Seven Cities

  • National Combine to be Held at Nike's World Headquarters in Portland, Ore., in August

June 2013 -- CHICAGO (June 7, 2013) - U.S. Soccer's successful Training Center Program will be getting a makeover this summer as U.S. Soccer and Nike are partnering to enhance the nation's premier player identification program.

The expanded Training Center Program will consist of three types of invitational events for elite youth players: Sessions, Local Combines and a National Combine. In an effort to reduce the barriers for the best players to represent the national teams, all Training Center events are free for players.

"The Training Center Program provides our scouting network with more opportunities to evaluate and track the country's most talented players," said Director of Scouting Tony Lepore. "Since we launched the program in 2008, our youth national team scouts have worked with youth clubs, associations, ODP programs and other soccer leaders to identify the best local players who should be invited into a session. Performance at these sessions has opened doors at the collegiate, Academy, Youth National Team and professional level for many players."
Training Center Sessions are held regularly across the country and involve 25 players in an age group participating in one training session run by a member of U.S. Soccer's Scouting Network. In 2012, U.S. Soccer held over 200 sessions for boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 18, providing over 6,000 opportunities for players to be seen directly by U.S. Soccer scouts.

Training Center Local Combines are a new addition to the Training Center Program. Each Local Combine includes five training sessions conducted by a member of U.S. Soccer's Scouting Network over three days for the 36 most talented players in a local area. Players spend the day with U.S. Soccer staff, participating in training sessions and classroom sessions similar to a Youth National Team camp. In 2013, Local Combines are focused on boys between the ages of 15 and 17.

2013 Schedule of U.S. Soccer Local Combines
Los Angeles Combine - Jun. 7-9 at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center (Carson, Calif.)
Chicago Combine - Jun. 10-11 at Olympic Park (Schaumburg, Ill.)
Dallas Combine - Jun. 14-16 at Ross Stewart Park (Dallas, Texas)
Philadelphia Combine - Jun. 14-16 at YSC (King of Prussia, Pa.)
NY/NJ Combine - Jul. 5-7 at Rutgers University (New Brunswick, N.J.)
Washington, DC Combine - Jul. 8-10 at SAC United Covenant Park (Elliott City, Md.)
San Francisco Combine - Details to come

The National Combine is a premier opportunity for the nation's top 60 high school age boys to be evaluated by National Team staff and leading scouts from around the country. The five-day National Combine will be held at Nike's World Headquarters in Portland, Ore., with a format similar to a Youth National Team camp.
Players will be selected for the National Combine based on performance in Youth National Team camps, Training Center Sessions, Training Center Local Combines, Development Academy games and other events attended by U.S. Soccer's vast scouting network.

Select coaches will also be invited to attend a U.S. Soccer Scout Development Course to be held in conjunction with the National Combine. Coaches will attend lectures from leading youth scouts, participate in working groups and assist with the National Combine.

You can follow this summer's Training Center Program activity on ussoccer.com, the YNT Twitter, YNT Facebook page and Scout, U.S. Soccer's new digital magazine dedicated to covering elite youth soccer. The digital magazine is available to download for free on iTunes (download here).

About the Training Center Program
ALaunched in 2008, the Training Center Program is designed to increase the amount of youth players evaluated directly by U.S. Soccer technical staff. U.S. Soccer staff work closely with local coaches to identify the best local players and invite them to participate in a local training session conducted by members of U.S. Soccer's scouting network. Participation in the Training Center Program is free for the players, enabling the best players to attend the session regardless of club affiliation or financial background. Previous performances at a Training Center Session have led directly to invites into Youth National Team camps.

About U.S. Soccer's Scouting Network
U.S. Soccer centralized its scouting networks for the boy's and girl's youth national teams overseen by Tony Lepore (boys) and April Kater (girls). The network includes over 100 scouts trained in U.S. Soccer's standardized player evaluation process. Scouts assist with Youth National teams, Training Center Program and Development Academy evaluations as well as evaluate key events, such as ODP tournaments, Dallas Cup, Surf Cup, Disney Showcase and many other elite tournaments. Scouts also work closely with local organizations, particularly in urban areas to identify players outside of the elite youth clubs.

- ussoccer.com -


U.S. SOCCER DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY MOVES TO 10-MONTH SEASON STARTING IN 2012-13
Academy Schedule to Run from September through June Beginning in the Fall of 2012

March 2012 -- The U.S. Soccer Development Academy has announced it is moving to a 10-month season starting with the 2012-13 season.

After receiving overwhelming support from the Development Academy membership, the Academy is moving to a schedule beginning in the fall of 2012 that runs from September through June (or July based on postseason play). This creates a format that is similar to those followed by the elite soccer playing nations around the world as the Development Academy and U.S. Soccer continue their goal of closing the performance gap with the top soccer nations.

“If we want our players to someday compete against the best in the world, it is critical for their development that they train and play as much as possible and in the right environment,” said U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. “The Development Academy 10-month season is the right formula and provides a good balance between training time and playing competitive matches. This is the model that the best countries around the world use for their programs, and I think it makes perfect sense that we do as well.”

A number of clubs already have switched to the 10-month season and have seen substantial improvement (Western Conference, Texas Division). U.S. Soccer recognizes there might be challenges during the transition process and will work with individual clubs to make this swift transition as easy as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions | Quote Sheet: Academy and National Team Coaches
Video: Academy Clubs Move to a 10-Month Season

Moving to a 10-month season means players can focus on training together three or four times per week and play meaningful games on the weekend nearly year-round. Fewer games and an extended season will allow for the addition of a substantial number of extra training sessions, which are the primary vehicle for player development.

The 10-month season allows for a greater opportunity to institute a style of play and implement a system according to U.S. Soccer’s Curriculum as well as build team chemistry. It also gives teams increased opportunities for younger kids in their club to “play up” against older players in both training and matches, thereby accelerating their development.

“Going to a 10-month season is an important step in the evolution of elite player development,” said U.S. Soccer Youth Technical Director Claudio Reyna. “The format provides the ideal platform to place an increased emphasis on the value of training on a regular basis, and offers the opportunity to play in quality, competitive games throughout an extended season. This schedule puts our elite players in line with kids in their age group internationally, and places the appropriate physical demands at this stage in their development.

“The addition of a significant number of training sessions per year will enhance the ability of players to develop,” said Reyna. “Along with the support of our membership, this move has been greeted with enthusiasm from leading soccer nations around the world.”

U.S. Soccer created the Development Academy in 2007 to improve the everyday environment for the elite youth player. The Development Academy is a partnership between U.S. Soccer and the top youth clubs around the country to provide the best youth players in the U.S. with an everyday environment designed to produce the next generation of National Team players.  

- ussoccer.com -


 

U.S. Soccer Development Academy Champions - U17/18

Vardar Defeats Crossfire 3-1 To Win U-17/18 National Title

 


 

Video Player

To view the latest Academy information, including schedules, standings, player rosters and contact information , please visit the U-15/16 And U-17/18 Academy Team Pages

To view the latest information on the Development Academy, please visit the Development Academy Home Page on ussoccer.com. 

 

ACADEMY ON THE WEB -- NEW

 

ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” aired a feature this past week covering U.S. Soccer’s player development initiative leading up to the World Cup this summer.  The short feature includes footage from Development Academy events and has interviews from the L.A. based Academy club, LAFC Chelsea.

 
 

Development Academy Description

Developing the Next Generation

U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy program is driven by the game and its players, coaches and referees.  This game-centric approach allows for long-term development to occur through a deep understanding of what makes players successful around the world.  As the sport of soccer grows in the United States, young players in our country need the proper environment to compete against the world’s elite.  The U.S. Soccer Development Academy program provides the optimum developmental environment for the nation’s top youth soccer players, coaches and referees by emphasizing development through quality training and limited, meaningful competition.

 

Meaningful Training

Academy teams spend a greater amount of time focused on training to improve as individuals and as a team. The teams and players receive direct feedback and evaluations from National Team Staff and ProZone video analysis. To round-out the complete training environment, Academy teams are tested in their physical capabilities using the SPARQ testing methodology and their hydration levels by Gatorade.  They also receive a SPARQ training curriculum for soccer-specific athletic training and Nutrition and Hydration recommendations from Gatorade’s Sports Science Institute.  Each athlete then gains a greater understanding of how they compare physically against their peers and what they need to do to achieve their optimal performance levels. 

Competitive Environment

The Academy program features teams from the top youth clubs from around the country. Each Academy team plays approximately 30 regular season games to ensure all games are meaningful. Games are also played according to FIFA’s Laws of the Game and officiated by a pool of the nation’s top young referees in order to prepare players for the next level of competition. National Team Scouts regularly attend Academy games, so players are evaluated over the course of the season and in their natural positions allowing for better player assessment.

Early Success

As the program enters its second year, it has already dramatically impacted the player development process in the United States. In 2008, more than 100 players from Academy clubs were included in U.S. Youth National Teams and almost 800 graduates from the inaugural Academy class participated in college soccer the following fall. Virtually all college programs use the Academy program as a scouting vehicle and the program has received increased attention from professional scouts representing domestic and international clubs. Visit ussoccer.com to view the top Academy teams in action.

Development Academy Presentation

Please click here to learn more about the origins of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy program

U.S. Soccer FAQ

Further questions about the Development Academy can be answered in this U.S. Soccer FAQ.

 
 
 
Local and National News Articles about Academy  
   

Carlisle, Jeff. U.S. Soccer Federation Overview.  ESPN.

 
•  "U.S. Soccer overhauls its youth programs."
• 
"Development Academy is also an educational tool for coaches."
• 
"USSF models youth development on a mix of foreign concepts."
• 
"Pay-to-play aspect still permeates youth soccer."
• 
"Lower age groups in U.S. youth soccer still need overhaul."
-29 Jan. 2009
1 Feb. 2009
5 Feb. 2009
-19 Feb. 2009
-26 Mar. 2009
 
   
Mercer, David.  Sports: Soccer.  USA Today  
•  "Young soccer players chasing pro dreams at new academies."  -17 Apr. 2009
   
 
 
 

 
 

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