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
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Over 200
Training Center Sessions in 2012 Uncovered
Additional Players for Youth National Teams
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New Format
includes Three-Day Local Combines in Seven
Cities
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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.
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ussoccer.com -
