Development Academy Description

About the Program
Created in 2007, the development academy was established to primarily focus on youth player development in the United States.  The league consisted of 64 elite youth soccer clubs from around the country in its inaugural season.  Each team is comprised by geographic proximity, with two age groups (U15/16 & U17/18).  These 64 teams were divided into eight conferences with each team playing approximately 30 home and away matches during an eight-month season.

Currently in its fifth season, the program has expanded to 78 clubs competing in ten geographically-based divisions.  Although some attributes have changed over the past four seasons, the basic mission and principles remain in tact: increased focus on training, meaningful competition and providing a direct connection to U.S. National Team programming.

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.

 

STANDARDS

  • More Training
    • 3 mandatory training sessions per week
  • Fewer Total Games
    • Approximate 30 game season
    • No outside participation for full-time Academy players
    • 25% Minimum Start Requirement
  • More Meaningful Games
    • Compete against top youth clubs in the country
    • FIFA Rules (i.e. no re-entry on substitutions, January 1 birthday cut-off, players participate on older teams if appropriate)
  • Top Instruction
    • Players receive integrated oversight from Academy club coaches and U.S. Soccer coaches in their local environment.
  • Connection to U.S. Soccer Resources
    • Select teams compete against U.S. Youth National Teams
    • Regular Game and Training Evaluations by National Team staff
    • Referees assigned by U.S. Soccer
    • SPARQ Testing and Training
    • Gatorade Hydration Testing and Education
    • ProZone and Interplay Analysis

PLAYER IDENTIFICATION ADVANTAGES

  • Direct connection to U.S. Soccer National Team Scouting Network (NTSN)
  • National Team coaches evaluated over 70% of all Academy games in the 2008-09 season
  • Professional coaches from MLS and Europe have also utilized the Academy program as a scouting platform
  • Showcases are premier scouting venues:
    • 200-300 college coaches
    • 25 Professional Scouts
    • National Team Staff observe every game
  • Online player profile for all Academy players
  • Showcase games footage can be purchased
  • Over 250 players from Academy clubs were called into an YNT camp or trip since fall 2007 from 59 different Academy clubs
  • Over 85% of graduates from the Academy’s first year participated in college soccer