U.S. Soccer is teaming up with the U.S. Soccer Foundation and Nike to launch a scholarship program to enable more players to participate in its Development Academy program, which began in 2007.

The scholarships are designed to offset some of the program's costs for players demonstrating financial need, including transportation to practice, travel to Academy Showcases and club fees.

Even with the launch of the program, Development Academy Technical Director John Hackworth says reducing player expenses is a long term project.

"We fully understand that this is a long-term project," he said. "While clubs develop new strategies to eliminate expenses for players, ultimately the burden of some of the costs falls to the families. We don't want that to be a reason to not be a part of our program."