[DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY] The U.S. Soccer Development Academy has awarded scholarships to 175 players for the 2012-13 season. Players on 40 of the participating 80 Academy clubs received the financial aid.

Scholarship players must maintain full-time status as an Academy athlete for the entire season, fulfill the 25 percent start requirement for a full-time Academy athlete, and submit a detailed online athlete Activity Log in order to keep their scholarship.

“With the scholarship program you fill weekly surveys about what you did,” said Angel Maldonado, who received aid under the program last season playing for Southern California's Pateadores and now plays at the University of New Hampshire. “It could be about how much time you’re practicing, if you had a game or did any individual work, and to maintain your scholarship you submit this every week.”

The Scholarship Program, a joint venture between the U.S. Soccer Federation and the U.S. Soccer Foundation, gave aid to more than 150 Academy players in 2011-12. Recipients receive funding to assist with travel to Academy training, games and events, as well a gear provided by Nike for their everyday training.