USSF shakes up youth landscape

by Mike Woitalla

The U.S. Soccer Federation is launching the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, which promises to dramatically decrease the men's national team program's dependence on the Olympic Development Program to identify players. The Federation has started accepting applications from the nation's elite youth clubs to run academy teams for U-16 and U-18 ... Read the whole story

What They're Saying

by Soccer America

"After completing an extensive review and discussion across the country, we feel that it is the right time for U.S. Soccer to lead a change in the sport at the youth level. We need to shift the focus of our young elite players from an 'overburdened, game emphasis' model to ... Read the whole story

U.S. Soccer Development Academy: The Impetus

by Mike Woitalla

Shortly after being elected U.S. Soccer President in March of 2006, Sunil Gulati launched a complete review of all the Federation's technical areas. The Technical Committee, headed by Kevin Payne, concluded that on the youth player development front, at ages 13 to 17, elite players needed an increase in the ... Read the whole story

Tiny Liechtenstein is on a roll

by Paul Kennedy

With a population of 33,000, Liechtenstein does not even have its own pro league -- its top club, FC Vaduz, was tied for eighth in the Swiss Second Division -- and has never finished anywhere other than last in its group of a major qualifying tournament, but it finds itself ... Read the whole story

Ryan cuts women's residency squad to 24 players

by Soccer America

With the countdown to the Women's World Cup on, U.S. national team head coach Greg Ryan has reduced the residency training camp roster to 24 players. Ryan released forwards Lauren Cheney and Megan Rapinoe and goalkeepers Kristin Luckenbill and Kim Bingham, while injured players Heather Mitts and Amy LePeilbet, both ... Read the whole story

Brazilian Campos on fire for PDL's Fuego

by Soccer America

[PDL RESULTS] Brazilian Pablo Campos scored two goals for the Fresno Fuego in a 4-2 win over the Lancaster Rattlers to give him a league-high 10 goals in seven games. Only seven teams remain unbeaten: the defending champion Michigan Bucks (4-0-2) and Indiana Invaders (2-0-2) in the Great Lakes Division; ... Read the whole story

Lady Lynx remain perfect in the W-League

by Soccer America

[W-LEAGUE RESULTS] The Toronto Lady Lynx are the only W-League team to open with four straight wins. They won at Vermont (3-0) and Rochester (2-0) to win their third and fourth games, all by shutouts. For complete W-League results and goalscorers ... Read the whole story

Recent Most Read Stories