[U.S. SOCCER] U.S. Soccer will create three new full-time positions for the women’s youth national team program following this year’s world championships in theunder-20 and under-17 age groups.
The head coaching positions for the U-20 and U-17 teams will become full-time for the first time. In addition, U.S. Soccer will hire another full-timecoach to handle player development, many of the aspects of running the national teams and to coach the under-15 national team.
The new hires are the first component of the recommendationsfrom the U.S. Soccer’s Women’s Player Development Task Force that is led by former U.S. women’s national team star and current Navy head women’s coach CarinGabarra.
As part of the Task Force’s recommendations, additional full-time positions are being studied for inclusion in 2013.
“With both our Under-17 and Under-20teams winning their Concacaf championships this year, we have a strong base for our youth teams and are well-positioned for the future of our women’s national team, but we know there is still muchwork to be done” said U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati. “With more full-time staff members working daily on all facets of development we are able tostrengthen our approach in many areas of the youth women’s program. We want to create the best environments for our elite female players so they can excel at the highest levels. We’re looking forwardto continuing the work that April and Jill have started, and ensuring we stay at the forefront of the women’s game across the world.”