Young goalie trains with the big boys

• by Soccer America , Oct 17, 2009

Bill Hamid, one of the first players to graduate from the U.S. Development Academy to MLS, got a taste of what it's like to be part of the U.S. national team when he trained with the senior team in preparation for its World Cup 2010 qualifier against Coast.

After having 11 missed calls on his phone and getting the message he'd been called up, the goalie says he wanted to completely tear up his room.

"I didn't know what was going on," he told ussoccer.com.

Hamid, 18, was thrown into the nets to serve as the goalkeeper during shooting practice. The D.C. United rookie called the chance to work alongside World Cup veterans and European-based stars "amazing."

(Click here for more on what his experience was like.)