By Mike Woitalla
The Boys U.S. Soccer Development Academy (DA) will enter the 2017-18 season with 17 new clubs and 165 additional teams, bringing the total to 165 clubs and 620teams.
Teams have been added to each of the five age groups while a single-age U-15 division has been added for the 2017-18 season.
The Boys DA launched in 2007 with 64 clubs playingin two age groups, U-15/16 and U-17/18, which in the wake of the switch to birth-year registration are now U-16/17 and U-18/19 divisions.
U-11/12
Fourteen of the 15 newteams in this age group are from clubs new to the DA.
NEW U-11/12 CLUBS: Ajax United (Bay Area), California Odyssey SC (Bay Area), Charlotte Soccer Academy North (Carolina),Cincinnati United Premier (Great Lakes), Discoveries SC (Carolina), Elk Grove Soccer (Bay Area), Legends FC (LA), Los Angeles Premier FC (LA), Murrieta Surf (LA), Mustang (Bay Area), PhiladelphiaUkrainian Nationals (North Atlantic), Rebels Soccer Club (San Diego), San Francisco Glens Evolution (Bay Area), San Antonio FC (Texas)
EXISTING CLUB PROMOTED INTO U-12: New YorkCity FC (NY Metro).
U-13
The addition of 27 U-13 and 34 U-14 teams in 2017-2018 was spurred mainly by expansion in the Pacific Northwest.
NEW U-13 CLUBS: Cincinnati United Premier (Mid-America), Minnesota United (Mid-America), San Antonio FC (Frontier), South Florida Surf (Sunshine)
EXISTING CLUBSPROMOTED INTO U-13: AFC Lightning (South Atlantic), Campton United SC (Mid-America), Capital Area RailHawks-CASL South (South Atlantic), Crossfire Premier (Washington), Eastside FC(Washington), Florida Rush (Sunshine), Greater Seattle Surf SC (Washington), ISL FC (South Atlantic), LA Galaxy San Diego (Southwest), Lanier Soccer Association (South Atlantic), LAFC (Southwest),Minnesota Thunder Academy (Mid-America), NEFC (Northeast), New York City FC (Northeast), NTH-NASA (South Atlantic), Pacific Northwest (Washington), Seattle United (Washington), Snohomish Youth SoccerClub (Washington), Southern Soccer Academy (South Atlantic), TSF Academy (Metro), United Futbol Academy (South Atlantic), Washington Premier FC (Washington), Washington Rush (Washington).
NEW U-14 CLUBS: Cincinnati United Premier (Mid-America), Minnesota United (Mid-America), San Antonio FC (Frontier), South Florida Surf(Sunshine).
EXISTING CLUBS PROMOTED INTO U-14: AFC Lightning (South Atlantic), BSC Oregon (Oregon), Campton United SC (Mid-America), Capital Area RailHawks-CASL South (SouthAtlantic), Capital FC Timbers (Oregon), Crossfire Oregon (Oregon), Crossfire Premier (Washington), Eastside FC (Washington), Eastside Timbers (Oregon), C. Portland Academy (Oregon), Florida Rush(Sunshine), Greater Seattle Surf (Washington), ISL FC (South Atlantic), LA Galaxy San Diego (Southwest), Lanier Soccer Association (South Atlantic), Los Angeles FC (LAFC) (Southwest), MinnesotaThunder Academy (Mid-America), NEFC (Northeast), NTH-NASA (South Atlantic), Pacific Northwest SC (Washington), Portland Timbers (Washington), Seattle United (Washington), Snohomish Youth SC(Washington), Southern Soccer Academy (South Atlantic), TSF Academy (Metro), United Futbol Academy (South Atlantic), Washington Premier (Washington), Washington Rush (Washington), Washington TimbersAcademy (Oregon), Westside Timbers (Washington).
U-15
This age group was added for the 2017-18 season. Ten additional clubs have been promoted for2017-2018, along with the 72 current clubs who received automatic expansion into the U-15 single age group.
NEW U-15 CLUB: Grande Sports Academy (Southwest).
EXISTING CLUBS PROMOTED INTO U-15: Albion SC (Southwest), Armada FC Pro Academy (Southeast), Ballistic United SC (Northwest), Cedar Stars Academy-Bergen (Atlantic), Los Angeles UnitedFutbol Academy (Southwest), New York Soccer Club (Northeast), Tampa Bay United (Southeast), United Futbol Academy (Southeast), Virginia Development Academy (Atlantic).
U-16/17 (formerly U-15/16)
Five teams have been added to the U-16/17 age group.
NEW U-16/17 CLUB: Grande Sports Academy (Southwest). (Real Salt Lake willmove its operation from Arizona to Utah.)
EXISTING CLUBS PROMOTED INTO U-16/17: Albion SC (Southwest), Armada FC Pro Academy (Southeast), United Futbol Academy (Southeast),Virginia Development Academy (Atlantic).
U-18/19 (formerly U-17/18) U.S. U-16 boys head to Argentina
The U.S. U-16 boys nationalteam, coached by Shaun Tsakiris is holding a 21-player, 10-day training camp in Buenos Aires, Argentina Feb. 3-Feb. 12. The team will play three friendlies against Buenos Airesclubs.
“The No. 1 objective of this camp is to get international experience,” Tsakiris said. “That’s the main objective. Then of course, we are also there to continueto evaluate and monitor the progress of players on our depth chart.”
The team will face off against Argentino Juniors, San Lorenzo de Almagro and Racing Club de Avellaneda.
“Anytime you go down to South America, it’s always going to be different than the competition we get in Europe, especially the style of play,” Tsakiris continued. “I thinkthis is a little more along the lines of what our players will face in Concacaf and I think that the style matches that and prepares our players a little bit better. So, anytime we can go to Argentinaor Chile or Brazil or any of these top countries, I think it’s a great challenge for our players and ultimately, we want to prepare our players by giving them internationalexperience.”
The friendlies will mark the competitive games for the U-16s since December’s IMG Cup in Bradenton Fla., where the team played a year up and swept its three groupgames, outscoring its opponents 17-0.
The age cut-off for this U-16 player pool Jan. 1, 2001. Defender George Bello (Atlanta United FC), born in 2002, is the youngest player in the squad.
U.S. U-16 boys national team The U.S. U-19 national team is holding a 22-player camp in Sunrise, Florida. The firstcamp of 2017 for Coach Brad Friedel’s squad will include friendlies against El Salvador and Miami FC.
“I’m really looking forward to the camp and I think we’veassembled a good, athletic squad and I will be really interested to see who does well,” Friedel said. “This camp is meant to bring in new and returning players and give them theopportunity to get into the system and have a chance at making a future U-20 roster.
“The second part of that is, the (birth year) 1997, 1998 and some 1999 age groups are going to make up thebulk of the next U-23 Olympic team. So it’s really important that we continue to give the players international experience.”
Jan. 1, 1998 is cut-off for this U-19 player pool,which is entering the second and final year of its cycle.
Of the 22 players, seven are collegians, 11 play for Development Academy teams, two compete in the USL, one plays abroad(Daniel Barbir) and one plays at a domestic non-Academy club.
• Eight of the players called in are making their U-19 debuts: Matthew Freese, Noah Lawrence,Michael Ille, Lagos Kunga, Justin Ingram, Ryley Kraft, William Little and Mason Toye.
• 1999-born Milan Iloski is the youngest player on theroster.
U.S. U-19 men’s national team U.S. U-15 girls start new cycle with 40-player camp
U.S. SoccerWomen’s Development Coach Mark Carr has called up 40 players for a Feb. 11-18 training camp at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, California, that marksthe start of the two-year cycle for the age group as U-15s before transitioning to U-17s in 2019.
The squad consists of 2003-born players and two born in 2004.
U.S. SoccerWomen’s Development Coach April Kater, who also heads the USA’s U-14 program, is assisting Carr at the camp along with three former U.S. national team players: JenLalor, Kacey White and current FC Kansas City goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart.
U.S. U-15 girls national team
One full-time residency program and one MLS Academy club added for a total of 73teams.
NEW U-18/19 CLUB: Grande Sports Academy (Southwest).
EXISTING CLUBS PROMOTED INTO U-18/19: New York City FC (Northeast).
GOALKEEPERS (2): Nicolas Defreitas-Hansen (Weston FC; Southwest Ranches, Fla.),David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake AZ; Casa Grande, Ariz.).
DEFENDERS (5): Julian Araujo (Santa Barbara SC; Lompoc, Calif.), George Bello (Atlanta United FC; Douglasville, Ga.), JohnHilton (LA Galaxy; Long Beach, Calif.), Leonardo Sepulveda (LA Galaxy; Corona, Calif.), Nathan Toledo (FC Dallas; McKinney, Texas).
MIDFIELDERS (9): Everson Amaya Mejia (D.C.United; Alexandria, Va.), Mario Anaya (San Jose Earthquakes; Livermore, Calif.), Jordan Bender (Orlando City SC; Lake Mary, Fla.), Taylor Booth (Real Salt Lake AZ; Eden, Utah), Cameron Duke (SportingKC; Olathe, Kan.), Nelson Martinez Rivera (D.C. United; Woodbridge, Va.), Matko Miljevic (Argentinos Juniors; Buenos Aires, Argentina), Marcelo Palomino (Houston Dynamo; Houston, Texas), IndianaVassilev (IMG Academy, Savannah Ga.).
FORWARDS (5): Nicholas Mendonca (Flamengo/BRA; Coconut Creek, Fla.), Benjamin Ortiz (La Roca FC; Orem, Utah), Bryan Reynolds (FC Dallas,Little Elm, Texas), Gabriel Segal (Bethesda-Olney; Bethesda, Md.), Jose Rivas (Weston FC; Weston, Fla.)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Matthew Freese (Philadelphia Union; Wayne, Pa.), Noah Lawrence (D.C.United; Mitchellville, Md.), Kevin Silva (UCLA; Bethlehem, Pa.)
DEFENDERS (6): Daniel Barbir (West Bromwich Albion F.C.; Allentown, Pa.), Tanner Dieterich (Clemson; Nashville,Tenn.), Marco Farfan (Portland Timbers; Portland, Ore.), Justin Ingram (Indianapolis Fire; Indianapolis, Ind.), Edwin Munjoma (SMU; McKinney, Texas), Brandon Terwege (FC Dallas; Highland Village,Texas).
MIDFIELDERS (11): Christian Enriquez (Cal Poly; Spring Valley, Calif.), Daniel Griffin (Providence College; Wethersfield, Conn.), Felipe Hernandez (Swope Park Rangers;Murfreesboro, Tenn.), Michael Ille (Atlanta United FC; Lawrenceville, Ga.), Milan Iloski (Real Salt Lake; Escondido, Calif.), Ryley Kraft (Sacramento Republic FC; Roseville, Calif.), Lagos Kunga(Atlanta United FC; Tucker, Ga.), Simon Lekressner (Univ. California-Berkley; Bellevue, Wash.), William Little III (Swope Park Rangers; Johnson City, Tenn.), Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire;Bridgeview, Ill.), Grant Robinson (George Mason; Columbia, Md.).
FORWARDS (2): Nelson Hunsinger (Leg-A-Z; Mary Esther, Fla.), Mason Toye (PDA; South Orange, N.J.)
GOALKEEPERS (5): Azul Alvarez (Lonestar SC; Round Rock, Texas), Nadia Cooper (Albion Hurricanes FC; Katy, Texas), Haley Craig (Hawkes-Wolves SC; Dexter, Mich.), Madison Goldberg(Pleasanton Rage; Pleasanton, Calif.), Jordan Nytes (Real Colorado; Aurora, Colo.).
DEFENDERS (10): Baleigh Bruster (Tophat SC; Smyrna, Ga.), Abigail Dunbar (San Diego Surf;Coronado, Calif.), Emerson Layne (Colorado Rush; Fort Collins, Colo.), Phoenix-Dawn Miranda (Surf SC; Aiea, Hawaii), Briana Sayoc (East Meadow; North Bellmore, N.Y.), Emily Schleifer (Weston FC; LakeWorth, Fla.), Faith Slimmer (NJ Rush; Petersburg, N.J.), Alyssa Stadeker (Southern SA; Smyrna, Ga.), Helen Symbas (Tophat SC; Atlanta, Ga.) Jenna West (Mustang SC; Clayton, Calif.).
MIDFIELDERS (14): Jessica Carlton (SoCal Blues; Upland, Calif.), Summer Denigan (Kings Hammer; Union, Ky.), Emma Egizii (Beach FC; Downey, Calif.), Sophia Fisher (SC Del Sol;Scottsdale, Ariz.), Anna Hurley (Boston Breakers; Wakefield, Mass.), Camryn Lancaster (Mansfield, Texas: Dallas Texans), Alexis Missimo (Solar FC; Southlake, Texas), Olivia Pena (Solar SC; Irving,Texas), Allison Perry (Solar SC, Frisco, Texas), Riena Riberiro-Parente (New York SC; Scarsdale, N.Y.), Kendra Rust (Minnesota Thunder; Rosemount, Minn.), Bella Sember (East Meadow; Centerport, N.Y.),Allyson Sentnor (South Shore Select; Hanson, Mass.), Susanna Soderman (Penn Fusion; Schwenksville, Pa.).
FORWARDS (11): Trinity Byars (Solar SC; Richardson, Texas),Trinity Coker(San Diego SC; Poway, Calif.), Kayla Colbert (Arsenal FC; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Tatiana Fung (Arsenal FC; Fullerton, Calif.), Amelia Horton (Sporting Blue Valley; Olathe, Kan.), Simone Jackson(So Cal Blues; Redondo Beach, Calif.), Kimberly Isabel (Jacksonville Armada; Jacksonville, Fla.), Andrea Kitahata (De Anza Force; Hilsborough, Calif.), Syndey Minarik (Charlotte SA; Huntersville,N.C.), Ayo Oke (GSA; Lawrenceville, Ga.), Jillian Shimkin (Albertson FC; Rockville Centre, N.Y.).
Hey, Paul Gardner,you should note that 12 out of the 22 boys have Spanish surnames. On the other hand, only 2/ out the 40 girsl do.
Good play knows no borders. One of the best players that I have had the honor of playing with was Hispanic with the surname Smith. Surnames are irrelevant. Play on the field is what matters.
This seems like good news to me but I’m sure someone will tell us why it isn’t.
DA is growing. While the DA isn’t perfect, isn’t it better than than kids playing at lower levels with random clubs? Certainly it’s a lot better than these kids wasting their time with HS soccer.
These teams and clubs already existed, simply moved into DA. This will have very little impact on the development of the kids in these clubs. It could go backwards as more travel maybe required due to league changes which many studies show have a negative effect on the sport. Btw many kids enjoy playing HS soccer, and a fraction of the kids on these DA teams will play after U17 and a fraction of the fraction will make a pay check playing. Most kids are not wasting time playing HS soccer they are having fun with their friends and building the interest in the sport in the community.
There are benefits to playing in High School. One is the number of games- over 25 in about 3- 4 months compared to about 8-10 per NPL season. If you believe that ‘the game is the best teacher’, as I do, then playing 2-3 games a week is like an intensive class. The side effect of DA not allowing their players to play HS is that every wannabe DA club and player interprets that as a knock on HS Soccer. Players in our area are skipping HS to pay to play a 4 game winter league season.
Wow, never heard someone claim the insanely packed HS season is a benefit. 3-4 games a week is terrible for development. No time to practice, no way a player can give 100% in every game and in m y experience, by the end of each season, half the players are injured.
DA is not the same as club soccer and these teams that joined DA will not be playing the same teams they otherwise would have played.
DA seasons are about 30 games or so but spread out over an 8-9 month season with a winter break. That leaves plenty of time for practice and recovery between games. If the “game is the best player” why not play a game (or 2!) every single day of the year? Imagine how good everyone would be then!
Why so angry Nick? So a team that joins DA plays the exact same teams it would have played if it hadn’t joined DA? I don’t think so.
FPGN have you ever heard ‘it’s a players game’? Games give a player an opportunity to be on their own- the pressure is on and they have to perform and make their own decisions etc. Yes practice is important but creativity comes from games and not game like situations or drills. Players who do not give 100% need to find a less demanding sport. Getting into game-shape is something that you have to work at and these players are in great shape. I can’t speak about half your team being injured, I only have experience at our local HS from my sons playing over the last 6 years. The best way to avoid injury is to get stronger and increase your stamina and playing a lot will do that. An interesting thing is they play pick up on the weekends during HS season but not the NPL seasons. HS is their friends and neighbors while the Club is spread out over different communities.
Never get why people compare coaching of DA to high school? High school has more teams than DA players. Approximate #s: DA has 10,000 players. High School 825,000 players. The coaching at HS has improved, never seen a schedules with 3-4 games per week (except playoffs), they don’t play tournaments where teams can play 3-4 games in 2 days. HS with a high quality local club in spring and winter is great choice for most elite players. Fact of matter very few DA kids will play Div1 let alone take a pay check. But they miss out on a lot of fun playing for their school with their friends, why? Because USSF says they can’t. The USSF should help develop the high school game not distance itself from it. It is their job to support HS! Problem is they do not know what to do and do not have capacity, challenge is beyond current USSf management. It is much easier to add clubs and teams that already exist to the DA and make mandates that in much of the country either already exist or will not be implemented and then pat themselves on the back for a job well done. Need a major change.
Please stop with the hyperbolic comments. This is supposed to be a civilized discussion, not an emotional one. You are telling me that the new teams that just joined DA already played all of the DA teams? I don’t think that’s true.
When my girls played HS soccer (they play D3 now) they played 3-4 games a week from Labor day until mid-November (in NJ). The boys team played the same schedule. Sure they liked representing their school but hated the grind or constant games. By the end of the season they (and their teammates) were exhausted. They would’ve played DA in a heartbeat had a girls DA been available then.