Albert Puig, the former youth academy director at FC Barcelona, has been hired as executive technical director by Northern California youth club De Anza Force. The 48-year-oldPuig began coaching Barcelona youth teams in 2003 and served as La Masia director in 2010-2014. Afterward, he served as the technical director of Gabon’s national team program and […]
development academy
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USL Roundup: Los Dos on top after miracle comeback
The LA Galaxy II came back from 3-0 down with nine minutes to play to tie Real Monarchs SLC, 3-3, getting the final two goals in the 89th and 90th minutes, and remain unbeaten. Los Dos lead theWestern Conference with seven points, one more than three teams. USL Standings: EASTERN CONFERENCE: NY Red BullsII, Richmond, […]
Posted inStory
Tony DiCicco on the high school ban, coaching education and the future of girls soccer
Interview by Mike Woitalla Tony DiCicco, who coached the U.S. women to the 1996 Olympic gold medal, the 1999 Women’s World Cup title and the 2008 U-20 Women’sWorld Cup crown, spoke with us about the changing landscape of girls soccer in the USA. The U.S. Soccer Federation is launching a Girls Development Academy in 2017. […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: Don Garber
“It’s going to take time before we develop players as good as the Germans. Belgium has a cultural dynamic that we don’t yet have. How do you have [a] player think about nothing elsebut the team when they’re 16? That culture doesn’t yet exist and it will take some time before that happens.” — MLS […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: John Thorrington
“I just see endless possibilities with a blank slate. It’s much better to do that than reboot a system that might not be exactly what you want.” — John Thorrington, LAFC executivevice president, on building the 2018 MLS expansion team from the ground up. It’s starting with a team of 12-year-olds, the youngest age allowed […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
U.S. Soccer's high school ban — why the clubs and the girls should decide
By Mike Woitalla The club vs. high school battle plagued American youth soccer long before the U.S. Soccer Federation banned high school ball for its Boys Development Academyplayers in 2012. Club coaches argued that players aspiring to reach the top must compete at the highest level of youth soccer and get the best coaching — […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Girls Development Academy promises to be less expensive for players than ECNL
By Mike Woitalla The U.S. Soccer Federation made it official on Tuesday: It will launch the Girls Development Academy (GDA) in fall of 2017 — a nationwide league with 60to 80 clubs fielding teams at the U-14/15, U-16/17 and U-18/19 age groups. Having launched a boys DA in 2007, the USSF will thus be in […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
U.S. Soccer Development Academy: College Commitments
The U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s list of players committing to colleges for the 2017 collegiate season comes from reports from 48 of the 74 full academy (through U-18) boys clubs. NewJersey’s Players Development Academy (PDA) leads with 17 players headed to college ball. The 48 clubs reported a total of 414 college commitments: Beachside ofConnecticut: […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Girls vs. Boys: U.S. Soccer's Development Academy dilemma
By Mike Woitalla Generalizing about genders is a precarious venture, especially when one side is making assumptions about the other. But I’ll go out on a limb: Girlscare more about playing high school soccer than boys do. I bring this up because the U.S. Soccer Federation is set to take over the top level of […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
U.S. Soccer Development Academy adds 56 clubs for U-12 division
By Mike Woitalla Fifty-six clubs will join the U.S. Soccer Development Academy at the U-12 level, which the DA will launch for the 2016-17 season. They join 78 existing Academymembers that field teams for U-12 competition for a total of 134 clubs. The expansion is intended to reduce travel distances between clubs at the youngest […]