The U.S. Soccer Development Academy, which includes a winter futsal program for its U-13/14s, has named eight Top Performers from its regional competitions. It has also released a short video ofhighlights that includes Jurgen Klinsmann’s thoughts on futsal’s benefits. USSDA Futsal Top Performers Kevin Negrete(LA Galaxy) SoCal Regional Blaine Ferri (Solar Chelsea) Texas Regional Ashish […]
development academy
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
In search of youth soccer … and do we really want it anyway? Part 1: The young naive mischief-makers …
By Paul Gardner Back in 1977 FIFA initiated an under-20 tournament and called it the FIFA World Youth Championship. With that title, the event sailed merrily along through 15editions until 2007 when it suddenly became the FIFA U-20 World Cup. For whatever reason — maybe just the difficulty of deciding the age boundaries — the […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
NYCFC joins U.S. Development Academy
MLS expansion club New York City FC will field a U-13/14 team in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy League beginning in the 2015-16 season, the club has announced. The team will comprise ofplayers drawn from New York City FC’s existing Youth Affiliate Club network and elsewhere. “We believe that starting with one team at this […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Development Academy postseason events return to Indiana
The U.S. Soccer Development Academy U-15/16 and U-17/18 postseason playoffs and showcases will return to Westfield, Ind. New this year, the U-13/14 Showcase will be held in conjunction with the olderage group events, June 19-25. The Showcase games are for U-15/16 teams that do not qualify for the playoffs. If both the U15/16 and U-17/18 […]
Posted inStory
Tony DiCicco: 'We should be excellent in every position'
By Mike Woitalla (@MikeWoitalla) Tony DiCicco coached the USA to crowns at the 1996Olympics, 1999 Women’s World Cup and 2008 U-20 World Cup. We spoke to DiCicco about the state of youth soccer in the USA. SOCCER AMERICA: What are your general thoughts on state of theyouth game? It seems to me that if one […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
D.C. United leads USSDA clubs in college-bound players
Of the 30 U.S. Soccer Development Academy clubs, out of 77, that submitted names of their players headed for college ball on National Signing Day, D.C. United leads the group with 16 players. MLS clubs maintain homegrown rights on their academies’ players. Andromeda FC (5): Landon Renner (Wofford), Milton Eneh (Midwestern State), JustinKucera (Harding), Kwabena […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Mexico clinches, Canada exits in U-20 qualifying
Mexico became the first team to secure a berth in the Under-20 World Cup when it clinched the Group B title at the Concacaf Under-20 Championship with a 3-1 win over El Salvador in a match thatfeatured a pair of Americans in goal. Canada exited the tournament with a game to play when it lost […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
'Development Academy Making Progress and Staying Ambitious' (Tony Lepore Q&A, Part 1)
By Mike Woitalla The U.S. Soccer Development Academy, which launched in 2007, now comprises 100 clubs. We checked in with Director of Scouting Tony Lepore on thestate of the Academy and U.S. Soccer’s new youth initiatives, which include increased financial aid and adding a U-12 program in 2016. SOCCER AMERICA: Where do you see the […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. U-16s head to Turkey to defend title
Two Development Academy coaches, Luchi Gonzalez (FC Dallas U-16s) and Shaun Tsakiris (De Anza Force’s U-14s andU-16s), will be overseeing the U.S. under-16 boys national team headed to Manisa, Turkey, to defend its Aegean Cup International Youth Tournament title. The team includes three players based in Mexicoand one in England. The U-16s open Group A […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Heavy U.S. influence on Concacaf U-20 rosters
A heavy contingent of U.S.-based players has been called in by the 12 teams at the Concacaf Under-20 Championship. That group includes six MLS players and one college player on the U.S. U-20s. In all,14 players at U.S. colleges, nine on U.S. MLS teams and eight on U.S. youth clubs are headed to Jamaica. In […]