[USL PRO] In an important addition to its development affiliation with MLS, USL PRO is expanding its roster sizes to allow teams to carry as many as fiveacademy players on their rosters in USL PRO competition. MLS teams affiliated with USL PRO clubs will be able to use the academy player slots for their own […]
development academy
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Fire U-18s and U-16s go perfect
[CAROLINA CHALLENGE CUP] The Chicago Fire U-18s and U-16s swept all three games to win the Charleston Challenge Cup at the preseason tournament of the same nameinvolving USL PRO’s Battery and three MLS teams. The Fire U-18s had already clinched their age group title when they beat host SC United Battery, 5-0. They had beaten […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Salazar makes impression on Dynamo
[MLS HOMEGROWN WATCH] Bryan Salazar could take something positive away from Tuesday’s scrimmage in which his HoustonDynamo academy team fell to the club’s senior team, 11-0. The Fort Bend Bush High School senior finalized a homegrown contract with the Dynamo after he met with head coach Dominic Kinnear and Dynamo president Chris Canetti after the […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Development Academy players off to college
[2013 COLLEGE SIGNINGS] The sons of former U.S. national team stars John Harkes and TabRamos are among the Development Academy players who have made college commitments. Ian Harkes (D.C. United Academy) will enroll at Wake Forest, whileAlex Ramos (NJSA 04) will attend Iona.For a list of Development Academy college signings … (MichaelSullivan, whose father Christopher […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Alliance formed with South Bay Force and West Coast FC
[LOS ANGELES GALAXY] The Los Angeles Galaxy has formed LA Galaxy Academy Alliance, a development program in association with youth club partners South Bay Forceand West Coast Futbol Club, as well as adidas, that will be an integral part of the pathway for players to join for the LA Galaxy Academy. The South Bay […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Academy will cover all costs beginning in 2013-14
[COLORADO RAPIDS] The Colorado Rapids’ top competitive youth teams, which participate in the Development Academy, will be fully funded by the MLS club startingin the 2013-14 season. The Rapids’ program will also expand to include a Development Academy team at the U-14 level in addition to the existing U-16 and U-18 sides. “This is a […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Ramos calls up 18 players for qualifying
[USA UNDER-20 MEN] U.S. under-20 national team coach Tab Ramos named an 18-player roster for the CONCACAF U-20Championship Feb. 18-March 3 in Puebla, Mexico. The U.S. is looking to qualify for the 2013 U-20 World Cup, which takes place June 21-July 13 in Turkey. The top four teams — the fourquarterfinal winners — from the […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
'Players benefit from facing differing styles' (Q&A with PDA's Gerry McKeown)
Interview by Mike Woitalla New Jersey’s PDA, one of the nation’s top youth clubs for boys and girls,participates in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy and ECNL. It’s also launching a residency program in partnership with St. Benedict’s Prep School. Gerry McKeown has coached at PDAsince its founding in 1999 and is club’s boys director of […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Progress in Triples — U.S. Soccer Development Academy (Tony Lepore Q&A, Part 1)
Interview by Mike Woitalla The American youth soccer landscape changed dramatically when U.S. Soccer created the Development Academy in 2007. In Part 1 of ourinterview with Tony Lepore we asked the Development Academy Director of Scouting to explain how he believes it has improved the youth soccer experience for the USA’s eliteplayers. SOCCER AMERICA: Do you […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
2012 Top 30 Boys Rankings
[SOCCER AMERICA BEST CLUBS] For the first time, an MLS club claimed the top spot in the Soccer America’s top 30 rankings of the Best Boys Clubs. The New YorkRed Bulls ranked No. 1, followed by FC Dallas, Los Angeles Galaxy and Chicago Fire to give MLS academy programs the top four spots in our […]