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Development Academy Description
Developing the Next Generation
U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy program is driven
by the game and its players, coaches and referees.
This game-centric approach allows for long-term
development to occur through a deep understanding of
what makes players successful around the world.
As the sport of soccer grows in the United States,
young players in our country need the proper
environment to compete against the world’s elite.
The U.S. Soccer Development Academy program
provides the optimum developmental environment for
the nation’s top youth soccer players, coaches and
referees by emphasizing development through quality
training and limited, meaningful competition.
Meaningful Training
Academy teams spend a greater amount of time focused
on training to improve as individuals and as a team.
The teams and players receive direct feedback and
evaluations from National Team Staff and ProZone
video analysis. To round-out the complete training
environment, Academy teams are tested in their
physical capabilities using the SPARQ testing
methodology and their hydration levels by Gatorade.
They also receive a SPARQ training curriculum for
soccer-specific athletic training and Nutrition and
Hydration recommendations from Gatorade’s Sports
Science Institute. Each athlete then gains a
greater understanding of how they compare physically
against their peers and what they need to do to
achieve their optimal performance levels.
Competitive Environment
The Academy program features teams from the top
youth clubs from around the country. Each Academy
team plays approximately 30 regular season games to
ensure all games are meaningful. Games are also
played according to FIFA’s Laws of the Game and
officiated by a pool of the nation’s top young
referees in order to prepare players for the next
level of competition. National Team Scouts regularly
attend Academy games, so players are evaluated over
the course of the season and in their natural
positions allowing for better player assessment.
Early Success
As the program enters its second year, it has
already dramatically impacted the player development
process in the United States. In 2008, more than 100
players from Academy clubs were included in U.S.
Youth National Teams and almost 800 graduates from
the inaugural Academy class participated in college
soccer the following fall. Virtually all college
programs use the Academy program as a scouting
vehicle and the program has received increased
attention from professional scouts representing
domestic and international clubs. Visit ussoccer.com
to view the top Academy teams in action.
Development Academy Presentation
Please click here to learn
more about the origins of the U.S. Soccer
Development Academy program
U.S. Soccer FAQ
Further questions about the
Development Academy can be
answered in this U.S. Soccer
FAQ. |
