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.
Real Colorado is proud of the unprecedented success recognized by our U-16 and U-18 teams in 2007-2008. Highlights of the initial year as an Academy team included:
• U-16 boys Conference Champions and invited to Academy Finals
• U-18 boys second place conference
• Taylor Kemp (U-18 team) named to the US Developmental Academy Starting XI Team
• Tremendous recruiting visibility to college coaches through conference, Showcase and Academy Finals Week matches
• Players called into US National Team camps as a result of being observed by US National Team coaches observing Real games at conference, Showcase and Academy Finals Week matches
As with any new grassroots initiative, the Developmental Soccer Academy is refining its operations and efforts each season. As a club, Real Colorado has embraced the Academy because we believe that it offers the best opportunity for player development for today’s elite youth. The format of high level games against the best youth teams in the country challenges our players to develop the highest level of technical soccer skills but also time management and mental fortitude. These are life skills and certainly attributes they will rely on if they endeavor to play collegiate soccer. However, this program requires a significant commitment of time for trainings and travel, as well as financial investment.