Academy Introduction – Michigan Wolves Hawks

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.

To view the latest information on the Development Academy, please visit the Development Academy Home Page on ussoccer.com.

U.S. Soccer Development Academy – Introduction

Everyone agrees – the United States needs to improve as a soccer playing nation. Following a comprehensive Review of elite player development in the United States and around the world, U.S. Soccer has created the U.S. Soccer Development Academy to improve the everyday environment for the elite youth player. Using the U-17 National Team Residency program as a model of training and focus, clubs chosen to participate in the Academy Program will only compete in Academy programming, thus increasing the amount of time that can be spent training and improving the quality of matches. National Team and National Staff coaches will scout the Academy matches and trainings to ensure that players are seen in their natural playing environment. U.S. Soccer will assign referees to provide an opportunity for up-and-coming officials to participate in higher level matches. The Development Academy League kicked-off Columbus Day Weekend, October 6-8, 2007 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California

The Advantages

Focus on superior everyday training environment increases development of player leading to more future opportunities (college, professional, National Team).
Increased connection of Elite players to U.S. National Team program through enhanced scouting by U.S. Soccer National Team coaches.
The U.S. U-16 and U-17 National Teams will participate in Academy League competitions.
Better scouting environment for College, Professional and National Team coaches.
Better coaching development platform – each club receives two invitations to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Best Practices seminars (U.S. Soccer pays for room, board and participation fees).
Better referee development platform – U.S. Soccer assigns referees to Academy matches.
Direct connection to U.S. Soccer coaches for best practice training and curriculum recommendations and advances.
Academy finals held annually at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
Players receive integrated oversight from youth club coaches and U.S. Soccer coaches, while training in their home environment.
Recruiting ability enhanced for Youth National Teams, MLS and college coaches, with players being provided an online profile for coaches to access easily.
U.S. Soccer maintained website devoted to Development Academy.

The Structure (Overview)

Objective:	The focus of the Academy is player development. Academies provide players with the best possible opportunity to achieve their utmost potential as elite soccer players.
Standards:	Academy teams are required to train at least three days per week and rest one day per week during the Academy Season. Academy teams play 30 games per year.
Teams:	75 of the top youth soccer clubs in the U.S. participate in the Program.
Selection:	Academy Clubs were selected by U.S. Soccer National Team based on a number of criteria, including a club’s history of elite youth player development and past success in elite competitions
Age Groups:	Academies field one team in each of the two Academy Age Groups: Under-16 and Under- 18. Each team has a minimum roster of 20 players. The age cutoff is based on a January 1 birthday. The Academy program is for boys only.
Format:	Academy Clubs are divided into eight conferences of eight Academies. Each team plays 30 matches during the 8-month season. The winner of each conference will participate in the Academy Finals at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The Derby County Wolves play in the Central Conference, Great Lakes Division.

To maintain a focus on training, Development Academy teams do not play in any other leagues, tournaments or State Cup competitions. Additionally, players are only allowed to compete on their designated Academy team, with only two exceptions: high school soccer and national team duty.

Academy Operation

Participation requires significant travel on weekends, depending on a team’s proximity to other Academies.

On the Field Details

Item	Academy	Standard Thought Process
Age Brackets	U-18 and U-16 Birth years	There are three core dynamics with this issue 1) Ensuring that 17-year old players have a place to continue their development before college/pros. 2) Ensuring the proper physical match-ups to allow players to develop (15 year old players v. 17 year old players). 3) Remains consistent with our National Team programming at the youngest level and not burning out 13 year old players. Adopting an Academy-like schedule for younger players is an appropriate level of activity at the 12-13 age group.
Age Group Determination	January	January deadline aligns with international standards and makes a larger number of players eligible to participate in the Development Academy.
Roster Size	Minimum of 20 players; up to six “developmental” slots on a game roster; Initial roster submitted 21 days prior to first match	Clubs may have more players based on their individual judgment. Developmental players will be allowed to appear in up to 6 Academy games and will not be subject to minimum start requirements.
Roster Changes	Up to 4 changes from within the Club; Roster changes made on April 1 of the season; New roster players must be from within the Club.	Allows for Clubs to “promote” players and replace players who may want to leave the Academy system.
Minimum Playing Time	Each player must start a minimum of 30% of the games	This accomplishes two things: 1) Ensures coaches are looking at the development component of players; 2) Allows each player to gain meaningful experience and playing time
Substitutions	Maximum of 7; No-reentry	Allows the entire travel party to be eligible to participate; no re-entry ensures that the coach is looking at managing the entire game and not segments of the game through multiple re-entries in a single game.
Game Length	U-18 = 2 x 45 minutes U-16 = 2 x 40 minutes	This is consistent with U.S. Soccer’s Best Practices
Training/Game Ratios	Minimum of 3 trainings and 1 day of rest per week	Ensures proper levels of activity for Academy players
Participation in outside activity	Permitted in designated windows with certain parameters – International travel or Events with a maximum of 1 game per day	Designated windows allow for meaningful competition, especially international events. Designated windows are Nike Friendlies, Christmas/New Years week; Easter and the end of the season to September 1.

Find out more about the Development Academy by watching these following videos:

Academy Schedule

The U.S. Soccer Development Academy provides college coaches with an opportunity to scout up-and-coming high school players from across the country on a weekly basis. Over 2,000 games will be played in two age brackets (U-15/16 and U-17/18) during the 2009/2010 Season.
Please click on the following link to view the official 2009-10 Academy schedule: http://ussda.demosphere.com/Schedules/index_E.html

Player Profiles

Over 3,000 players will participate in the Academy program in 2009-10. Team rosters and player profiles are available by clicking on the appropriate team profile at: http://ussda.demosphere.com/Profiles/index_E.html

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