FRISCO, Texas (September 13, 2007) – The U.S. Soccer Under-17 Residency Program recently named the 48 players selected to participate in the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The 48 players are among the nations most recognized and in addition to their skills, determination and motivation to being the best, also share affiliation with US Youth Soccer, the nation’s largest youth sports organization and home to the national championships of youth soccer and the Olympic development program.
Of the 48 players named, over 20 return from last year’s residency program. Just as those who entered the program last fall, this year’s new additions, 26 in all, also have the common thread of player development through the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP).
The residency players live on campus at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and train daily under the guidance of John Hackworth and assistant coaches Keith Fulk, Raul Diaz Arce, Tim Mulqueen and Brian Maisonneuve.
“US Youth Soccer ODP has played a meaningful role in player development in the United States,” said head coach of U.S. Soccer Under-17 Men’s National Team, John Hackworth. “The players develop in US Youth Soccer ODP by continually being placed in more competitive environment, such as playing internationally with regional teams, which provides elite players from across the nation valuable experience and a platform to improve. The US Youth Soccer ODP contributes to the encompassing effort of identifying potential players for the U.S. National Team programs.”
Those players born in 1992 or later will be working toward the next FIFA Under-17 World Cup, which will be held in 2009 in Nigeria. Of the 14 players born in 1991, four were a part of the most recent edition of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in South Korea.
“Our organization is known for the best youth soccer in the country and our member clubs and coaches are to be commended for their efforts in developing the future of American soccer,” said Larry Monaco, president of US Youth Soccer. “Our elite-level programs, such as US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program and US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, continue to provide the highest level of development and visibility to our players across the country and better prepare our national teams for competition.”
The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program was formed in 1977 to identify a pool of players in each age group from which a National Team will be selected for international competition; to provide high-level training to benefit and enhance the development of players at all levels; and, through the use of carefully selected and licensed coaches, develop a mechanism for the exchange of ideas and curriculum to improve all levels of coaching.
US Youth Soccer ODP is the original Olympic development program. US Youth Soccer ODP is the only elite player development program that can claim members of Major League Soccer and the former Women’s United Soccer Association, as well as a majority of current and past national and youth team members, as alumni. US Youth Soccer ODP exists in every state association and offers collegiate and national team staff coaches the opportunity to see the nation’s elite players in the most competitive of environments. In addition to training and tactics, US Youth Soccer ODP also offers competitions such as regional and national championships as well as participation in international tournaments. US Youth Soccer ODP continues to lead the way for elite player development in the United States.
Started in 1999, the U.S. Soccer full-time residency program has become an important piece of the overall player development picture. Over the past seven years, the Federation has doubled the number of players enrolled in the program as it continues to increase its investment in player development and provide greater opportunities for young players, expanding to 40 players three years ago.
"We’ve seen over the years how the program has helped produce talented players, a number of which have gone on to the professional ranks and climbed the ladder in the men’s programs, moving on to the U-20, U-23 and even full Men’s National Team," said John Hackworth.
Since its inception, 200 players have been through the full-time Residency Program, and more than 70 of those players have moved on to Major League Soccer, or the professional leagues in Europe. Thirteen players have also registered at least one cap with the full U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team: Freddy Adu, DaMarcus Beasley, Kyle Beckerman, Michael Bradley, Bobby Convey, Landon Donovan, Eddie Gaven, Eddie Johnson, Chad Marshall, Oguchi Onyewu, Heath Pearce, Santino Quaranta and Jonathan Spector. Beasley and Donovan both started in the 2002 FIFA World Cup as 20-year-olds, and were joined by Convey, Onyewu and Johnson in 2006.
About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) – US Youth Soccer -The Game for ALL Kids!
® is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3.2 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member state associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit
www.USYouthSoccer.org..
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