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En Route: Who Will Be The Next MLS Homegrown Signing? MLS Development Academies give teams plenty of choices By J.R.

Zach Pfeffer became the 23rd player to sign a homegrown contract with MLS. The question beckons – who will be next? Pfeffer signed his deal with the Philadelphia Union, making the club the 13th to utilize their academy to add to the first team roster. Columbus, Real Salt Lake, San Jose, Seattle, and Portland are the five clubs without an academy player yet. For Pfeffer, he is the fourth youngest player to sign with the league, behind Freddy Adu, Fuad Ibrahim, and Diego Fagundez. The young midfielder is likely just the tip of the iceberg, with the expanded rosters and return of the reserve league, for homegrown contracts this offseason. So here are a handful of players making a splash in the Development Academy who could make the jump to the professional level (players already in college were excluded from list):

Jonathan Top, FC Dallas Top is next in the deep pipeline from the FC Dallas Academy. He is a very talented forward who has drawn the lust of multiple national team coaches. The striker might not be at the level of former academy product Ruben Luna, but he can score with the best of them. Playing with the FC Dallas U18 team this season, Top has eight goals in 10 games. Last season, he had 23 goals in 28 games with the U16s. Hindering Top might be the strength of the FC Dallas academy. Luna probably has more potential and already has ink on his professional deal. So Dallas may be more inclined to give Luna those limited minutes and wait on Top to head to college first. Either way this youngster has a bright future in Frisco – whether it will start in a few years or next season is still to be determined. Besides Top, head coach Schellas Hyndman has other options for suitable academy stars to call up to his full squad. One of those is defender Michael Ambrose, who recently competed with the U.S. U18s in a tournament in Israel. Sean Okoli, Seattle Sounders Okoli has been one of the breakout stars for the young Sounders program. In just their first year, the Sounders U18 team are off to a flying start with eight wins in their first 12 games. Their striker, Okoli, is a major reason for that success. The high school senior has six goals on the year even though he missed a few games while with the national team. Okoli spent some time training with the full team last season, so head coach Sigi Schmid and staff have a very good idea of the capabilities of their youth team’s leading scorer. Beyond Okoli, there are other prospects in the Seattle Academy for Schmid to look over for a potential roster spot, including DeAndre Yeldin. The feisty midfielder already has two red cards on the season. He is committed to join the NCAA Champion Akron Zips in the fall.

Jack McBean, Los Angeles Galaxy McBean could be the heir apparent for the spot Tristan Bowen vacated when sent to the locker room across the hall. McBean is a speedy striker who was called into the U.S. U17 camp earlier this month. While he is off competing for a spot on the U.S. U17 CONCACAF Championship, Galaxy could be debating signing the leading scorer on their U16 team. This year, McBean has nine goals in 10 games with the Galaxy academy. Last season, he was tearing up high school defenses as a freshman at Corona del Mar playing along side UCLA forward Reed Williams. The duo combined to lead the school to a state title. Since signing Bowen, LA Galaxy have been quiet on the youth front both in terms of results and players. With the addition of Chris Klein to the management fold, Galaxy are pushing to close the gap between the academy and first team. Jordan Rideout, Sporting Kansas City The 5’11 forward was one of three academy players to train with the full team last year. Jonathan Kempin, another one of that trio, already signed a professional contract. Rideout has started the season strong with four goals in seven games. Last year, he had 14 goals in 29 games with the U16 team. Besides Kempin and Rideout, the other youth player who trained with the full team was Konner Knoll. The defender was the recipient of the Kansas City Wizards Junior player of the year last season. Both Knoll and Rideout are committed to go to UMKC next fall if a professional deal does not appear.

Eriq Zavaleta, Real Salt Lake The U.S. youth national defender falls into a gray area for the homegrown rule in MLS. He is not originally from RSL’s region, but he does play for their residential program in Arizona. Zavaleta is a 6’1 defender who could elevate his game to the professional level. His foot speed is a big question mark at the next stage, but his aerial abilities are a huge plus. Zavaleta is not alone in the professional prospects among the residential RSL squad. Midfielder Ricardo Velasco was the lone RSL player in the Academy Select game earlier this month. Velasco has drawn interest from several colleges but stated he is exploring professional opportunities. Another possibility is Maikon Orrellana. The leading scorer of the U18 squad has seven goals in seven games this season. He was invited to participate in the RSL combine last week with college seniors and other potential players for the full team. There are talented players across the Academy developing to be the next Juan Agudelo or Andy Najar. Now it may just be a question for the clubs about when to sign them.

J.R. Eskilson is the Youth Soccer editor at goal.com. You can follow him on Twitter @NCAAsoccer

Real Salt Lake will be holding their first “Invite-Only Combine” in Casa Grande, Ariz., at the site of their youth development academy this week. The three-day camp will be held December 16-18 at Grande Sports World.

The team has limited senior roster spots open and little salary-budget flexibility with which to tinker, but league rosters will expand next season from 24 to 30 with the six additional spots going to developmental players. The combine will be a chance to fill that requirement.

“We want to try to establish this as a chance to evaluate college seniors, and also young players that may be out of college that have been coming to us looking for some sort of trial opportunity,” RSL head coach Jason Kreis told MLSSoccer.com. “We want to use it for, perhaps, out-of-contract foreign players that are looking for trial opportunities.”

One high profile non-academy player that was scheduled to attend the combine was Dustin Coreas, but after scoring the lone goal in El Salvador’s U-20 win over Costa Rica on Saturday, the player will stay with La Azulita for the return leg at the Estadio Saprissa on Dec. 18.

But non-academy players and triallists looking to make an impression in Utah will not be only focus of RSL’s staff.

“We would like to add in a couple of our academy players that we’re very high on and considering signing,” Kreis said. “We haven’t had enough opportunities to watch those players play. [The combine] may be a good indication of what they may be like day-in and day-out training with professionals. You have to evaluate them not only from a playing perspective, but also from a psychological perspective.”

Should any of the RSL-Arizona academy players stand out during this combine, then there is a path out there for them to progress closer to joining the team as a home grown signing.

“If they could show well in [the combine], and if they’ve already shown well with Greg [Vanney, RSL-Az academy director] for a long time – probably the next logical step is to have them in preseason camp. And then we can look at them and decide if we want to sign them.”

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (Dec. 13, 2010) – The final of three 2010 id² Regional Training Camps came to a close as more than 120 elite boys born in 1997-98 and girls born in 1996-97 representing a total of 18 states were on-hand for four days of high-level training and off-the-field sessions, Dec. 9-12 at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ariz.

Videos:

Recap video

Day 1: Arrival/Initial thoughts

Day 2: Where we are – Grande Sports World

Day 3: Best tricks

Day 3: A look ahead to the 2011 National Selection International Tour

Attended by USSF National Team staff, Regional Training Camps are part of US Club Soccer’s id² national player identification and development program, providing an opportunity for the country’s top youth talent to be identified and developed for inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s National Team programs.

“Once again, the level of play at the camp was very good and we were able to take a look at some players who would be a good fit for the upcoming id² National Selection International Tour,” said Gerry McKeown, US Club Soccer’s id² Boys’ Program Director and also an assistant coach with the U.S. U-15 Boys’ National Team. “It will be a very challenging trip in terms of the opposition, so we really need to scrutinize our lists from all three events and now piece together a team.”

For the second straight year, a team of the best 18 boys from this fall’s id² Regional Training Camps will be selected to take an international trip, where they will experience the day-to-day culture of some of the world’s most well-known professional clubs while also improving themselves via high-level training and game competition. This year’s trip is scheduled for Feb. 17-27 to Scotland and England.

Led by McKeown and id² Girls’ Program Director Rory Dames, 13 staff coaches from some of the country’s most successful clubs ran training and game sessions. The full list of staff coaches and their bios can be found here.

The id² Regional Training Camp in Texas featured U.S. Soccer staff members John Pearlman and Sandy Davidson, who were in attendance to scout, coach and speak with the players.

“As with each of our previous camps, the girls got better each day as they become more comfortable with their surroundings and with the other players,” Dames said. “I think that, from top to bottom, the player pool we had at the three id² Regional Training Camps was the deepest and most-talented that we have ever seen.”

Aided by their time at US Club Soccer’s id² Regional Training Camps, numerous attendees of past camps have advanced into U.S. Soccer’s National Team programs.

In addition to the USSF National Team staff at the event, additional guests included Scott Leber from iSoccer, who took the players through a series of skill assessment drills on Friday morning as part of the National Standards Project. Leber also spoke to the group later in the day about different methods for becoming a better player through individual training.

Video highlights, photos and updates from all three 2010 id² Regional Training Camps can be found on US Club Soccer’s Facebook page.

About id²: [id² Fact Sheet]

The 2010-11 id² program will feature boys born in 1997-98 and girls born in 1994-97. The program will once again include three Regional Training Camps, the National Selection International Tour and the girls’ National Training Camp.

2010 id² Regional Training Camps for 1997-98 boys and 1996-97 girls:

• Sept. 30-Oct. 3 at the PDA Soccer Complex in Zarephath, N.J. (boys and girls)
• Nov. 11-14 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas (boys and girls)
• Dec. 9-12 at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ariz. (boys and girls)

2011 id² National Training Camp for 1994-95 girls, in conjunction with the ECNL:

• Feb. 10-13, 2011 – Florida State University campus in Tallahassee, Fla.

2011 id² National Selection International Tour for 1997-98 boys:

• Feb. 17-27, 2011 – Scotland and England

Established in 2004, US Club Soccer’s id² national identification and development program provides an ongoing opportunity for the country’s top youth talent to be identified and developed for possible inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s National Team programs.

Players are included in the id² player pool as a result of an extensive scouting and recommendation program in which players throughout the country are identified in their own familiar training and game environment as they compete with their club teams. Affiliated and unaffiliated players are able to be recommended, and there is no cost to the player to be recommended or scouted for the id² program.

Regional Training Camps

From the id² player pool, qualified players with National Team potential are invited to one of three id² Regional Training Camps, which bring together the nation’s top male and female youth players for four days of competition, evaluation and fun.

U.S. Soccer National Team staff as well as other elite coaches and players attend id² Training Camps. In addition to the on-field sessions, id² Training Camps feature guest speakers, lectures/classroom sessions and other offerings, which make for a complete experience.

The only cost to players selected for an id² Training Camp is travel to and from the venue. Lodging, meals and training gear are provided by US Club Soccer and Nike.

Aided by their time at US Club Soccer’s id² Training Camps, numerous attendees of past camps have advanced into U.S. Soccer’s National Team programs.

National Selection International Tour

A team of the best 18 boys born in 1997-98 from the fall 2010 id² Regional Training Camps will take part in the second annual id² National Selection International Tour to Scotland and England, Feb. 17-27, 2011. During the tour, players will experience the day-to-day culture of some of the world’s most well-known professional clubs while also improving themselves via high-level training and game competition.

National Training Camp

Held for the first time in February 2010, the second-annual Also recently introduced was an id² National Training Camp for girls will take place in early 2011. The camp complements the fall id² Regional Training Camps with expanded age groups, as the 2011 event will include girls born in 1994 and 1995.

Those interested are able to visit usclubsoccer.org/id2 for more information on the organization’s national identification and development program.

About US Club Soccer:

US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop competitive club soccer in the United States. A member of the United States Soccer Federation since July 2001, US Club Soccer has grown to include member clubs and leagues in all 50 states. In addition to sanctioning and administering tournaments, leagues and other competitions as well as offering a range of programs for its members, US Club Soccer annually conducts the National Cup. US Club Soccer also directs its own player identification and development program – id².

http://www.usclubsoccer.org

In the world of soccer, developing young players by bringing them through the academy ranks and into the senior team is not a novel idea. But for Real Salt Lake, their newly announced RSL-Arizona Academy team is something of a revolutionary concept.

Back in 2006, the league announced its Youth Development Initiative, which required all MLS teams to establish an academy system. The incentives? An opportunity to protect players from other teams by signing them via the SuperDraft, and extra roster spots that don’t count against the salary budget. Plus, clubs retain the rights of those academy players they sign and acquire a far greater portion of a transfer fee should those rights be sold to an overseas club.

For RSL, however, what is most notable is the club’s groundbreaking approach to youth development. For starters, RSL’s academy is a full residency program — the first of its kind in MLS. Other residencies that compare in North America include the esteemed IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., a program in Minnesota and the Vancouver Whitecaps’ long-established academy.

“As soon as it was announced that we were going to start our academy, we started fielding calls from a lot of coaching directors in various parts of the Southwest [with prospective players], and we thought, ‘Wow! This is really going to push this residency thing into fast forward,’” said RSL academy director Greg Vanney, a former MLS veteran and US national team defender.

The academy is located out-of-state at a sprawling resort complex in Casa Grande, Ariz., and boasts 22 resident players and a handful of “commuter” players who live in the nearby Phoenix area.

Having a residency program allows the club to draw players from greater distances into their system, so it may seem like RSL are gaining a competitive advantage. However, Vanney sees it as just leveling the playing field with clubs such as the LA Galaxy, who have a far greater number of talented players living locally.

Traditionally, MLS clubs are granted certain local geographic regions from which to draw upon for their youth programs. But because of the low density of talent in Utah, Real Salt Lake were also given Arizona as a territory.

Of course, with a residency model comes costs — and they can be substantial. According to Vanney, these costs are primarily absorbed by Real Salt Lake. However, the program also has its own sponsors, and the participants’ families also have the responsibility to help pay for players’ room and board, depending on their ability to do so.

This high-cost aspect may raise an important question in MLS player development — that of transfer fees for developing players. This is relatively new ground in this country, which doesn’t have the history of developing players and then selling their rights — a common practice throughout the rest of the soccer world.

“First of all, the first team saves money because they don’t have to go and pay for a transfer fee to bring in somebody who can make a difference for their team,” Vanney said. “You can continue to develop them and nurture them, and then move them on, and receive a value for developing them. It clearly gives greater business significance to the player development side. Again, this is a brand new concept.”

Last week, RSL’s academy teams participated in their first big event: the Winter Showcase, held in nearby Phoenix. Both the U-18 and U-16 squads showed well. The U-18 team had two wins and a draw, including a stunning 7-0 victory over IMG academy. Meanwhile, the U-16 team tallied two draws and one win.

“A lot of our players before the showcase, nobody knew who they were,” Vanney said. “Now, after the showcase, a lot of people know who they are because they did well for themselves. They came from smaller markets, and people hadn’t noticed.”

Vanney singled out a few of these players, including Maikon Orellana, who is from Provo, Utah.

“He came into this showcase and scored four goals the first game,” Vanney said. “He’s strong, he’s very technical. He can run by guys with the ball, he can hold up the ball and he’s proven that he can finish.”

There have been rumors that the El Salvador national team is showing interest in Orellana, and the forward is one of a number of players who could ultimately be the first in the academy program to earn a Home Grown contract with Real Salt Lake.

“What we’re able to do given our [residency] setup really is setting the stage for the future of the sport, and I’ve heard that now from a number of academies, most of them being MLS academies,” Vanney said. “Hopefully we’re just making American soccer, in our own way, better — and pushing it forward. If we’re doing that, we’re doing our jobs. Our No. 1 goal is to make players better.”

RSL-Arizona Academy Squads Finish Undefeated at 2010 US Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase in Phoenix

The RSL-Arizona Academy Program shined last weekend, as its U15/U16 and U17/U18 teams both went undefeated during the 2010 US Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase, which took place in their backyard at the Reach 11 Soccer Complex in Phoenix.

The RSL-Arizona Academy U18 team went an impressive 2-0-1 during the event, beginning on Saturday when Provo native Maikon Orellana scored four goals during RSL-AZ’s 7-0 victory over IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL). Play continued Sunday when the U18s tied their Dallas Texans (Dallas, TX) counterparts 2-2 before finishing up on Tuesday with a 2-1 win over Texas Rush AJ Auxerre (The Woodlands, TX).

The RSL-AZ U16s also gave an impressive effort during the showcase, scrapping its way to an undefeated 1-0-2 record. Following 1-1 draws on Saturday and Sunday with IMG Academy and Dallas Texans, the team squandered a 2-0 lead before rallying back for a 3-2 victory over Texas Rush AJ Auxerre to finish the event on a winning note on Tuesday.

In addition, the RSL-Arizona Academy had a player featured in both the U18 and U16 Academy Select matches on Saturday, which were played in front of more than 300 college and U.S. National Team coaches and scouts on hand in Phoenix. FW Ricardo Velasco (Tucson, AZ) would play the second 45 minutes for the Blue squad in an even half that wound down a 0-3 defeat to their Red counterparts in the U18 age group feature, while DF Julio Alarcon (El Paso, TX) would go the distance in the U16 age group match for the Blues in a 1-2 loss against the Red squad.

Velasco will be eligible to compete for U.S. Under-20 Head Coach Thomas Rongen in the CONCACAF U-20 Championship next April in Guatemala and the 2011 FIFA Under-20 World Cup beginning in late July. Alarcon will be available to play for U.S. Under-17 boss Wilmer Cabrera’s side that will take part in February’s 2011 CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Jamaica and the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup in June/July.

All 78 clubs that comprise the US Soccer Development Academy were represented at the tournament, including U15/U16 and U17/U18 teams representing 14 Major League Soccer sides. Click here or visit USSoccer.com for the complete wrap up of the 2010 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase.

Both the RSL-AZ Academy U16’s and U18’s will continue play in the SoCal Division (Western Conference) of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy 2010/11 season in early February at their home base of the Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Arizona. For more information on Grande Sports World, visit the start-of-the-art training facility’s website and Facebook fan page.

RSL-Arizona Academy Game Summaries – U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase

RSL –AZ U18s

Saturday: 7-0 win over IMG Academy

Sunday: 2-2 draw with Dallas Texans

Tuesday: 2-1 win over Texas Rush AJ Auxerre

Click here for more information on the RSL-Arizona Academy U-18s’ 2010/11 U.S. Soccer Development Academy campaign

RSL-AZ U16s

Saturday: 1-1 draw with IMG Academy

Sunday: 1-1 draw with Dallas Texans

Tuesday: 3-2 win over Texas Rush AJ Auxerre

Click here for more information on the RSL-Arizona Academy U-16s’ 2010/11 U.S. Soccer Development Academy campaign

www.RealSaltLake.com / www.GrandeSports.com

Grande Sports World and the Francisco Grande Hotel and Golf Resort welcomes US Club Soccer and their id2 program. id2 will be here from December 9-12, 2010.

id2 was established in 2004, US Club Soccer’s id² national identification and development program provides an opportunity for the country’s top youth talent to be identified and developed for possible inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s National Team programs. There is no cost to the player to be scouted or recommended for the id² program.
id² TRAINING CAMPS:

id² Training Camps are invitation-only events that bring together the nation’s top male and female youth players for four days of competition, evaluation and fun. U.S. Soccer National Team staff, some of the nation’s top coaches as well as elite guest coaches and players attend id² Training Camps. In addition to the on-field sessions, id² Training Camps feature guest speakers, lectures/classroom sessions and other offerings, which make for a complete experience.

id² PROCESS:

• Recommendation/Identification: Any coach is able to recommend qualified players with national team potential for inclusion in the id² program by using the Player Recommendation Form. These player recommendations supplement US Club Soccer’s own scouting process that utilizes a network of key scouts at the organization’s National Cup Regionals and Finals, during league play and at various other events and tournaments throughout the country.

• Evaluation/Scouting: Recommended and identified players are considered for potential inclusion into a corresponding id² Training Camp.

• Invitation: Selected elite players are invited to one of several id² Training Camps.

• Participation: Selected elite players participate in an id² Training Camp, which are attended by USSF National Team staff to scout players for inclusion into U.S. Soccer’s National Team pool.

• Selection: USSF National Team staff selects players to attend USSF National Team programs.

id² PROGRAM ELEMENTS:

• There is no cost to be included in the id² program.

• US Club Soccer believes that capable players are sometimes overlooked for inclusion into the U.S. National Team pool because the players are not able to afford costly identification programs. The no-cost policy with id² ensures that these players are able to be identified and developed, regardless of income level.

• For players selected to attend an id² Training Camp, once players arrive at the hosting venue, all player expenses are covered. Lodging, meals and training gear are provided by US Club Soccer and Nike.

• USSF National Team coaches and staff in attendance to scout at id² Training Camps.

• Familiar environment/no tryouts: Players are recommended and identified for the program as they compete in their own training and game environment with their club teams.

• Lessens schedule congestion: The program does not take players away from their club programs and game schedules on a regular basis.

• Apolitical selection process: Recommendations are made and invitations are extended regardless of a player’s affiliation; unaffiliated players are also able to be recommended and selected.

• Success stories: Numerous players that have been involved in the id² program have advanced into U.S. National Team programs.

• id² National Selection International Tour: A team of the best 18 boys from the fall id² Regional Training Camps take an international trip, where they will experience the day-to-day culture of some of the world’s most well-known professional clubs while also improving themselves via high-level training and game competition.
HOW PLAYERS ARE IDENTIFIED:

1. Any coach is able to recommend qualified players with national team potential for inclusion in the id² program by using the Player Recommendation Form.

2. These player recommendations supplement US Club Soccer’s own scouting process that utilizes a network of key scouts at the organization’s National Cup Regionals and Finals, during league play and at various other events and tournaments throughout the country.

Coaches recommending players should complete the Player Recommendation Form and return it to id2@usclubsoccer.org.

The id² selection process is apolitical as players are identified regardless of their affiliation. Unaffiliated players are also able to be recommended.

News about the RSL-AZ Academy and their six matches coming soon…

From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center:

ACROSS THE ACADEMY
Winter Showcase Wrap Up – Dec. 7, 2010

Across the Academy is a weekly summary of news related to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy program, highlighting Academy clubs, current and former players, youth national team activity and media coverage of the Academy.
WINTER SHOWCASE RECAP: With 242 games played between Dec. 1 and Dec. 7, the 2010 Development Academy Winter Showcase and Nike International Friendlies have now concluded. Nearly 3,000 players passed through the 18 lighted fields at the Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix as all 156 Academy teams played three non-conference games. There were more than 350 coaches representing the national teams, professional clubs and colleges in attendance and all three U.S. Soccer full-time referees were on hand to work closely with up-and-coming Academy referees.

SHOWCASE HIGHLIGHTS:
• The Respect initiative is one of the most important themes of the 2010-11 Development Academy season. U.S. Soccer Youth Technical Director Claudio Reyna stressed the importance of respecting the game by meeting with captains and coaches of each Academy team. He also sat down with ussoccer.com to discuss the campaign.

• Though not directly tied to the Development Academy, U.S. Soccer Training Centers are another exciting new program in player identification. Training Centers, which are cost-free for participants, are open to boys and girls across the country by invitation. Run by Technical Advisors, the Training Centers offer a unique opportunity for some of the best players in an area to come together and participate in a training session. U.S. Soccer Director of Scouting Tony Lepore explains the purpose of the new program.

• Along with player development, another integral part of the Development Academy is referee development. Academy matches, and Showcase matches in particular, give up- and-coming referees a chance to call high profile matches in front of large crowds and their peers. Three U.S. Soccer full-time referees were in Phoenix to mentor the referees in attendance and act as the fourth official at the Nike International Friendlies. Ricardo Salazar, Baldomero Toledo and Terry Vaughn put on a clinic highlighting referee fitness and gave tips on how to stay in shape and keep the body prepared for the rigors of officiating.

• U.S. Men’s National Team forward Edson Buddle visited the Winter Showcase ahead of the U-17 MNT match against Turkey on Sunday evening. He and U-20 MNT head coach Thomas Rongen addressed the crowd gathered for the match and discussed Buddle’s rise to the Men’s National Team and his experiences in South Africa.
NIKE FRIENDLIES SUMMARY: The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team finished the 2010 Nike International Friendlies with a 2-0 loss to tournament champion Turkey. Goals on either side of halftime from Ahmet Yilmaz Calik and Enver Cenk Sahin were enough to give Turkey the win and seven points from three games. With the loss against Turkey, the U.S. finished in third place with a 1-1-1 record, which included a 2-1 opening win against Korea Republic and a hard-fought scoreless draw with Brazil in their second match. Brazil finished second with one win and two draws and Korea Republic finished in fourth place with three losses. The 2010 Nike International Friendlies marked the first time that the event, held annually since 2003, was played as a tournament and crowned a champion.
Team GP W L TGF GA GD Pts.
Turkey 3 2 0 141 +37
Brazil 3 1 0 222 +15
USA 3 1 1 123 -14
Korea Rep. 3 0 3 0 47 -30
Dec. 1
Brazil 0, Turkey 0
USA 2, Korea Republic

Dec. 3
Turkey 2, Korea Republic 1
USA 0, Brazil 0

Dec. 5
Brazil 3, Korea Republic 2
Turkey 2, USA 0

SELECT TEAMS SHONE ON SATURDAY: Aspiring national team players took to the Showcase field at the 2010 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase in a pair of featured matches. A pool of players from Academy teams in each age group were divided into two teams, Red and Blue, and played in front of an audience of U.S. National Team coaches and scouts as well as college coaches and their teammates. In the older age group (born in 1992 or 1993), Cal Odyssey’s Vilyan Bijev scored the game’s three goals in a 3-0 victory for Red against Blue. In the younger age group (born in 1994 or 1995), Nick Tobias of St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro scored the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute as Red was victorious once again.

Match Reports: 1992/1993 | 1994/1995
Photos: YNT Blog
ACADEMY ALUMNI NEWS:
U.S. U-18 MNT Set for Tel Aviv: The U.S. U-18 Men’s National Team is set to travel to Tel Aviv for a three-game tournament that will also feature host Israel, Germany and France from Dec. 10-18. The U.S. will play Germany on Dec. 13, France on Dec. 14 and Israel on Dec. 16. U.S. head coach Mike Matkovich will bring 20 players to Tel Aviv, including 17 Development Academy players, with two professionals in goalkeeper Jonathan Kempin from Sporting Kansas City and midfielder Victor Pineda from the Chicago Fire. Kempin recently returned from the Torneo de las Americas where he helped the U.S. U-20 MNT to a pair of draws against Colombia and Mexico. Villyan Bijev recently scored three goals in one of the Select games at the Showcase. He is one of 11 players invited in for this camp that participated in that game.
Four Former Academy Players Named Hermann Semifinalists: The Missouri Athletic Club has announced the semifinalists for the 2010 Hermann Award. The list includes four Academy alums in Will Bruin (Indiana – St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri), Matt Kassel (Maryland – New York Red Bulls), Ryan Kinne (Monmouth – Seacoast United) and Darlington Nagbe (Akron – Internationals). Former winners of the award, which is the most prestigious individual award in college soccer, include Alexi Lalas, Tony Meola and current U.S. Soccer Youth Technical Director Claudio Reyna.
ACADEMY IN THE NEWS:
Wisconsin Soccer Central recaps FC Milwaukee’s appearance at the showcase – wisconsinsoccercentral.com
New England Soccer Today highlights the three-goals scored this weekend by Diego Fagundez and Fabio Machado, Jr. – nesoccertoday.com
Crew U-17/18 tops Baltimore Bays Chelsea FC and more highlights from Day 4 – topdrawersoccer.com
The Arizona Republic recaps the U.S. Under-17 MNT’s loss to Turkey in the last match of the Nike International Friendlies – azcentral.com
Villyan Bijev shines as top Academy players play in front of scouts in Select Team matches – topdrawersoccer.com
The Tuscon Citizen highlights some local participants in the Winter Showcase – tucsoncitizen.com
Villyan Bijev of Cal Odyssey gets his name in the paper for scoring three goals in an Academy Select match – fresnobee.com
Former U.S. international and four-time MLS all-star Chris Klein will be the Senior Director of the LA Galaxy Academy Program – lagalaxy.com
Casa Grande’s Real Salt Lake AZ participates in first Development Academy Showcase – azcentral.com

-ussoccer.com-

The RSL-AZ U18 Development Academy boys dismantled a poor IMG Academy team 7-0 on Saturday morning. In what was an intriguing match on so many levels, the two residential programs competed against each other for the first time

Following the U18 match, the U16 RSL-AZ boys tied IMG 1-1

More match highlights and news to come shortly.

RSL-AZ next plays the Dallas Texans on Sunday.

The U18’s play at 10am followed by the U16’s at 12:15pm.