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:
Day 1: Arrival/Initial thoughts
Day 2: Where we are – Grande Sports World
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.