2010-2011 US Soccer Development Academy season kicks off

The 2010-2011 US Soccer Development Academy season kicks-off this Saturday. As most east-coast and mid-east states start their high school soccer season in the Fall, the Southern and Western divisions will start their Development Academy season. We are coming into the 4^th season of the USSF solution to youth soccer development in the United State. As an outside observer, there are subtle changes in motion. We’ll take a look at the changes and questions for the coming season.

Welcome Minnesota Thunder Academy, Shattuck-Saint Mary’s Soccer Academy and Real Salt Lake AZ. The long time power house clubs in Minnesota have come into the fold. Real Salt Lake AZ is making the biggest news. One of the most aggressive debuts onto the youth soccer scene, Real Salt Lake is starting a residential academy. What does this mean? It serves notice Real Salt Lake can offer opportunities not restricted by State or National boundaries. The competition for youth talents has now been elevated to a new level.

Under New Management. San Jose Earthquake still taking the most passive road to the MLS mandate in cultivating their own youth academy. SJE partnered with Mustang FC and took their NorCal slot in the Development Academy. Greensboro Youth Soccer rebranded into North Carolina Fusion and the new interloper onto the scene, NY Cosmos acquiring BW Gottschee in NY and LAFC in SoCal. The resurrected NY Cosmo is positioning themselves as the 2^nd possible MLS team in New York. In an unprecedented move, the Cosmos has established 2 academies on both coasts, two areas hotbeds of youth soccer talent. Keep an eye on the Cosmos’s franchising campaign and whether the MLS will allow them to retain the academies if they are approved. I can’t see how Chivas and Galaxy will tolerate having another MLS team’s academy in their backyard.

Pre-Academy Division and Claudio Reyna Named U.S. Soccer Youth Technical Director. There is no talk anymore of the U-14 league. With the addition of Claudio Reyna in the USSF fold and the emphasis on starting much earlier, the U14 seem to be next step of the mandate. There has been considerable pushback from the clubs to not to take on another load of travel costs needed to support another USSDA team. In most of the new development documentations, there is not enough focus on the earlier age group. We’ll have to keep a close look on the changing dynamics of the USSF and MLS priorities.

NCAA rule change opens doors for MLS academy. To decipher NCAA and UIL rules is to give hours of my life I’m not willing to give up. To understand the impact takes patience. Well, the first glimpse of the impact is the reveal of the 2010-2011 FC Dallas Academy U18 team. Yes, the home grown signees are on the roster. I’ve always assumed it was a MLS rule that was the road block but it looks like the NCAA rule changes has open back the door for these player to continue to play in their age group. I assume as the MLS reserve re-launches, you won’t see much of the home-growns in the USSDA games but nevertheless, they now can continue to log playing time instead of just training with the Pro teams and getting few minutes late into a MLS game.

North Texas will also host the USSDA 2011 Spring Showcase at Pizza Hut Park during Memorial Day weekend. One of the major changes requested by the clubs to lighten the travel demands is the Spring Showcase will also serve as an USSDA Playoff event typically in June.

The Texas Division is once again one of the strongest divisions in the USSDA. On July 30^th, 2010, it was one of the biggest day in North Texas youth soccer. Ruben, Victor and Moises signed their 1^st professional contracts with FC Dallas. Dillon Powers, Alex Molano and the rest of the US U20 team captured the Milk Cup title. And, Conor Doyle signed his first Pro contract with English club, Derby County FC.Once again, North Texas soccer is showing its depth in talent. If you have some weekends free in the coming months, check out an USSDA game or two

Home Debut:

Sat, September 11, 2010

FC Dallas vs Texans SC Houston 4:30/6:00 pm PHP #4

Sun, September 12, 2010

Andromeda vs Solar Chelsea SC 4:30/6:00 pm ATF - Showcase Field

Sun, September 26, 2010

Dallas Texans vs Solar Chelsea SC 4:30/6:00 pm UTD - Stadium Field