U.S. Soccer Development Academy
This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. (August 2016) |
Founded | 2007 |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Other club(s) from | Canada |
Confederation | USSF |
Conferences | 3 |
Number of teams | 96 |
Current champions | FC Dallas (U17/18) FC Dallas (U15/16) |
Website | USSDA website |
The United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) is an American soccer league, considered the top tier of youth soccer in the United States. Formed in 2007, the league features youth academies and youth clubs from various organizations, including Major League Soccer, the North American Soccer League and the United Soccer Leagues. It succeeded the Super Y-League as the premier youth soccer league in the U.S. Its mission is to provide education, resources, and support to impact everyday club environments in order to develop world-class players.
As of the 2015-16 season, the Academy has 96 total clubs, in three age groups: U-13/14, U-15/16, and U-17/18. The Academy is currently in the process of expanding its programming to include 56 new clubs at the U-12 age group and to develop a Girls' Development Academy that will begin in Fall 2017.
Joining an Academy Club
For players to join the Academy, they must first join one of the member clubs. The Academy suggests any interested player should contact the club directly for specific information regarding the tryout process. Clubs can be found based on age group within the three regional conferences.
Clubs must apply directly to the Academy through the ussoccerda.org website. Applications for the Girls' Development Academy are now open. Applications for the Boys' clubs are available in early fall on the Development Academy website. Accepted clubs join the Academy the following fall season.
History
The U.S. Soccer Development Academy was founded in 2007, after a comprehensive review of elite player development conducted by the USSF, to serve as the top tier for youth soccer in the United States and provide an elite everyday environment for player development. The organization was created as a partnership between U.S. Soccer and top level clubs across the country, emphasizing increased training with more competitive games versus more games in general, with the ultimate goal of producing top level players for the US men's national team.[1]
In addition, the league serves to connect national team coaches at all age levels directly with elite youth players, while also serving as a venue for advanced coaching and referee development.[2]
The league is unique from other professional soccer leagues domestically, as it runs on a winter-based schedule. The season generally begins in September and ends in June or July. There is usually a hiatus in January and February while players have the summer off. Most of the clubs are associated with professional teams, either in North America through MLS, the NASL or the USL, or with European clubs. The professional teams cover most, if not all of the fees, while the academies offer a pipeline of talent to the professional club.
The league also welcomed two Canadian teams, the respective academy sides for the professional clubs of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the Montreal Impact of MLS. The only MLS club whose youth teams do not participate in the league is Toronto FC.
Champions
Season | U17/18 | U15/16 |
---|---|---|
2007-2008 | Baltimore Bays Chelsea | Carmel United SC |
2008-2009 | Carmel United SC | Derby County Wolves |
2009-2010 | Vardar SC Freiburg | Chicago Fire Academy |
2010-2011 | Pateadores Academy | Los Angeles Galaxy Academy |
2011-2012 | FC Dallas Development Academy | New York Red Bulls Academy |
2012-2013 | New York Red Bulls Academy | Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy |
2013-2014 | Players Development Academy | Los Angeles Galaxy Academy |
2014-2015 | Chicago Fire Academy | FC Dallas Development Academy |
2015-2016 | FC Dallas Development Academy | FC Dallas Development Academy |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9e/Original_US_Soccer_Development_Academy_Logo.jpg/180px-Original_US_Soccer_Development_Academy_Logo.jpg)
Growth and Development
Player Development Initiatives
U.S. Soccer's new Player Development Initiatives (PDIs) are geared towards giving players the right tools to succeed and develop to the best of their abilities in age appropriate environments. For more information about best practices, the Birth Year Mandate, and further resources, please visit the U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiatives homepage.
Coaching Education
The Academy offers a pathway to U.S. Soccer coaching education resources and licenses through the Digital Coaching Center.
U-12 Program
The Development Academy will expand to include the U-12 age group beginning in fall 2016.The U-12 Academy program will improve the training environment for players at younger ages by providing more and higher quality training, more meaningful yet less total games, and age-appropriate learning environments.
U-13 and U-14 Single Age Groups
The Development Academy will split the U-13/14 age group into single age groups to create foundation of the pathway at U-12, U-13, and U-14 to focus on individual player development. This will provide the base for a long-term streamlined pathway with flexibility to move players between rosters within the club, a better transition period for players from 9v9 to 11v11, and include late developers.
The U-13 Academy Program will follow the same schedule as the current U-13/14 program, consisting of divisional play, futsal training, and a reigonal showcase event.
Girls' Development Academy
The Development Academy is pleased to announce the launch of the Girls' Development Academy in fall 2017. The Girls' Development Academy is part of U.S. Soccer's global leadership position in women's soccer and connects with its long-term plan to improve player and coach development. The mission of the program is to provide education, resources and support to directly impact the everyday environment for clubs to develop world-class female players.
Age Groups
The Academy has 96 total clubs, in three age groups: U-13/14, U-15/16, and U-17/18. These 96 clubs are all located within nine (9) geographically-based divisions at the U-13/14 age group and seven (7) geographically-based divisions at both the U-15/16 and U-17/18 levels.
- The U-13/14 league is divided into nine divisions in three conferences:
- East Conference
- Northeast
- Metro
- North Atlantic
- South Atlantic
- Sunshine
- Central Conference
- Mid-America
- Frontier
- West Conference
- Northwest
- Southwest
- East Conference
- The U-15/16 and U-17/18 leagues are divided into seven divisions in three conferences:
- East Conference
- Northeast
- Atlantic
- Southeast
- Central Conference
- Frontier
- Mid-America
- West Conference
- Northwest
- Southwest
- East Conference
2016-17 U-15/16 & U-17/18 Clubs
West Conference
Northwest Division
Academy | City | State | Professional Affiliate |
---|---|---|---|
Crossfire Premier | Kirkland | ![]() |
Internazionale |
De Anza Force | Saratoga | ![]() |
|
Juventus Sport Club | Redwood City | ![]() |
|
Portland Timbers | Portland | ![]() |
Portland Timbers |
San Jose Earthquakes | Santa Clara | ![]() |
San Jose Earthquakes |
Sacramento Republic FC | Sacramento | ![]() |
Sacramento Republic FC |
Santa Cruz Breakers Academy | Aptos | ![]() |
|
Seattle Sounders FC | Tukwila | ![]() |
Seattle Sounders |
Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Vancouver | ![]() |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
Southwest Division
Academy | City | State | Professional Affiliate |
---|---|---|---|
Arsenal FC | Temecula | ![]() |
|
FC Golden State | Pasadena | ![]() |
|
Los Angeles Galaxy | Carson | ![]() |
Los Angeles Galaxy |
Nomads SC | La Jolla | ![]() |
|
Pateadores | Costa Mesa | ![]() |
|
Real Salt Lake AZ | Casa Grande | ![]() |
Real Salt Lake |
Real So Cal | Woodland Hills | ![]() |
|
San Diego Surf | San Diego | ![]() |
|
Strikers FC | Irvine | ![]() |
Central Conference
Frontier Division
Academy | City | State | Professional Affiliate |
---|---|---|---|
Colorado Rapids | Commerce City | ![]() |
Colorado Rapids |
Colorado Rush | Littleton | ![]() |
|
Dallas Texans | Plano | ![]() |
Manchester United |
FC Dallas | Frisco | ![]() |
FC Dallas |
Houston Dynamo | Houston | ![]() |
Houston Dynamo |
Lonestar SC Academy | Austin | ![]() |
|
Real Colorado | Centennial | ![]() |
Real Colorado Foxes |
Solar Chelsea SC | Dallas | ![]() |
Chelsea F.C. |
Sporting Kansas City | Kansas City | ![]() |
Sporting Kansas City |
Texans SC Houston | Spring | ![]() |
|
Texas Rush | The Woodlands | ![]() |
Mid-America Division
Academy | City | State | Professional Affiliate |
---|---|---|---|
Chicago Fire Academy | Bridgeview | ![]() |
Chicago Fire |
Chicago Magic PSG | Frankfort | ![]() |
Paris Saint-Germain |
Cleveland Internationals | North Royalton | ![]() |
|
Crew Soccer Academy | Columbus | ![]() |
Columbus Crew |
Crew Soccer Academy Wolves | Wixom | ![]() |
Columbus Crew |
Indiana Fire Academy | Westfield | ![]() |
Chicago Fire |
Minnesota Thunder Academy | Minneapolis | ![]() |
|
Shattuck-Saint Mary's | Faribault | ![]() |
|
St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro | Collinsville | ![]() |
|
St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri | Fenton | ![]() |
|
Sockers FC | Palatine | ![]() |
|
Vardar | Rochester Hills | ![]() |
East Conference
Southeast Division
Academy | City | State | Professional Affiliate |
---|---|---|---|
Atlanta United FC | Marietta | ![]() |
Atlanta United FC |
Boca United Football | Boca Raton | ![]() |
|
Carolina Rapids SC | Cornelius | ![]() |
Colorado Rapids |
Capital Area RailHawks Academy - CASL | Raleigh | ![]() |
Carolina Railhawks |
Chargers Soccer Club | Clearwater | ![]() |
|
Charlotte Soccer Academy | Matthews | ![]() |
|
Concorde Fire | Atlanta | ![]() |
|
IMG Academy | Bradenton | ![]() |
|
Kendall SC | Miami | ![]() |
|
North Carolina Fusion | Greensboro | ![]() |
Carolina Dynamo |
Orlando City SC | Orlando | ![]() |
Orlando City SC |
Weston FC | Weston | ![]() |
Atlantic Division
Academy | City | State | Professional Affiliate |
---|---|---|---|
Baltimore Armour | Ellicott City | ![]() |
|
Bethesda SC | Bethesda | ![]() |
|
Cedar Stars Academy - Monmouth | Carlstadt | ![]() |
|
Continental FC DELCO | West Chester | ![]() |
|
D.C. United Academy | Washington | ![]() |
D.C. United |
New York Red Bulls Academy | Harrison | ![]() |
New York Red Bulls |
PA Classics | Manheim | ![]() |
|
Philadelphia Union | Wayne | ![]() |
Philadelphia Union |
Players Development Academy | Somerset | ![]() |
Celtic F.C. |
Richmond United Academy | Richmond | ![]() |
Richmond Kickers |
Northeast Division
Academy | City | State | Professional Affiliate |
---|---|---|---|
Beachside SC | Norwalk | ![]() |
|
BW Gottschee Academy | Queens | ![]() |
New York City FC |
Empire United | Rochester | ![]() |
|
FC Boston Bolts | Waban | ![]() |
Celtic F.C. |
Everton FC Westchester | New Rochelle | ![]() |
Everton F.C. |
Montreal Impact Academy | Montreal | ![]() |
Montreal Impact |
New England Revolution | Foxborough | ![]() |
New England Revolution |
NYCFC (U-15/16 only) | New York City | ![]() |
New York City FC |
Oakwood Soccer Club | Glastonbury | ![]() |
|
Seacoast United | Hampton | ![]() |
References
- ^ "U.S. Soccer Development Academy". www.underconsideration.com. December 17, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
- ^ "Academy Overview". USSoccer.com. Retrieved June 22, 2015.