U.S. Soccer Development
Academy Spring Showcase
SARASOTA, Fla. (May 22nd-25th, 2009) – Having
just returned from an incredible weekend of
soccer in Florida, I thought I would provide a
run down on how the trip went.
The U.S. Soccer Development Academy Spring
Showcase kicked off a busy weekend with a full
slate of games, capped off by the U.S. U-17
Men’s National Team match against a Development
Academy Select Team. All 146 Development Academy
teams were in action for the first of five days
of games as the event continued throughout the
holiday weekend.
The Showcase Game of the day drew hundreds of
spectators as many of the participating teams
stayed to support their fellow Development
Academy teammates, who were getting a chance to
showcase their skills against the national team
and have chance to impress the national coaching
staff. The Select Team, chosen by the U-17 staff
and the DA Technical Advisors, held their own
against the U-17s, scoring the first goal of the
match.
Every Academy club played three matches over the
course of four days at the Showcase. Between
games, participants spent time in the two-story
athletes’ lounge that features a free Gatorade
Drink Bar and the EA Sports lounge equipped with
FIFA ‘09.
On Saturday and Sunday, teams went through the
SPARQ testing for the second time this season.
The teams were tested back in December at the
Winter Showcase in Lancaster, Calif., and this
second round of testing provides the teams with
benchmarks for the players to continue
improvement over time.
The event also gave us the chance long with the
other five new clubs, set to join the Academy
for the 2009-2010 season, the chance to go
through an orientation process that included
meeting with program administrators and taking
in one of the top youth events in the country.
Along with youth national team coaches and
scouts, more than 220 college coaches were on
hand to watch some of the country’s best players
square off on the 20 fields spread across the
Sarasota Polo Grounds.
Check out the link to see an overview of the
weekend. Watch all three videos for a full
up-date.
USSoccer.com article
Thanks for the continued support of CDA as we
embark on something very special.
Nathan Williams
CDA Staff
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