CDA Will Play US Academy 10 Month Schedule


July 2, 2011

The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) has recommended and endorsed the 10 month playing schedule as the best approach to develop elite soccer players who aspire to effectively compete on National and International levels. As a result, CDA has joined the 26 other Northwest, Southwest and Texas USSF Development Academy Clubs who have collectively decided to play in the new 10 month continuous Academy season. The season will stretch from September 2011 through June 2012, with playoffs and finals in July 2012.

Although the new 10 month playing schedule will preclude Development Academy players from playing High School soccer, USSF sees the 10 month playing model as the ideal environment for elite soccer player development because:

• The recently developed USSF youth player development 10-month course focuses on training more (4 times per week minimum, up from 3 times per week in previous Academy years) and playing less games (1 time per weekend) to meet or exceed other top-level international programs.
• The 10-month USSF training and playing model is incompatible with High School play (ie: High Schools train Mon, play Tue, train Wed, play Thu while Development Academies build on four or more training sessions throughout the week for maximum performance in one game on the weekend).
• USSF believes that the current approach of playing several games during the week or two-day tournaments undermines player development because a player is too tired to play at a level of peak performance.
• High School play eliminates a player’s exposure to U.S. National Team opportunities during the crucial first 3 months of the Development Academy season when scouting and showcases occur, as well as increased national training camps and training centers.
• The current national soccer training and playing structure is not effectively producing world-class players.

During a recent CDA parent meeting, USSF Soccer Academy National Team Scout, Hugo Perez, acknowledged that High School soccer is an important part of American culture. However, the level of High School coaching and play is not conducive to developing the best players. While acknowledging that playing in a Development Academy may not fit all players, he maintained that the USSF 10 month schedule, associated training course and coaching standards were vital to advancing US soccer and developing elite players. Hugo further communicated that players who practice and play with elite players improve and develop faster through US Development Academies. An extended 3 month interruption in training and play because of High School play undermines continuity for Development Academy players and teams.

At the 2011 Academy Playoffs in Texas, Tony Lepore, USSF Academy Director, announced all Development Academy Clubs will follow the example set by the Southwest, Northwest and Texas Division and play a 10 month continuous season during the 2012/2013 Academy season. “We’re very excited about the way that Academy Clubs in different parts of the country have come together to raise their standard even higher,” said Lepore. He went on to praise the Clubs in the Northwest, Southwest and Texas for paving the way for the future of U.S Soccer.