U.S.
SOCCER DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY MOVES TO 10-MONTH
SEASON STARTING IN 2012-13
Academy
Schedule to Run from September through June
Beginning in the Fall of 2012
March 2012 --
The U.S. Soccer Development Academy has
announced it is moving to a 10-month season
starting with the 2012-13 season.
After
receiving overwhelming support from the
Development Academy membership, the Academy
is moving to a schedule beginning in the
fall of 2012 that runs from September
through June (or July based on postseason
play). This creates a format that is similar
to those followed by the elite soccer
playing nations around the world as the
Development Academy and U.S. Soccer continue
their goal of closing the performance gap
with the top soccer nations.
“If we want
our players to someday compete against the
best in the world, it is critical for their
development that they train and play as much
as possible and in the right environment,”
said U.S. Men’s National Team head coach
Jurgen Klinsmann. “The Development Academy
10-month season is the right formula and
provides a good balance between training
time and playing competitive matches. This
is the model that the best countries around
the world use for their programs, and I
think it makes perfect sense that we do as
well.”
A number of
clubs already have switched to the 10-month
season and have seen substantial improvement
(Western Conference, Texas Division). U.S.
Soccer recognizes there might be challenges
during the transition process and will work
with individual clubs to make this swift
transition as easy as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions | Quote
Sheet:
Academy and National Team Coaches
Video:
Academy Clubs Move to a 10-Month Season
Moving to a
10-month season means players can focus on
training together three or four times per
week and play meaningful games on the
weekend nearly year-round. Fewer games and
an extended season will allow for the
addition of a substantial number of extra
training sessions, which are the primary
vehicle for player development.
The 10-month
season allows for a greater opportunity to
institute a style of play and implement a
system according to U.S. Soccer’s Curriculum
as well as build team chemistry. It also
gives teams increased opportunities for
younger kids in their club to “play up”
against older players in both training and
matches, thereby accelerating their
development.
“Going to a
10-month season is an important step in the
evolution of elite player development,” said
U.S. Soccer Youth Technical Director Claudio
Reyna. “The format provides the ideal
platform to place an increased emphasis on
the value of training on a regular basis,
and offers the opportunity to play in
quality, competitive games throughout an
extended season. This schedule puts our
elite players in line with kids in their age
group internationally, and places the
appropriate physical demands at this stage
in their development.
“The addition
of a significant number of training sessions
per year will enhance the ability of players
to develop,” said Reyna. “Along with the
support of our membership, this move has
been greeted with enthusiasm from leading
soccer nations around the world.”
U.S. Soccer
created the Development Academy in 2007 to
improve the everyday environment for the
elite youth player. The Development Academy
is a partnership between U.S. Soccer and the
top youth clubs around the country to
provide the best youth players in the U.S.
with an everyday environment designed to
produce the next generation of National Team
players.
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