D.C. United training program registration now open

Elite training sessions will provide participants the opportunity to earn a spot on Pre-Academy squads and recently introduced U-14 Academy Team

Washington, D.C. (January 23, 2013) – With the new year just underway, the 2013 D.C. United Training Program – led by Pre-Academy and Academy coaching staff – is open for registration and the winter session is just around the corner, starting on Sunday, February 3. The Training Program, which is available to the U9-U11 and U12-U13 age groups, presents a key opportunity for participants to be identified and scouted for United’s Pre-Academy squads and the recently introduced U-14 Academy Team.

Chesterfield United Announce new Player Development Structure, club Academy Model

Richmond, VA – (Tuesday, March 20, 2012) – Chesterfield United is proud to announce the new player development structure and club Academy model. After significant amount of time studying the value of the European Academy club model and structure, Chesterfield United staff has worked hard to improve the club structure to enhance the player development opportunities to all of its players.

“Player development happens at training, not necessarily during games. Players touch the ball more often and are put through more repetitions during training then during a game. So, very simply, more training means more time on the ball, more repetitions, and therefore more development," commented Technical Director, Heather Pedersen.

Each program provided by Chesterfield United now will offer extra player development opportunities and incentives with greater emphasis on training, following U.S. Soccer guidelines continuing the clubs goal to provide the best training environment and cost for players in the city of Richmond and surrounding areas. Directors Matt Lacey and Pat McStay will be flying to England in April to work with Norwich City Football Club (EPL Team) to see this structure in action before it begins in August.

"I am very proud of the fact that we are able to restructure our travel program for the benefit of players without raising costs in a tough economic environment. It speaks volumes about the dedication our directors and coaches have for our club and the willingness of our directors to put in the work and time on the field to ensure that our players are getting better. We are the lowest cost club in the area that provides, without a doubt, the most value. We will continue to work for our members as we grow to ensure that the quality of the staff, teams, and players remains the same in the future." - Pat McStay, Director of Operations

Puma (Elite) teams will now be known as ASL (Atlantic Soccer League) Academy and ASL Jr Academy teams and will now begin to train 3 times a week on a new 9/10 month training schedule.

“The new structure for our ASL Jr Academy teams U10-U13 will allow our already very successful program to grow even further” commented Matt Lacey, Director of Player Development. “With these teams training 3 times a week, we will take this club to another level and create the perfect environment for our teams to play exciting soccer. This model sets us up to prepare these age groups to become successful once they reach the ASL at U14. It’s an exciting challenge I am sure the coach’s will be up for."

ASL Academy U15-U18 teams will still be able to play for their local high school teams unlike other clubs that are being mandated throughout the country.

“The ASL gives us the ability to play great competition at national recognized top events and this is what our players and teams are looking for and deserve. Not only are they receiving college exposure but our players can continue to play high school soccer with their respective schools. We recognize that to play proudly for your High School is an important aspect in a young players life and as a club we will happily support our players and our local community”  - Joe Farrell, ASL Director of Coaching

New Structure Below -
U14-U18 ASL Academy (ELITE BOYS/GIRLS) – ASL Academy teams will compete in the Atlantic Soccer League which provides highly competitive games and allows for maximum amount of training in between events. ASL Academy teams will enhance their development starting in the fall by practicing three times a week on a new 9/10 month season (High School teams U15-U18 will be able to play high school and train August – March). ASL Academy teams will train 2 times a week during the winter starting in January going through February at the state of art complex Sportsquest. Teams will now compete in 4 ASL events and the Ultimate Cup. In the 2011/2012 season of the ASL, Chesterfield United will be sending over 60% of its U18 Boys players to play in college.

U10-U13 ASL Jr Academy (ELITE BOYS/GIRLS) – ASL Jr Academy teams will enhance their development starting in the fall by practicing three times a week on a new 9/10 month season. The concept behind the ASL Jr Academy is that players and teams will be preparing themselves for the challenges of the Atlantic Soccer League which they will begin play at the age of U14s. The ASL Jr Academy teams will also play a fall and spring season in ADSL or VSL D1 league games. ASL Jr Academy teams will train 2 times a week during the winter starting in January going through February at the state of art complex Sportsquest. Selected teams will compete in nationally recognized events such as Norcross (GA), Jefferson Cup (VA), Ultimate Cup (VA), CASL (NC) as well as supporting local tournaments.

U10 – U18 United Teams (CLASSIC BOYS/GIRLS)- United teams will also enhance player and team development by training twice a week, and have an extra training session with the ASL Jr Academy/ ASL Academy teams periodically throughout the year. This will ensure that Directors and Coaches continue to monitor the development of every player in each age group. Specific dates for these extra training sessions will be released before the beginning of each season. Optional Winter training sessions will also still be a part of our United teams travel program and that schedule will be released half way through the Fall 2012 season. United teams will compete in ADSL or VSL league fixtures and play in 4 tournaments throughout the year.

U9 CDP Travel (Competitive Development Program)- The U9 CDP travel program is a ground breaking program for Chesterfield United as it will see the club modeling the US Soccer Development Guidelines. U9 teams will train together as a pool and then play 5v5 games on the weekend against other local clubs supporting these guidelines. They will also play in 1 tournament per season (1 fall/1 Spring) and compete in several development festival. U9 teams will train 2 times a week at Ironbridge and Sportsquest with a third free session on Friday evenings at UT2 Training. During the winter break U9 players will meet once a week as part of their fees during January and February.

U6/U8 UDP (United Development Program)-The U6/U8 UDP Program is an introductory program for Chesterfield United that is a step above recreational soccer. The teams will train two times a week and play small sided games (3v3 and 5v5). Coaches are licensed and it’s a great program to get your player into from the beginning!

Rec Soccer (U5-U19s) – Is the clubs introductory low cost soccer program. Coaches are provided with coaching education to help provide a fun and exciting experience for children of all levels.

"At the end of the day, we are a service based organization. Our job is to listen to our members and try to provide them with the utmost quality. I think we did listen. This model will give players the opportunity to train in a quality environment and play meaningful games without having to give up their lives outside of soccer. We have options for everyone and do not limit families to what they can and cannot do. We welcome cross training with other sports and embrace representing your school. It’s taken a lot of work, but the club is excited to move forward!" - Pat McStay, Director of Operations

Tryouts for U15s-U18s will be released on Friday, March 23. U9-U14 Tryouts will be released  March 30th.

If you have any questions please contact:

Heather Pedersen-Girls Director and Technical Director hpedersen@chesterfieldunited.com
Joe Farrell-ASL and Boys Director jfarrell@chesterfieldunited.com
Matt Lacey-Director of Player Developement mlacey@chesterfieldunited.com
For more information on the Atlantic Soccer League, go to www.aslsoccer.net

Tottenham Hotspur International Player Development Camp Announced

Tottenham Hotspur International Player Development Camp

Location: Covenant Park (Ellicott City, MD) Dates: April 2-6, 2012

Course Details: Times: 9am - 3pm Age: 9 - 17 years Price: $355

Applications: www.elitetournaments.com

The Tottenham Hotspur International Player Development Programmed will be hitting Maryland this April. Tottenham Hotspur has a reputation of playing stylish flowing soccer. From the push and run side of the 1950's to the present day, flair, fluidity and attacking soccer are the hallmarks of Spurs. The Tottenham Hotspur Way is our history, heritage and tradition. It is what we have become known for. The Tottenham Hotspur Player Development programme will be led by our specialized International player and coach development te am.

The player development experience Boys and Girls aged 9 to 17 of all soccer abilities can take part in advanced style coaching based on the Tottenham Hotspur Academy Syllabus.

TO BOOK

Complete online application: Click Here

Or contact andy.rogers@tottenhamhotspur.com

D.C. United Press Release: Academy Update

D.C. United Academy Update

U-18’s and U-16’s to compete in Academy Carolina Cup, Collin Martin called into U-20 MNT camp

Washington, D.C. (February 22, 2012) – D.C. United’s U-18 and U-16 Academy teams are set to compete in the Development Academy Carolina Challenge Cup from February 24 – 27. The tournament will take place in Charleston, South Carolina in conjunction with the Carolina Challenge Cup, featuring youth teams from Columbus Crew, Indiana United Fire, Chicago Fire, New York Red Bulls and the South Carolina United Battery.

D.C. United will kickoff against Indiana United Fire on Friday, February 24, with the U-18’s playing at 6:00 p.m. and the U-16’s at 8:15 p.m. The Development Academy teams will have a rest day on Saturday, February 25 allowing them to attend match day one of the Carolina Challenge Cup.

On Sunday, February 26, United’s U-18’s will face their Chicago Fire counterparts at 9:00 a.m., while the U-16’s will kickoff at 1:30 p.m. United will conclude the tournament against the Columbus Crew, with the U-18’s playing at 9:00 a.m. and the U-16’s at 11:00 a.m.

D.C. United midfielder Collin Martin has been named to the 26-player roster for the U.S. U-20 MNT training camp in Clermont, Fla. The camp began Monday, February 20 and will run until March 1. As part of the camp, the U.S. U-20 MNT will face the reserve teams from FC Dallas on Sunday, February 26 at 4:00 p.m. ET and Montreal Impact on Wednesday, February 29 at 10:30 a.m. ET. Both games will take place at the Disney Wide World of Sports complex.

United U-14 and U-15 teams played in the Northeast Pre-Academy League Spring Scouting Showcase last weekend at the Germantown Soccerplex. The tournament was designed for academy players to showcase their skills in front of U.S. Soccer scouts.

The U-14’s faced NJSA, McLean and FC Westchester, compiling a record of 1-1-1, respectively. United’s U-15 squad played against NJSA, Matchfit FC and FC Boston, finishing the weekend with a record of 2-1-0.   

About the USSF Development Academy
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 United States to provide the best youth players in the U.S. with an every day environment designed to produce the next generation of National Team players. The Academy’s programming philosophy of increased training, less total games and more competitive games is based on U.S. Soccer’s Best Practices utilized by the U-17 U.S. National Team Residency program.

Carolina Challenge Cup
The Carolina Challenge Cup is the premier pre-season tournament in the U.S. Each year the Battery is joined by three teams from Major League Soccer for the round-robin competition. The 2012 edition includes the Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, D.C. United and the Charleston Battery with match days on February 25, 29 and March 3.

---   www.dcunited.com   ---

Richmond Kickers Development Academy now cost-free

Richmond Kicker Press Release:

RICHMOND, VA – (Monday, February 20, 2012) – The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce their U.S. Soccer Development Academy will be a cost-free program for the 2012-13 season.  The historic milestone in Virginia youth soccer development is reached through the support of partnerships with The Computer Solution Company, Proseal America, Inc, and multiple donors, allowing dedicated and talented players to reach the highest level of youth soccer, playing, training and traveling free of charge.

U.S. Soccer Technical Advisor, Chris Brewer, will be hosting a Town Hall meeting on Saturday, February 25 at 5 p.m. at the Richmond Kickers office, located at 2001 Maywill Street, Suite 203 Richmond, VA.  The informational meeting is open to anyone who wishes to learn more about this exciting initiative as well as U.S. Soccer Federation’s plans to move to a 10-month season beginning Fall 2012.

"I wish to thank everyone who had the vision, passion and commitment to make this historic moment in youth player development a reality,” commented Leigh Cowlishaw, Richmond Kickers Director of Soccer.  “It is our hope that this significant commitment to youth soccer development will ignite community interest in establishing one neutral Academy program for Central Virginia that all clubs, players and parents can unite behind to share resources to best serve the most talented and dedicated players in the region.”

The Richmond Kickers U16 and U18 Academy players will not be required to pay traditional player fees, and all hotel, flight and ground transportation expenses associated with league travel will be covered by the club. Valued at nearly $20,000 for a four-year player, the Kickers cost-free Academy eliminates the most significant barrier for talented soccer players to compete in U.S. Soccer’s world-class program.  Unprecedented in the state of Virginia, the Kickers join 17 other Academy clubs who offer fully funded programs, including the majority of professional clubs in Major League Soccer.

“A fully funded Academy is a significant contribution to our community and consistent with our club’s vision to be the model for American soccer, a youth to pros development system that has been emulated by clubs throughout the country,” added Rob Ukrop, Richmond Kickers President, Board of Directors.  “We are excited to initiate the process with the boys program and look forward to one day developing a similar philosophy for our national caliber girls program.”

The Kickers Academy teams will be led by USSF “A” Licensed coaches Leigh Cowlishaw and Ihor Dotsenko, and Goalkeeper Coach, Ronnie Pascale, who bring a combined 50 years of professional playing and coaching experience to the club staff.  Competing in the Atlantic Division, the Kickers will play league matches against many of the top teams in the nation including D.C. United, CASL, Baltimore Bays, North Carolina Fusion as well as two national showcase events annually.

U.S. Soccer recently announced a 10-month season for Academy teams, allowing players to 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 the addition of a substantial number of extra training sessions, which are the primary vehicle for player development.

Tryouts

Players interested in joining the Richmond Kickers Academy should send the following information: player's name, date of birth and a detailed playing history including references, to Leigh Cowlishaw, Director of Soccer at lcowlishaw@richmondkickers.com.  Guaranteed Academy roster spots for the 2012-13 squads will be awarded to select players on an ongoing basis.  Additionally, six Discovery Player roster spots are available to players who wish to join the Kickers Academy for the current season.

About the U.S. Soccer Development Academy

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.

About The Computer Solution Company

The Computer Solution Company (TCSC) has been one of the Mid-Atlantic’s leading technology solution providers for over three decades.  TCSC provides enterprise application design and development, full-service SharePoint implementations and business intelligence solutions.  The company’s core values of passion, technical excellence, customer focus and lifelong learning closely parallel those of the Richmond Kickers.  As an organization that invests heavily in maintaining a position of leadership, TCSC is excited to partner with the Kickers organization as it continues to invest in the lives of players throughout the Richmond area.

About Proseal America, Inc.

Just like soccer, Proseal was originally formed in the North West of England. Since our formation we have not only become the leading manufacturer of food packaging machinery and tooling in the UK, but are now recognized as a major force internationally, having extended its operations into a number of sites overseas including our newest manufacturing plant right here in Richmond, Virginia.

Our aim is to be an innovative and pioneering organization within the fast paced food industry, and to take pride, not only in producing a range of high quality, efficient, cost effective food packaging machines, but also in providing a service that surpasses our customers' expectations.  Our reputation is founded on excellent customer service and the ability to design and produce consistently reliable machines.

With many years’ experience in the tray sealing industry, we have a deep understanding of the demanding production requirements to which machinery in this sector is subjected. Combined with the high level of after sales service we provide, our business continues to grow from strength to strength.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Richmond Kickers Academy?

The Richmond Kickers Academy is designed to identify and develop the top players in the Central Virginia area. The Kickers goal is to have every player reach his full potential both on and off the field.

What is the cost of the Richmond Kickers Academy?

The Academy is a cost-free program. Each player is fully funded by the Richmond Kickers. This includes:

• All player fees
• Travel (air fares, buses, vans, etc)
• Accommodation (hotel rooms for away trips)
• Uniforms (adidas player package)

How is the program fully funded?

The program is entirely self-sufficient thanks to support from sponsorship revenue and multiple donors.

How are the Richmond Kickers Academy Teams different from other local programs?

The Richmond Kickers has the only professional team in Virginia, which has been in existence for 20 years. The Kickers have a strong reputation for excellence progressing 23 players to Major League Soccer and we are respected nationally as one of the country’s best clubs.

Expectations for our Academy players are very high and they are treated like young professionals.  The move to a ten month season also allows select players to train and play scrimmage matches with the professional team from February through August. Additionally Academy players have the opportunity to observe the Richmond Kickers first team’s training, matches and coaching sessions.

What age groups does the Academy have for the 2012-13 Season?

• U16s (1999/1998/1997/1996)
• U18s (1996/1995/1994)

How are players selected for the Richmond Kickers Academy?

There are a number of ways that top players can become part of the Richmond Kickers Academy:

• Assessment in their own playing environments (e.g. club, school, state or regional teams)
• Recommendation from personnel within the professional and collegiate ranks
• Assessment in Academy training environment after requesting to join Academy

What competitions do the team plays in?

The U16s and U18s play in the US Soccer Development Academy League.

Can players play for other Youth Soccer Clubs and/or High School teams?

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. Academy members will not be able to play for any additional soccer teams.