As U.S. Soccer's Youth Technical Director, Claudio Reyna believes a key to improving American player development is convincing more youth clubs to strive for a style of play conducive to nurturing talent. The 78-club U.S. Soccer Development Academy, which kicked off its fifth season this month, is a integral part of the national team program's quest to improve American soccer.

Some 78 clubs currently comprise US Soccer's Development Academy and three of those clubs—FC Delco, PA Classics and Players Development Academy—are part of the Philadelphia Union's Youth Development Affiliate program.

Evaluations of these clubs were first started by US Soccer in 2007 with the founding of the Development Academy.

Maurice Edu returned from injury to score the final goal as Rangers hammered Hamilton Academic yesterday. Edu had been down since November, but he has featured regularly for the Scottish side this season and should be the American every team scrambles to pick up.

The MLS Supplemental Draft will help teams fill out their reserve team rosters.

Maurice Edu returned from injury to score the final goal as Rangers hammered Hamilton Academic yesterday. Edu had been down since November, but he has featured regularly for the Scottish side this season and should be the American every team scrambles to pick up.

The MLS Supplemental Draft will help teams fill out their reserve team rosters.

Clint Dempsey celebrates scoring against Egypt on Father's Day in 2009.
Today's game against Jamaica at RFK Stadium marks the eighth time the U.S. Men's National Team has taken the field on Father's Day. Overall the U.S. has a 4-2-1 record on the third Sunday in June, including matches in the FIFA World Cup, FIFA Confederations Cup and World Cup qualifying.

Klinsmann & Vasquez: Back together again

My concern with Klinsmann is exactly the one lots of commentators have already cited he's not really a tactician, and it was Jogi Löw who did all that heavy lifting with the German National Team. And Martin Vasquez, who went from being an assistant at MLS's Chivas club to being Klinsmann's assistant at Bayern (and came back for a short tenure as Chivas's head coach), isn't really a tactician either but he seems to impress folks since he got the Youth Development Director position with Real Salt Lake post-Chivas.

Having taken over the head coaching role for the purpose of the recent U-23 camp in Germany, New Jersey native Claudio Reyna spoke to Yanks Abroad about his role within the US Soccer hierarchy.

Last night while sipping Oban with my dude Brent in the bar at the Hudson Hotel I did something truly rare: I thought of John O'Brien. This was because Brent brought him up when waxing nostalgic about about the 2002 World Cup, JOB's command of the U.S. midfield against Portugal while Claudio Reyna sat the bench and the feeling among many U.

Mike Woitalla of Soccer America reports on the new coaching curriculum created by Claudio Reyna and US Soccer.

The U.S. Soccer Federation has unveiled its new coaching curriculum for coaches of players ages 5-12. Youth Technical Director Claudio Reyna presented the "age-appropriate roadmap" to player development on Wednesday to youth soccer coaches and directors at the Nike International Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore.

U.S. Soccer has unveiled the new coaching curriculum for coaches of players ages 5-12. The curriculum concentrates on improving the youngest players by creating more organized, age-appropriate training sessions, developing coaching practices and creating an environment that is fun for the players.

It's that time of year again. The time when the giraffes from the NBA do battle against the best soccer players Vancouver Whitecaps co-owner Steve Nash --which is how he will be referred to from now on-- can muster in a park below Houston St. in NYC. The Showdown in Chinatown is tomorrow and as per usual I'm gonna be all up in it like Bennett.

The countdown is on as teams file into Milwaukee, Wis., ahead of the first day of 2011 Development Academy Finals Week. The event features the top 16 Academy teams - eight from each age group - and kicks off Saturday, July 9, and runs through Saturday, July 16.
Each age group is broken down into two groups of four, with teams playing in a round robin group phase.

Claudio Reyna was a long way from the glare and glamour of the World Cup, sitting in a folding chair beside a patchy suburban soccer field and eating a boxed lunch.
The former U.S. national team captain watched intently as a youth academy team from Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls took on the Dallas Texans, a top club team.

AMSTERDAM - Jurgen Klinsmann's official unveiling as the new boss of the US national team on Monday has many stateside fans ecstatic, hoping they'll eventually see a change on the field. They won't be alone.

His new boss, USSF chief Sunil Gulati, will expect the former Mannschaft player and manager to act as the logical next step between Bob Bradley's measured approach and the bold Ajax-style program that youth technical director Claudio Reyna has made the new American soccer textbook.

Landon Donovan is one of five club captains on this MNT roster
Coaches have long emphasized the value of international players playing important roles for their club teams, and there can be no bigger role than serving as team captain. Being given the honor of wearing the captain's armband speaks to your character as much as your abilities on the field, and shows the confidence that the manager and the players have in your leadership ability.

Union

Four days remain until the close of the transfer window...

The Union will host its first Supporters Summit on Wednesday, August 17 with Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz, Peter Nowak, Faryd Mondragón and MLS Commissioner Don Garber answering questions. If, as Sakiewicz said, "hearing from a wider audience than usual" is the reason for the summit, the fact that only registered members of the Sons of Be will be allowed to attend is rather mystifying, particularly if topics for discussion will include "the Union's style of play, the League schedule, game-day experience, ticketing, stadium expansion, single table alignment and playoff structure.

Jurgen has some work to do.When the US Men's National Team took on Belgium, it was yet another learning experience. The team was coming off a 1-0 loss against Costa Rica and was hoping to improve on the performance. They did not. The Americans fell 1-0 to a remarkably powerful Belgium side. Still, there were several things I noticed throughout this match and really over the past two matches.

CHICAGO (Nov. 22, 2011) - FOX Soccer will broadcast all three U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team matches during the 2011 Nike International Friendlies in conjunction with the Development Academy Winter Showcase in December. The U.S. will take on Brazil, France and Turkey during the competition, which will be held at the Premier Sports Campus in Sarasota, Fla.

Beau Dure of ESPN writes about Claudio Reyna's vision for the future of US Soccer.
In the ballroom of the Baltimore Convention Center, nervous soccer players of varying backgrounds smiled and held up scarves for the teams that had just picked them in the MLS SuperDraft.

At the same time, one floor below at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention, Claudio Reyna, Youth Technical Directo for U.

From the Evansville Courier Press, April 24, 2011
The United States Soccer Federation has a firm handle on the future of soccer in our country, and it is by focusing on player development in the 5-year old to 12-year old age groups.
USSF officials, led by Youth Technical Director and former national team captain Claudio Reyna, unveiled a new curriculum for coaches of players ages 5-12 this week at the Nike International Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore.

By Puck First, before getting into my final thoughts on the Panama game, I need to give a huge shout out to the American Outlaws Tampa Crew for putting together one hell of an event. Everything from the pregame at MacDinton's Irish pub, the exceptional tailgate, and the transportation to and from was spot on.

Mexico had a great day yesterday, winning another game in a very sensational way securing the victory at the closing seconds of the game to beat Uruguay 2-0 and win the under 17 World Cup for the second time in its history.
We saw Mexico and Uruguay surpassing Germany and Brazil.

Scottish Premier League giants Rangers have announced the signing of U.S. international midfielder Alejandro Bedoya, pending the approval of a work permit. Bedoya joins Maurice Edu in Glasgow where Rangers have won three consecutive SPL titles, and continues the tradition of the likes of Claudio Reyna and DaMarcus Beasley at the famed club.

Here are some scattered business thoughts on the MLS All Star Hub and other items from Major League Soccer's descent on New York. The Hub itself is set in a swanky SoHo building decorated with a clubby feel. Most of the league sponsors are represented through various themed booths in the Hub that offer an array of interactive events.

photo by Tony Quinn/ISIphotos.com

U.S. Soccer has named Caleb Porter and Tab Ramos as head coaches of its U-23 and U-20 men's national teams.

Porter will coach the U-23 team and lead it through qualifying for the the 2012 Olympic games in London. Porter is to remain as head coach of Akron University, and will coach both the Zips and U.

U.S. Soccer has named Caleb Porter the head coach of the U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team, effective immediately. Porter will lead the U-23 team in its quest to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games when they compete in CONCACAF qualifying in March next year.
In addition to Porter, U.S. Soccer has hired former U.

Mike Woitalla of Soccer America recently caught up with United States Under-20 national team coach Tab Ramos to discuss what are key components in playing for the US now that Jurgen Klinsmann is the head coach.
SA: U.S. Soccer Youth Technical Director Claudio Reyna has talked about the national teams at all levels, from Jurgen Klinsmann's senior team on down, playing similar styles and in a similar system.

*Midfielder Jose Villarreal, a Leuzinger High product, and defender Zarek Valentin, who made 24 starts for the Goats this season, were among 31 players selected for the camp, which will run Monday through Nov. 16 in Germany under Claudio Reyna, U.S. youth technical director.

And check out all those German-based players on the full squad:

Goalkeepers: David Bingham (San Jose), Cody Cropper (Ipswich, England), Sean Johnson (Chicago), Jon Kempin (Sporting KC)

Defenders: Gale Agbossoumonde (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Anthony Brooks (Hertha Berlin, Germany), Sean Cunningham (Molde, Norway), Royal-Dominique Fennell (Stuttgarter Kickers, Germany), Greg Garza (no club), Perry Kitchen (D,C.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Carlos Bocanegra has enjoyed a distinguished career as a U.S. national team defender, and he joined exclusive company on Tuesday, becoming the 12th player in U.S. Soccer history to reach 100 caps.

The steady U.S. captain marked the 3-2 victory over Slovenia by joining Cobi Jones, Jeff Agoos, Landon Donovan, Marcelo Balboa, Claudio Reyna, Paul Caligiuri, Eric Wynalda, Kasey Keller, Earnie Stewart, Tony Meola and Joe-Max Moore in the century club at the start of his 90-minute shift.

The best answer for a new USMNT system? More of it, sooner. Now, we are actually fully designed to make these leaps we like to to talk about. Claudio Reyna is THE MAN.And gosh, I did not even recognize former Steamers goal monster Don Ebert at first.- Greg Seltzer

From the Evansville Courier Press, January 30, 2011
The formula for developing soccer players shouldn't be like trying to solve the Rubik's cube — it shouldn't be a series of twisting, turning and guessing.
There is one club in the world that churns out world-class players more than any other.

Claudio Reyna's vision for the future of US Soccer (http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6061681/us-soccer-matter-style). In the ballroom of the Baltimore Convention Center, nervous soccer players of varying...

Clint Dempsey, Fulham

It's the Champions versus Fulham, a West London derby that should be interesting as Phil Mison, the Fulham correspondent for ESPN notes Belief Will Beat The Blues

Why? At home Fulham's defence is back to its miserly best. Roy's fortress has been well and truly restored.

U.S. Soccer announced its new coaching curriculum this week, and the focus is training – especially for young players.

"Emphasizing proper coaching and training for players age 5-12 is critical for our ability to produce elite players and raise the level of play in this country overall," said Youth Technical Director Claudio Reyna, the former U.

The last time I co-signed on a documentary about a USMNT player the film never got released. But then again the film's subject, Claudio Reyna, was stinking it up on the field at a dear salary so perhaps the lack of enthusiasm around the project had little to do with my sad attempt at cheer-leading.

So last night there was an afterparty in NYC for Steve Nash's Showdown in Chinatown. To my pleasure and surprise, 30 Rock's Judah Friedlander was there and talking soccer. Dude was all high on the Freddy Adu pass and Tim Howard's general badassness but thought overall the Yanks played poorly.

So last night there was an afterparty in NYC for Steve Nash's Showdown in Chinatown. To my pleasure and surprise, 30 Rock's Judah Friedlander was there and talking soccer. Dude was all high on the Freddy Adu pass and Tim Howard's general badassness but thought overall the Yanks played poorly.

U.S. national team midfielder Alejandro Bedoya is set to follow in the footsteps of an impressive list of current and former Americans to play for Scottish powerhouse Glasgow Rangers after agreeing to terms with the club on Thursday.

Bedoya confirmed the agreement on Monday, and is now awaiting the securing of a work permit to finalize his move from Swedish club Orebro to Rangers, where he will team up with U.

I think this is probably a good move. Jürgen Klinsmann was able to coax a new style out of Germany on the way to a bronze finish at World Cup 2006, when they were originally not considered among the very top favorites despite being at home.I will merely assume that Claudio Reyna's new USMNT system curriculum has been taken into account during this process, which means we may see some real 4-3-3

STARTERS
Jonathan Spector has signed with Birmingham of the English Championship (2nd division) today.
KLINSMANN
Jurgen Klinsmann was officially introduced this morning as the new head coach of the USA, but he didn't answer any question on what his plan is to revive the team, and US Soccer president Sunil Gulati gave no answers to questions on whey Bob Bradley was replaced.