Eric Sorlie, Springfield SC

As the photo of Springfield SC Director Eric Sorlie shows, the weather may not have been cooperating but that didn't stop most of the play throughout the region this weekend. The club has 3 teams competing in the league this year, all in the First Division.

For some background, the Midwest Regional League is an extension of elite team competition for US Youth Soccer affiliated teams in each Region II State Association (13 states).

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Eric Sorlie, Springfield SC

As the photo of Springfield SC Director Eric Sorlie shows, the weather may not have been cooperating but that didn't stop most of the play throughout the region this weekend. The club has 3 teams competing in the league this year, all in the First Division.

For some background, the Midwest Regional League is an extension of elite team competition for US Youth Soccer affiliated teams in each Region II State Association (13 states).

Click to continue reading...

The Houston Dynamo have signed former Development Academy U-17/18 player Francisco Navas Cobo to a professional contract. Navas Cobo, who moved to the Dynamo Academy from Colombia in the fall of 2009, became the 11th player in Major League Soccer history to move from an Academy program to the first team. Click to continue reading...

Soccer America reports that Francisco Navas Cobo became the latest player to be promoted from an MLS academy team to its first team when the 18-year-old midfielder signed with the Houston Dynamo. The story of this "homegrown" signing began last summer when Navas Cobo left Colombia, where he was raised, and returned to Houston, where he was born. Click to continue reading...

It's a busy weekend in Milwaukee both indoors and out.

The Marquette men's team plays host to Illinois-Chicago at Valley Fields beginning at 10 a.m. in a spring match. Later on at the same location, FC Milwaukee's Under-16 and Under-18 boys teams face Real Colorado at 2 and 4:30 p.m. in a pair of U.

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High school soccer teams all over the country have always shared elite players with club teams.

Players often compete in club, then arrive in time for the high school season already in soccer shape, having been taught by top-notch coaches.

So high school coaches - many of them also club coaches themselves - benefit from players competing in club soccer.

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There is no question that the US Soccer Development Academy has already made significant strides in improving the American youth player.
Nowhere else do you see those strides starting to take shape than in the college game, where youth players are coming into this level more prepared for the demands on and off the field. Click to continue reading...

The US Soccer Federation changed the face of youth soccer in our country when they created the US Soccer Development Academy.
Many (including myself) will tell you that it has changed youth soccer in our country for the better, although there are still some critics, too.
3 FOUR 3 referenced the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Development Academy-
The Academy is a step in the right direction.

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It was announced today that the FCD Juniors, tied for first place in the Texas Division of both the U-16 and U-18 US Development Academy, will face English giants Chelsea FC as part of the blockbuster opening day tripleheader at Pizza Hut Park to open the Dallas Cup on March 28th. The matchup between FC Dallas and Chelsea will be the middle game of the tripleheader with the opening game featuring local power Dallas Texans also against Premier League opposition in Tottenham. Click to continue reading...

Jeremy Alumbaugh, Springfield SC

I spent some time with Jeremy Alumbaugh, Director of the Springfield SC for the past six years. For those who missed the earlier announcement, Alumbaugh is headed for Collinsville IL where he is now responsible for the St Louis Scott Gallagher Metro Academy U18 team. Click to continue reading...

Jeremy Alumbaugh, Springfield SC

I spent some time with Jeremy Alumbaugh, Director of the Springfield SC for the past six years. For those who missed the earlier announcement, Alumbaugh is headed for Collinsville IL where he is now responsible for the St Louis Scott Gallagher Metro Academy U18 team. Click to continue reading...

In 2007 U.S. Soccer began an initiative called "Development Academy," it was put in place to turn powerful youth clubs into advanced... Click to continue reading...

Korey Veeder (Clearwater Chargers) had a hectic time at the 2009 Development Academy Winter Showcase in Phoenix, but it paid off, as he recently signed a professional deal with Crystal Palace.
Veeder played in the featured Select Team match on Sunday evening of the Showcase, went straight to the airport from the field, and hopped on a flight to England. Click to continue reading...

This past weekend, Antiwan Rogers Jr. had the privilege of scoring the Development Academy's 2000th goal of this season. Playing for South Carolina United FC in the U-17/18 age group, Antiwan's late strike ensured a 2-0 win for his team against the Richmond Kickers.
Who's got the 3000th in them? Click to continue reading...

An End of Year, Cleaning out some files post

A bit of an older article by Fake Sigi illuminates some of the machinizations that occur beyond the pitch that surround clubs and stadiums.

Bill Archer's post, The End of the Beginning, is a good piece on the labors issues in MLS.

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U.S. Soccer has announced the finalists for the 2009 Best of U.S. Soccer awards and there's only one week left to vote for the 12 categories on USSoccer.com.

The eighth annual series gives fans the opportunity to make their selections for the best in soccer in the United States. The 12 categories recap a busy 2009 crammed full of action, which included FIFA World Cup qualifying, the FIFA Confederations Cup, Abby Wambach's 100th goal, another Development Academy Season and the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

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The U-16's Played Well in Phoenix
The Wizards Juniors had a solid showing at the Winter Showcase in Phoenix over the weekend. The U-16 team went 2-1 over the weekend, and the U-18 team played to three draws.
On Friday the U-16's defeated Seaside United 1-0 on a goal from Eric Moore in the 79th minute. Click to continue reading...

FC Milwaukee's teams in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy finished up strong at the Winter...
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FC Milwaukee's teams in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy return to action this weekend at the...
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Ever since I started following soccer closely, I've been intrigued by the varied opinions on how best to develop young talent. College or team academies? Better coaching. Everyone has their own ideas on the best methods. Fans of MLS, in particular, have been very vocal in their calls for academies like 'they have in Europe', as if something similar could be achieved with a snap of the fingers and be up and running in a year or two.

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The Wizards Junior U18 team played their first home game as part of the US Development Academy last Sunday. They were the second game of a double header against St. Louis Scott Gallagher. The U16's tied the first game.From the start of the match the Wizards U18's was the better team. St Louis had their chances but were not very dangerous. Click to continue reading...

The Wizards Junior U16 team played their first home game as part of the US Development Academy last Sunday. I missed most of the first half but from what I was told it seems like St Louis had the better of the play and was leading 1-0 at half. Brian Bement scored for St. Louis in the 39th minute.After half the Wizards started taking control of the match. Click to continue reading...

I haven't been able to blog since Sunday night, and I won't be able to come back here until Wednesday or maybe Thursday. I have too much going on at the moment. There are a couple of comments in various posts that I want to comment on, and I'll do so when I have more time. I WILL be here in time for the World Cup draw on Friday. Click to continue reading...

We're back from the Thanksgiving break (mmm gotta love that turkey!) and about to enter the month of December, holiday season. What went down over the break? A few things.
Jimmy Conrad posted his latest story at ESPN.com. This time, Jimmy wants to start a Linux-style debate about the future of MLS. Click to continue reading...

The annual Best of U.S. Soccer Awards is back again for the 8th year. This is where you, the U.S. Soccer fans, vote in 12 categories recapping a busy 2009 crammed full of action, which included FIFA World Cup qualifying, the FIFA Confederations Cup, Abby Wambach's 100th goal, another Development Academy Season and the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

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The Juniors will return to action Sunday with games against St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro at Kansas City's Swope Park Training Center. The U-16s from each club will face off at 10 a.m. CT, with the U-18 teams playing at 12 p.m. CT. The matches are open to the public free of charge. Feel free to come on out for either game or both games. Click to continue reading...

The 2009 Best of U.S. Soccer Awards will be decided entirely by online fan votes submitted over the next three weeks, and the winners will be announced shortly thereafter (vote now).

As with previous years, fans across the country were called on to nominate finalists for four of the twelve categories.

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The 2009 Best of U.S. Soccer Awards will be decided entirely by online fan votes submitted over the next three weeks, and the winners will be announced shortly thereafter (vote now).

As with previous years, fans across the country were called on to nominate finalists for four of the twelve categories.

Click to continue reading...

The KCW Juniors U-16 and U-18 teams will play their first-ever U.S. Soccer Development Academy matches over the weekend. Both teams face Texas Rush AJ Auxerre Saturday and Texas SC DTH Sunday in the suburbs outside of Houston, Texas. Kansas City Wizards ownership group OnGoal created the Juniors program in 2007 as part of the MLS youth development initiative. Click to continue reading...

A busy show as Brian Zygo brings us a locker room report from Robertson Stadium after Houston's 1-0 win over Seattle in the MLS Playoffs.

Aaron Davidson, the President of Miami FC joins us to answer questions about today's press release from the TOA declaring the intent to form a new professional league in the US and Canada.

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For those wanting to keep up with the potential future of the Kansas City Wizards, the Wizards Juniors U18 and U16 teams are getting ready to kick off their first season in the US Soccer Development Academy. The season runs from November to May. Both teams begin their season on the road down in Texas on the 21st of this month. Click to continue reading...

The U-18 and U-16 KCW Juniors teams are about to begin their existence in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. To follow the Juniors this season, visit the official page at www.kcwizards.com/kcwjuniors or the Juniors blog at www.kcwjuniors.blogspot.com. Both teams kick off DA play Saturday, November 21 at Texas Rush AJ Auxerre. Click to continue reading...

It's all gone pear shaped north of the border. And I mean, totally. Toronto FC is melting down. Montreal and Vancouver have been kicked out of USL. Bloggers are furiously trying to find the USL teams a home and curb stomp TFC management.
Richard Whittall has coped with the crisis by succumbing to complete, barking madness:

This might put me on the business end of a very detailed flaming post, but why doesn't MLS consider a radical move: a wholesale ideological change in direction away from purchasing "ready-made" talent, either overseas or within the league, and toward investment in superb managerial and coaching staff?

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Let me present a very simplistic formulation. Let's assume that in order for MLS to receive higher television revenues, it must draw in more supporters. Let it also be resolved that, for those fans to show up at MLS games and commit wholesale to the league, the quality of the on-pitch product must get better. Click to continue reading...

In the first ever Development Academy meeting between in-state rivals FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo, the Dynamo came out on top in a 3-2 seesaw battle. The first 20 minutes was a feeling out process between the two teams with neither side gaining a clear advantage. The chances were few and far between with the clearest one coming to Houston midway through the first half. Click to continue reading...

From US Soccer U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team head coach Mike Matkovich has called 36 players to a domestic training camp at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. from Oct. 6-13.

Matkovich's group includes 33 players who are currently part of U.S. Soccer's Development Academy, representing 23 different clubs.

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Youth development is often considered at the level of the US Soccer federation, but what progress has there been this year from MLS and its clubs?

It flew under the radar, but MLS' Board of Governors' decision in July to allow clubs to sign two "homegrown" players from their academies who would not count against the 24-man roster limit this year (though nor can they play in league matches) is starting to bear fruit (last year, a few clubs faced dilemmas over whether to sign an Academy player who might not be able to contribute to the first team, risking losing them abroad).

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With one former Boston College Eagle making a major impact on the US National Team, another seems poised to get his first senior team call up in the next several months.

Alejandro Bedoya is now playing regularly in Sweden with Orebro SK, in the critical attacking midfield role on the left side.

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Press Release Springfield Soccer Club Announces Changes to Administrative Structure

The Springfield Soccer Club is pleased to announce that beginning January 1, 2010 Eric Sorlie (pictured at left) will be assuming the roles and responsibilities of Director of Soccer Operations. Eric will be responsible for all day-to-day operations of the club both on and off the field.

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D.C. United Academy goalkeeper Bill Hamid signs with first team

Annandale product is first player to come up through club's youth system

Washington, D.C. (September 2, 2009) - D.C. United announced today the club has signed Academy goalkeeper Abdul "Bill" Hamid to a Generation adidas contract with the first team.

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