Thursday, August 6, 2009

Make The Move to the BRAND NEW YNT Blog at ussoccer.com

That's right ... this will be our last post in this here YNT Blog, as the brand new ussoccer.com launched this afternoon. You can still find archived blog entries here, that highlight everything from the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup through the launching of the Development Academy and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, not to mention silver and gold medal efforts at the FIFA U-17 WWC and FIFA U-20 WWC, respectively.

We hope we'll see you on the new site, because we really do love your comments, criticisms and support. So go ahead, check it out ... really, it's okay:

http://www.ussoccer.com/Social/YNT-Blog.aspx

We'll see you on the flip side.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Today's Equalizer

In case you missed the game online, the U.S. U-18 MNT drew 1-1 against Germany this evening at the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland. Here is Ryan Finley's late equalizer:

Watch the U-18 MNT LIVE Against Germany!

BBC has confirmed that it will be streaming games from the Northern Ireland Milk Cup LIVE on its website. In what sounds like a pretty cool program called BBC Blast, young camera operators, directors and producers will be given the opportunity to hone their skills by doing a live event - in this case, Milk Cup games - much to the benefit of the rest of us who want to watch.

To watch the game, which starts at 2:45 pm ET (7:45 pm in Northern Ireland), click here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/11_16/blastni/media_sub_milkcup.shtml

It is currently the only match involving the U.S. team that is scheduled for webcast, so be sure to tune in!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Coming Full Circle

With their championship game win Thursday night, U-17/18 Carmel United SC completed a journey that started last November. Barely three weeks into the season, we decided to follow the team for one day of the Winter Showcase.

So take a look back at a team that had a goal in sight that was several months away and was still preparing for those early season games with the same mindset they've shown all week in Los Angeles.

Championship Game Highlights

Can be found in today's new Studio 90!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Derby County Completes Finals Week as U-15/16 Champions

In the final match of DA Finals Week, the Derby County Wolves defeated Cal Odyssey 1-0 at The Home Depot Center to become U-15/16 national champions. With a goal from Dzenan Catic in the 6th minute, the Wolves complete the postseason in the same way they entered it: as the No. 1 ranked team.
For the complete match story, check here. We'll have highlights up tomorrow, but for now, check out our video player for highlights from days 4 and 5 of Finals Week.


As for the other placement matches today, here's how things shook out:

7th place: New York Red Bulls vs. Greensboro Youth Soccer: 3-1

5th place: FC Dallas vs. Washington Premier FC: 3-4

3rd place: Chicago Magic AS Monaco vs. PDA: 2-1

Once again, congratulations to the Derby County Wolves, and we'll see you tomorrow as we wrap up the 2008-09 Development Academy season!

Time For The Younger Generation

After watching the older age group get to play their placement matches all day yesterday, it's time for the U-15/16 clubs to get their time to shine.

Today's list of placement matches:

7th place: Greensboro Youth Soccer vs. New York Red Bulls&mdash:1 pm PT
5th place: FC Dallas vs. Washington Premier FC—3 pm PT
3rd place: Chicago Magic AS Monaco vs. PDA—5 pm PT

Championship Match: Derby County Wolves vs. Cal Odyssey—7 pm PT, broadcast on ESPN Classic and espn360.com




Some interesting notes:
—Cal Odyssey is on a seven-game unbeaten streak, during which they’ve only allowed three goals while scoring 17.

—Cal Odyssey’s 1-1 draw against Washington Premier was the first goal they conceded in all of finals week.

—FC Dallas' Bryan Leyva leads scorers in his age group as the only person to tally four goals through three games.

—There have been eight shutouts in twelve U-15/16 games so far during Finals Week, with three coming on Monday afternoon.

For more information on today's matchups as well as recaps of yesterday's U-17/18 placement matches, click here!

Paying Dividends

Hopefully, you'll all remember what Nike SPARQ testing is. Standing for Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction and Quickness, the battery of tests that Academy players underwent at the Winter Showcase and then again in the Spring Showcase help to measure each individual athlete's overall athletic ability. They can then train for specific weaknesses, helping to improve their ability over time.

Well, after last night's U-17/18 Development Academy championship game, we found out that Nikita Kotlov, the winning goal scorer for Carmel United, had the fastest 20-meter sprint time at the Spring Showcase. He also had the third highest overall SPARQ rating. So it would seem the training and testing works! Don't quite believe us yet?

Maybe it'd convince you if we told you that the Derby County Wolves, one of the teams playing in today's U-15/16 championship match, has the highest team speed in the Academy according to SPARQ testing. This means that after every player's 20-meter sprint time was taken, the team as a whole possesses the fastest average speed among players.

So in the heat of these summer months, if you're not one of the lucky few to still be playing in Finals Week, keep working hard. It will pay off!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

The End Of The Road

From 74 teams down to 32, then 8, and now 2, the final day of the U-17/18 Development Academy finished today with four placement matches among all eight teams of Finals Week. The results are as follows:

7th place match: CASL Chelsea FC Academy vs. Dallas Texans—1-0

5th place match: PDA vs. FC Greater Boston—3-2

3rd place match: Real Colorado vs IMG Soccer Academy—0-1

Championship match: Carmel United SC vs D.C. United—1-0, congratulations to Carmel United SC for their second Development Academy title in a row!



Check back here tomorrow for highlights from today's placement matches, as well as interviews from players and coaches in the championship game!

Development Academy in the News

We're not the only ones writing about Finals Week; around the country several papers have been covering their local teams and players throughout the week. Here are a few links to get you started:

From Tacoma, Wash.—The News Tribune

From Fresno, Calif.—The Fresno Bee

Indianapolis, Ind.—The Indianapolis Star

Nashua, N.H.—The Nashua Telegraph

Detroit, Michigam—Detroit Free Press

Raleigh-Durham, N.C.&mdash:The News and Observer

If any of you coaches, players, parents and fans catch something in your own paper about the Academy or Finals Week, let us know!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

2009-09 Development Academy Award Winners

Over the past two days of games, the U.S. Development Academy has announced the Coach and Player of the Year honorees for both age groups. The awards were voted on by Development Academy clubs and U.S. Soccer National Staff coaches and technical advisors.

Derby County Wolves U-15/16 head coach Lars Richters and FC Dallas Juniors U-17/18 head coach Oscar Pareja have been named Coaches of the Year for the 2008-09 season. Coach Richters has led his U-15/16 Derby County Wolves to a berth in the championship match, while Pareja led his FC Dallas club to a 15-5-8 regular season record and second place in their conference.

As for the Development Academy Player of the Year awards, FC Dallas Juniors forward Ruben Luna has been named U-15/16 Player of the Year, while Gatorade Boys Soccer Player of the Year winner and Andromeda midfielder Dillon Powers has added to his award-winning season with Development Academy Player of the Year honors for the U-17/18 age group. Powers recently returned from a trip to Egypt with the U-20 Men’s National Team, where he helped the team earn a win and a draw against the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup hosts.


Congratulations to all four award recipients on a great 2008-09 season!

Day Six Match Reports


The final day of U-15/16 Development Academy Finals Week group play has concluded!

With group 1 already claimed by the Derby County Wolves, Chicago Magic AS Monaco, FC Dallas and and the New York Red Bulls fought it out for the third, fifth, and seventh place games. The scores and resulting table positions:

Derby County Wolves vs. New York Red Bulls: 0-2, Derby County remains on top of the group and New York stays in 4th place.

Chicago Magic AS Monaco vs. FC Dallas: 2-2, Chicago Magic AS Monaco finishes 2nd in the group, while FC Dallas finishes third.



Group 2 results:

Cal Odyssey vs. Washington Premier FC: 1-1Cal Odyssey has won group 2 and will play the Derby County Wolves in the U-15/16 championship match!

PDA vs. Greensboro Youth Soccer: 2-0—PDA finishes second in the group now, and will play in the third place match.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Placement Matches For U-17/18s

Group 2

CASL Chelsea FC Academy vs. Real Colorado: 2-0

PDA vs. D.C. United: 1-5

D.C. United and Carmel United SC will meet for the U-17/18 Development Academy national championship!


Group 1


Dallas Texans vs. FC Greater Boston—2-4

Carmel United SC vs IMG Soccer Academy—3-3

To see how the rest of the teams shook out, check here.

The third place match will see IMG Soccer Academy and Real Colorado face off, while the fifth place game will be a battle between FC Greater Boston and PDA. Rounding out the U-17/18s will be a fixture for seventh place between the Dallas Texans and CASL Chelsea Chelsea FC Academy.


Click on the scores for full match reports and check back with the YNT blog later today for photos and highlights from matchday 3 for the U-17/18s!

New Studio 90!

With highlights!

LA On The Small Screen

While waiting for departure to The HDC today, a few U-15/16 FC Dallas players were in the lobby and the YNT blog decided to ask about their favorite TV shows that have taken place in LA and the surrounding So Cal area.

Reality TV shows peppered the conversation, with The Hills and Cribs being mentioned, alongside dramas 24 and The O.C.


Someone got a little mocked for liking Keeping Up With the Kardashians (we won't say who to protect the guilty party), but the awkward silence after we asked about Saved By The Bell quickly turned the laughter on us. We didn't get it until we remembered that the show's last episodes aired when these guys were still infants.

It's never a good morning to realize you're old, but thanks for the reminder, boys!

Individual Game Highlights

For those of you who can't be in LA with us ('tis a shame, because the weather truly is beautiful, and we do wish you were here) or missed the broadcast of a specific game, we're going to be posting individual game highlights on YouTube over the next few days. First up are Day 1 U-17/18 games:

Texans vs. IMG Academy


CASL vs D.C. United


FC Greater Boston vs Carmel United SC


Real Colorado vs PDA


Enjoy!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Derby County Wolves Clinch Group 1

With a 1-0 victory against the Chicago Magic AS Monaco this afternoon, the U-15/16 Derby County Wolves have clinched group 1 of Finals Week and a spot in the U-15/16 First Place Placement Match--simply put, they're in the title game!

The other afternoon match that helped them clinch it was a 3-0 win for FC Dallas against the New York Red Bulls.

It is still possible for either FC Dallas or the Chicago Magic to end up with six points, which would tie Derby County if they lose in their third game, but the first tiebreaker is head-to-head match-up. Because Derby County has beaten both of those teams already, they're through.

As for the rest of the day's results, Washington Premier FC beat Greensboro Youth Soccer 2-1 and Cal Odyssey defeated PDA 1-0.

And just to round out the day, here's a new episode of Studio 90!

Day Four Reading Material

While action is already underway in the first game of the day (U-15/16 NY Red Bulls vs. FC Dallas), take a few minutes to read today's notes.

You might also want to see who made the D.A. Starting XI.

Other U-15/16 matches today include:

Chicago Magic AS Monago vs Derby County Wolves in a battle for first place in the group; both teams enter the match with hefty undefeated streaks. Kickoff is slated for 4 pm PT.

Last but not least, Greensboro Youth Soccer will face off against Washington Premier FC at 6 pm PT, while PDA and Cal Odyssey close out the day at 7 pm PT.

As always, we'll be back later this evening with scores and match reports!

A Look at the Players Lounge

The Players' Lounge at Academy Finals Week is more popular than ever as it's located, conveniently, right in the teams' hotel. Before and after meals especially, you can always find a line for EA Sports FIFA 2009 games, the fussball table and computers. When players return from their games, you will surely find a crowded Gatorade bar. Take a look...


Players hanging out at the tables in the lounge


D.C. United players take their turn on FIFA '09



The Dallas Texans controlling the fussball table



Highlights from the day before are looped on a giant projected screen so players can check themselves out


World Championships!

As much as we might like to think US Soccer's Development Academy is the biggest draw in town, in a place like LA, we know that sometimes that's just not the case.

But little did we know that this week, we'd really be facing a true competitor. A competition attracting the biggest and the brightest from around the world. A competition...of performing arts.

In our fantastic hotel this week are performers from around the world, competing in the World Championships of the Performing Arts. According to everyone's favorite encyclopedia, the WCOPA is:

"An 'Olympics-style' competition in which singers compete against other singers, dance groups compete against other dance groups, actors against other actors. Industry heavy-weights, talent agents, record execs and television producers judge the talent to determine who moves onto the finals. Once at the finals, a champion is selected by 16 celebrity judges from among the top 3-4 performers in each category and both age groups. Of the eight category winners, a Junior and Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World is selected."

No word yet on a jazz hands event.

We've seen teams from Sweden, Ireland, Canada, South Africa, Jamaica, Moldova, and there could be a few others we haven't caught. So to those from overseas, (especially South Africa, who just hosted the MNT team so kindly)...welcome!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Day 2 Highlights

All the best action from yesterday's games can now be found on the ussoccer.com video player.

Scores are also in from today's group 1 games: IMG Soccer Academy defeated FC Greater Boston 2-1, while Carmel United SC stayed perfect with a 1-0 victory against the Dallas Texans.

In the later games, Real Colorado defeated D.C. United 1-0 and PDA won 3-1 against CASL Chelsea Academy FC.

Full match reports can be found here!

Today's Schedule

Movie hotels aside, we can't forget the real reason we're all here. With that in mind, here's who's playing today in the U-17/18 age group:

IMG Soccer Academy vs. FC Greater Boston at 3 pm PT
Carmel United SC vs Dallas Texans at 4 pm PT
D.C. United vs Real Colorado at 6 pm PT
PDA vs CASL Chelsea FC at 7 pm PT

Get a full recap of yesterday's action while games are underway, and as always, check back here later tonight for highlights and match reports.

"Hi, I'm the Westin Bonaventure...

You may remember me from such films as True Lies, starring (Governor and USA 2018/2022 Board of Directors member!) Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis."


One of the cooler aspects of staying in Los Angeles is the obvious Hollywood connection. It's not hard to throw a stone in any direction here and hit something that was used in a movie, and this landmark hotel has filled up many a big screen—This is Spinal Tap, In the Line of Fire, Nick of Time, Rain Man and Heat, to name a few. For those of you more a fan of the interactive small screen, pick up a copy of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and find a hotel called the Atrium. That's it too!

(Unfortunately, you'll have to fill it with 16 soccer teams, scouts, and other US Soccer staff to get the full experience)

The most unique twist in this hotel is the elevators; four of them on the outsides of the building have little lights in them (red, blue, yellow, green) and are glass-walled—so you can see all around downtown LA while taking the ride to your room. Truth be told, they seem a bit small to fit a motorcycle or a horse in them, but that's movie magic for ya!

Superclasico!

One of the bonuses of playing at the Home Depot Center is the fact that it's the home of both the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA. With Finals Week going on for, well, a week, the odds were always pretty good that we'd be there for one of their games.


Turns out tonight we were there for both of their games! Chivas USA hosted the second leg of this season's Los Angeles derby, but fell to the "visitors" 1-0. Edson Buddle scored for the Galaxy in the 30th minute, extending LA's winning streak to three games.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Day 2 Kicking Off...Now!

Wrapping up yesterday's games, check out today's new Studio 90 for a preview of tonight's MNT game against Haiti, an interview with former FC Greater Boston player Charlie Davies, and highlights from the first day of action at The Home Depot Center.

You can look at photo galleries of each game to find your favorite players, and remember all of yesterday's games will be streamed today in their entirety here.

The schedule for today's games in the U-15/16 age group:

Washington Premier FC vs. PDA at 3 pm PT 0-1
Cal Odyssey vs. Greensboro Youth Soccer at 4 pm PT 1-0
New York Red Bulls vs Chicago Magic AS Monaco at 6 pm PT 1-4
Derby County Wolves vs FC Dallas at 7 pm PT 3-1

Read up on the eight finalists before results start coming in!

Check back throughout the evening for score updates as matches finish, and kill the time in-between by watching the U.S. Men's National Team as they take on Haiti in Foxborough, Mass. in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup at 7 pm ET, live on FSC and TeleFutura. Stuck at the computer? Follow the game on the here! Have to leave your computer and your TV? We've still got you covered.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy an oh-so-alliterative summer soccer Saturday!

Reporting on the Day



Day 1 Results and Reports:




PDA-Real Colorado- 2:2

D.C. United-CASL Chelsea FC Academy: 3-1

Carmel United SC-FC Greater Boston: 1-0

Dallas Texans-IMG Soccer Academy: 1-1

Friday, July 10, 2009

UPDATED-Day 1 Scores

Real Colorado scored a late goal to earn a draw against PDA in the first match of Finals Week, while on field two D.C. United scored a goal in the first minute and ran with it on the way to a 3-1 victory against CASL Chelsea FC Academy.

The evening's matches saw Carmel United SC score an early goal that stood up for a 1-0 victory against FC Greater Boston, and the Dallas Texans managed to draw IMG Soccer Academy 1-1 despite playing a man down for the final 22 minutes.

We'll have full match reports later tonight, along with photos and highlights. For those of you on the east coast, you can look forward to waking up tomorrow with a full day of soccer to enjoy—catch up on tonight's games right here, follow the MNT as they play Haiti in the CONCACAF Gold Cup at 7 pm ET here, and come right back to the Blog to find out Day 2's results!


There might be better ways to spend a Saturday, but we certainly can't think of any...

New Studio 90!

Right here!

We're off to watch the first match of Finals Week kick off as U-15/16 teams PDA and Real Colorado face off, followed quickly after by CASL Chelsea FC Academy and D.C. United meeting at 4 pm PT.

Check back throughout the evening for match reports, photos and highlights!

Let The Games Begin!

The U-17/18 age group gets Finals Week started today with four games this afternoon:

3 pm-PDA v. Real Colorado
4 pm-CASL Chelsea FC Academy v. D.C. United
6 pm-FC Greater Boston v. Carmel United SC
7 pm-Dallas Texans v. IMG Soccer Academy

We'll have match reports up shortly after each game, but for those of you looking to watch the games, you can find them online here. Today's games will be streamed tomorrow, July 11 at these times:

2 pm-PDA v. Real Colorado
4 pm-CASL Chelsea FC Academy v. D.C. United
6 pm-FC Greater Boston v. Carmel United SC
8 pm-Dallas Texans v. IMG Soccer Academy

Finally, kill the last few hours until kick off by reading up on some of the stars of the entire Development Academy season with the U-15/16 and U-17/18 Conference Starting XI rosters!

The Final Countdown


After a brief week and a half off, the D.A. is back for the final event of the year—Finals Week!

Eight teams from each age group remain after the entire season, and they'll face each other in two round-robin groups over the next week to determine a national champion. For a full explanation of the postseason process that got us here, check this out.

Along the way, the Development Academy will give an education to the players the likes of which they've most likely never seen. Nutrition experts will have tips on what top athletes need to eat to perform at their best, while media staff will teach them a bit about handling press coverage as they go on in their soccer careers.

We'll be in Los Angeles all week long giving you results, top performances, and highlights as the top 16 teams in the country compete at the Home Depot Center. Games kick off tomorrow at 3 pm PT for the U-17/18 age group, so go ahead and find out a little about each team before the games begin!


Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Final Day of D.A. Highlights

Enjoy them, they'll have to last you until Finals Week July 10-17. For another look at days one and two, check out U.S. Soccer's YouTube page



Any nominees for goal of the weekend?

Getting Back On Your Feet

Whether you've just finished giving your all during D.A. Playoffs in an attempt to get your team into Finals Week, or you're a parent just starting to work out again to be a little healthier, ussoccer.com has got a great feature for you today.

Loyal readers of the MNT blog might recognize the word "regeneration". It's often used in posts the day after a national team game to describe what some of the players will be doing instead of training for the day. While everyone would agree that rest is needed the day after a game, some people might not know that there's more you can do besides laying down all day to get your body back up to 100 percent.

Our video crew talked to U.S. Soccer technical advisors to learn more about the best exercises athletes can do to rehabilitate their tired muscles in the hours after a match. Take a look and figure out what you can do on your own, and let us know how you feel the next time you leave it all on the pitch!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Moving On



Congratulations to the sixteen teams that have advanced to Finals Week! After an exciting final matchday, the eight teams booking their flights to Carson, Calif. from each age group are as follows:

U-15/16 age group: Derby County Wolves, New York Red Bulls, Chicago Magic AS Monaco, FC Dallas, Cal Odyssey, Washington Premier FC, PDA and Greensboro Youth Soccer.

U-17/18 age group: Dallas Texans, FC Greater Boston, Carmel United SC, IMG Soccer Academy, CASL Chelsea FC Academy, Real Colorado, PDA and D.C. United.





Come back later this evening for plenty more pictures and video from the conclusion of this weekend, and begin packing your bags for California—Finals Week starts in ten days!

U-20 MNT Draws With Egypt

The U-20 MNT rounded out its foreign training camp with a 1-1 draw against Egypt. Tony Taylor, who assisted Mikkel Diskerud's game-winning goal in Saturday's 1-0 win, notched the equalizer on Monday when he converted a 52nd minute penalty kick.

The U-20s will return to their respective clubs/colleges/hometowns tomorrow with a better sense of what to expect when they return for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, scheduled for Sept. 14-Oct. 16 in Egypt.

Updated Finals Week Scenarios


Check this page out for winners and advancement scenarios that will be updated throughout the day. As of right now, congratulations to U-15/16 teams Chicago Magic AS Monaco and Washington Premier FC, as well as U-17/18 teams Dallas Texans, PDA and D.C. United for winning their groups and clinching a spot in 2009 Finals Week!


We'll also be tweeting about teams that advance as results come in, so if you can't stay near a computer, follow us on your phone @ussoccer.

10 a.m. games have just kicked off the second half, we'll be back around lunchtime with those results!

U-20 MNT Tops Egypt in Alexandria

Apologies for interrupting the Academy Playoff coverage here on the YNT Blog, but we wanted to make sure you saw that the U-20 MNT continued its impressive 2009 with a 1-0 win against Egypt in Alexandria, one of six venues for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will be held from Sept. 24-Oct. 16.

Thomas Rongen and his team are in the midst of an eight-day tour of Egypt that includes one more friendly against their hosts on Monday evening. The team is also getting accustomed to the climate, weather and atmosphere of the FIFA U-20 World Cup which will take place from Sept. 24-Oct 16.

Mikkel Diskerud started the play that led to a goal by taking a restart to Tony Taylor. Jacksonville University's Taylor slipped the ball back to the Stabak midfilder and he was in alone on goal, finishing low past Mohamed Abou Gabal for the game's only goal.

Top-choice goalkeeper Brian Perk was called on to make eight saves in the match and has allowed only one goal this year in six international games. The lone goal allowed came in a 2-1 U.S. victory against CONCACAF Champion Costa Rica in Sarasota, Fla.

Check out the full match report here.

Culling The Herd

The final day of 2009 Development Academy Playoffs has begun, and there are still plenty of teams with a shot at joining Real Colorado's U17/18 squad in Finals Week. Here are the games where it's quite simple to figure out who advances on to California—it's winner take all.

U17/18 Age Group:
Albertson SC vs PDA (Alberston SC advances with a draw)
CASL Chelsea FC Academy vs Arsenal FC (CASL Chelsea FC advances with a draw)

U15/16s:
FC Dallas vs South Charlotte SA (FC Dallas advances with a draw)
Derby County Wolves vs Columbus Crew (Derby County advances with a draw)
New York Red Bulls vs Chicago Fire (New York Red Bull advances with a draw)
FC Delco vs Cal Odyssey (Cal Odyssey advances with a draw)
Greensboro Youth Soccer vs Crossfire Premier (Crossfire Premier advances with a draw)

As for other groups, teams are still too close to know who will advance , as it will most likely hinge on not just who wins, but how many goals are scored as well. Follow along with us today as we let you know who's gone through to Finals Week as results come in!

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Two Teams Clinch Advancement to Finals Week

After two consecutive days of matches and in accordance to U.S. Soccer’s Best Practices, Academy Playoff participants have been resting today and return to the field on Monday for their final match. U17/18 teams Real Colorado and Carmel United SC from Indiana have won their groups with two games played so far in this weekend of DA Playoffs. We'll have clinching scenarios for you before games kickoff tomorrow so you can follow along as results come in, but there are quite a few groups that are still open for any team to win. It's sure to be a very busy Monday, so in the meantime catch up on Saturday's top ten goals. Or look to see if your team has a photo gallery from their match on ussoccer.com!

Saturday ended with a U.S. Under-17 MNT intra-squad scrimmage as the team continues preparations for the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup to be held from Oct. 24 to Nov. 15 in Nigeria. The 30-player roster split into two squads, with U.S. U-17 MNT Red defeating U.S. U-17 MNT Blue 2-0 on goals from Carlos Martinez and Victor Chavez. We'll have highlights up from that game soon.

Finally, the YNT blog would be remiss in not congratulating the U.S. Men's National Team on their second-place finish in the 2009 Confederations Cup. To read about today's final against Brazil, head next door to the MNT blog, and thanks to all the players at the DA this weekend who supported the U.S.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Technical Support

As some of you have noticed, we're providing streaming coverage of some games this weekend through the D.A. page on ussoccer.com. But some of you have also noticed it wasn't working! With that in mind, we ask that you try it now--but be sure to install any and all plugins it may ask you to install. After the first time, it'll begin streaming immediately.

Here's the schedule of upcoming games that will be shown:

Saturday June 27
8 pm-U17/18 PDA vs Columbus Crew
10 pm-U15/16 LAFC Chelsea vs Texas SC

Sunday June 28
8 am-U17/18 Dallas Texans vs Derby County Wolves
10 am-U15/16 BW Gottschee vs Derby County Wolves
12 pm-U17/18 Miami FC Kendall vs CASL Chelsea Academy
2 pm-U15/16 PDA vs Sockers FC
4 pm-U17/18 Clearwater Chargers vs Carmel United SC
6 pm-U15/16 Texas SC vs Chicago Magic AS Monaco
8 pm-U17/18 Columbus Crew vs Albertson SC
10 pm-U15/16 FC Delco vs Arsenal FC

Enjoy!

Top Ten Goals From Day One

You want 'em? We got 'em. (But only if you promise to cheer on the MNT tomorrow in the Confed Cup final!)

The Next Generation Speaks

You may have heard there's a game tomorrow. It's kind of a big one. In light of this notable occasion, we felt the need to ask the next generation of players what they think about the current Men's National Team that is PLAYING IN THE 2009 FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP FINAL AGAINST BRAZIL ON SUNDAY, JUNE 27 AT 2:30 PM ET, BROADCAST ON ESPN! (Sorry, the YNT blog couldn't hold in the excitement any longer)

Anyway, here's what they had to say about the U.S. MNT's upset of Spain in the semifinals last Wednesday:


Think any of these guys will one day see D.A. players talking about their performance in a FIFA tournament semifinal?

Drink It Up!

With temperatures soaring and a full, glaring sun beating down on the fields, dehydration has been the one constant challenge for teams to overcome this weekend. Obviously wanting to play as hard as possible to ensure advancement onto Finals Week takes a toll on the body, but it's important to take care of yourself to enable your body to recover as fast as possible. Luckily for us, here come the referees!


Focusing on the rules regarding in-game hyrdation (parents, pay particular attention!), this week's Referee Week in Review clip shows that even on the professional level, heat can take a toll. Take a look!

Day 1 Gets Booked

With the sound of thunder and rain on the athletes' lounge, it seemed like the soccer Gods were telling us to call it a day. There were 32 games today, and as you'd expect with that many matches, upsets were bound to happen. These pictures come from the Cal Odyssey-Arsenal FC matchup in the U-15/16 age group, where Cal (seeded 31st) defeated Arsenal FC (a #2 seed) 3-0 thanks to two goals from Jose Segura and one by Gregory Antognoli.


But because this is not March Madness, Arsenal is certainly nowhere near out of the running. If U.S. Soccer has learned anything recently, it's that you can never count yourself out.

Most results from day one can be found here (U15/16 and U17/18), while this (U15/16 and U17/18) will show you the standings for each group so you can follow your favorite team from home.

For more news and official updates on the weekend, be sure to read more here and check out the 2009 Development Academy Homepage.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Just 15 More Minutes!

With day one of D.A. Playoffs about to conclude, we've had some unfortunate weather. Luckily it doesn't look too severe, so we should be able to finish up the active games. (Of course, just as we said that, it began pouring twice as hard).

Before...



And after...

Ouch

So that's why there were so many spots open right next to the fields...

U-17 MNT Training Photos



Along with 64 teams from the D.A., the U-17 Men's National Team is also in Greensboro, N.C. for the week to wrap up the last half of a camp that started last week in N.J. Head coach Wilmer Cabrera has brought 30 players along for the trip, four of whom are not part of the residency program in Florida but were invited after playing the U-17s as part of two Academy Select squads at the Spring Showcase. The team is continuing to stay sharp in their preparations for the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, slated to be held in Nigeria from October 24-November 15.

Getting the Ball Rolling

Games are offically underway at the 2009 Development Academy Playoffs as each team looks forward to their first match in round-robin play.




Welcoming the aspiring finalists to the Athletes' Lounge are banners displaying their team's group and seed, as well as a place for the group winners.

And welcoming the athletes inside the lounge itself is the Gatorade Bar! With the temperatures reaching 90 degrees fahrenheit in sunny and humid Greensboro, it's important that players, coaches and spectators stay well hydrated. Drink up!

2009 Development Academy Playoffs Begin

After a full second season of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, 32 clubs in each age group have earned the right to play in Greensboro, N.C. for the first annual D.A. Playoffs. Teams have been separated into eight groups of four, with the group winners advancing to Finals Week in Los Angeles next month. Check out which clubs made the cut, and stay tuned to the YNT blog all weekend as we bring you updates on the matches. This is it for 64 teams from around the country—the culmination of an entire season's work. The door to L.A. is open, but only for a few days. Will your team seize the opportunity to play for a national championship?

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Busy is an Understatement

There is a LOT of YNT action happening this week, so let's get caught up ...

  • The U-20 MNT has arrived in Cairo, where they are preparing for two friendlies against U-20 World Cup host Egypt on Saturday (June 27) and Monday (June 29) before returning on the 30th. If you need a refresher, you can click here for Thomas Rongen's roster. Check back for updates of some sightseeing and adventures as the team gets accustomed to its surroundings.
  • Meanwhile, the U-17 MNT is also continuing World Cup preparations and are in their second-consecutive week of training camp. Last week, 40 players trained in Zarephath, N.J. - home of Development Academy club PDA. This week, 30 players are training at the site of DA Playoffs in Greensboro, N.C. They will play four scrimmages throughout the week against local club sides and a college all-star team. We will have much more from Bryan Park as the week goes on, but in the mean time, you can check out Wilmer Cabrera's squad by clicking here.
  • Since the U-17s (and U-15s) left last weekend, the U-14 Boy's National Developmental Program has taken over the PDA training grounds as head coach Manny Schellscheidt has brought in 36 players for the final U-14 event for players born in 1995. In existence since 1997, the U.S. Under-14 National Team program is a major reason for the increasing quantity and quality of young players vying for spots in the U.S. Youth National Teams program. If you want to meet potential future YNT stars, you can click here for a full list of Schellscheidt's players. The team will be training each morning and scrimmaging local club and ODP teams in the afternoons throughout the week.

And as a reminder, Development Academy Playoffs are also kicking off this Friday, June 26 - Be sure to stay tuned to the YNT Blog for updates and Finals Weeks Scenarios as we come to you live from Bryan Park in Greensboro.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Milk Cup Draw Finalized

Though it's still seven weeks away, the draw for the annual Northern Ireland Milk Cup is set. The U-18 MNT will take on Denmark on Monday, July 27 and Sudan on Wednesday, July 29. The games will take place after the famous parade that travels through the town of Coleraine on July 26.

Israel, Bulgaria and Northern Ireland (of course) will also be participating in the Elite Division of the prestigious tournament, said to be one of the favorites of YNT veterans. Stay tuned to ussoccer.com for the USA's roster in the coming weeks.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

SPARQ Scores Are In

We told you about the SPARQ (Strength, Power, Agility, Reaction and Quickness) testing happening down at the Development Academy Spring Showcase over Memorial Day weekend, and the results are in.

ESPN Rise has published the best scores from the weekend, which was higlighted by 14-year-old Caleb Richardson from the U-15/16 Dallas Texans. He turned in the best overall score on the weekend - across BOTH age groups - including the top score in the vertical jump and the sixth-best score in the 20-yard sprint.

For a comprehensive look at all of the SPARQ scores, you can click here.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Congrats to the National Gatorade Player of the Year Dillon Powers!

The Gatorade Company, in parternship with ESPN Rise has announced U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team midfielder Dillon Powers as the 2008-09 Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Powers, who plays for Andromeda SC of the Development Academy, recently returned from the Lisbon International Tournament in Portugal, where he appeared in all three U.S. games to help the team to a 1-1-1 record. Powers was also part of the U-18 MNT that finished first at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in January.

Powers joins Lee Nguyen and Nick Garcia as the only other high school boys soccer players from the state of Texas to earn Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year honors.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Powers as the nation’s best high school boys soccer player.

Powers is not only a standout on the field, but he also holds an A average, has served as a member of the Student Council at Plano High and has completed multiple community-service initiatives in association with the National Honor Society, including peer tutoring. He has also volunteered on behalf of his local church youth group... Powers is a busy senior!

A national advisory board comprised of sportswriters and sport-specific experts from around the country helped select Powers from more than 383,000 high school boys soccer players nationwide. Powers is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year Award, to be presented at a special afternoon ceremony prior to The ESPY Awards in July.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

By the Numbers


We've reached the tail end of the 2009 Development Academy Spring Showcase, and we figured you'd be interested to find out the details of what goes into a weekend like this.

So, for your consideration:

-Over 23,000 bottles of Gatorade were given to players through the Gatorade Bar

-20,000 pounds of ice were used

-8,100 gallons of fluids (water and Gatorade) consumed by teams on the fields

-Approximately 4,000 spectators total for all four Showcase games this weekend

-2,200 Academy players

-342 goals scored in the U17/18 division

-300 goals scored in the U15/16 division

-218 games played, 222 counting the YNT Showcase Matches

-162 soccer balls used

-150 officials

-23 balls retrieved from a canal that bordered one field

-4 games by Youth National Teams

-1 impromptu coaching lecture given by U-20 MNT head coach Thomas Rongen

Thanks for following throughout the weekend, we'll be back in force June 26-29 for Development Academy Playoffs!

Until then, follow all the U.S. Youth National Teams here for news and updates.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Memorial Day Wrap-Up

Full U-20 game recap!

That's it for tonight folks, we'll be back bright and early tomorrow for the last day of the 2009 DA Spring Showcase.

The Next Generation

The folks at U.S. Soccer sometimes like to refer to themselves as one big family, and it's easy to see why on weekends such as an Academy Showcase. But sometimes it's truer than you'd think.

This here is Trevor Mulqueen. He's the son of U.S. MNT U-20 goalkeeping coach Tim Mulqueen and one of the smallest members of the coaching staff. But he is a member of the staff. Helping his dad warm-up the keepers has been one of his daily tasks throughout this past weekend, but we're betting that's not why the team loves him. To quote the man himself, "My favorite part of helping them out is climbing over the boards to get the balls that miss the goal."

Now that folks, is a Most Valuable Player.




*Trivia Time*
Knowing what you've just read about Trevor and his family, take a closer look at his jersey. Any guess as to what name is on the back? Hint 1: Trevor receieved it as a gift to wear this coming Saturday. Hint 2: Trevor's father used to coach him...