Category: Youth Soccer Reporter

Schwan’s USA Cup showcased more than 1,000 teams from 22 countries and the United States. Among the dominant teams were the U-19 boys from Sweden’s Swedish club Rudbeckianska, the U-16 Oakville Gunners and KFUM-S in the Puma vElite Group and a trio of Brazilian boys champions. For all the results of the finals of the weekend competition and week cup flights …

Girls play at the The Score Showcase at Greensboro concluded Tuesday. Champions were crowned in four age groups. For the results of all the finals …

Plays begins Wednesday morning in the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships at the Burns Park Soccer Complex in North Little Rock, Ark. For all the finalists and complete schedules …

[COACHING SPOTLIGHT] Tab Ramos, one of the most decorated players in U.S. soccer history, makes his debut at the National Championships as the head coach of the U-14 NJSA Gunners boys team.

[PLAYER OF THE WEEK] James Rogers, one of the youngest players in the tournament, scored seven goals and helped Real Salt Lake win the SUM U-17 Cup, the second annual youth competition for MLS teams.

[INTERVIEW] The 2008 Olympics will mark U.S. Soccer goalkeeper coach Tim Mulqueen‘s fourth world championship, following last year’s U-20 World Cup and two U-17 World Cups. Mulqueen, perhaps best known for training Tim Howard from age 12 through the pros, also coached keepers such as Tony Meola during MLS stints with the MetroStars and Kansas City. Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla spoke with Mulqueen about coaching America’s young keepers, how to spot great keepers at an early age, and when youngsters should specialize at the position.

The Kansas City Wizards Juniors have attracted many of the top of Kansas City’s players for the MLS club’s academy program. One of the area’s top rising seniors is Christian Duke. Soccer America profiles him in the first of a series on rising stars in MLS youth programs.

Eight U.S. Youth Soccer National Directors Cup champions were crowned Sunday in games played at the Kirkwood (Del.) Soccer Complex. The Directors Cup provides teams a national tournament experience at an elite level, for teams not typically given the opportunity.

Regional champions have been crowned in U.S. Club Soccer’s National Cup VII competition. The finals will begin Saturday in Virginia Beach, Va.

Welcome to the second edition of the Youth Soccer Reporter, Soccer America’s newest e-newsletter covering competitive youth soccer each week. The Youth Soccer Reporter will provide news and analysis and include features on rising stars, profiles of top clubs and interviews with key figures on the American youth scene. It’s a busy summer with the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships and the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s Finals Week this month, so follow all the action with Soccer America’s Youth Soccer Reporter.

[RISING STARS] For the first time, two sisters are on the same U.S. national team competing at an international championship. Sisters Kristen and Samantha Mewis were named to the U.S. under-17 girls national team that will compete at the 2008 CONCACAF U-17 Girls Championship, beginning Friday in Trinidad & Tobago.

[DESTINATIONS] What’s it like to spend extended time at a major English Premier League club’s youth academy? Dallas area youth star Alex Frankenfeld recently spent six weeks training at the Chelsea youth academy in London. He filled Soccer America’s Youth Soccer Reporter in on what it was like playing and living abroad.

[MERGER] Five soccer organizations in the Greater Tri-Cities of Tennessee and Virginia have agreed to merge their competitive programs into Fusion FC.

The U.S. under-17 boys national team got two first-half goals from Stefan Jerome and one in the second half from Carlos Martinez in a 3-1 win over Chile’s U-17 national team to finish its four-game trip to South America with a 3-1 record.

[SCOREBOARD] The U-17/18 Baltimore Bays and U/15-16 PDA and Carmel United are the only teams with perfect records after two games at the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s Finals Week at the Home Depot Center. For all the results and goal scorers …

Arizona’s Sereno White, the Region IV under-19 boys champion, has been disqualified from the 2008 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships, scheduled to be played next week in North Little Rock, Ark. The Colorado Rush Nike will replace Sereno.

The Florida Youth Soccer Association is moving to the town of Auburndale in Polk County, where a 250-acre sports park will have eight soccer fields, training facilities and headquarters for the FYSA.

The U.S. under-17 boys national team celebrated July 4 with a 2-0 victory over Uruguay in Montevideo on the first game of its two-week South American tour.

[CLUB PROFILE] The first U.S. Soccer Development Academy Finals Week kicks of this weekend at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Hometown LAFC is one of only two teams (along with CASL) to sweep conference titles in the U-17/18 and U-15/16 divisions. For more on LAFC, including video of its former MLS standouts talking about the club’s philosophy …

Thirty-six boys were named to Team Predator and Team adiPure for Monday’s All-Star game at the 2008 adidas Elite Soccer Program, which took place at  Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. The adidas esp program, started in 1997, is considered the most recognizable development program in American soccer, attracting dozens of scouts to watch the 102 players. For all the All-Star participants …

[INTERVIEW] From Crystal Palace to Liverpool, West Ham to Everton, British clubs have been entering the American youth soccer “market.” As part of Chelsea’s quest to “build a network of top youth clubs across America to develop Chelsea Soccer Schools,” it has launched a relationship with the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) of North Carolina. Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla interviewed Paul Clement, Chelsea’s youth team manager, about the club’s motives. …

The U.S. under-18 girls national team defeated Denmark’s U-19 team, 5-0 and 3-0, and England’s U-19 team, 2-1, to sweep all three games on its short European tour.

[RISING STAR] Before she made a name for herself in soccer, she excelled at baseball. Before she played for the USA, she traveled with Canada to a world championship. Since entering the U.S. club circuit, she has played for clubs in the state of Washington and Arizona. At the age of 18, Sydney Leroux has already had a full sports experience and it should only get more eventful.

All eight placement games during the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s Finals Week at The Home Depot Center will be televised. ESPN2 will broadcast the championship game in the U-17/18 age group on July 18, while ESPNU will show the other seven games on July 18-19. Group play takes place July 12-16. For the complete Final Weeks schedule …

Four defending national champions head the field for the 2008 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships July 22-27 in Little Rock, Ark. Andromeda (U-18) and the Casa Mia Bays (U-15) defend their boys titles, while the Bloomfield Force (U-19) and So Cal Blues (U-16) look to repeat on the girls side. For all the finalists and complete schedules …