Category: Youth Soccer Reporter

Les Bois Soccer Association swept all five girls divisions in the U-14 to U-18 age groups at the Idaho State Cup. In New Mexico, Rio Vista FC won six titles in the U-14 to U-19 age groups. in Montana, top honors went to Magic City SC White with four U-14 to U-19 age group titles. For the results of the Idaho, Montana and New Mexico finals …

The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) added a sixth philosophy, “Player Development,” to its foundation tenets during an executive membership vote at its AGM last weekend in Dallas, where President Mike Wade was reelected and three members for the National Board of Directors were elected.

Longtime AYSO leader Burton Haimes, who served seven years as national president and 12 years as chairman of the board, and Cherie Tucker, who has been active at all levels of AYSO for more than 35 years, were inducted into the AYSO Hall of Fame.

Gene Mishalow, who played in goal for five NASL teams, has been named the academy director of the McLean (Va.) Youth Soccer, one of six clubs joining the U.S. Youth Soccer for the 2009-10 season.

Albertson Soccer Club was the big winner of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Spring Showcase, the Memorial Day weekend event in Sarasota, Fla. The New York club was the only one of 73 Academy clubs taking part in the five-day event to win all six games, three each in the under-17/18 and under-15/16 age groups.

The Derby County Wolves (U-17/18) and Chicago Fire (U-15/16) remained No. 1 in their respective age groups in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s overall standings following play in the Spring Showcase at the Sarasota, Fla., Polo Club. The Wolves (25-2-1) won all three games, while  the Fire (16-2-4) won two games and tied the No. 6 New York Red Bulls, 0-0. For the Top 10 teams in each age group …

The Washington Post examines youth soccer in Northern Virginia, where players chase college scholarships dreams, playing year-round soccer. It’s particularly difficult in the spring when Virginia sponsors high school soccer. Players juggle games with two teams, playing a heavy prep schedule and showcase club events. As Notre Dame women’s coach Randy Waldrum, the president of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, tells B.J. Koubaroulis, “We’ve really created an animal here. It’s just way too much soccer.”

Thirty-six players were selected by U.S. Soccer staff coaches to represent the U.S. Soccer Development Academy in matches against the U.S. U-17 national team as part of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Spring Showcase in Sarasota, Fla. The Chicago Fire, currently undefeated in the Academy’s Frontier Division, and FC Delco had three players apiece selected. For the complete rosters …

The Derby County Wolves (Michigan) and Crossfire Premier (Washington) are the only clubs averaging 2.00 or more points per game in both age groups of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, which moved into the final month of the regular season with the Spring Showcase kicking off on Friday and continuing through Tuesday at the Sarasota Polo Grounds in Sarasota, Fla.

Cal South, which has produced 17 U.S. Youth Soccer national champions over the last five years, recently concluded in State Cup competition for the U-14 to U-18 age groups in which West Coast FC and Slammers FC won two boys and girls titles, respectively. For all the U-14 to U-18 final results …

State Cup finals were recently held in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Oregon. Among the big winners were Sereno White with six boys and girls titles in U-14 to U-18 Arizona age groups and LV Premier, which took four championships in the U-14 to U-18 Nevada age groups. For the results of all the U-14 to U-18 finals …

In its first camp since qualifying for the Under-20 World Cup Sept. 24-Oct. 16 in Egypt, U.S. under-20 national team coach Thomas Rongein will bring in 20 players for a camp beginning May 23 in Sarasota, Fla., to be held in conjunction with the Development Academy Spring Showcase. Rongen called up six players who were not part of qualifying, including Gerson Mayen, who has had an excellent spring for MLS’s hottest team, Chivas USA. Also called up was the younger brother of a rising senior national team star …

Slammers FC, one of the top girls programs in Southern California, has added Mia Hamm to its coaching staff. Hamm will work with older age teams whose athletes are approaching college.  She will work on state, regional, national, and international championship preparations.

Mike Matkovich has called in 18 players for the U.S. U-18 boys national team’s trip to Portugal, where it will face Finland, Germany and Portugal at the annual Lisbon International, the biggest tournament of the year for the squad.

The U.S. U-14 boys national development program completed training at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. where 36 players trained for a week and saw competition against local U-16 teams.

Led by North Carolina-bound Enzo Martinez, South Carolina’s Northwestern High School is the top-ranked boys team among high schools playing spring soccer. For the NSCAA/adidas Top 20 rankings …

St. Pius X High School, which won the Georgia Class AAA title with a 3-0 win over North Hall, is the top-ranked girls team. For the NSCAA/adidas Top 20 rankings …

The Honolulu Soccer Club Bulls, the only Hawaii team to win a U.S. Youth Soccer national championship, swept the under-17 to under-19 boys titles at the Hawaii State Cup at the Waipio Soccer Complex. For all the under-14 to under-19 boys and girls winners …

Another national girls league is being launched for the 2009-10 season. The Elite Clubs National League will feature 40 clubs competing in a 12-game season in the U-15 to U-17 age groups. For a look at who’s in and not in …

Florida’s Weston Soccer Club will join the California Development Academy, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards Juniors, McLean (Va.) Youth Soccer and NJSA 04 as new Development Academy members for the 2009-10 season in a late move that signals a possible shakeup in South Florida.

U.S. under-15 boys national team coach Jim Barlow will take 20 players, all born in 1994, to Moenchengladbach, Germany, May 15-24. The roster includes three players each from the Houston Dynamo Academy and De Anza Force and two players from Dallas Texans and Aztecs Premier. For the complete roster …