US DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY

The USDA is following a comprehensive review of elite player development in the United States and around the world, U.S. Soccer created the Development Academy in 2007. The Academy Program's philosophy is based on increased training, less total games, and more meaningful games using international rules of competition.

The Academy has 197 total clubs, comprised of teams acrosse 5 age groups in the boy's program (U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16/17 and U-18/19) and four age groups in the girls' program (U-14, U-15, U-16/17 and U-18/19). These clubs are all located within geographically based divisions across gender and age group levels. Each team plays home and away games against the other teams in their division, plus games against non-division opponenets from across the country during the 10-month season.

The Academy Program focuses on positively impacting everyday club environments to assist in maximizing youth player development across the country. The Academy values individual development of elite players over winning trophies and titles. The Academy sets the standard for elite environments for youth soccer clubs nationwide and is a part of the U.S. Soccer's global leadership position in youth soccer that will impact thousands of players