Developing the Next Generation
U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy program is driven by the game and its players, coaches and referees.  This game-centric approach allows for long-term development to occur through a deep understanding of what makes players successful around the world.  As the sport of soccer grows in the United States, young players in our country need the proper environment to compete against the world’s elite.  The U.S. Soccer Development Academy program provides the optimum developmental environment for the nation’s top youth soccer players, coaches and referees by emphasizing development through quality training and limited, meaningful competition.

Meaningful Training
Academy teams spend a greater amount of time focused on training to improve as individuals and as a team. The teams and players receive direct feedback and evaluations from National Team Staff and ProZone video analysis. To round-out the complete training environment, Academy teams are tested in their physical capabilities using the SPARQ testing methodology and their hydration levels by Gatorade.  They also receive a SPARQ training curriculum for soccer-specific athletic training and Nutrition and Hydration recommendations from Gatorade’s Sports Science Institute.  Each athlete then gains a greater understanding of how they compare physically against their peers and what they need to do to achieve their optimal performance levels.  

Competitive Environment
The Academy program features teams from the top youth clubs from around the country. Each Academy team plays approximately 30 regular season games to ensure all games are meaningful. Games are also played according to FIFA’s Laws of the Game and officiated by a pool of the nation’s top young referees in order to prepare players for the next level of competition. National Team Scouts regularly attend Academy games, so players are evaluated over the course of the season and in their natural positions allowing for better player assessment.

Early Success
As the program enters its second year, it has already dramatically impacted the player development process in the United States. In 2008, more than 100 players from Academy clubs were included in U.S. Youth National Teams and almost 800 graduates from the inaugural Academy class participated in college soccer the following fall. Virtually all college programs use the Academy program as a scouting vehicle and the program has received increased attention from professional scouts representing domestic and international clubs. Visit ussoccer.com to view the top Academy teams in action.
 

Find out more about the Development Academy by watching these following videos:
•    “What’s It About” - click here
•    “Development Academy: The Next Step”. - click here
•    Interview with MNT Head Coach Bob Bradley at a Development Academy Fall Showcase - click here
 

Further questions about the Development Academy can be answered in this U.S. Soccer FAQ - click here

If interested in trying out of the SLSG USDA teams - click here and send us an email. 
 

US Development Academy Tryouts:

If interested in playing for the SLSG Development Academy - contact information is below:

Illinois	Missouri
Contact Blake Decker - BDecker@SLSGsoccer.com	Contact Matt Mueller - MMueller@SLSGsoccer.com

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*Cut off dates for the USDA are by the calendar year (not traditional Aug 1st date).  Below are the cut off dates for this upcoming season:
Jan 1, 1991 for 18s
Jan 1, 1993 for 16s
 

Next SLSG USDA Home Games: all home games for the season have been played... we will see everyone next year!  

USDA - Everyone agrees – the United States needs to improve as a soccer playing nation. Following a comprehensive review of elite player development in the United States and around the world, U.S. Soccer has created the U.S Soccer Development Academy to improve the everyday environment for the elite youth player.

St. Louis Scott Gallagher has four teams playing in the US Development Academy (IL U16 and U18 / MO U16 and U18).  We are the only club in the country to have more then 2 teams playing in this National League.  Tom Howe coaches the Missouri teams and Dale Schilly coaches the Illinois teams.

Using the U-17 National Team Residency program as a model of training and focus, clubs chosen to participate in the Academy program will only compete in Academy programming, thus increasing the amount of time that can be spent training and improving the quality of matches. National Team and National Staff coaches will scout the Academy matches and trainings to ensure that players are seen in their natural playing environment.

Academy Alumni / College Commitment
Cameron    Baker    / Mckendree University
Ryan    Bauer    / University of Dayton
Matt     Bearley    / Southwestern Illinois College
Matt     Bleazard    / Rockhurst University
Tom     Campbell    / Spring Hill
Samuel     Cooksey   / University of Dayton
Kevin     Corby    / University of Kentucky
Jake    Dobkins    / University of Tulsa
Zach    Engel   / University of Central Arkansas
Rico    Frazier    / Mckendree University
Jared    Gain   / Missouri State University
Kenny     Giacobbe   / Missouri State University
Jordan     Giacoletto  /  Rockhurst University
Zach    Godat   / Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Chris    Gomez  /  Ohio State University
Tim     Hankins  / Western Illinois University
Jimmy    Higham  /  Mckendree University
Joda    Holloway  /  St. Louis University
Ricky     Kapp  /  Missouri State University
Peter    Kelly   / Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Josh     Kistner  /  University of Southern Indiana
Alex    Koch  /  Eastern Illinois University
Aaron    Krieg /   Benedictine University of Springfield
Matt     Langley / Truman State University
Nick    Maglasang / St. Louis University
Wade    Martin  /  Colgate University
Nathan    Mayberry /   Greenville College
John    Merlo  /  Rockhurst University
Chad     Miller  /  Benedictine University Kansas
Kevin     Minor  /  Bradley University
Tony     Moore   / Kentucky Wesleyan
Mark     Pais  /  St. Louis University
Matt     Perry  /  Benedictine University of Springfield
Jacob    Posey  /  University of Southern Indiana
Joseph    Radice /   University of Illinois at Chicago
Robert     Randant /   University of Evansville
Michael    Robson  /  St. Louis University