U.S. Soccer Launches New Scholarship Program for Players to Participate in the Development Academy
U.S. Soccer, the U.S. Soccer Foundation and Nike have teamed up to launch a new scholarship program to enable more Academy players to participate in U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy program. The scholarships are designed to offset some of the program’s costs for players demonstrating financial need, including transportation to practice, travel to Academy Showcases and club fees.
Feb. 12, 2009
CHICAGO (Feb. 11, 2009) – U.S. Soccer, the U.S. Soccer Foundation and Nike have teamed up to launch a new scholarship program to enable more Academy players to participate in U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy program. The scholarships are designed to offset some of the program’s costs for players demonstrating financial need, including transportation to practice, travel to Academy Showcases and club fees.
Over 150 applications have been received with a few days remaining before the February 15 deadline. Applications will be reviewed based on their amount of financial need, contributions to their Academy club and national team potential. Players must come from Academy clubs in good standing within the Development Academy program, as determined by their grade on last year’s Academy club evaluation.
Development Academy Technical Director John Hackworth recognizes the need for a level playing field for everyone in order to provide Academy benefits for some of the nation’s top players.
“U.S. Soccer has invested in a youth development program that goes hand in hand with our National Teams,” he said. “By providing need-based assistance we are trying to make every effort to not exclude anybody based on financial constraints.”
Academy clubs have long organized their own efforts to increase playing opportunities for players requiring financial assistance, including many Academy clubs that have eliminated all expenses for Academy players to participate in the new national team training program. The continuous support from Academy clubs coupled with the new U.S. Soccer Scholarship Program will only increase the opportunity for players from more diverse backgrounds to participate in the Academy program.
“U.S. Soccer has been working with the Academy clubs to move away from the ‘pay-to-play’ model,” explained Hackworth. “We’ve been pushing the clubs to change the way they financially support their Academy players and we want this program to add to their positive efforts already in place.”
In addition to providing funding for individual players, U.S. Soccer has also taken measures to reduce the expenses associated with participating in the Academy program since the inception of the program in 2007. Academy conferences were re-aligned after the first year of the program, reducing travel expenses for clubs without reducing the number of games. Additionally, the introduction of an Academy Playoff at the end of the regular season in place of last year’s Summer Showcase, increases the technical value of the last stretch of games while alleviating the costs for many teams to travel to a third national event.
Even with the launch of the new Scholarship Program, Hackworth says, reducing player expenses is a long term project. But he believes that with the partnership between U.S. Soccer and the member clubs, the program is heading in the right direction.
“We fully understand that this is a long-term project,” said Hackworth. “While clubs develop new strategies to eliminate expenses for players, ultimately the burden of some of the costs falls to the families. We don’t want that to be a reason to not be a part of our program.”
For more information on the Development Academy Scholarship Program, please click here.
Under-15/16
Sat, February 7, 2009
Concorde Fire 0, Atlanta Fire 1
Greensboro Youth Soccer 2, Bridge FA 0
LAFC Chelsea 3, Irvine Strikers 0
Richmond Kickers 0, North Meck SC 2
CASL Chelsea FC Academy 2, Virginia Rush AS Monaco 2
Richmond Strikers 0, South Charlotte SA 2
Sun, February 8, 2009
Empire United 0, Carmel United SC 0
CASL Chelsea FC Academy 2, Bridge FA 0
Richmond Kickers 0, South Charlotte SA 1
Richmond Strikers 3, North Meck SC 2
Arsenal FC 4, Pateadores 0
Greensboro Youth Soccer 1, Virginia Rush AS Monaco 0
Birmingham United 2, AFC Lightning 0
Washington Premier FC 3, FC Portland U-15/16 1
U-17/18 Results
Sat, February 7, 2009
Concorde Fire 1, Atlanta Fire United 0
Greensboro Youth Soccer 6, Bridge FA 1
LAFC Chelsea 5, Irvine Strikers 0
Richmond Kickers 1, North Meck SC 1
4 pm CASL Chelsea FC Academy 4, Virginia Rush AS Monaco 1
6 pm Richmond Strikers 1, South Charlotte SA 1
Sun, February 8, 2009
Empire United 0, Carmel United SC 1
CASL Chelsea FC Academy 1, Bridge FA 0
Richmond Kickers 2, South Charlotte SA 0
Richmond Strikers 0, North Meck SC 0
Greensboro Youth Soccer 2, Virginia Rush AS Monaco 1
Birmingham United 1, AFC Lightning 3
Washington Premier FC 2, FC Portland 2
U-15/16 Upcoming Schedule
Fri, February 13, 2009
Time Home Away Location
5 pm FC Portland vs Real So Cal Liberty High School - Clive Charles Field
Sat, February 14, 2009
Time Home Away Location
11 am Irvine Strikers vs Nomads SC Concordia University
12 pm Pateadores vs LAFC Chelsea Cal State University at Fullerton
12 pm Baltimore Bays vs FC Greater Boston Cedar Lane Regional Park
12 pm PDA vs Oakwood SC PDA Facility
12 pm North Meck SC vs Greensboro UNC Charlotte - TransAmerica Field
12 pm Virginia Rush AS Monaco vs Richmond Strikers Wolf Trap Park
1 pm FC DELCO vs BW Gottschee Eastern University Field Complex
1 pm Potomac vs Met Oval Maryland SoccerPlex - Field 19
1 pm D.C. United vs FC Westchester Maryland SoccerPlex - Field 20
1 pm Match Fit Chelsea vs South Central Premier Raritan High School (Turf)
2 pm PA Classics vs Albertson Franklin & Marshall College
2 pm New York Red Bulls vs New England Revolution NJIT - Lubetkin Field
3 pm Derby County Wolves vs Columbus Crew Total Soccer (Turf)
4 pm Vardar vs Ohio Elite SA Ultimate Soccer Arena - Field 1
Sun, February 15, 2009
Time Home Away Location
10 am Derby County Wolves vs Ohio Elite SA Total Soccer (Turf)
10 am Vardar vs Columbus Crew Ultimate Soccer Arena - Field 1
11 am Potomac vs FC Westchester Maryland SoccerPlex - Field 19
11 am D.C. United vs Met Oval Maryland SoccerPlex - Field 20
12 pm Baltimore Bays vs New England Revolution Cedar Lane Regional Park
12 pm Crossfire Premier vs Real So Cal Lake Washington High School
12 pm PDA vs South Central Premier The College of New Jersey
1 pm FC DELCO vs Albertson Eastern University Field Complex
1 pm PA Classics vs BW Gottschee Manheim Township High School
1 pm Match Fit Chelsea vs Oakwood SC Mercer County Community College
1 pm New York Red Bulls vs FC Greater Boston Rutgers Univeristy, Newark
Mon, February 16, 2009
Time Home Away Location
3:30 pm Washington Premier FC vs Real So Cal Washington Premier FC
U-17/18 Upcoming Schedule
Fri, February 13, 2009
Time Home Away Location
7 pm FC Portland vs Real So Cal Liberty High School
Sat, February 14, 2009
Time Home Away Location
1:15 pm Irvine Strikers vs Nomads SC Concordia University - Upper Field
2 pm Baltimore Bays vs FC Greater Boston Cedar Lane Regional Park
2 pm PDA vs Oakwood SC PDA Facility
2 pm North Meck SC vs Greensboro Youth Soccer UNC Charlotte
2 pm Virginia Rush AS Monaco vs Richmond Strikers Wolf Trap Park
2:30 pm Pateadores vs LAFC Chelsea Cal State University at Fullerton
3 pm FC DELCO vs BW Gottschee Eastern University Field Complex
3 pm Potomac vs Met Oval Maryland SoccerPlex - Field 19
3 pm D.C. United vs FC Westchester Maryland SoccerPlex - Field 20
3 pm Match Fit Chelsea vs South Central Premier Raritan High School (Turf)
4 pm PA Classics vs Albertson Franklin & Marshall College
4 pm New York Red Bulls vs New England Revolution NJIT - Lubetkin Field
5 pm Derby County Wolves vs Columbus Crew Total Soccer (Turf)
6 pm Vardar vs Ohio Elite SA Ultimate Soccer Arena - Field 1
Sun, February 15, 2009
Time Home Away Location
12 pm Derby County Wolves vs Ohio Elite SA Total Soccer (Turf)
12 pm Vardar vs Columbus Crew Ultimate Soccer Arena - Field 1
1 pm Potomac vs FC Westchester Maryland SoccerPlex - Field 19
1 pm D.C. United vs Met Oval Maryland SoccerPlex - Field 20
2 pm Baltimore Bays vs New England Revolution Cedar Lane Regional Park
2 pm Crossfire Premier vs Real So Cal Lake Washington High School
2 pm PDA vs South Central Premier The College of New Jersey
3 pm FC DELCO vs Albertson Eastern University Field Complex
3 pm Match Fit Chelsea vs Oakwood SC Mercer County Community College
3 pm New York Red Bulls vs FC Greater Boston Rutgers Univeristy, Newark
3:15 pm PA Classics vs BW Gottschee Manheim Township High School
Mon, February 16, 2009
Time Home Away Location
5:30 pm Washington Premier FC vs Real So Cal Washington Premier FC
