CHICAGO (Wednesday, March 31, 2004) – U.S. Soccer will be hosting a pair of educational events for coaches and referees in conjunction with the inaugural Philips Lighting U-19 Women’s Soccer Invitational at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

The two-day Coaching Symposium on April 9-10 that will include match analysis of the U.S. Under-19 Women’s National Team vs. Holland on April 10 and observation of a U.S. Women’s National Team training session that will be directed by Head Coach April Heinrichs. Two field sessions will take place on Friday evening (April 9).

In addition to current trends in the women’s game and overall player development, the preparation for tournaments will also be discussed. Both U.S. teams at The Home Depot Center are amidst preparations for major international competition as the Women’s National Team opens the Olympics this August and the U-19 Women’s National Team begins CONCACAF qualifying for the FIFA Under-19 World Championships in May.

The Symposium will be directed by Greg Ryan, the U.S. Soccer Women's National Staff Coach for Region IV, and a U.S. Women’s National Team coach. While open to all coaches, “A” licensed coaches can earn two Continuing Education Units for attendance at the symposium. More information on the Symposium is available in the coaching section of ussoccer.com or by clicking here: /articles/viewArticle.jsp_56170.html

A Premier Referee Academy will also be held at The Home Depot Center during the Philips Lighting U-19 Women’s Soccer Invitational. FIFA International Referee and Instructor Sandra Hunt will be on site to train and evaluate five elite female referees.

The quintet was chosen for the academy based on recommendations from state referee administrators as well as senior staff members in the U.S. Soccer Referee Department. The training consists of field sessions, physical fitness training and pre-game instruction. The referees then will officiate the tournament games and receive immediate feedback about their performances after the games.

The five referees that will travel to Carson, Calif. are Kim Oberle (Chapel Hill, N.C.), Sandra Serafini (Bahama, N.C.), Amy Willing (Lansing, Mich.), Dallas Malhiwsky (Omaha, Neb.) and Rachel Berg (Seattle, Wash.).

The U.S. Soccer Referee Department hosts numerous academies each year at events such as the Nike Friendlies and Dallas Cup.