Contents:

• Winter Showcase Overview
• Winter Showcase Format
• Winter Showcase Participating Clubs
• Winter Showcase Travel Information
• Winter Showcase Hotel Accommodations
• Academy Registration and Background Check Information
• Pizza Hut Park
• Academy Showcases
• Contact Information

Winter Showcase Overview
The U.S. Soccer Development Academy will stage its Winter Showcase at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas from February 16-18, 2008. The U-15/16 and U-17/18 age groups will each boast 44 elite clubs from across the country and a total of 88 games that will be played over the course of the weekend.

The showcase will also feature some of the nation’s top referees as selected by U.S. Soccer’s Professional Referee Assignors. The referees at the weekend’s matches will be trained and evaluated by leading assessors from U.S. Soccer Referee Department.

Winter Showcase Format
Each Academy team will play two games against Academy teams from different regions of the country. The Winter Showcase Match Schedule is available online by clicking here (schedule subject to change). The games will count toward their conference standings. The winner of each conference will qualify to participate in the Academy Finals Week at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA on July 12-19.

The U-17/18 competition for players born after Jan. 1, 1989, will play 90 minute games, while the U-15/16 competition for players born after Jan. 1, 1991, will play 80 minute games. Both age groups are limited to seven substitutions with no re-entry. Development Academy Technical Framework

Winter Showcase Participating Clubs
The Winter Showcase will feature all Academy clubs which were not represented at the Fall Showcase. U-15/16 and U-17/18 age groups will each boast 44 elite clubs from across the country and a total of 88 games that will be played over the course of the weekend. Every team will play two games with teams against non-conference opponents. Click here for a list of participating clubs.

Winter Showcase Travel Information
Teams should arrange their flights to arrive in Frisco, Texas on Saturday, February 16th and be prepared to play a game as early as 9 a.m. CT on Sunday, February 17th.

Flight times and departure times should be arranged for Monday, February 18th after 5 p.m. CT.

In order to schedule games around your specific travel needs, please complete the following Winter Showcase Travel Itinerary form and return it to Chris Duke before December 1. Once we receive the information below, we will assign registration times for teams on Saturday afternoon or evening and into Sunday and distribute a game schedule.

Winter Showcase Hotel Accommodations
As an added service, U.S. Soccer has arranged for an online hotel reservation service to assist with accommodations for the Winter Showcase. 

For reservation information, click here 

Teams can also link to Doubletree’s U.S. Soccer Development Academy Reservations Page

Rates provided on the reservation should be 10% lower than the lowest rate available to the public.

Academy Registration and Background Check Information
Players, coach and team manager registrations are due 30 days before your team’s first match. Click here for registration instructions.

Additionally, coaches and team managers must complete a background check before traveling with their team. Click here for background check instructions.

Pizza Hut Park
Click here to learn more about Pizza Hut Park:

Academy Showcases
The Academy Winter Showcase is one of four Showcases throughout the 2007-08 season. The Spring Showcase will be held from May 24-27 and the Summer Showcase will take place June 27-30 at sites to be determined. Click here for an overview of the Fall Showcase held on Oct. 6-9 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California

Contact Information
Any questions about the Winter Showcase can be directed to Melissa Biniewicz. For additional Academy contact information, click here.