Youth Soccer News: US Club Soccer Announces International Tour

Established in 2004, US Club Soccer’s id2 National Identification and Development Program provides an opportunity for the country's elite youth soccer players to be identified and developed, while also being scouted for inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s National Team programs. A comprehensive national scouting and recommendation program is used to form a player pool from which top players are invited to attend an id2 Program Training Camp. There is no cost to the player to be scouted or recommended for the id2 Program. Additionally, the id2 Program is open to all players regardless of U.S. Soccer affiliation, or lack thereof. 

US Club Soccer has announced its 2012 id² National Selection International Tour for 1998-1999 boys. Following successful trips to Germany and the Netherlands in 2010 and England and Scotland in 2011, the 2012 tour will take a team of 18 young men to Spain, the home of the 2010 FIFA World Cup champions. The tour will take place February 17-27, 2012, and the team will look to continue the success it has had over the past years, including wins over Ajax, Celtic and Manchester City teams.

The id² National Selection International Tour is one part of the program that includes training camps October 13-16 in Zarephath, N.J., and November 10-13 in Frisco, Texas. The training camps also include 1997-1998 girls identified in the program.

There will also be two Spring Camps and the 2012 ECNL/ id² National Program Training Camp for girls, with dates and locations to be announced later. The id² National Identification and Development Program provides the opportunity for top youth soccer players to be identified and developed, as well as being scouted for U.S. Soccer’s National Team programs.

During the ten-day trip, they young men will train, attend professional matches and compete against youth teams from some of the top clubs in Spain. Much of the activity will take place on the training grounds and in the stadiums of well-known professional clubs. In addition to the soccer training, participants will be able to take advantage of the unique educational and cultural experience of living in a foreign country.

Gerry McKeown, US Club Soccer’s id² Boys’ Program Director, explained the importance of the trip for the players. “Spain is home to some of the best club and international soccer in the world, so I’m very excited for the experiences our young players will gain on the 2012 id² National Selection International Tour,” he said. “The international tour has grown a lot over the past two years and will once again give the players an opportunity to compete against strong teams and watch some high-level professional soccer all while taking in the culture of a new country.”

This is US Club Soccer’s third international tour, and schedules will be announced at a later date. Player selections will be finalized by late December and the travel roster will be announced then. The organization is funding the trip, with support from Nike, as part of the philosophy that identification and development should be free to players.

id² Program Training Camps for 1998-99 boys and 1997-98 girls:

•   Oct. 13-16 at the PDA Soccer Complex in Zarephath, N.J. (boys and girls)
•   Nov. 10-13 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas  (boys and girls)
•   Spring Camp #1 (specific dates and location TBA)

•   Spring Camp #2 (specific dates and location TBA)

2012 id² National Selection International Tour for 1997-98 boys:

•   Feb. 17-27, 2012 – Spain

2012 ECNL/id² National Program Training Camp for girls:

•   Early 2012 (specific dates and location TBA)

2011 GAME SCHEDULE: Celtic F.C. Academy, Glasgow, Scotland,  Everton F.C. Academy, Liverpool, England, Manchester City F.C. Academy, Manchester, England.

Just so you know: US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop competitive club soccer in the United States. A member of the United States Soccer Federation since July 2001, US Club Soccer has grown to include member clubs and leagues in all 50 states. In addition to sanctioning and administering tournaments, leagues and other competitions as well as offering a range of programs for its members, US Club Soccer annually conducts the National Cup. US Club Soccer also directs its own player identification and development program – id².

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