To view the latest Academy information, including schedules, standings, player rosters and contact information please visit the U-15/16 and U-17/18 Academy Team Pages

Development Academy Home Page

To view the latest information on the Development Academy, please visit the Development Academy Home Page on www.ussoccer.com.  

Tryout Information

If you are interested in trying out for the U15/16 or U17/18 Development Academy teams please contact Jay Hoffman, Technical Director, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 757-430-3500. 

Development Academy Description  

About the Program

Created in 2007, the development academy was established to primarily focus on youth player development in the United States. The league consisted of 64 elite youth soccer clubs from around the country in its inaugural season. Each team is comprised by geographic proximity, with two age groups (U-15/16 & U-17/18). These 64 teams were divided into eight conferences with each team playing approximately 30 home and away matches during an eight-month season.

Currently in its fifth season, the program has expanded to 78 clubs competing in ten geographically-based divisions. Although some attributes have changed during the past four seasons, the basic mission and principles remain intact: increased focus on training, meaningful competition and providing a direct connection to U.S. National Team programming.

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 in both training and game environments. In 2012, Academy teams will be exposed to mental testing using the EXACT Sports MAP system. Using a multitude of feedback systems, each athlete gains a greater understanding of how he compares against his peers and what he needs 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. Members of our Men's National Team Scouting Network 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 fifth year, it has already dramatically impacted the player development process in the United States. At the end of 2011, almost half of all players involved in the youth national team player pool since 2007 have come from within the Academy program and approximately 75% of each graduating class from the Academy participates 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.

Notable alumni from the program have flooded the domestic and international professional scene. Recent internationals include: Josh Gatt (Molde FC), Sean Cunningham (Derby County), Marc Pelosi and Villyan Bijev (Liverpool). Many domestic players are continuing their career in MLS, including Bill Hamid (DC United) and Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls). We have more to look forward to after a successful 2012 MLS Super Draft in which Andrew Wenger (PA Classics, Montreal Impact) was taken as the first drafted player, Kelyn Rowe went third (Crossfire Premier, New England Revolution) and Andrew Jean-Baptiste (Albertson SC) went eighth to the Portland Timbers.

10-Month Season Information

After receiving overwhelming support from the Development Academy membership, the Academy moved to a schedule in the fall of 2012 that runs from September through June (or July based on postseason play). This creates a format that is similar to those followed by the elite soccer playing nations around the world as the Development Academy and U.S. Soccer continue their goal of closing the performance gap with the top soccer nations.

Moving to a 10-month season allows players to train together three or four times per week and play meaningful games on the weekend nearly year-round. Fewer games and an extended season will allow for the addition of a substantial number of extra training sessions, which are the primary vehicle for player development.

The 10-month season allows for a greater opportunity to institute a style of play and implement a system according to U.S. Soccer's Curriculum as well as build team chemistry. It also gives teams increased opportunities for younger kids in their club to "play up" against older players in both training and matches, thereby accelerating their development.

Please find more information about the Academy 10-month season below.

Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Quote Sheet

Development Academy Alumni: 2009-2011

Follow U.S. Soccer on Facebook

Become a fan of U.S. Soccer on Facebook and get the latest news, upload photos and interact with other fans from across the country. Join now!

Suscribe To U.S. Soccer Channel on YouTube

Suscribe to U.S. Soccer's channel for comprehensive video coverage of the U.S. National Teams including interviews, highlights and exclusive behind-the-scenes features. Suscribe now!

Follow U.S. Soccer on foursquare

Check in on Foursquare at National Team games, special events, and at Official U.S. Soccer bars to unlock the U.S. Soccer badge and get special branded tips. Check in!

Follow U.S. Soccer on twitter

Follow U.S. Soccer on twitter for an inside look at life with the National Team as well as news from around the world of U.S. Soccer.

@ussoccer - U.S. Soccer and Men's National Team

@ussoccer_wnt - U.S. Women's National Team

@ussoccer_ynt - Youth National Teams and Development Academy

@studio_90 - Studio 90

Link to U.S. Soccer Videos

The link provided below on ussoccer.com you can find videos ranging from U.S. Men, U.S. Women, and the Development Academy to name a few.

Click here for U.S. Soccer Videos

Development Academy FAQ’s

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

U.S. Soccer Press Releases

Development Academy Press Releases are distributed regularly. Click on the link below for lastest news.

U.S Soccer Press Releases

Visiting Team Information

Home Fields:

Hampton Roads Soccer Complex

Virginia Beach Sportsplex

Airport:

Norfolk International Airport (ORF)

Hotels:

To assist teams with travel, booking accomodations have been set up using Bookmygroup. To make team reservations contact Andrea Casperson via e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone at (888) 832-6745. Please inform Andrea you are traveling for USSDA and playing against Virginia Rush to receive discounted rates.

VA Rush Recent Academy News and Articles

4 Rush Players Named to Top 150 of 2013

4 Rush Players Named to Top 150 of 2014

VA Rush's Joly selected as Korrio player to watch

Rush Announces 2012 College Commitments

 VA Rush Player Development System