US Development Academy Comes to Crystal Lake for Fall '16

This past winter Sockers FC Chicago was granted a second US Developmental Academy Program. Looking at the Chicagoland youth soccer map, the Crystal Lake and McHenry County area is considered a important area to develop under US Soccer’s new initiatives and development guidelines. Birth year registration, training requirements, game play mandates, and coaches education are crucial components to the future of youth soccer in the US. Sockers FC Chicago is embracing these changes and plans to make an investment in the local soccer community to help future soccer players reach their fullest potential.

For the Player:

- Opportunity to develop under strict US Soccer guidelines to Developmental Academy Training

- Learn to play within the Sockers “Style of Play”

- Access to US National Team Scouting System

- One of the Nations Top collegiate preparation and placement system

- Pathway to US National Teams and Professional Soccer

For the Local Soccer Community:

- Limit travel time to National Level Programming

- Build relationships with local community programs

- Advance the game of soccer at local level through education and advisement

Important Questions to ask when analyzing your current club situation:

- Is birth year registration embraced and understood?

- Is coaches education a priority?

- Are your coaches 100% committed to doing what is best for the player?

- Are your coaches 100% committed to local community?

- Is there a club wide “playing style” in place that fosters player development?

- Do training methods relate to playing style?

- Is development more important than game results?

- Is there a clear pathway to an advanced level? (Academy, US National Teams, College, Professional)

- Is every player, regardless of level, trained under same guidelines as the top level?

- Are players given the freedom to seek opportunities with National Level club programs? (Tryouts)

These questions can be very difficult for some youth organizations to answer. As US Soccer proceeds with it’s overhaul of the youth system, we at the Sockers have taken the steps to make sure the new initiatives are taken very seriously. The addition of a US Developmental Academy to the Crystal Lake and McHenry County community is a enormous opportunity and comes with massive responsibility to the sport of soccer. Fall 2016 will be the starting point for the U12 Boys Academy locally and 2017 will see the addition of the Girls US Developmental Academy. All age groups (Birth Years 2009-2003) Boys/Girls will operate under US soccer guidelines to ensure that the proper pathway exists for the player that is currently at a Academy level and the future player that is in the development stage. Tryouts begins first week of May every Tuesday and Thursday thru middle of June. Tryout info available on the Sockers FC Chicago website. Please contact Director Karl Smith with any questions.

Karl Smith – Director

USSF A License

karl@sockersfc.net

224-324-7637

Sockers FC has created a player-centered environment for soccer players to grow and showcase their talent and skills. For the last 25 years, Sockers FC has grown into a nationally recognized program - with the most proficient coaching staff in Region II and an accomplished record of placement for players into College, Professional and National Teams. It is the only program in Illinois to provide US Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) and Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) competition platforms and one of the premier development clubs in the nation.