The Third Annual U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase gets underway tomorrow, December 4, in Phoenix, AZ. The Development Academy has evolved over the past three years and this event will be no different.
The 2007 Spring Showcase in Rockford, IL is the standard by which I will continue to compare, but as I built our itinerary this event seems to have it all... meaningful meetings, coaching education, exposure to the U-17 National Teams, every game scouted by the U.S. Soccer scout and the most college coaches of any soccer event in the country.
The event isn't perfect though. In fact, the players will miss too much school over the next few days at a time that couldn't be worse. The Federation has agreed to work better to create a schedule in the future that at least saves us one day at the 2010 Winter Showcase. We have built 3 different mandatory study hall periods into the schedule this weekend.
The player's focus will obviously be their three matches across four days. The day off will be spent with recovery, study hall, and the NIKE Soccer + Master Control program.
- "See how you rate against other USSDA players by taking the Cesc Fabregas challenge. Trial the Nike CTR 360 Maestri boot and receive a unique code (typically only available with CTR360 Maestri boot purchase) to download exclusive Nike Elite Training Control Camp on Nikesoccer.com."
As a group we'll be able to watch the U-17 MNT Portgual v Netherlands and U-17 MNT USA v Netherlands. Its a tremendous opportunity for our players and coaches. The player lounge is available with FREE Gatorade for all and X-Box FIFA 2010.
For the first time at a Showcase, the coaching schedule is rather extensive. Our coaches will attend the following sessions at different times over the weekend:
- Developing an Elite Training Session (classroom)
- NIKE Soccer + Master Control (field)
- SPARQ Speed, Power and Agility for Soccer (field)
- Translating an Elite Training Session from Paper to Practice (field)
My schedule is completely filled. Obviously, my focus will be our games. This is my first event going to sit in the second chair for both games, something I am looking forward to. I am responsible for the SPARQ warm-up for the teams in each game and providing input and feedback to the coaches. I will scout our third opponent while Marc is scouting our second.
Additionally, I will attend a classroom session on Developing an Annual Training Plan (Note: the Ohio Elite SA Annual Training Plan is published on the U-15/16 OESA-NWC and U-17/18 OESA team pages.) and SPARQ Soccer Forum.
I have organized a meeting with the Midwest Pre-Academy League teams this weekend to finalize our spring schedules. More on the Pre-Academy League after the meeting, but these are the teams involved - most of whom have not put their top U-14 & U-15 teams in the MRL - Ohio Elite SA, Crew Soccer Academy, Indiana United (fka: Carmel), Vardar, Derby Country Wolves, Internationals, Chicago Magic, Sockers FC, Chicago Fire and FC Milwaukee. This league will again provide our younger teams with the most competitive opportunities of any club in Cincinnati.
I'll be tweeting regularly this weekend. For a behind the scenes look and updates follow me at www.twitter.com/mikecullina
Want to learn more about the Development Academy and its future at Ohio Elite SA? Which rumors are true and which are not? Put February 21 on your calendar for a 'U.S. Soccer Development Academy Town Hall' with U.S. Soccer Full-time Technical Director for the Central Conference Louis Mateus.
