In Nov., 48 players were called in for a camp, now 80 for a west regional camp. This falls in behind the thought of growing and raising the level of the player pool, this new arrangement is to join the US Soccer Talent ID Dept. (TID) & YNT Progrmas. The idea is to better find and bring into the fold a wider range of high level players to the system with the U-15 & 20's. Described as a mini camp to judge and motivate those with a large upside and speed their growth, next season the same occurs for the girls. US Soccer Youth TD, Tab Ramos informed, "With this Youth National Teams and Talent Identification program, we wil be abl to to identify a higher number of talented players."
How will it function?:
-Begin with in-market scouting process, players seen in game and ID for YNT ID, previously known as Training Centers.
-Centers to be held in 25 key markets and overseen by US Soccer TID Managers & YNT Network Scouts.
-Hosted by local clubs or USSF member orgs. to get over 600 players anually in the U-14 & 15 ages.
-Depedant on the # of players found, these are to be done 2-3X a year in fall, winter & spring.
Tony Lepore, USSF Dir.of Talent Id informed "We can use these settings to create an engaging and fun environment."
Following the in-market scouting, YNT U-14 TID Regional Mini-Camps with these 80 of the best out of each region, East, Central & West, a 3 game round robin competition will follow. Watched by the U-14 BNT HC, this 5 day event will have a quartet of 20 player teams competing over 4.5 days. The DIrector on the girl's side, Mirelle Van Rijbroek and 3 managers are to be there to help them plan for 2020. After this, 60 (20 per region) selected players will go to the U-14 National ID Camp this summer. Any foreeign based players may also be called in, this full week will be similar to the YNT camps, the U-14 BNT HC, all 3 TD Mgrs. and 6 USSF Dev. Acad. coaches will be ther to guide the gathering along. This will then lead to 20 players representing the US at the international level as the US U-14 BNT, and of course the chance to the move on to the U-15 team.
This innovation will not just grow the YNT player pool but also have the scouting and ID structure change for the U-14's as they now have more time to take in the basic tenants of the YNT processes and speed their growth. The first stages will limit the travel time away from school family and club. Another plus here is the strengthening of the scouting system with their gaining education and growth and build the nationwide network of clubs. Lepore contintued, "This model will really help us strengthen not only our own YNT Scouting Network, but also our relationahip with the clubs in each of the key markets."