US Soccer Development Academy off to good start

Story courtesy US Soccer Communications

CHICAGO (May 6, 2008) - Just beyond the halfway point in the inaugural season of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, Technical Director John Hackworth has already seen broad improvements in the program and received positive feedback from players, coaches, administrators and scouts.

“We are so pleased with where we are, and we are actually pretty surprised at how well the program has done in such a short amount of time,” said Hackworth in an exclusive podcast with ussoccer.com. “We feel like we are ahead in every area – from the technical side to the administrative aspect and even just getting the message out about our movement.”

According to Hackworth, who is also an assistant coach with the Men’s National Team, the most positive feedback has come from the players themselves.

“The players love the program because they feel like it’s actually for them, and I don’t think anyone had taken that stance in the past,” he said. “They know that we’re trying to help them achieve their own individual goals. Players want the opportunity to reach their full potential and that’s exactly what we’re trying to do.”

The Academy training standards, combined with consistent Gatorade hydration testing and the recently implemented Nike SPARQ training program, has already led to increased opportunities for Academy players to become involved in National Team programs.

Three recent National Team camps, with the Under-17, Under-18 and Under-20 Men’s National Teams, included a significant number of Academy players. Hackworth credits the increased network of scouts and National Team coaches in bridging the gap between clubs and National Teams. He also acknowledges that there is still work to be done.

“Our success up to this point doesn’t mean that everything has changed overnight,” he said. “It does mean that what we’re currently doing on the field with players and coaches, and with the scouting initiatives that we’ve undertaken, it’s working right now. We are giving more opportunities to a greater number of players, and that’s what is moving our whole program in a positive direction.”

As the first year of the program continues, U.S. Soccer will continue to evaluate the progress of the clubs and players as well as the overall program.

“There is a ton of room for growth,” said Hackworth. “We want to make sure we continue to push player development and base it on philosophies that we’ve studied from around the world. We still have to change a lot of people’s mentalities out there, but we’re committed to this long term and we know this is the right direction to go.”