id2 Regional Training Camp Has Kicked Off

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    id2 Regional Training Camp Has Kicked Off   Click HERE for daily updates from the New Jersey camp. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Oct. 3, 2008) - The 2008 edition of US Club Soccer's national identification and development program commences today at the PDA Soccer Facility in Zarephath, N.J., with the first of three id2 Regional Training Camps. Additional Regional Training Camps will be held Oct. 10-13 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., and Nov. 13-16 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. Selected boys born in 1995 and 1996 and girls born in 1994 and 1995 have been invited to participate. The boys' staff coaches are led by id2 Boys' Director Gerry McKeown, who is also an assistant coach with the U.S. U-15 Boys' National Team. The coaches include: Bob Jenkins, Head Coach of the U.S. U-18 Men's National Team and Director of Coaching and Player Development Sam Nellins, Director of Operations at PDA Soccer Club Michael Nigro, Coach at PDA Soccer Club Ronan Wiseman, Director of Training at Massapequa Soccer Club and assistant coach at Adelphi University The girls' staff, led by id2 Girls' Director and Eclipse Select Soccer Club Director of Coaching Rory Dames, consists of: Steve Campbell, Co-Director of Coaching at Freestate Soccer Alliance and Director of Total Soccer Training Jason Dewhurst, Director of Coaching at Stars of Massachusetts Soccer Club Mike O'Neil, PDA Soccer Club Director of Coaching and Associate Women's Head Coach at Rutgers Univ. Mike Bristol, Director of Goalkeeping at Eclipse Select Soccer Club, will handle goalkeeping coach duties for boys and girls. A typical daily schedule for each id2 camp places players on the training field for one or two sessions each day, with down time being utilized for guest speakers and clinicians. Soccer Hall of Famer Tab Ramos spoke with players on opening night of the New Jersey Regional Training Camp, and it is anticipated that additional well-known soccer celebrities and personalities will attend, speak and/or participate at the New Jersey camp as well as the events in California and Texas. Further information on these guests will be provided on the id2 Web page as it becomes available. U.S. Soccer Youth Development Program staff will be in attendance, as the id2 Regional Training Camps seek to identify and develop the country's best players for inclusion in U.S. Soccer's National Team programs. Seven id2 participants from 2007 have advanced into the U.S. U-14 Boys' National Development Program, while many other id2 alums have advanced onto higher levels in years past. One such player is Charles Renken, a U-14 and U-15 Boys' National Team alumnus who also been a member of the U.S. U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. Most recently on the girls' side, Olivia Brannon (Troy, Mich./Michigan Jags) and Sarah Molina (Rocky River, Ohio/Ohio Premier) both played for the U.S. U-15 Girls' National Team in this summer's Women's Nike Friendlies. id2 Regional Training Camps are invitation-only events that bring together the nation's top boys' and girls' youth players for four days of competition, evaluation and fun. Players are invited to participate as a result of an extensive year-long scouting program in which scouts throughout the country identify players in their own environment as they compete with their club teams. The only cost to players involved in id2 is that of travel to the venue. Lodging, meals and a comprehensive training kit are provided by US Club Soccer and Nike. US Club Soccer's national identification and development program concept was initiated in July 2004 when the inaugural id2 National Training Camp was held in Raleigh, N.C. From that event, six id2 participants earned invitations to U.S. Soccer's U-14 National Development Program camp and an additional 20 players were added to U.S. Soccer's U-14 player pool. The annual National Training Camp was eliminated in 2006 in favor of three Regional Training Camps, to better accommodate interested players. The addition of girls' participants was also welcomed in 2006. Be sure to check the id2 Regional Training Camp Web page for more information, as pictures, interviews, blogs and updates on guest speakers will be added on a daily basis at each of the camps. About US Club Soccer: US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop competitive club soccer in the United States. It has been a member of the United States Soccer Federation since July 2001 and has grown to over 2,300 member clubs and leagues in 49 states. In addition to sanctioning tournaments, leagues and other competitions as well as offering a range of programs for its members, US Club Soccer annually conducts the National Cup and the National Collegiate Showcase. US Club Soccer also directs its own annual player identification and development program - id2. Company Website: http://www.usclubsoccer.org Media Contact Greg Hutton email: ghutton@usclubsoccer.org US Club Soccer · 716 8th Avenue North · Myrtle Beach · SC · 29577 Email Marketing by