id2 National Training Camp in Florida provides identification, development for 70 players

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Jan. 18, 2023) – Seventy players representing 45 clubs and 20 states participated in an id2 National Training Camp, Jan. 13-15 in Tampa, Florida. It was the first of a pair of id2 National Training Camps that US Club Soccer is hosting for top ’09 boys and girls players. This is the penultimate stage of id2 progression, as top performers from this id2 National Training Camp and another camp in Sacramento, California will be selected to id2 National Selection teams competing in England in April.

Players were selected from 12 id2 Selection events held during the fall, as well as various Player Development Programs (PDP) and nationwide scouting efforts.

The id2 Program is a leader in player identification and development, as it provides opportunities for elite athletes to be identified, developed and scouted for inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s youth national team programming. The id2 Program is an Olympic Development Program approved by the United States Olympic Committee and the U.S. Soccer Federation. There is no cost for players to participate or be scouted, and all meals, lodging and gear are provided by US Club Soccer and Nike. This approach to eliminating barriers to entry helps ensure the best players are able to participate.

Here is the progression of id2 programming:

id2 Programming:

Scouting / invitation process
The id2 Program is invitation-only. id2 directors Gerry McKeown (boys) and Tricia Taliaferro (girls) lead scouting efforts through a multi-faceted process that includes scouting competitions themselves, receiving recommendations from Directors of Coaching, and consulting with a network of trusted scouts and coaches throughout the country for player leads.

id2 Selection events
id2 Selection events are one-day programs that include scouted, tactical training sessions and an 11v11 match. Regional leagues – like the National Premier Leagues member leagues – throughout the country co-host these events with US Club Soccer to facilitate a more comfortable scouting and developmental experience for players. Top performers are then invited to participate in id2 Training Camps. Typically, 30 boys and 30 girls players participate in id2 Selection events.

id2 Training Camps
id2 Training Camps are three-day regional identification and development camps, in which players – 36 boys and 36 girls – participate in a multi-faceted experience of training sessions and games, as well as off-the-field presentations and discussions. id2 directors lead the camps alongside a collection of top club coaches from around the country. Camps include carefully curated itineraries, balancing on-field training and scrimmages, classroom presentations, nutrition and recovery. Players receive evaluations from their camp coaches to help continue their developmental journeys in their club environments back home. id2 directors share player ratings and feedback with U.S. Soccer youth national team staff for potential invitations to future youth national team programming. Watch a “day in the life” of an id2 participant from a past training camp here.

id2 National Selection teams
The final programming element of each id2 cycle is the selection of id2 National Selection boys and girls teams. Selected players travel internationally to train with each other and compete against some of the world’s best academy teams. Numerous professional players are former id2 National Selection team members, including: Christian Pulisic, Lindsey Horan, Tim Weah, Catarina Macario and Jonathan Gonzalez. In addition to meals, lodging and gear being provided by US Club Soccer and Nike, travel for all players is also covered. View the newly released “all-time Best XI” of id2 boys alumni here and id2 girls alumnae here.


ABOUT US CLUB SOCCER

A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer fosters the growth and development of soccer clubs in order to create the best possible environment for players of all ages.

Anchored by Players First and its pillars of Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Referee Development, Parent Engagement and Player Health & Safety, US Club Soccer offers registration, league- and cup-based competition platforms, player identification and a variety of other programming, resources and services.

US Club Soccer is sponsored by Nike, DICK'S Sporting Goods and Gatorade.

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