/From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center:/
*U.S. Soccer Development Academy
Reach 11 Sports Complex
Phoenix, Ariz.
Dec. 9, 2009*
*THAT S A WRAP FROM PHOENIX:* After five days spent across 18 fields at the Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix, the 2009 Development Academy Winter Showcase and International Friendlies have come to a close. All
counts toward the season standings, which will determine the final 12 teams with the best points per game that will advance to the 2010 playoffs.
*EVERYDAY ENVIRONMENT:* Throughout the weekend, ussoccer.com has been highlighting the theme for the 2009-10 Development Academy season of Everyday Training. The Everyday theme, which includes individual training, team training, off-field routines and games, was highlighted throughout the weekend in video content featuring members of the Men s National Team and youth national team coaches, and player education opportunities found inside the Athletes Lounge. To learn more about Everyday Environment, check out ussoccer.com s Winter Showcase page.
*_Everyday Environment_ *
Individual Training
Team Training
Off-field Lifestyle
Games
*BRAZIL WINS TWO, DRAWS ONE AT NIKE INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES:* The U.S.
U-17 Men s National Team closed out their participation
Nike International Friendlies against Netherlands on Monday evening.
Both teams fought through severe weather, including heavy wind and rain,
and Netherlands prevailed 3-0 over Wilmer Cabrera’s young side. The U.S.
team, which earned a draw against Brazil and fell to Portugal
in earlier games, has returned to Bradenton, Fla., and the U.S. Soccer
Residency Program to continue early preparations for the 2011 FIFA U-17
World Cup. Brazil took away the best record from the weekend, with wins
against the Netherlands and Portugal and a tie against the U.S.
*Nike International Friendlies Results*
_Date_ _Match_ _U.S. Goal Scorer(s)_
Dec. 4 Brazil 2, Netherlands 0
Dec. 4 USA 1, Portugal 2 Gijon
Dec. 5 Portugal 1, Netherlands 2
Dec. 5 USA 1, Brazil 1 Gulley
Dec. 7 Portugal 0, Brazil 3
Dec. 7 USA 0, Netherlands 3
*Quick Hits:*
* Nearly 300 college and professional coaches were on site scouting
some of the best players in the country.
* They joined 30 U.S. Soccer national staff coaches and scouts at
Reach 11 this weekend.
* Temperatures dipped into the low 40s on Monday as local records
were set for rain (.89 inches in one day) and wind, with 48 mph
sustained wind and 74 mph gusts recorded. The other four days of
the event averaged temperatures in the upper 50s.
* 155 referees representing 34 states were on hand officiating the
weekend s matches. Additionally, three of U.S. Soccer s full-time
referees Ricardo Salazar, Baldomero Toledo and Terry Vaughn
were at Reach 11 providing educational opportunities and
mentorship to up-and-coming referees. The three also served as
fourth officials for all six international games.
* Nike teamed up with (red) through its Lace Up, Save Lives
program, selling red laces and donating 100 percent of the profits
towards fighting HIV/Aids in Africa through the Global Fund and
Nike s own youth-oriented and football-based AIDS education
programs in Africa.
* U.S. Men s National Team defender Greg Vanney helped out at the
Showcase, offering to compete with all the participants in a Beat
the Pro!
skills-based competition that illustrated just how talented you
have to be to play on the world s stage.
*130 PLAYERS PARTICIPATE WITH ACADEMY SELECT TEAMS:* Eight Development
Academy Select Teams played in seven different games this weekend
as three teams of players born in 1994, three with players born in 1993
and one with players born in 1991 or 1992, competed against established
clubs across the weekend. With the Nike International Friendlies taking
a break on Sunday, the night game featured two Development Academy
Select Teams, U.S. U-20 Men s National Team head coach Thomas Rongen led
the older group (91/92s) and U.S. U-18 MNT head coach Mike Matkovich was
charged with the younger team (93s) in a match that brought hundreds of
college scouts and Academy club teams back to the international field.
Full results from the weekend s Select Team matches can be found at
ussoccer.com.
*GOALS GALORE:* We have compiled the best goals of each day into
highlight pieces for ussoccer.com. Make sure to look for your favorite
team s highlights from Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
*WE VE GOT IT:* The YNT Blog
extensive coverage of the Winter Showcase from Phoenix. Check out what s
going on around the Reach 11 Sports Complex, and find exclusive photos,
videos and written content surrounding the fields at Phoenix. If it s
scores you re after, we have those too.
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U.S. Soccer Federation, 1801 S. Prairie Ave, Chicago IL 60616
