CHARLESTON, S.C. (Aug. 24, 2009) – For the first time in the history of US Club Soccer’s id2 player identification and development program, a team of the best 18 boys’ players from this fall’s 2009 id2 Regional Training Camps will have the opportunity to take a post-event international trip.

The trip, scheduled for Feb 5-14, 2010, will take the group to the Netherlands and Germany, where the squad will have the opportunity to experience the day-to-day culture of some of the world’s most well-known professional clubs while also improving themselves on the field via high-level training and game competition.

The 10-day trip affords players the opportunity to immerse themselves in a professional soccer environment while garnering the benefits from a broad educational and cultural experience.

The id2 squad will play three games against the youth teams of some of Europe’s top professional clubs as well as tour the facilities, visit training and attend games of professional teams. The trip also provides players with further evaluation by U.S. Soccer’s National Team staff as well as the opportunity to show their abilities to the international soccer community in a professional environment.

"This is a great opportunity for our young players to experience international competition in an environment rich with culture and a population that is completely immersed in the beautiful game,” said id2 Boys’ Director and U.S. U-15 Boys’ National Team assistant coach Gerry McKeown.

Consistent with US Club Soccer’s philosophy that identification and development should be free to players, the organization will be funding the trip overseas in conjunction with the strong support of Nike; there will be no cost to players.

“Nike Soccer is proud to support US Club Soccer and the id2 program as it provides valuable opportunities for players to develop their soccer skills in a unique environment,” said Joe Elsmore, Nike’s Director of U.S. Soccer Sports Marketing.

An additional announcement related to the expansion of US Club Soccer’s girls’ id2 program will be forthcoming in the near future.

About id2 [id2 Web page]:
id2 Regional Training Camps are invitation-only events that bring together the nation’s top boys’ and girls’ youth players for four days of training, competition and evaluation. Invitations are sent after an extensive scouting and recommendation program in which players throughout the country are identified in their own environment as they compete with their club teams. The 2009 program targets boys born in 1996-97 and girls born in 1995-96.

Player recommendations [form] are currently being accepted, and invitations will continue to be extended to qualified players with national team pool potential.

The 2009 id2 Regional Training Camps are as follows:
• Oct. 1-4 at the PDA Soccer Complex in Zarephath, N.J. (Boys and girls)
• Nov. 12-15 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas (Boys and girls)
• Dec. 10-13 at Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix (Boys only)

About US Club Soccer:
US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop competitive club soccer in the United States. A member of the United States Soccer Federation since July 2001, US Club Soccer has grown to include member clubs and leagues in 49 states. In addition to sanctioning and administering 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 player identification and development program – id2.

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