Spain announced as destination for US Club Soccer’s 2012 id2 National Selection International Tour
id2 Program Overview | id2 Web page | 2012 id2 NSIT Web page
2011 id2 NSIT Video Journals
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Oct. 10, 2011) – With wins over teams from Ajax, Celtic and Manchester City over the past two years, US Club Soccer has announced that members of the 2012 id2 National Selection International Tour will look to build on that success Feb. 17-27 when they travel to Spain, home of the 2010 FIFA World Cup champions.
The id2 National Selection will consist of 18 male players born in 1998 and 1999 chosen from the fall 2011 id2 Program Training Camps. With the training grounds and stadiums of some of Spain’s top professional clubs as a setting, the squad will have the opportunity to train, attend professional matches and compete against youth teams from well-known professional clubs.
Beyond the chance to immerse themselves in a professional soccer environment and showcase their on-field abilities to the international soccer community, the 10-day tour offers players a unique educational and cultural experience of life in a foreign country.
“Spain is home to some of the best club and international soccer in the world, so I’m very excited for the experiences our young players will gain on the 2012 id2 National Selection International Tour,” said Gerry McKeown, US Club Soccer’s id2 Boys’ Program Director and head coach of the id2 National Selection. “The international tour has grown a lot over the past two years and will once again give the players an opportunity to compete against strong teams and watch some high-level professional soccer all while taking in the culture of a new country.”
This will mark the third successive year for the id2 National Selection International Tour, following on the heels of very successful trips to Germany and the Netherlands in 2010 and England and Scotland in 2011.
Consistent with US Club Soccer’s philosophy that identification and development should be free to players, the organization is funding the trip in conjunction with the strong support of Nike; there is no cost to players.
The tour schedule will be announced at a later date. Additionally, player selections will be finalized by late December, at which time the travel roster will be announced.
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2011-12 id2 PROGRAM DETAILS: |
The 2011-12 id2 Program will feature boys born in 1998-99 and girls born in 1995-98. The program will include four id2 Program Training Camps, the National Selection International Tour and the ECNL/id2 Program National Training Camp for girls.
id2 Program Training Camps for 1998-99 boys and 1997-98 girls:
• Oct. 13-16 at the PDA Soccer Complex in Zarephath, N.J. (boys and girls)
• Nov. 10-13 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas (boys and girls)
• Spring Camp #1 (specific dates and location TBA)
• Spring Camp #2 (specific dates and location TBA)
2012 id2 National Selection International Tour for 1998-99 boys:
• Feb. 17-27, 2012 – Spain
2012 ECNL/id2 National Program Training Camp for girls:
• Early 2012 (specific dates and location TBA)
Established in 2004, US Club Soccer’s id2 National Identification and Development Program provides an opportunity for the country's elite youth soccer players to be identified and developed, while also being scouted for inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s National Team programs.
A comprehensive national scouting and recommendation program is used to form a player pool from which top players are invited to attend an id2 Program Training Camp.
There is no cost to the player to be scouted or recommended for the id2 Program. Additionally, the id2 Program is open to all players regardless of U.S. Soccer affiliation, or lack thereof.
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 all 50 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. US Club Soccer also directs its own player identification and development program – id2.
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