The inaugural 2004 id² National Training Camp was held in Raleigh, N.C. July 25-29, 2004 and conducted by head staff coach Tim Carter, who formerly served as U.S. Soccer’s Director of Youth Development. Over 100 U-13 boys (‘91s) participated in the camp, which was attended by John Ellinger, at the time U.S. Soccer’s Director of Youth Development, and his U.S. Soccer Youth Development staff. Six id² participants earned invitations to US Soccer’s U14 National Development Program camp. Another 20 players were added to US Soccer’s U14 player pool.

The 2005 id² National Training Camp expanded to include over 100 U-13 (‘92) and U-14 (‘91) boys and was held in Jacksonville, Fla. July 24-28, 2005. The camp was conducted by Tim Carter, who returned for his second year as head staff coach. Over 100 boys in U-13 and U-14 age groups participated in the camp which was attended by Brian Maisonneuve, U.S. Soccer’s U-17 Men’s National Team assistant coach, and Juan Carlos Michia, a U.S. Soccer Men’s National Staff Coach. Six id² attendees earned invitations to U.S. Soccer’s U-14 National Development Program camp.

The 2006 id² program moved to a regional format and included girls’ age groups for the first time. Boys and girls with ’93 and ’94 birth years were eligible to participate in the 2006 id² program. Rather than staging a National Training Camp in 2006, the id² program consisted of three regional events across the country. U.S. Soccer staff were on site at these id² Regional Training Camps to scout players for possible inclusion in the National Team Programs:

• Oct. 6-9 in Zarephath, N.J., hosted by PDA for Boys and Girls
• Oct. 6-9 in Irvine, Calif. hosted by Coast Soccer League for Boys and Girls
• Oct. 12-15 in Chicago, Ill. hosted by Chicago Magic for Boys

The id² blog provides a glimpse of the 2006 id² experience as well as photos.

In May 2007, Nike and US Club Soccer announced the hiring of Gerry McKeown as id² Director. McKeown directed and managed the scouting team, player nominations and player selections for the 2007 id² program. Currently, the Summit, N.J. resident works as the Boys DOC at PDA and as an assistant coach with the U.S. U-15 Boys’ National Team.

The 2007 id² program culminated with three id² Regional Training Camps, which were held in late September and early October. Boys born in 1994 and 1995 and girls born in 1993 and 1994 were identified to participate in the following id² Regional Training Camps:

• September 20-23 - Germantown, Md.
• September 27-30 - St. Louis, Mo.
• October 5-8 - Irvine, Calif.

In 2007, the id² selection team focused on increasing the diversity of the player pool. To extend the program’s reach beyond the traditional player make-up, “Urban Champions” served as scouting contacts for under-served communities including the inner city. The 2007 id² scouting team also sought to identify players who express creativity on the field. Cultivating player creativity on the field was the main focus of the 2007 id² Regional Training Camps.

The 2007 id² blog offers insight into the 2007 id2 Regional Training Camps as well as photos.

On Jan. 2, 2008, US Club Soccer announced the hiring of Rory Dames as id² Girls’ Director, allowing Gerry McKeown to focus on the boys’ side as the id² Boys’ Director. Since 1997, Dames has served as the Director of Coaching and Player Development for the Chicago-based Eclipse Select Soccer Club. In 2007, Soccer America named Eclipse Select SC the best girls’ soccer club in the nation.

The 2008 id² program featured boys born in 1995-96 and girls born in 1994-95. As usual, USSF National Team staff were in attendance, and numerous guest presenters, including Tab Ramos, John Harkes, Leslie Osborne and Heather O’Reilly, were on hand to offer insight and advice to the players during their time on and off the field. Three Regional Training Camps were held:

• Oct. 2-5 at PDA Soccer Facility in Zarephath, N.J.
• Oct. 10-13 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
• Nov. 13-16 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.

The 2009-10 id² program targeted boys born in 1996-97 and girls born in 1995-96. In addition to three Regional Training Camps, two new elements, a National Selection International Tour for boys and a National Training Camp for girls, were also introduced to the program:

2009 id² Regional Training Camps for 1996-97 boys and 1995-96 girls:

• 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, Ariz. (boys)

2010 id² National Selection International Tour for 1996-97 boys:

• Feb. 5-14, 2010 – Germany and the Netherlands

2010 id² National Training Camp for 1994-96 girls, in conjunction with the ECNL:

• Feb. 26-March 1, 2010 – Vista Park in Weston, Fla.

For the first time in the history of US Club Soccer’s id² program, a team of the best 18 boys’ players from the Regional Training Camps took part in the National Selection International Tour. The players traveled to the Netherlands and Germany from Feb. 5-14, 2010, where the squad experienced 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. [Results/link to the 2010 id² NSIT Web page]

Also for the first time, a total of 64 female players born in 1994-95-96 took part in the id2 National Training Camp, held Feb. 26-March 1, 2010, at Vista Park in Weston, Fla. The players had the opportunity to train in front of USSF National Team staff and numerous college coaches during the event, which was held in conjunction with the Elite Clubs National League.

The 2010-11 id² program will feature boys born in 1997-98 and girls born in 1994-97. The program will once again include three Regional Training Camps, the National Selection International Tour and the girls’ National Training Camp:

2010 id² Regional Training Camps for 1997-98 boys and 1996-97 girls:

• Sept. 30-Oct. 3 at the PDA Soccer Complex in Zarephath, N.J. (boys and girls)
• Nov. 11-14 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas  (boys and girls)
• Dec. 9-12 at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ariz. (boys and girls)

2011 id² National Selection International Tour for 1997-98 boys:

• Feb. 2011 – specific dates and location TBA

2011 id² National Training Camp for 1994-95 girls, in conjunction with the ECNL:

• Early 2011 – specific dates and location TBA

The second annual National Selection International Tour will take place in Feb. 2011, when a team of the best 18 boys’ players from the Regional Training Camps will travel to Europe.

Also slated for early 2011 is the second annual National Training Camp for girls born in 1994-95, which will once again be held in conjunction with the Elite Clubs National League.

2007 id² Regional Training Camp Testimonials from the Players

“I feel that everything was better than I could ever have expected. I made a lot of new friends here and I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity. The skill level was tremendous and it pushed me to be the best that I could be. I really enjoyed this experience and I hope to come back next year.”

- Emily Elkins, who attended the id² Regional Training Camp in Irvine, Calif.

“Being able to train with such talented players makes me want to be a better player. I want to take everything I learned at id² and help my team continue to get better. The coaches were great and I really like all the Nike gear.”

- Logan Manning, who attended the id² Regional Training Camp in St. Louis, Mo.

“I learned a lot in this camp and it made me realize how much I love soccer and how much I want to continue to play. This camp has made me realize that if I want to succeed, I need to work hard every moment. I need to train hard because that’s how I’m going to play in the game. Training on my own everyday will make me a better player. This camp taught me that I need to have confidence and determination. I also made many new friends that I look forward to seeing at future tournaments.”

- Haley Hughes, who attended the id² Regional Training Camp in Irvine, Calif.

“The games were great! I learned so much and they were a lot of fun too. The competition was unreal.”

- Alex Friedman, who attended the id² Regional Training Camp in St. Louis, Mo.

“The program makes it a reality for those of us that cannot afford to attend an ODP camp. It gives us the ability to be trained and seen by top level coaches.”

- Emily Morgan, who attended the id² Regional Training Camp in St. Louis, Mo.

“The interactions with the national team staff coaches really gave me the opportunity to understand what they are looking for at the higher level and to know what I need to work on to reach that level.”

- Reed Norton, who attended the id² Regional Training Camp in Germantown, Md.

“I really thought the id² camp had a positive effect on me. 1v1 was not my strong point but now I feel that has changed. I have improved so much and I have been exposed to a new level of soccer. I have never seen such talent in one place at one time. It was definitely a fun experience.”

- Jennifer Miller, who attended the id² Regional Training Camp in St. Louis, Mo.

“The camp was great. I was impressed to see some other players doing so well and it is an inspiration to get my level up. I had never traveled alone, and it was a good experience to be in a group for my favorite sport. The organization was very good.”

- Lucas Champenois, who attended the id² Regional Training Camp in Irvine, Calif.

“I had a very positive experience with the id² program. My soccer confidence was way up when I returned from camp. I was excited to go to soccer practice with my team and to work on the 1v1 skills I learned. It has been fun to use these skills in games. I plan to continue to work on my skills and to develop my upper body strength. It was an honor to attend the camp and I hope I get the chance again next year.”

- Sarah Schweiss, who attended the id² Regional Training Camp in Irvine, Calif.

2007 id² Regional Training Camp testimonials
2006 id² Regional Training Camp testimonials
2004 & 2005 id² Regional Training Camp testimonials