2006 id2 Regional Training Camps Archive
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. US Soccer Youth Development Program 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
2006 id2 testimonials
200 id2 Program Showcases Players’ Talent
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Oct. 23, 2006) – US Club Soccer’s 2006 id2 program concluded Sunday, Oct. 15 with the completion of the Chicago id2 Regional Training Camp. id2 Regional Training Camps were also held Oct. 6-9 in Irvine, Calif. and Zarephath, N.J. Boys and Girls with ’93 and ’94 birth years convened at the id2 Regional Training Camps for four days of training with US Soccer Youth Development Program staff in attendance to scout the attendees for possible inclusion in National Team Programs (The id2 Blog).
“After conducting id2 as a national camp purely for boys the past two years, moving to regional camps and adding girls age groups greatly increased the number of opportunities for players to showcase their talent in front of National Team scouts,” said US Club Soccer Executive Director Bill Sage. “The quality of play was excellent as many of the attendees took their first step towards reaching the National Team.”
Once players arrived at the id2 Regional Training Camps, US Club Soccer covered all player expenses. Top club and collegiate coaches conducted the id2 Regional Training Camps. Training sessions and matches were contested in the mornings and evenings at some of the nation’s finest facilities: the PDA Facility in Zarephath, N.J.; the Crawford Athletics Complex on the campus of UC-Irvine in Irvine, Calif. and the Chicago Magic Sports Club in Frankfort, Ill. In the afternoons, players received instruction and engaged in Question & Answer sessions with the U.S. National Team staff coaches and the id2 coaching staff in a classroom setting.
“This has been absolutely amazing,” said id2 staff coach Cle Kooiman. “They are very talented boys and girls, some of the best talent that I’ve ever seen in this age group. I think the experience for them to be able to have the opportunity to come in and maybe earn a chance to play for their country for free and be totally taken care of by US Club Soccer is just an amazing feat.”
The id2 player pool will continue to be scouted by US Club Soccer staff during the next year. Selected players will also continue to be evaluated by U.S. Soccer Youth Development Program staff and may be invited into National Team Programs this coming summer.
“The players’ technique and their ability to play with speed and move the ball around has been impressive,” said id2 staff coach Chad McCarty. “All the kids have done a good job of showing well.”
Nike, the Official Equipment Supplier of US Club Soccer, provided each id2 attendee with a Nike duffel bag full of jerseys, shorts, socks and other training gear to be worn throughout the camp. Balls for training and apparel for the id2 coaching staff were also supplied by Nike.
“Nike Soccer is proud and honored to support the id2 Program,” said Joe Elsmore, Nike’s Director of US Soccer Marketing. “Our strategic partnership with US Club Soccer continues to provide elite players with innovative and integrated opportunities to showcase their talents to some of the best scouts and coaches in the country.”
id2 Identification Process
Scouts from across the country identified players for inclusion in the id2 Regional Training Camps as they competed in their own environment with their club teams. id2 scouts evaluated players at the 2006 US Club Soccer National Cup V Regionals, as well as matches and tournaments staged throughout the summer.
Parents do not have to pay fees and travel costs to multiple expensive tryout camps to ensure their players are seen by id2 scouts. The id2 selection process is apolitical as players are identified regardless of their affiliation (i.e. US Club Soccer, USYSA, AYSO, non-affiliated, etc.).
“These [players] just need to get here and everything is taken care of,” said id2 staff coach Christina Bell. “You’re recognized by scouts and you get an opportunity. You don’t have to go through certain processes that aren’t available to all the kids. You miss out on players that don’t have those opportunities. Now you get the kids that wouldn’t otherwise have this experience. They get to play in this arena.”