US Soccer's id2 Program Comes to an End

October 12, 2007

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – US Club Soccer’s id2 program concluded this week, ending the U.S. Soccer-staffed Regional Training Camps designed to scout attendees for possible inclusion in the National Team Program.

Top club and collegiate coaches conducted the id2 camps where training sessions and matches were contested in the mornings at some of the nation’s finest facilities in Germantown, Maryland, St. Louis, Missouri and Irvine, California. In the evenings, players received instruction and engaged in Question & Answer sessions with the id2 coaching staff and guest speakers in a classroom setting.

“The level of play was very good at all three camps and improved from last year,” said id2 Director Gerry McKeown, who also coaches the U.S. U-15 Boys National Team. “Some of the attendees are definitely capable of competing with the National Team and made considerable progress towards that goal by participating in the id2 program.”

Boys born in ’94 and ‘95 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.

A major focus of the 2007 id2 program was to encourage players to express their creativity. Through on-field exercises and drills, the id2 attendees were told to not be afraid to take risks and attempt new moves.

“The players embraced the creative aspect in training,” McKeown said. “However, when the matches began, many of the campers resorted to their natural tendencies and played safe. As fully incorporating a creative ideal into the players’ mindsets takes time, the id2 program will seek to further cultivate the willingness of the players to experiment and to take chances on the field.”

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 in the coming months.

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