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Youth Soccer in New England
The youth soccer scene in New England is the usual alphabet soup of acronyms and abbreviations that you find in other parts of the country. From NCCL to MAPLE, to ODP and Super-Y, youth soccer has changed immeasurably in New England over the years that Soccer New England has been covering it.
There has been a massive increase in soccer participation in the region, and the quality of play has undoubtedly improved dramatically. Whether that has resulted in greater success on the field, though, is open to debate.
Kristine Lilly is the only native New Englander who currently starts on a regular basis for either of the two senior US National teams. There are a handful of others, male and female, who represent their country at the youth levels.
Two local products, Jay Heaps and Kyle Martino, are regular starters for their respective MLS clubs, the Revs and the Galaxy, while half a dozen of their female counterparts played in the WUSA and could be expected to play in the new professional women’s league when it re-launches in 2009.
Local clubs who have made an impact at Regional and National Championships include South Shore United U-12 boys, who became the first Massachusetts team to win a Region 1 Championship in July of 1990, the Greater Boston Bolt Girls U-19s, who went one better and brought home the National Championship in 1994, Oakwood Soccer Club , Seacoast United, South Coast Scorpions and Spirit of Mass.
There are dozens of others, and this is the part of the site where we cover the youth game, the parents, the coaches and the players who make the scene so vibrant. We also cover the issues that affect the youth game and player development throughout the region, such as the emerging trend of paid coaches, the proliferation of different leagues and the role the Revs and MLS may one day play in youth development.
If you have your own view on issues affecting kids soccer, feel free to drop us an email and we’ll publish them on a “Letters to the Editor” page.
Latest Youth Soccer Stories
5/10/08 - Former UConn Asst. Scouts Academy.
CHICAGO – Among the many spectators watching Thursday night’s US Development Academy match between Real Colorado and the Colorado Rapids youth team was former UConn assistant coach Bobby Muuss.
5/8/08 - Two Area Players in US Youth Camps.
Two players from local clubs are shipping out to U.S. Under-14 and U15 camps, respectively.
5/6/08 - MYSA Coach to Head Revs Youth Program.
Mario Prata, an instructive staff and development coach with the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association, was hired by the Revolution has their new Director of Youth Development and will construct the club’s Under-16 and teams in the U.S. Development Academy.
4/30/08 - New England Clubs Continue in Academy.
In the latest weekend action in the U.S. Development Academy, the four New England entries combined for just two losses in 14 games over two days last week.
4/27/08 - Bolts Win BU14 North Division.
The FC Greater Boston Bolts boy’s Under-14 team won its last two Region 1 Premier League games at last weekend to earn a trip to the playoffs as the undefeated North Division champs.
4/18/08 - Revs Join Development Academy.
The Revolution's newly implemented youth development teams will complete in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, beginning this fall, US Soccer announced Thursday.
4/16/08 - Clubs Battle in Academy.
Seacoast United got the best of the other New England teams this week in our Development Academy wrap-up. United went 4-0 last weekend, highlighted by matching 3-1 victories in the Under-17/18 age bracket
4/9/08 - Local Academies Face Off.
In US Soccer Development Academy action last weekend, the four New England teams matched-up in both the Under-15/16 and Under-17/18 age groups.
4/2/08 - Area Clubs Have Mixed Results.
In Soccer New England’s continued coverage of New England’s four Development Academy teams, last weekend saw FC Greater Boston, Oakwood Soccer Club, South Central Premier and Seacoast United go a combined 4-8-2.
3/26/08 - Seacoast and South Central Meet in NE Battle.
Two of New England’s entries in the US Development Academy meet last weekend for the first time when New Hampshire’s Seacoast United traveled to Connecticut’s South Central Premier for a U-15/16 match-up.
3/13/08 - Local Clubs Resume Development Academy Play.
Connecticut’s Oakwood SC U17/18 squad took the pitch in the US Development Academy for the first time since last month’s Winter Showcase, losing 3-0 to first-place and undefeated BW Gottshee (New York) last weekend.
3/8/08 - Nothern Mass. Clubs Announce Merger.
In a long-anticipated move, two Northern Massachusetts clubs – Aztec Soccer and New England Soccer School – officially merged operations this week, announcing the formation of one super-club, New England Aztec, complete with a new logo and an affiliation with England’s Everton FC and its youth academy training system.
3/3/08 - US Club Soccer Reelects Board Members.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Four positions on US Club Soccer's Board of Directors have been filled following elections for the two-year terms, including the reelection of Region I's Peter Bradley, Director of Coaching for Mass Premier Soccer.
2/20/08 - New England Clubs Get First Taste of Academy.
FRISCO, Texas – Four New England clubs went a combined 4-8-4 in their first US Development Academy appearances in the league’s Winter Showcase held last weekend at Pizza Hut Park.
2/14/08 - Sarachan Joins Development Academy.
United States Soccer has hired former Chicago Fire coach and U.S. Assistant Dave Sarachan as Scouting Manager of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. Also joining the Development Academy brass are former Cape Cod Crusader Tony Lepore and former Revolution striker Raul Diaz Arce.
2/11/08 - Mass. Youth Coach Honored.
Michael Elster (boys) of Sutton (Mass.) Youth Soccer Club was one of two recipients of the 2007 US Youth Soccer adidas Competitive Coach of the Year award.
1/31/08 - Local club Makes Top 25.
The FC Greater Boston Bolts were ranked No. 10 in Soccer America's annual Top 25 list of the best boy's clubs in the nation.
1/16/08 - 72 Players Invited To US U-18 Mega Camp.
CHICAGO – Braintree's (Mass.) Scott Caldwell was among the 72 players invited to the U.S. Under-18 men's soccer team's January mega-camp at the IMG Academies in Brandenton, Fla.
1/12/08 - US Women's Teams Realign for '08.
CHICAGO – The U.S. women's soccer program is undergoing a reconstruction at the youth level. The program will reinstitue its Under-18 team and the Under-21 team is being converted to a U-23 side to continue to compete in the annual Nordic Cup.
1/6/08 - Help Boston Girls Play Soccer.
You can help disadvantaged Boston girls play soccer.
12/31/07 - Synergy Surprise Team at Disney Showcase.
Synergy FC of Vermont was the surprise of the Disney Soccer Showcase this weekend, making it all the way to the semifinals before being elimintaed in the boys U-15 division.
12/10/07 - U17s Beat Brazil Fall to Turkey.
The U.S. Under-17 men's soccer team defeated Brazil, 2-0, Saturday, but fell to Turkey by the same score in the final international match of the Development Academy Nike Friendlies on Sunday.
12/7/07 - U17s Win First Game Under Cabrera.
The U.S. Under-17 ('92) men's soccer team won its first international game under new head coach Wilmer Cabrera, beating Russia, 2-0, Thursday in the first game of the Development Academy Nike Friendlies.
12/5/07 - Nike Friendlies Kick Off With US U17 vs Russia.
The 2007 Development Academy Nike Friendlies kick off Thursday when the U.S. Under-17 ('92) men's soccer team faces off with Russia at 3 p.m. live on the Fox Soccer Channel.
11/20/07 - Soccer Safety - Vol. 4.
Turf fields have come a long way. The older, first- and second-generation fields led to increases in leg and knee injuries as well as more severe head and neck injuries when players hit the ground.
11/1/07 - Soccer Safety - Vol. 3.
Many are surprised to learn that 31 people have been killed and 51 have been seriously injured due to falling soccer goals.
11/1/07 - Soccer Safety - Vol. 2 (Part B).
In this section we present practical tips to retain and generate heat to prevent cold injury and improve the comfort and performance of soccer players in cold weather.
10/30/07 - Soccer Safety - Vol. 2 (Part A).
Part A of this article will describe the risk factors and signs associated with the stages of loss of core body temperature, or hypothermia. Part B will make practical suggestions to keep players safer, warmer, and more comfortable under cold or wet conditions.
10/30/07 - Four NE High Schools in Girls Top 25. 1.
Four New England high school girls' soccer teams are ranked in the top-25 in the nation in the NSCAA/adidas National High School Rankings, including two teams in the top 10.
10/27/07 - Three NE High Schools in Boys Top 25. 1.
Three New England high schools are ranked in the top-25 in the nation in the NSCAA/adidas Boys National High School Rankings.
10/27/07 - Soccer Safety - Vol. 1.
Look across virtually any sport field and you will see the players' water bottles laying in the grass or turf. In the past, the team trainer or coach would bring out a 6-pack of water bottles for all players to share - now we know that sharing bottles is unhealthy and can lead to the transmission of germs and illnesses amongst players.
10/26/07 - Cabrera Takes Over US U-17s.
Colombian World Cup veteran Wilmer Cabrera was named head coach of the U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team and head of the U.S. Soccer U-17 Residency Program, both positions formerly occupied by the recently promoted John Hackworth.
10/24/07 - Fore Kicks II Breaks Ground in Marlborough.
After almost two years in the works, construction workers, city councilors and the Mayor broke ground on the new Fore Kicks II facility in Marlborough, Mass. this Monday.
10/23/07 -Development Academy Announces Winter Showcase.
Forty-three teams from the U-15/16 and U-17/18 age groups across the country will descend upon Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas from Feb. 16-18 for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy's Winter Showcase.
10/12/07 - US Club Soccer's id2 Program Comes to an End.
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.
10/10/07 - Youth Spotlight Shrewsbury Girls Win Natick Tournament.
The "Lady Hurricanes" of Shrewsbury, Mass. won the 26th annual Division One Natick Soccer Tournament for the Girls U-14 division.
10/7/07 - Development Academy Kicks Off.
U.S. Soccer Development Academy kicked off this weekend with a full slate of matches headlined by the U.S. Under-17 men's national team's match against Chivas USA's U18 squad.
10/2/07 - Phantmoms and Classics Team Up.
The USL's New Hampshire Phantoms are teaming up with the New Hampshire Classics club team to form the New Hampshire Soccer Alliance, a partnership designed to develop players from kindergarten to the pros.
9/28/07 - Opening Match Set for Development Academy.
Birmingham United will meet the Atlanta Fire Saturday in the opening match of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s inaugural season.
9/15/07 - Scorpions at UMass Dartmouth.
Scorpions Soccer Club will be expanding their highly acclaimed soccer skills coaching program to UMass Dartmouth.
7/26/07 - Everton Youth at NESS.
The Everton FC U9s come to Boston this week to take on five teams from New England and highlight the club's new web-based coaching program.
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