We will not hold traditional open tryouts but rather have interested players/families attend our team training sessions.

To learn more about the US Development Academy Program contact:

Clark Brisson, clarkbrisson@netzero.net 843-270-0596
Rob Strickland, robert.strickland@firstcitizensonline.com 803-530-5554
www.scunitedda.com

After receiving overwhelming support from the Development Academy membership, the Academy is moving to a schedule beginning in the fall of 2012 that runs from September through June (or July based on postseason play). This creates a format that is similar to those followed by the elite soccer playing nations around the world as the Development Academy and U.S. Soccer continue their goal of closing the performance gap with the top soccer nations.

“If we want our players to someday compete against the best in the world, it is critical for their development that they train and play as much as possible and in the right environment,” said U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. “The Development Academy 10-month season is the right formula and provides a good balance between training time and playing competitive matches. This is the model that the best countries around the world use for their programs, and I think it makes perfect sense that we do as well.”

A number of clubs already have switched to the 10-month season and have seen substantial improvement (Western Conference, Texas Division). U.S. Soccer recognizes there might be challenges during the transition process and will work with individual clubs to make this swift transition as easy as possible.

• Frequently Asked Questions | Quote Sheet: Academy and National Team Coaches 
  Video: Academy Clubs Move to a 10-Month Season

Moving to a 10-month season means players can focus on training together three or four times per week and play meaningful games on the weekend nearly year-round. Fewer games and an extended season will allow for the addition of a substantial number of extra training sessions, which are the primary vehicle for player development.

The 10-month season allows for a greater opportunity to institute a style of play and implement a system according to U.S. Soccer’s Curriculum as well as build team chemistry. It also gives teams increased opportunities for younger kids in their club to “play up” against older players in both training and matches, thereby accelerating their development.

“Going to a 10-month season is an important step in the evolution of elite player development,” said U.S. Soccer Youth Technical Director Claudio Reyna. “The format provides the ideal platform to place an increased emphasis on the value of training on a regular basis, and offers the opportunity to play in quality, competitive games throughout an extended season. This schedule puts our elite players in line with kids in their age group internationally, and places the appropriate physical demands at this stage in their development.

“The addition of a significant number of training sessions per year will enhance the ability of players to develop,” said Reyna. “Along with the support of our membership, this move has been greeted with enthusiasm from leading soccer nations around the world.”

U.S. Soccer created the Development Academy in 2007 to improve the everyday environment for the elite youth player. The Development Academy is a partnership between U.S. Soccer and the top youth clubs around the country to provide the best youth players in the U.S. with an everyday environment designed to produce the next generation of National Team players.

Both games were hosted at Blackbaud Stadium. Saturday, June 4th, SC United hosted Weston FC at 2:30pm with
temperatures in the mid 90’s. The two teams tied 2-2 in the previous fixture last fall in Weston, FL. The match was
a high level Academy game with both teams trying to keep playoff hopes alive. Wes Eads (Fort Dorchester HS)
scored the games only goal in the 52nd minute which was assisted by Nestor Jaramillo (Cardinal Newman HS). Joe
Wichmann (Wando HS) was the goalkeeper making key saves to preserve the win for SC United.

Sunday, June 5th SC United hosted Kendall FC from Miami, Florida needing to score a minimum of 3 goals and win
by a margin of two goals. Hamilton Carlin (Wando HS) scored 3 consecutive goals in a 4 minute span to lead SC
United to a 3-0 lead 13 minutes into the half. Connor Dunbaker (Irmo HS) closed out the scoring in the first half
making it 4-0. Wes Eads scored the lone second half goal for a 5-0 victory.

It was a total team effort as the team looks to build momentum for the playoff run June 23-28 in Frisco, Texas at Pizza
Hut Park.

“Everyone was instrumental in these two victories”, states Clark Brisson SC United’s Executive Director.
Lowcountry Team members include: Hamilton Carlin, Waldo Cepeda, Hunter Danna, Andrew Davis, Andrew
Eskinazi, Christian Jablonski, Brock King, & Joe Wichmann from (Wando HS). Wes Eads and Devin L’Amoreaux
from (Fort Dorchester HS), Eli Dent- (West Ashley), Marc Kaizi-Lutu-(Bishop England), Josh Schooler- (James Island
HS) Midlands players include: Connor Dunbaker (Irmo HS), Koty Millard & Nestor Jaramillo from (Cardinal Newman), Rex Epps and Brice Rizzetta
(Dutch Fork), Ben Gause-(Dreher HS), Avery Ryan-Florence, Caleb Moore-(Northwestern HS), and Luke Waechter
and Matt Tran from Augusta, GA.

Joe Amon, (Summerville HS) is on the roster but he has not competed with the team as he is in Bradenton, Florida at
US Soccer’s U17 Residency Program. Joe will compete for the US starting June 18th at the FIFA U17 World Cup in
Mexico.

For the 2011/12 season the teams will be competing as SC United Battery wearing Charleston Battery colors and
continuing playing matches at Blackbaud Stadium in the Lowcountry and University of South Carolina in Columbia,
SC.

More information on the USSF Development Academy Program and SC United Development Academy can be found
at www.scunitedda.com

“We are proud supporters of all levels of youth soccer in South Carolina and are pleased to be able to assist with our state’s elite teams,” said Charleston Battery president Andrew Bell. “South Carolina United DA has done an excellent job of identifying the best young players in South Carolina and we look forward to assisting them as the program continues to grow.”

South Carolina United DA teams donned the Charleston Battery jerseys this past March in the inaugural 2011 Carolina Challenge Academy Cup that featured Chicago Fire, Toronto FC and North Meck academies.

Formed in 1993 the Charleston Battery is the only professional soccer Club in South Carolina and plays at Blackbaud Stadium, Daniel Island the first privately-financed soccer specific stadium in the U.S. 

The Battery competes in the USL PRO league and has won USL championships on three occasions (1996, 2003 & 2010).  Each year the Battery also hosts the Carolina Challenge Cup featuring three MLS teams in a week-long round-robin pre-season tournament.

South Carolina United Development Academy Executive Director Clark Brisson states, “This is a natural progression in our player development pyramid and gives our Academy players another realistic goal to shoot for, by getting a call up to a professional team.”

“The relationship has already paid dividends as four players have been called into training with the Battery and one player, Nico Rittmeyer appeared in several Battery pre-season games.”

We are very excited to be a member of the Southeast Pre-Academy League,” said Clark Brisson, South Carolina United Development Academy Executive Director . “This league provides an avenue for the top young boys to compete against the best players and clubs in the region every year.  We expect the Southeast Pre-Academy League to be an important part of improving player development and opportunity for our players to bridge the gap of player progression with the goal of better preparing them for US Soccer’s 16/18 Development Academy.”

The Southeast Pre-Academy League and NPL websites are currently under construction and will be launched in the near future.

Trials for the team will start the weekend of May 7 in Columbia and May 8 in Charleston.  More details on tryouts will follow.

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..

US Soccer video with comments from Joe Amon

 

• Position: Defender
• Date Of Birth: June 14, 1994
• Height: 5-7
• Weight: 130
• Hometown: Summerville, S.C.
• Club: South Carolina United

US Soccer game higlights http://www.ussoccer.com/News/U-17-MNT/2011/02/US-U17-MNT-Beats-Panama.aspx

• U.S. Will Play Cuba on Feb. 14 and Panama on Feb. 18 in Three-Team Group B

• Top Four Teams Will Advance to the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico from June 18–July 10

• Thirteen Players on Qualifying Roster are Part of U.S. Soccer Development Academy

CHICAGO (Feb. 11, 2011) – U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team head coach Wilmer Cabrera has finalized his 20-player roster for the 2011 CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

The U.S. team will travel to Jamaica on Saturday, Feb. 12, ahead of its opening Group B match against Cuba on Monday, Feb. 14, at Catherine Hall Stadium at 3 p.m. ET. The U-17s round out play in the three-team group on Friday, Feb. 18, against Panama with a 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff at Jarrett Park. Fans can follow all of the U.S. games on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker with updates on Twitter @ussoccer_ynt.

Complete article available at http://www.ussoccer.com/News/U-17-MNT/2011/02/Cabrera-Names-20-Man-Roster.aspx

2010 Development Academy Winter Showcase and Nike International Friendlies

For more info go to www.prysmian.com

Bridge Futbol Alliance, Inc., South Carolina’s sole participant in the heralded U. S. Soccer Development Academy operated nationally by the United States Soccer Federation announced today formation of South Carolina United FC, Inc., a new non-profit entity which will, commencing with the 2009-2010 season, provide a U.S. Soccer Development Academy program for boys ages 15 – 18 and a new US Club Elite Girls Showcase program for girls ages 15 – 17.

“To say we are excited about the creation of South Carolina United FC is an incredible understatement.” said Clark Brisson, Bridge FA’s Executive Director. “With new training opportunities now available in Columbia, both male and female elite level players from across the state who aspire to play national competition on a regular basis before college recruiters and national team scouts can now be served centrally in Columbia as well as the Coastal area.”  

Pursuant to consulting and licensing agreements entered into with Columbia United FC, South Carolina’s largest youth soccer club, South Carolina United FC will adopt the look and feel of Columbia United FC and will have training and match usage rights to Columbia United FC’s BB&T Soccer Complex and Midlands Orthopaedic Soccer Complex. As viewed by Tripp Miller, Director of Soccer Administration for Columbia United “When we formed Columbia United FC, our goal was to make available quality youth soccer opportunities for any child to play soccer at a level commensurate with his or her own level of ability, desire and commitment. From day one, our slogan has always been ’One Community - One Club - One Passion – All Youth – All Levels – All Soccer’. Exposing the very, very best of our 4,600 plus players to the type of program South Carolina United FC has to offer is indeed consistent with Columbia United’s mission.” 
 

Congratulations to Koty Millard for being selected to U15 National Team Camp.  This represents the 4th player selected to US National Team Camps from South Carolina United FC in the past year. 

Read the full US Soccer announcement.

Sophomore Wesley Eads is among a group of less than 30 players who were invited to tryout for the elite team. The tryout is an important step in the process of determining who will represent the United States in the U-17 World Cup being held in Mexico in the summer of 2011.

Selections for players who will move on to the next step will be made at the end of the tryouts, which are being conducted this week at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla., where the Men’s National Team trains.

Eads and his brother, Randall, who is currently playing at Winthrop University, were the primary scoring threats for the Fort Dorchester team in 2009.  Wesley is also a member of the U-16 SC Academy club team coached by Clark Brisson.

The SC United FC is in first place in its division and currently holds the best record overall in the US Developmental Academy with a 13-2-1 record. Wesley is the second leading scorer in the US Developmental Academy with 10 goals and 4 assists. ?His showing during the 2009 Development Academy Winter Showcase and Nike International Friendlies in Phoenix, Ariz. led to the invitation to tryout for the National team.  There, he was chosen for the Development Academy Select Teams, which are comprised of only 45 players.

According to the National coaching staff, Wesley is one of our nation’s top players in his age bracket.

Registered through US Club Soccer with South Carolina United FC, these players will engage in training sessions and match play under the guidance and supervision of the South Carolina United FC coaching staff and otherwise participate in curriculum and competition as implemented by the United States Soccer Federation’s US Development Academy Leadership. While final plans are still in progress, it is anticipated that all U14 Academy Initiative players selected will compete in 8-12 matches against teams from other U.S. Development Academy club’s Initiative programs throughout the 2009/2010 season which will be scheduled around the players’ home clubs’ regular activities as best can be accommodated.  It is anticipated that matches will be played mid-November thru February.  It is also anticipated that U14 Academy Initiative Pool will train together 1–3 times a week depending on the time of the year. 

South Carolina United FC Development Academy Contacts

Board of Directors	Click Here
Executive Director	Clark Brisson	Ext. 21
Director of Soccer	Rob Strickland	Ext. 22
Director of Administration	Tripp Miller	Ext. 11
Board Secretary	Lynn Holmes
Registrar	Monica Beebe	Ext. 30
Website Administrator	Lisa Stevens