Frequently Asked Questions & Answers What is the Development Academy Program? Following a comprehensive review of elite player development in the United States and around the world, U.S. Soccer created the Development Academy in 2007 to provide education, resources and support to impact everyday club environments that will develop world-class players. The Academy Program's philosophy is based on increased training, less total games, and more meaningful games using international rules of competition. The Academy also connects National Team coaches directly with the Academy clubs to develop and identify players and coaches for future Youth National Teams. Each Academy club is evaluated by a member of the Men s Scouting Network at least ten (10) times each year and each Academy club receives two (2) formal reviews that provide feedback in seven (7) Key Performance Categories each year from U.S. Soccer Technical Staff. Developing a world-class coaching system is fundamental to developing world-class players. Education is a continuous process. As the game of soccer is constantly evolving, it is important that coaches are knowledgeable on current domestic and international trends. U.S. Soccer Coaching Education supports the Development Academy in its initiative to require minimum certification for all technical staff. These requirements can be seen below: Academy club directors -> USSF A License and must complete the Academy Director s course Academy club technical staff -> USSF B license (minimum) The Academy is also focused on identifying and developing the next generation of elite referees. U.S. Soccer assigns up-and-coming officials to participate in Academy games at the local and national levels. To maintain a focus on club training environments, Academy players and teams do not play in any outside competitions without written permission from the U.S. Soccer Development Academy staff. Full-time Academy players can only participate on their designated Academy team, with only two exceptions: U.S. Soccer Training Centers and National Team duty. The Development Academy's 10-month Program allows for a greater opportunity to institute style of play and implement a system according to U.S. Soccer's Development Philosophy. 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. Academy players choosing to participate in the Academy full-time will forgo playing for their high school team. Cost Question: What is the cost to play in the DA? Answer: The club fee to play on the DA team is the same as a premier team. The team budget process is the same as your current team has. The team determines costs and divides that up amongst the team members. The past two years the team budget/cost for the DA has been less than that of Premier teams.
TBU Development Academy Training & Matches Question: Where will the TBU DA team train? Answer: The DA team will train at Waters Avenue complex, Monroe Middle School and the Ed Radice Sports Complex. This is subject to change based on weather, field conditions etc. Question: How many days a week does the TBU DA team train? Answer: The U13 & U14 DA teams will train 4 times a week, Monday - Thursday, for 1.5 to 2 hours. One session per week will include and be with an athletic performance coach. This is subject to change based on team needs (rest/recovery), match schedule, and scheduled breaks. The U12 DA team will train 3 times per week, Monday - Thursday, for 1.5 to 2 hours. One session per week will include and be with an athletic performance coach. This is subject to change based on team needs (rest/recovery), match schedule, and scheduled breaks. Question: What time will the TBU DA team train? Answer: Currently the U14 DA team trains from 7:30-9:00 pm. Currently the U13 team train at the same time as the U14 and the U12 team train from 6:00 7:30/7:45pm. All times are subject to change. Question: Where will the TBU DA Team play home matches? Answer: Matches will be played at either the Waters Complex or Ed Radice Sports Complex. Again, we will play where we have the best surface and based on the weather conditions as Ed Radice now has two turf fields. Question: What will the coach to player ratio be for training and matches? Answer: Most Academy sessions will have two coaches at each session. Each DA team will have a head and Assistant coach and we will also have an assistant coach who helps with all the DA teams. Questions: Are players required to attend all training sessions? Answer: Yes. Players will be expected to attend all training sessions. We do understand there are family functions, school events, etc that will cause players to miss occasionally but they should be communicated well in advance.
TBU Development Academy Training & Matches Question: Where does the team travel to? Answer: The U13 & U14 teams will travel together and compete in the Florida Division, which includes; Jacksonville, Orlando City, Chargers, IMG, Boca United, Weston and Kendal. We will play each team three times. In addition there will be one regional event in the fall and a year ending national event in June. The location of these events varies from year to year. The U12 team will compete in the Florida North Division, which will include; IMG, Chargers, Players Club, Orlando City, Florida Rush and Jacksonville. Question: How does the team travel? Answer: The team will travel via combination of vans, bus, air and sometimes on your own depending on where we play. The U13 & U14 teams will travel to Jacksonville, Boca, Kendall and Weston via vans. All other division games players will get themselves to the game but we will have a meeting location near the field and the go to the fields together from there. The U12 team will get themselves to games, with the possible exception of Jacksonville. Question: Do parents travel with the players for away matches? Answer: Players, coaches, managers, club staff and parents serving as Chaperones will all travel together for away matches and events. If there are seats available in the vans we may offer them to parents on a first come first serve basis. Parents are encouraged to attend and support the team on the road. Question: How will the team eat on the road? Answer: The majority trips will not be overnight trips, thus team meals will be limited. When the team travels together the meals will be prearranged and eaten together. Some occasions we will go to an area with a variety of places to eat where they will be allowed to go eat in small groups. In addition we will make trips to the grocery store for the players to buy drinks and snacks. Question: Will the players have time to study while traveling? Answer: The majority of our trips will be there and back on the same day. On those occasions when we have an overnight stay or multiple nights we will arrange for a study table as needed.
TBU Development Academy Roster Management Question: What is the roster size for the TBU Development Academy team? Answer: The DA requires a minimum of 16 Full Time (FT) players and a max of 23 FT players on the U13 & U14 teams. We will more than likely carry 16 or 17 FT players and a max of 18. We are allowed to have an unlimited number of Developmental Players (DP s). DP s play full time for a team within the club and are allowed 6 appearances with the Development Academy team. FT players are not allowed to play or be on another team s roster. The U12 team must have a minimum of 24 FT players and a max of 26 FT players who are placed on to two teams for weekend games. The game day rosters are fluid and can change from game to game Question: What is Developmental Player (DP)? Answer: DP s are players that are not full-time with the USSDA Academy Team. They can appear in a max of six DA matches throughout the season. DP s play full time for a team within the club and are allowed 6 appearances with the Development Academy team. FT players are not allowed to play or be on another team s roster. A DP s will be full-time with their specific club team and have additional training / match opportunities with the DA team, when requested by the DA staff or when their team is not training. Question: How will players be selected for the match day roster? Answer: The U13 & U14 Players will be selected for each match based on: Training performance, match opportunity, roster management (per USSDA regulations regarding starts, etc ), injuries, opponent, and other factors deemed important by the coaching staff. As we will not carry more than 18 each player will be on the game day roster unless there are disciplinary issues. The U12 game day rosters can change from game to game and our coaches will contact our opponent s coaches prior to the game to insure we are arranging our teams to insure the appropriate competitive environment for each team. Question: How are players evaluated each year for renewal in the Development Academy Program for the following year? Answer: Players will be evaluated through their training and match performance throughout the Development Academy season. They will also be evaluated on professionalism, character, competitive desire, attendance, etc.
Question: How many players travel and play in each game? Answer: Per USSDA rules a max of 18 players will be selected for matches and travel to matches for the U13 and U14 teams. For the U12 team all players will travel and play. The two teams will be divided into two teams of 13. TBU Development Academy Gear & Equipment Question: What gear will be provided for the DA team? Answer: All DA players will order, pay for and receive the same gear as other teams within the club. As a team we may purchase extra training shirts, warm-ups, etc. Question: What will players wear for training? Matches? While Traveling? Answer: For training players will receive two training shirts as part of the club registration fee. We will more than likely order two additional shirts as we will be training and playing 4-5 days a week. Per above players will order and pay for their uniform the same as all other players within the club. Attire for travel is TBD and will be included on each game day itinerary. TBU Development Academy Competition & Events Question: What teams comprise the DA competition? Answer: The TBU DA competes in the Sunshine Division of DA at the U13 & U14 ages and in the Florida North division at the U12 age group. U13 & U14 teams will play each team three times. The U12 will play each team home and away twice and additional 4 friendly matches. Question: What tournaments and events will the DA team participate in? Answer: In addition to our USSDA regular season schedule the DA team in some or all of the following events: U13 & U14 DA Regional Event (2016 event was held in Charlotte, NC). USSDA Year Ending Showcase U14 age group only (2017 event will be in Indianapolis, Indiana). Disney Winter Showcase is an approved event should we choose to play (Dec. 27-30). DA Florida Futsal event. Friendly matches will be played in preseason and during other breaks in the season. Other events may be selected to participate in pending approval from US Soccer.
TBU Development Academy Player Promotion Question: Will players be assisted / guided with moving to a U16/15 USSDA team upon exhausting eligibility with the TBU U13/14 DA team. Answer: First, we have applied and will continue to apply for the older ages in the DA. In 2017-18 the U15 age group will be added. When players age out of our current DA program we will assist with the communication between the player and any other DA program that is interested to insure DA policies and rules are adhered to, whether that is in the Greater Tampa Bay Area, the state of Florida or an out-ofstate DA residential academy. The coaching staff s network of contacts within the DA stretches throughout country and they will assist / guide each player to find the best option for them. Should they not be selected for a U16/15 USSDA team or not able to except an opportunity offered then we believe TBU offers the best alternative to the DA via the R3PL, NPL league, National League, etc. The non DA teams will follow the DA training protocols as closely as possible based on the various league schedules. This assistance will be given to any DA program unless they take advantage of our cooperation and/ or break any agreements we have put in place with them. Question: How are players assisted with the college recruiting process? Answer: First, we have some players in the first year of high school and the majority of the players on the DA teams will not even be in high school but it is never too early to become educated on NCAA academic requirements, rules, the recruiting process and the ever changing landscape of collegiate athletics. Among the coaching staff at TBU are several current and former collegiate coaches and players who will begin the process of informing and educating on this sometimes confusing process. The DA staff will hold a separate informational meeting with the U14 DA team each year. TBU currently holds a college night that focus on informing and educating members on NCAA academic policies, rules, the process of determining eligibility, etc. and in conjunction with the CDL Showcase we host a college combine and showcase at Ed Radice Sports Complex. How Can Players be evaluated for Youth National Teams? Answer: The DA provides the unique opportunity to have US Youth National Team Scouts at league game throughout the year. Additionally, at each DA Regional and National event will have multiple Youth National Team Scouts and Staff present to evaluate games. Also, the DA staff will work closely with US Soccer to recommend players deserving of an opportunity with Youth National Teams.
School Sports and Non-Academy Activities Question: Will players be allowed to play school soccer? Answer: Per DA rules & regulations, players will not be permitted to participate in school sports, in addition to the academy season. This includes middle school soccer and high school soccer. With the 10-month USSDA season, players will be fully engrossed in the highest level of training and games for total player development throughout the year. Question: Will Players be allowed to play multiple sports in addition to competing with the academy? Answer: Participation in other sports will be determined on a case by case basis. This is not an attempt to stop players from participating in another sport. We simply want to monitor their athletic participation so we do not put the player at risk of fatigue and injury. Question: Will players be allowed to participate in the Olympic Development Program? Answer: Per DA rules & regulations, academy players will not participate in the ODP program. Academy players will be evaluated by US Soccer Youth National Team Staff and Coaches throughout the year. In addition, Academy players will have opportunities to participate in US Soccer Market Training Centers (MTC s), as well as Youth National Team Camps / Events, based on evaluation and selection. MTC s are regionalized identification events that help US Soccer pull from different DA Academy Clubs and others, in order to place high level players in an extremely high competitive environment. Question: Are there any off field requirements for the players? Answer: As a member of the DA team / program, players will have off field requirements throughout the season, such as: Maintaining quality academic standing in school. Community and Club involvement via Community service and outreach programs. The DA staff will be planning community & club activities / events for the DA team throughout the year. Question: What is the cost to play in the DA? Answer: The club fee to play on the DA team is the same as a premier team. The team budget process is the same as you current have for your team. The team determines costs and divides that up amongst the team members. The past two years the team budget/cost for the DA has been less than that of Premier teams.