USSF DA

Currently, Placer United fields U.S. Soccer Development Academy programs for boys U12-U14 and girls U14-U19.

Director, Paul O’Brien
CoachPaul@placerunited.com

Administrator, Jodi Tarr
jetarr@yahoo.com

The 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 world-class National Team players. The Academy’s programming philosophy is based on increased training, less total games and more competitive games.

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 team is evaluated by a member of the Men’s  and Women’s Scouting Network at least 10 times each year and each Academy club receives two (2) formal evaluations that provide feedback in 100 categories each year from U.S. Soccer Technical Staff.

Following a comprehensive review of elite player development in the United States and around the world, U.S. Soccer created the Development Academy focusing on the philosophy of improving the environment to enhance player and coach development. The players will train more often, while also playing fewer – but more meaningful – games every week, which will provide the American player with the opportunity to learn and develop to reach their full potential.

To date, the Academy has been the leader in developing players in the U.S. with the thousands of alumni moving on to play college soccer, 116 Academy graduates currently rostered in the MLS and 14 Academy players earning USMNT caps.