US Soccer

DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY NEWS

Santa Cruz Breakers U16 Academy player Lynden Gooch has turned in outstanding performances during the 10 day U.S. National Team Training Camp in BradentonFlorida. The 14 year old Santa Cruz athlete scored in his opening match. In his second match he assisted on two goals and earned “man of the match” honors.

U.S. National Team coach Jim Barlow has invited 42 players to the camp in order to select his squad to represent the U.S. in the 2011 FIFA World Cup competition in the U17 division. Players are also under consideration for the U.S. National Team Residency Program. The Residency Program brings 40 of the top players in the U.S. to live, study and train at the state-of-the-art complex at the IMGAcademy in BradentonFlorida. The Residency Program has produced U.S. National Team stars such as Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore, Oguchi Onyewu and Freddy Adu.

The selection of Gooch by the U.S. National Team coaches is an example of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Development Academy system. The USSF has selected 65 of the top youth soccer clubs in the U.S. and partnered with them in the Development Academy program. The USSF’s stated goal is to provide “the best youth players in the U.S. with an every day environment designed to produce the next generation of National Team players.”

The Santa Cruz Breakers was chosen as a USSFAcademy club in the second year of the program, 2008. This year the club has had 8 different players, from ages 12 to 18, selected to train or try out with the U.S. National Team coaching staff this year.

“We are committed to providing an excellent learning and training environment for all of our players”, said Paolo Carbone, Breakers’ Director of Coaching. “Each year that our staff works with the National Team coaches improves the environment that we have for all of our players, down to the U9 level.”

NATIONAL/CLUB

Played for Santa Cruz County Breakers Academy for one season, Santa Cruz County Breakers for four seasons and Santa Cruz County Chivitas for seven years...One of 72 players invited to the Under-18 National Team Camp in December of 2008.

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U.S. Soccer Development Academy Continues to Improve Environment for Elite Players In Preparation for Program's Second Year. MLS Clubs FC Dallas, New England Revolution and LA Galaxy Join Academy; Kansas City Wizards to Begin Play in 2009-2010 Texas and Northern California Areas Bolstered with Additional Teams Increased Training, More Meaningful Games, Scouting, Performance Testing and Analysis Continue as Framework to Successful Academy Program