CHICAGO (March 4, 2009) - While U.S. Soccer's Development Academy continues to grow as a platform for player development, it has also experienced unprecedented growth as a platform for college recruitment. More than 300 members of the Academy Class of 2009 have been identified by top college programs at every level and have indicated their intentions to play for a college team.

More than 270 Academy athletes have committed, signed a letter of intent or verbally committed to Division I schools across the country, including traditional men's soccer powerhouses UCLA and Wake Forest University, 2008 College Cup runner-up University of North Carolina and 2008 College Cup champion Maryland.

The early commitment by Academy players to college programs builds on the impact at the college level in 2008, when more than 700 Academy alumni graced the rosters of college teams nationwide.

"I think the Academy helps out with the process because what it's able to do is provide an environment that on an on-going basis you have a higher number of quality games," said Sockers FC President and Technical Director David Richardson, who also coaches the Academy Under-15/16 and Under-17/18 teams. "It's a combination of the Academy putting an environment together and the clubs now making sure that they're helping the players. I think a big part of our responsibility isn't just for our team but to make sure that our players are ready to move beyond this."

The Chicago-area club has long had a history of producing quality athletes. This year, 19 players from the Sockers Development Academy teams have indicated their commitment to continue playing soccer with a college team. Other clubs who boast a high number of college soccer-bound athletes include Vardar (17), PDA (15), Albertson SC (14), Andromeda (14), Atlanta Fire United (14), CASL Chelsea FC Academy (13), D.C. United (13) and FC Greater Boston (12).

"As a club we're more proud of the fact that all our players who end up staying with us to 18 all have a place to play when they leave," said Richardson. "Whether it's Division I, II, III or NAIA, all the kids that end up sticking with us and staying in the environment, whether they are a full player or a developmental player, they continue their soccer and their education at another level. That, in the end, for us, means more than say, winning a trophy, or a team championship."

Richardson points out that with the Academy training format in which teams train at least three times before playing a match, many area college coaches are not only attending Development Academy Showcases and Academy matches, but have also started coming to training sessions. By observing the players practice, they can learn more about a player's style of play as well as his personality.

"It's been good because I think the college coaches will come out and see the guys in a good training environment and get a better feel for them sometimes than a game," said Richardson. "Before, you could end up playing three games to every one practice and then your games could be all over the place, which is hard. I think it didn't allow there to be a consistency for college coaches to be able to monitor and watch and observe players.

"I think in the areas like Chicago, on the West Coast, in California and on the East Coast with a large number of colleges, some of those clubs are finding a large number of the college coaches aren't just observing the players in games but they're starting to watch them in their practice environments as well."

The large number of Academy athletes bound for college teams seems to indicate that Academy players will have a similar impact in 2009 as during the last season, in which 16 players from Development Academy clubs were part of the four teams in the 2008 College Cup semifinals. Meanwhile, athletes and coaches within the Academy continue training and preparing as the 2008-09 Academy season continues, with Academy playoffs in the horizon.

Source: U.S. Soccer