Local Players and Coaches Get Access to National Staff

Current SLSG Metro 16 Academy Player and MTC selectee Aaron Arreola controls

a ball in midfield during 2011 U14 US Club National Championship Final in Boise, Idaho.

On Monday, November 28^th, US Soccer will hold a Market Training Center at the SLSG Facility in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Market Training Sessions are single day invitational sessions held by US Soccer National Staff for elite players in key soccer markets. These sessions are absolutely free of cost to players selected to participate. Players from any club in the Southern Illinois, Metro East and St. Louis area are eligible for selection to an MTC roster. Selection to the MTC roster is determined through a combination of recommendations and scouting by US National Staff and its’ scouting network.

The session on Monday, November 28^th will include two 1.5 hours training sessions, one for boys born in 1999 from 6:00-7:30 and one for boys born in 1997/1998 from 7:30-9:00. The sessions provide players selected an opportunity to train in a highly competitive environment while being evaluated against some of the top players in the area under the direct guidance of US Soccer National Staff. Similar to all Youth National Team events, the training session will be closed to parents, however, it will be open to coaches and all SLSG Metro coaches are strongly encouraged to attend by SLSG Metro Program Director, Dale Schilly.

According to Schilly, "The opportunity to watch others work, listen to the way they teach and absorb the environment that coaches create is something that aspiring young coaches cannot miss. I borrowed and stole ideas from a number of coaches, anyone I could listen to or that would let me listen. Every game I would see, I would stand within earshot so I could hear the instructions, listen to halftime. I observed as many training sessions as I could both by the experts at the time and by my friends and colleagues. The opportunity to observe a National Staff Coach running a session in person is an opportunity that young coaches should not miss, it is an invaluable experience.”

The US Soccer Market Training Center program was implemented in 2007 along with the advent of the US Development Academy as a more effective way to provide opportunities for elite level players to be identified for National Team programs. In November of 2009 and 2010, MTC were held at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Korte Stadium for boys born 1995-1998 and for girls born 1994-1996. Select players who attended these sessions were subsequently placed into National Team camps as well as the US Club ID2 program.

Plans for more US Soccer Market Training sessions in the area are in the works for winter 2012 and will likely include MTC sessions for girls, US Development Academy age boys, as well as a second round for the 1997-1999 boys.

For more information regarding the US Soccer MTC program please click on the link below:

http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/Youth/Player-Identification.aspx