PROGRAMMING

 

BWP Youth Academies

See Black Watch Youth Academy (click on button to the left "BWP Youth Academy")

 

BWP Elite Flight (Boys U13-18s), (Birth years 1991-1997s)

Our boys’ side of our program continues to expect more and give more attention and frequency of training to its participants. In 2006, the Club went to training three times a week in alignment with US Soccer’s Development Academy (USSDA). The greater frequency of training with our professional technical staff and our committed and talented youth players, have seen the rewards to this programmatic change. The Club asked for more from its technical staff and more from its families and players.

 

• In 2006-07, the Club sent one team to SYL Nationals, had one ENYYSA State Cup Semi-finalist, and had 11 players graduate our program and continue their playing careers in college.

• In 2007-08, the Club sent two teams to SYL Nationals, had one ENYYSA State Cup finalist and three quarterfinalists, and sent 22 out of 24 graduating players off to play in college.

 

• In 2008-09, the Club sent three teams to the SYL Nationals, had one ENYYSA State Cup Finalist-champion still to be determined, four semifinalists and two quarterfinalists, and this year 23 out of 23 graduating players will play collegiately in college. This year also marks the first player in Club history to be drafted in Major League Soccer, Paul Gerstenberger to the Columbus Crew.

 

Next year will mark a few more enhancements. The Club will continue to train our U13s and U14s three times per week, indoor and outdoor, and our U15-18s will go to four days a week. The shift will be in the groupings. The U13s and U14s will train in their US Club Soccer/USYS/SYL age groups twice a week and once a week in our Birthyear Academy 1995/96/97s. Our U15-18s will train in their US Club Soccer/USYS/SYL age groups twice a week and will train twice a week in one our Birthyear Academies 1991/92s or 1993/94s.

 

The Birthyear Academies are designed to create a better alignment with USSDA and to help educate our players and parents about the necessary demands and the intent of the USSDA. In support of our US National Teams and their mission of winning a World Cup someday, it is one of our main objectives at BWP to support them in their pursuits.

1991/92s will be lead by Ahmad Manning, Men’s Assistant Head Coach at Siena College (NCAA Division I), NSCAA National Diploma and USSF National C License and former professional and Division I collegiate player.

1993/94s will be lead by Ron McEachen, Men’s Head Coach at Skidmore College (NCAA Division III), NSCAA Senior National Staff Coach and former MLS Assistant Head Coach

 

1995/96/97s will be lead by Steve Freeman, USSF National A License, NSCAA Premier Diploma, NSCAA Associate National Staff Coach, former professional and Division I collegiate player

Our Club teams will still compete at the state, regional and national levels, as appropriate for each individual age group.

 

BWP Premier Flight (Girls U11-U18s, Boys U11s & U12s)

Our entire girls’ side U11-U18 and our U11 and U12 boys will fall under our Premier Flight. Our teams will train twice a week indoor and outdoors, and will compete at the state, regional and national levels, as appropriate for each individual age group. With the addition of Sarah Cooper Raymond as our Director of Coaching, former captain of the Australian Women’s National Team, our Club will seek to add BIrthyear Academies on the girls’ side in either a 6 or 8-week program. This will attempt to align our girls’ side closer to US Soccer’s overall objectives. It will also be our first attempt at increasing the frequency of training for our girls U13 and above.

 

BWP SELECT FLIGHT

Our Select Flight is new to our program, and the Club will seek to support the local soccer clubs through its professional training staff. The BWP Select Program is geared to offer up training with our technical staff once a week for teams outside the BWP umbrella, yet they seek to play at the state and/or a more competitive level while remaining with their respective clubs.

 

Super Y League

BWP will continue to compete in the USL’s Super Y League, which is a professionalized system that is the first step for developing elite youth soccer players in North America. Affiliated with US Soccer and partnered with US Club Soccer, the league is designed for talented youth players destined for professional or international careers. The league contains the youth academies of USL First Division, USL Second Division, Premier Development League, W-League, and Major League Soccer clubs, as well as many of the established premier youth clubs. Through Olympic Development Program status events such as the North American Finals and National ODP Camps, the nation’s top players are identified for selection to US National Team Programs. The 2008 campaign features over 800 teams within the U13 – U17 boys and girls age groups competing within 10 geographic divisions of the U.S. and Canada.

 

Many of our players have been awarded opportunities to perform at the Super Y League National ODP Camp. Over 100 players have been identified and participated since the camp’s inception.

 

US Club Soccer’s ID2 Program

The id2 program, established in 2004, provides an opportunity for the country’s top youth talent to be identified and developed by U.S. Soccer National Team Staff for possible inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s National Team programs. The id2 program is unique from any other program in that it is an unrestricted opportunity to assemble the top boys’ and girls’ talent regardless of affiliation.

 

id2 takes a new, revolutionary approach to player identification and development. For players to be identified, parents no longer need to incur the cost and hectic schedule of multiple tryouts. Once players arrive at an id2 Regional Training Camp, US Club Soccer covers all player expenses. The only cost to players involved in id2 is that of travel to and from the id2 Regional Training Camp. Lodging, meals and training gear are provided by US Club Soccer and Nike.

 

US Club Soccer believes there are capable players that are overlooked for inclusion into the U.S. National Team pool for several reasons, one of which is players not being able to afford other costly identification programs. The no-cost policy with id2 ensures that these players are able to be identified and developed, regardless of income level.

 

id2 Regional Training Camps are invitation-only events that bring together the nation’s top boys’ and girls’ youth players with national team potential for four days of competition, evaluation and fun. Players are invited to participate as a result of an extensive scouting and recommendation program in which players throughout the country are identified in their own environment as they compete with their club teams at each of US Club Soccer’s National Cup Regionals, during league play as well as at top local tournaments and other events.

U.S. Soccer National Team staff as well as other elite coaches and players will be in attendance at id2 Regional Training Camps, as the camps seek to identify and develop the country’s best players for inclusion in US Soccer’s National Team programs.. In addition to the on-field sessions, id2 Regional Training Camps feature guest speakers, lectures/classroom sessions and other offerings, which make for a complete experience.