Philadelphia Union and Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer have agreed to a new collaborative format designed to improve the training and player resources for youth players in Pennsylvania. The youth development-focused collaboration is one of the first programs of its kind in the United States. It aligns the youth soccer education initiatives of a state association with those of a Major League Soccer team - the common goal being to enhance opportunities for youth players in the Eastern Pennsylvania region. At the core, the collaboration has been designed to connect the Union's youth development programs (YSC Union Juniors for ages 8-14 and Union Academy U-16 and U-18) with Eastern Pennsylvania's Olympic Development Program (ages 11-17).
For boys in the region, the Union and youth development partner YSC will continue to offer free of cost, club-neutral, supplemental training and competition for selected boys aged 8-18. Eastern Pennsylvania's boys' ODP (ages 12-17) will also continue to offer supplemental training and competition, but the top tier boys in each age group will be encouraged by Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer to participate in the Union's youth programs (YSC Union Juniors (8-14) and Union Academy U16 and U18).
The result will be a larger pool of local talent receiving high-caliber training and competition. The Union will maintain a club-neutral position - meaning players can play for both their respective clubs and the Union Academy - while providing players of all clubs opportunities to train and play with the Union and/or ODP.
"Our Olympic Development Program will continue to be among the finest in the country and a perfect vehicle to identify players who may have the potential to one day play for the Union," said Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Director of Coaching Mike Barr. "Having this strong relationship will enhance the development of our elite players throughout the state."
For girls in the region, the Union's free of cost YSC Union Juniors Girl's Program will now be exclusively focused on younger players aged 9, 10 and 11 (i.e., the Basic Stage of the US Soccer Curriculum). Selected girls from the YSC Union Juniors program will "graduate" and be encouraged to advance their soccer development by participating in Eastern Pennsylvania's Olympic Development Program (ages 12-17). Union coach John Hackworth indicated that the collaboration was formed to strengthen soccer in Eastern Pennsylvania by creating a clear developmental path on the girls side of the game.
"Our objective is to provide young girls an opportunity to develop their technical skills through our free of cost supplemental training program," Hackworth said. "By focusing on the Basic Stage (ages 9-11), we hope to provide a higher-caliber level of player entering the next phase of ODP."
While the YSC Union Juniors program is not the exclusive feeder-system for girls' ODP selection, Philadelphia Union, YSC, and Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer are hopeful the focus on ages 9-11 will attract more young girls to the game and elevate their level of play.
Ultimately, the Union, YSC, and Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer aim to provide an experience to all girls and boys that provides confidence, growth and opportunities to reach their potential in soccer, academics and their future careers.