".... a USC Academy player is highly motivated to excel and works hard to develop technical, tactical, physical and mental skills."

To help you become that player, USC provides the following:

1. A simple philosophy which places players and player development first.
   
   
2. Training methods proven around the world encompassing age- specific training and specialized techniques to help players love, understand and appreciate the game.
   
   
3. A professional environment with a highly certified coaching team.
   
   
4. On- and off-field soccer education that is age and/or skill appropriate.
   
   
5. Minimum 3:1 training to game ratio.
   
   
6. Specific goal keeper training is always available.
   
   
7. A full-time athletic therapist and personal trainer are always on call.
   
   
8. National & international exposure.
   
   
9. Ongoing coaches' professional development.
   
   
10. The finest facilities to meet our training needs.

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USC trainers develop and nurture players' mental, physical and technical characteristics. Our trainers match appropriate methodologies to each individual player's phase of development.

USC encourages creative play which gives players a chance to experiment and find knowledge through concise feedback of how to improve. Such feedback is provided through a detailed Player Log and personalized communication with individual coaches. Our methodology allows players to do their own problem solving during a game.

Our theory classes give information so players learn quicker and understand the game better.
To achieve the best results, our coaches follow the 'Long Term Player Development' model (LTPD) and maximize the outcome with creative, positive intervention and by teaching through 'coaching moments'.

'Excellence over Success' is our short formula to develop a life-long player.
Players have the opportunity to move from one level of the pyramid to the next.
This is dictated by skill level, mental and physical ability.

Within the Junior Soccer School and during Camps, players have the opportunity to be recruited to either the Elite Program or the appropriate Academy Team.
The Elite Program allows players to work towards the Academy Team or towards a Showcase Team.

Showcase Teams are assembled with Elite Program players and do not neccessarily field only Academy Team players. It is essential that only the best players play at the "top of the pyramid." An open dialogue between player and coach will prepare the path to reach that goal. We strongly believe in the 'player first' rule that the LTPD demands.

The graphic to the right demonstrates the technical demands of the game. There are basic stages a youth player moves through in the game of soccer and as the stages change with age and experience, our coaches adjust accordingly. It is important that all players develop 'physical literacy' so they understand and respond to the demands of soccer early on.

In the past, schools and other organizations have failed delivering the broad range of physical education. This is why the USC Academy has taken the lead to teach 'physical literacy'.