Twenty-eight youth teams gear up for Nike youth showcase

CHICAGO (December 5, 2002) — The second-annual U.S. Soccer / Nike Friendlies kick off tomorrow (Friday, Dec. 6) at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. After a successful tournament in 2001, the number of teams in the 2002 invitational swelled from 19 teams in two age groups last year to 28 teams in three age groups this year.

The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team will split into two teams – an older team made up primarily of players born in 1986 and a younger team made up primarily of players born in 1987 – with the older team competing in the Under-18 age group and the younger team in the Under-17 bracket. The older U.S. team opens against the Under-18 Colorado Rush squad at 11 a.m., and the younger team follows at 1 p.m. with a match against the 2002 National Champion Atlanta Fire.

In all, the 28 teams are scheduled to play a total of 50 games over the four-day event. However, inclement weather delayed at least one team’s travel plans on Thursday and may disrupt Friday’s game schedule.

“This event will showcase some of the best young players in the United States,” said U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team head coach John Ellinger. “Nike and U.S. Soccer have worked hard to put together a tournament that will benefit all of the teams involved, as well as the coaches who come in for the symposium. We had a very successful event here last year, but I look forward to putting together four days of soccer that will improve on last year’s event.”

U.S. head coach and Director of Youth Development John Ellinger will host a three-day coaching symposium in conjunction with the Friendlies. The symposium will run from Dec. 6-8, and in addition to Ellinger and members of the U.S. National Team coaching staff, two coaches from Finland’s technical staff will also present at the symposium.

The teams in the 2002 U.S. Soccer / Nike Friendlies represent some of the finest youth clubs in the U.S., and the participating clubs combined to send 11 teams to the 2002 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship.

A complete list of tournament teams, tournament schedule and National Youth Team Coaching Symposium schedule follows

2nd Annual U.S. Soccer / Nike Friendlies
Dec. 6 – Dec. 9, 2002
Bradenton, Florida

Under-18 Clubs
IMG Academy
U.S. Under-17 MNT
Bethesda Allliance
Richmond Strikers
Colorado Rush
Houston Texans
Blackwatch SC (Fla.)
Syracuse Blitz
Finland Under-17 MNT
Temple Terrace
FC Delco
Gotshalks Nike NE Select (Gotshalks Nike NE Select is an all-star team made up of players from five different clubs.)
Sockers FC

Under-17 Clubs
U.S. Under-17 MNT
IMG Academy
Bethesda Cannons
Richmond Strikers
Colorado Rush
Houston Texans
Blackwatch SC (NY)
Dallas Texans
Atlanta Fire Blackwatch SC (Fla.)
FC Delco

Under-16 Clubs
IMG Academy
FC Delco
Temple Terrace
Blackwatch SC (Fla.)

FRIDAY DECEMBER 6
Time       Field 1                                         Field 2                                  Field 3                                      Field 4
11 a.m.    18: IMG v. Sockers FC              17: Dallas v. Delco              17: Bwatch (NY) v. Rush       18: USA v. Rush
1 p.m.      17: IMG v. Richmond                18: Bethesda v. Gotshalks 18: Blitz v. Bwatch (Fla.)        17: USA v. Atlanta
3:30 p.m. 17: Bethesda v. Bwatch (Fla.) 18: Rickmond v. Temple     16: IMG v. Delco                    18: Finland v. Delco

SATURDAY DECEMBER 7
Time       Field 1                                       Field 2                                         Field 3                                      Field 4
9 a.m.     16: IMG v. Temple                    16: Delco v. Bwatch (Fla.)          NO GAME                             18: Rush v. Gotshalks
11 a.m.   18: IMG v. Bwatch (Fla.)          17: Houston v. Rush                 17: Atlanta v. Richmond       18: Bethesda v. Richmond
1 p.m.     17: IMG v. Bethesda                18: Delco v. Rush                       17: Bwatch (NY) v. Dallas     17: USA v. Delco
3 p.m.     18: Gotshalks v. Temple          18: Syracuse v. Sockers             NO GAME                              18: USA v. Houston

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8
Time       Field 1                                         Field 2                                        Field 3                                    Field 4
9 a.m.      16: IMG v. Bwatch (Fla.)          16: Delco v. Temple                   NO GAME                              NO GAME
11 a.m.    17: IMG v. Rush                        17: Richmond v. Delco              18: Gotshalks v. Richmond 17: Bwatch (NY) v. Houston
1 p.m.     18: IMG v. Syracuse                  18: Houston v. Rush                 18: Delco v. Temple              17: USA v. Dallas
3 p.m.     17: Atlanta v. Bethesda            18: Sockers v Bwatch (Fla.)      18: Bwatch (NY) v. IMG      18: USA v. Bethesda

MONDAY DECEMBER 9
Time       Field 1                                          Field 2                                       Field 3                                      Field 4
9 a.m.      17: Bethesda v. Rush                18: Houston v. Syracuse         18: Gotshalks v. Bwatch (Fla.)18: Bethesda v. Temple
11 a.m.    18: IMG v. Delco                        17: Atlanta v. Delco                  NO GAME                                18: USA v. Sockers
1 p.m.     NO GAME                                   18/17: Rush vs. Dallas              NO GAME                                17: USA v. Houston

Fields 1-3 are located at the IMG Soccer Facility. Field 4 is located at the new IMG Academy Park.

2002 National Youth Team
Coaching Symposium
Bradenton, Florida
December 6-8, 2002

Friday, December 6 — 7 pm

Preparing Finland’s Under-17s for the World Championship Jyrki Heliskoski, Head Coach Finland Under-17 MNT

Preparing Finland’s Youth National Teams for the Future Timo Liekoski, Head Coach Finland U-15 and U-16 MNT

Utilizing Modern Video Technology for Soccer Victor Bergonzoli, President/GM Dartfish (USA) Inc.

Saturday, December 7 — 7 p.m

Preparing the U14 MNT Player Pool for the Next Level Mike Haas, U.S. Soccer National Staff Coach

Mental Preparation for Elite Athletes Trevor Moawad, IMG, Mental Conditioning

Sunday, December 8 — 7 p.m.

Preparing Young Players for the Future Tom Durkin, Director of Coaching, IMG Soccer Academy

Preparing the USA U17 MNT for Qualification in the 2003 WC John Ellinger Head Coach U.S. Under-17 MNT

Preparing our elite goalkeepers for the next level Peter Mellor National Teams Goalkeeping Coach

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