Announcement

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2018, 12:57 PM

Developmental Player (DP) Rationale & Purpose
Developmental Players:

Definition: Developmental Players must be registered on an Academy Club�s non-Academy team between August 1 and March 1 of the current Academy seasonal year. A DP is a �bubble player� that trains regularly with the DA player pool, but is better off playing games with a �second level� team from within the club (provided: the club has full oversight and connection with this group, the group operates out of the same facility, and the player does not come from an affiliate club). This is a player with high potential for the future, but is not quite ready for DA level games. For example, it is better for the individual to have a bigger impact and experience 60 minutes of game time with a �second level� team every week, rather than play 30 minutes or less with the DA team.
A DP may also be the player next on the positional depth chart who gains playing opportunity as a replacement/alternate when a FT player is injured, sick, away, etc. A DP may play in a maximum of six (6) DA games during the Academy season.

Rationale: DP training and playing opportunities are an important part of the Individual Player Development Plan (IDP) that allows individual players to follow their own pathway within the club�s infrastructure. When considering the DP role as part of an IDP, it is important that Academies initially focus on talent ID, evaluation, positional depth charts, and selection for the full-time players when building rosters�with a long-term view (Relative Age Effect (RAE), Potential, etc.). The TOP players in the DA age groups (2005 through 1998 age groups for the current 2016-17 season) MUST be registered FT in the DA.

The Developmental Player will not be subject to the minimum 25% start requirement.
Process: The DP registration is a serious and careful decision that should be part of a planned opportunity for the player to make an appearance in a DA game. Clubs may add Developmental Players to their teams after a predetermined date (October 3, 2016), these players will not count against the Club�s maximum roster totals. A DP must be registered in accordance with all DA registration guidelines. Clubs should note that a DP may ONLY be registered once the club coach and Academy Director co-evaluate the player, ideally when the Director makes the final decision the player is ready. This should only occur when the player is ready to play in an upcoming game (i.e. clubs should not register a group of DP�s on the opening day of registration and then wait to play the player two months later).
Developmental Players may only change their status to full-time once during the Academy season and they may not return to DP status. Furthermore, a Developmental Player does not automatically garner full-time status after participating in their sixth game. The club must submit their intentions in writing to the Academy Office to move the player to full-time status. Players that have played in the maximum six (6) games, are not eligible to continue to play in Academy games, unless the club indicates the desire to move the player to full-time status. Note, Continued usage of a DP player after their sixth game could cause a club to forfeit from the use of an eligible player.

Eligibility: Developmental Players may not be registered with any two different Academy clubs at the same time during the Academy seasonal year. Additionally, DP�s may not participate in the Academy Playoffs or Academy Championships and are not eligible for year-end awards.

Areas to consider and avoid with DP: A DP is NOT a false promise, or a label, or a status given to a player to help keep the player in the club. A DP is NOT a means to protect a player from recruiting regulations. A DP is NOT a way to help spread or divide pay to play costs amongst a larger group of players. When misused, DP�s can cause confusion within the club and in particular for the player. Mismanaging DP�s can negatively impact a team dynamic, as well as consume considerable time and resources with the registration process. There should be a plan for DP�s to get meaningful game experience as part of their IDP.

U.S. Soccer Support and Guidance: U.S. Soccer�s technical staff and scouts will also evaluate training sessions and friendly games to determine individual player readiness for DA level games. The Technical Advisor may require a Training Center (TC) level or Youth National Team (YNT) level player to move to FT status if viewed to be best for the player�s IDP. U.S. Soccer reserves the right to refuse the addition of a DP player if it is determined that the club is mismanaging their allocation of the DP pool or if it is negatively impacting their FT players.

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2018, 02:00 PM

For Girls� clubs there is a minimum of 32 full-time (FT) players per Academy club in both the combined U-16/17 and U-18/19 age groups, and combined U-14 and U-15 age groups. There is a minimum of 32 full-time (FT) players per Academy club in both the combined U-16/17 and U-18/19 age groups, and combined U-14 and U-15 age groups. There is no limit to the number of rostered players that do not have United States citizenship for either gender.

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2018, 02:06 PM

Developmental Players: Clubs may add Developmental Players (DPs) to their teams after October 2, 2017 and these players will not count against roster totals. A Developmental Player must be a currently registered player on an Academy Club�s non-Academy team and must be registered with that Academy Club between August 1 and March 1 of the current Academy season. Developmental Players registered after March 1, 2018 with an Academy team will require proof of membership with the Academy Club at some point between August 1, 2017 and March 1, 2018. Developmental Players may not be registered with any two different clubs at the same time during the Academy seasonal year. The Developmental Player will not be subject to the minimum start requirement. A Development Player must be registered in accordance with all registration guidelines. A Developmental Player may appear in a maximum of six (6) Academy games per season. Developmental Players cannot participate in the Academy Playoffs or Academy Championships and are not eligible for year-end awards. Developmental Players can only change their status to full-time once during the Academy season and cannot return to Developmental Player status. Furthermore, a Developmental Player does not automatically garner full-time status after participating in their sixth game. The club needs to submit their intentions in writing to the Academy Staff by the weekly registration deadline to move the player to full-time. Additional information regarding Developmental players can be found here

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2018, 02:24 PM

III. CLUB NON-FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Compliance with Rules & Regulations: Academy Clubs are required to comply with these Regulations, the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Disciplinary Code and any other rules adopted for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. In addition, Academy Clubs are encouraged to report pertinent situations to the Academy Staff, which appear to be in non-compliance with the Academy Requirements. Reporting non-compliance on the part of other Academy Clubs should not be viewed as a negative, but rather as a positive attempt to maintain consistent standards that ensure professionalism and fairness, both on and off the field.

All Clubs are required to adhere to the Academy requirements. The Academy Staff reserves the right to decide how to enforce these requirements. Should an Academy Club be found in violation of any of the requirements outlined in this document, their standing as an Academy Club may be jeopardized. The penalties vary based on the type and frequency of the infraction, and may result in denied participation in Academy-specific competitions and programming.

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2018, 02:30 PM

D. Development

1. Training Days: Each Academy team at the U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16/17, and U-18/19 age groups is expected to hold at least four training sessions per week while the team is competing during the Academy Season. Teams competing in the U-12 age group are required to train a minimum of three times per week throughout the duration of the season.

2. Rest Days: Each Academy team at the U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16/17, and U-18/19 age groups is expected to provide at least one day of rest per week during the Academy Season. The U-12 age group is expected to provide at least two days of rest per week during the Academy Season.

3. Team Participation in Unapproved Outside Competitions: Academy teams are only permitted to participate in non-Academy games and elite events (i.e. elite domestic and international competition) approved by their Technical Advisor. Please note that all outside competition must be approved by the Academy Staff prior to participation. Teams must submit a roster to the Development Academy staff consisting solely of players from within the club as part of the approval process. Any international travel must be cleared by the U.S. Soccer Competitions Department by filling out the necessary paperwork found here.

4. Player Participation in Unapproved Outside Competitions: Academy Players must meet all attendance and participation requirements for training and games for their Academy team during the Academy Season. Failure to meet those requirements should result in removal from the Academy team. Academy Clubs may not permit any Academy Player to participate on a non-Academy team during the Academy Season. Academy Clubs will be held accountable for the actions of their players. The only permissible soccer related reasons to miss Development Academy activities is National Team duty and U.S. Soccer Training Center participation.

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2018, 02:59 PM

Most TS users also know how to use google. If they want to read DA guidelines it's all there on the website.

What is your point?

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2018, 03:30 PM

Just give up already Weston. Nobody cares about you anymore.

**Unregistered** · 05-13-2018, 05:24 PM