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SUPPLEMENTAL EXPERIENCES

The supplemental experiences provides players, coaches, admins, scouts, referees, and those involved with USL Academy the opportunity to develop their skills off the pitch throughout the weekend.

Technical Development Workshop

The Technical Development Workshop is designed with a focus on driving dialogue around youth development within USL pro pathways, and how best to bridge the gap between youth and professional soccer. This event will start off by discussing the future player development model for USL Academy and how this model will aim to assist USL clubs in accomplishing their missions. One high-performing USL Academy program will provide a case study on their full player pathway & developmental model. The event will conclude with breakout sessions to discuss relevant trends in youth development and significant shifts in the American youth soccer landscape.

Player Village

The Player Village will be an unique experience for players, fans, and families to spend time between games. The Player Village will be the location of the tournament headquarters and the USL Academy Cup merchandise store presented by PUMA. The Player Village will also include various partner activations and special experiences. People will have the opportunity to win prizes through Social Media Contests driven from Tournament HQ.

Referee Development Sessions

Sessions held at the conclusion of each match day. An often overlooked area of soccer development, these sessions will help referees gain insight on game management and other aspects of one of the sport’s toughest jobs. After an orientation prior to the start of the tournament, the tournament’s referees will meet to review the day’s action and discuss how to improve moving forward. Hosting these sessions at USL Academy events could pay dividends toward improving the quality of refereeing in American soccer, not just for the youth game in the present but for the professional level in the future.

Senior Team Experience

The Senior Team Experience is an unforgettable opportunity for USL Academy Cup participants to experience professional/pre-professional soccer first-hand. Participants can attend a local USL League match where they experience the high-performance level of soccer. Players will be immersed in the local team fan culture that will showcase the community that they can bring back home to their local team.