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Nov, 2018
Eight Internationals SC players have been invited to participate in the U.S. Soccer YNT Identification Centers in Cincinnati, Ohio on November 8, 2018.
Invited players from the 2004 birth year include Emily Brewer (Strongsville, OH), Avery Gillahan (Strongsville, OH), Riley Kerber (Medina, OH), and Emma Stransky (Copley, OH). Invited players from the 2005 birth year include Mia Bhuta (Pittsburgh, PA), Grace Jackson (Hudson, OH), Josephine Owen-Kren (Strongsville, OH), and Victoria Safradin (Eastlake, OH).
“We are extremely happy that U.S. Soccer continues to recognize our club as an organization where players are consistently developed for the next level,” Internationals SC Founder, President, and Director of Coaching Zdravko Popovic commented. “In the past five years alone, we have had 12 players who have been selected for various Youth National Team events from the U14 to the U23 age groups. Christen Westphal, Emily Ogle, Gabby Kouzelos, Grace Bahr, Christina Trickett, Olivia Petit, Alyssa Baumbick, Jordan Brewster, Sydney Dawson, and Loren Sefcik - all have been making a major impact at their respective college or pro programs.”
U.S. Soccer YNT Identification Centers (IDCs) are free, single-day player identification opportunities for top talents to train under the direction of U.S. Soccer Talent Identification Managers. IDCs are a critical element to the U.S. Soccer development model and are designed to improve talent identification and evaluation, player development, and coaching development. Approximately 100 regional sessions are conducted per year in key markets throughout the country.
U.S. Soccer YNT Identification Centers are designed to replicate Youth National Team camps. U.S. Soccer's objective is to create an environment where players take responsibility for their own development. IDCS are the pathway to the Youth National Teams.
As the National Governing Body of soccer in the United States, and under the auspices of the United States Olympic Committee, U.S. Soccer is empowered and charged with developing the teams that represent the United States in all international competitions such as the Olympics and World Cup. The YNT Identification Center Program is an integral part of this process.
“From our younger generation, Taylor Huff and Emma Stransky have been involved with the YNT program this year,” Popovic concluded. “And now, eight of our players from the younger birth years (04s and 05s) are being included in the YNT Identification Centers. This is a tremendous honor for the selected individuals, but also a testament to the strength of the teams and club overall. We have quite a few more who are fully capable of competing at this level and the future looks bright.”