FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution has announced the rosters for the 2012-13 youth teams, as selected by the youth development coaching staff during a series of invitational and open tryouts in June and July. In total, 57 players from the New England region were selected for the Revolution’s youth squads: 15 on the Under-18 team and 21 each on the Under-16 and Under-14 teams.
Coming off the 2011-12 season which saw both the Under-18 and Under-16 teams qualify for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs, the upcoming year’s squads are highlighted by 21 returning players, including three members of the Under-18 team who are entering their third year in the Revs’ youth system. There are 36 new players, including four U18s and 11 U16s, and the entire 21-player U14 team which will begin its first season of play in 2012-13.
The Revolution announced earlier this year that it will expand the youth development program for the 2012-13 season by adding an Under-14 team to train and compete alongside the Revs’ current Under-18 and Under-16 teams. The Under-14s will compete in U.S. Club Soccer’s Northeast Pre-Academy League in 2012-13 as U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy currently only has Under-15/16 and Under-17/18 age groups.
“We are excited to add a significant number of talented new players to our Revolution Academy teams,” said Director of Youth Development Bryan Scales. “We are especially thrilled to welcome the players who will take the field for our U14 team in its inaugural season. All told, the players on our three Academy teams have accepted an opportunity and a challenge that many other talented soccer players do not get. It will be fun to watch them develop as they begin a journey that could take them to highest levels of soccer in this country.”
Entering its fifth season, the Revolution’s youth development program – which U.S. Soccer rated among the nation’s top eight youth programs last year – is the only fully-funded youth soccer program in New England, and competes in the prestigious U.S. Soccer Development Academy at the U16 and U18 age levels. Qualified and talented players are accepted into the program without regard to their financial situation. All players’ needs and expenses related to soccer activities – training, facilities, equipment, uniforms, travel associated with competitions – are provided by the Revolution at no cost to the players or their families.
Players born January 1, 1994 or after are eligible for the Under-18 team, while players born after January 1, 1996 are eligible for the Under-16 team and players born January 1, 1998 or after are eligible for the Under-14 team.
