A total of 158 athletes were identified and developed at the first id2 Training Camp of the year, Feb. 27-March 1 in central Florida, which also served as the first camp of the new age group cycle targeting 2007-born boys and 2006-born girls. The players represented 59 clubs from 25 states, bringing geographical diversity to the four-day camp that included a healthy curriculum of field sessions and classroom presentations. This id2 Training Camp was hosted at Viera Regional Park in Melbourne, Florida – the home of Space Coast United Soccer Club.

“There was an abundance of talent on-site,” said Gerry McKeown, id2 Boys Program Director. “The main thing is that they take charge and initiative in their own development and that they are willing to put in the work necessary to see improvement… That’s a really healthy thing for their soccer education. That’s how real growth occurs.”

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Field sessions challenged players both tactically and technically with exercises designed to build out of the back, enforce attacking principles, maintain ball control, progress upfield and communicate effectively.

id2 boys director Gerry McKeown and girls director Tricia Taliaferro were on-site to implement and oversee the id2 curriculum. The boys were also coached by: Mike Cullina (Prince William Courage), Matt Lawrey (Atlanta United), Mike Potier (Space Coast United SC), Tom Shields (STA) and Kelly Sims (STA). The girls were led by: Russell Gee (Challenge SC), Stuart Hilton (Sting SC), Maria Loyden (Drexel University), Tiffeny Milbrett (Tampa Bay United Rowdies) and Scott Parkinson (Utah Royals).

Milbrett is a name familiar to U.S. Soccer fans. She has an extensive list of achievements as a player, including National Hall of Fame inductee, World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist – not to mention various records with the USWNT. “It’s a high-level performance camp,” Milbrett said. “Not only that, it’s identification. You’re actually trying to push yourself and be identified for a youth national team – just the way that I was as a player. We do want to help identify, and we do want to help propel these players into the youth national team so they can represent their country.”

The athletes received evaluations from their coaches at the conclusion of the camp, giving them a roadmap for success as they return home to their clubs. Players First partner Beyond Pulse was also on-site to provide objective health data through its Smart Belt technology that was used by all players during field sessions. Smart Belts track a variety of data, including heart rate, distance, speed, high impact sprints and more.

While this current age group cycle of 2007 boys and 2006 girls is just beginning, the past age group cycle technically concludes later this month with the 2020 id2 National Selection International Tours for 2006 boys (Scotland & England) and 2005 girls (England).

Established in 2004, US Club Soccer’s id2 Program provides an opportunity for the country’s elite youth soccer players to be identified and developed and scouted for inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s National Team programs. The id2 Program – presented by Verizon – is an Olympic Development Program approved by the United States Olympic Committee and the U.S. Soccer Federation. There is no cost for players to participate or be scouted, and all meals, lodging and gear are provided by US Club Soccer and Nike.

Below is the roster of boys players that were invited to the event.

Exavier Ali 2007 F PBFC FL

Maximus Allison 2007 MF South Florida FC FL

Bryson Bakas 2007 MF Florida Elite Soccer Academy FL

Rodney Bargaineer 2007 F Orlando City Youth Soccer FL

Emmanuel Bellone 2007 MF GPS Mass MA

Jayden Bennett 2007 MF Austin Texans SC TX

Miles Birrell-Levine 2007 GK ISC Gunners WA

Tyler Bolduc 2007 D Wake FC NC

Shiloh Brown 2007 MF East Meadow SC NY

Robert Browne 2008 MF Wake FC NC

Kenyon Carter 2007 D Real JFC NJ

Danny Cavannaugh 2007 GKSouthern Soccer Academy GA

Aidan Chang 2007 D Princeton FC NJ

Luke Chapman 2007 MF GSA GA

Bryce Collier 2007 F SLSC Cosmos OK

Bennett Connor 2007 F Wake FC NC

Brayden Davin 2007 D Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC PA

Bennett Finocchio 2007 D Florida Elite Soccer Academy FL

Alex Flake 2007 GK River Valley FC AR

Juan Carlos Flor 2007 F NY Cosmos Academy NY

Kasra Ghaini 2007 MF Concorde Fire GA

Justin Gonsalves 2007 F Futbol First Academy FL

Corbin Grisotto 2007 D FC Dallas Emerald Coast FL

Owen Hancock 2007 F Steel United / Pateadores CA

Gavin Hancock 2007 MF Steel United / Pateadores CA

Sam Hess 2007 D Eclipse Select SC IL

Divinci Huitron 2007 MF Eclipse Select West IL

Nathan Ivan 2007 MF Gulf South SC AL

Soma Iwaki 2007 MF Concorde Fire GA

Parker Johnston 2007 D Columbus United OH

Jett Khan 2007 MF Steel United / Pateadores CA

Matthew Kraszewski 2007 MF Connecticut FC CT

Payton Laabs 2007 D FC Wisconsin WI

Luke Lockman 2007 GK FC Wisconsin WY

Christofer Lopez 2007 D Dalton Red Wolves GA

Matias Maurer 2007 F Penn FC PA

Daniel Moya-Gibbons 2007 D Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC PA

Troy Myers 2007 MF Wilmington Hammerheads NC

Dante Novak 2007 D Penn FC Youth PA

Stefan Oertel 2007 MF Cajun SC LA

Nate Offenberg 2007 GK Princeton FC NJ

Shawn Platts 2007 MF Florida Elite Soccer Academy FL

Lenny Ramirez 2007 F Southern Soccer Academy GA

JJ Ramirez 2007 MF FC Wisconsin WI

Ashton Ritter 2007 MF Real JFC NJ

Bo Robbins 2007 MF Tennessee SC TN

Ellison Ruffin 2007 F Florida Kraze Krush FL

Leonardo Santos 2007 MF Emerald Force TN

Hunter Sauser 2007 F Solar SC TX

Marc Schroeder 2007 D Florida Elite Soccer Academy FL

Adam Shalaby 2007 MF Florida Kraze Krush FL

Samuel Tecla 2007 F River Valley FC OK

Dylan Vanney 2007 F Toronto FC AZ

Mason Vanney 2007 MF Toronto FC AZ

Ayden Vidal 2007 MF CTC Bandits South Florida FC FL

Alek Vitanov 2007 F Orlando City Youth Soccer FL

JJ Vozar 2007 MF Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC PA

Anthony Washington 2007 F Real JFC NJ

Aquiles Yibirin 2007 MF Parkland SC FL

Drew Yusko 2007 F 1776 Nether PA