Development Academy Education

The MNT had some careful observers at training today, as the squad was watched by 35 U.S. Soccer Development Academy coaches and scouts from the New York and New Jersey area, and even some from as far away as Hartford, Conn. Led by Development Academy scout Tony Lepore, the coaches observed the team’s light training session and discussed the importance of recovering from long trips (just ask Jay DeMerit). Bob Bradley met the group beforehand to discuss the team's training plans, while assistant coach Mike Sorber addressed the coaches after the session to talk about the methods and goals of each activity.

The coaches, who represented 10 Development Academy clubs, included longtime U.S. Soccer U-14 National Development Program head coach Manny Schellscheidt, U.S. U-15 BNT head coach Jim Barlow and current Met Oval coach and former MetroStars great Giovanni Savarese.

Those same coaches will also be in attendance at the U.S. MNT vs. Argentina match as part of the same coaching symposium. On Sunday, they will be advised by U.S. Soccer Development Academy director John Hackworth, who will be back from a scouting trip to the Barbados-Bermuda match. Hackworth will provide the lineup as well as a pre-match analysis ,giving the Development Academy coaches an outline of the USA's personnel and gameplan,