Two years ago, I attended a lecture given by an FA Coach with the Technical Director of Ajax America Barry Hulshoff. Barry had grown up in Ajax, played for and coached for Ajax. 

At one point, he leaned over to me and said, " Ajax would not be an Academy in England. They do not have a covered pitch, nor a child welfare officer ( both presented as something necessary to be an academy) and they would not agree to limiting their older teams to so few games - with no standings."

The FA web site tab on elite player development has not been updated since 2003...

You must check out the pdf's created by ADIDAS to inspire youth players in the US. Caution: Only read this if you have nothing to do for the next hour.....you may be inspired to go running, to train against a wall, or to lock yourself in a room and cry!

From the MLS web site: "adidas, MLS, and Soccer United Marketing Working Together to Create and Inspire an America Soccer Nation"

Do you subscrible to Soccer Coaching International? You should! The lastest issue has an article from Lippi, Soren Akeby of Malmo FC, Leslie Gallimore of U of Washington, a few pages of training's from around the world, an interview with youth coach of NEC U19's,  and two articles about Youth Football. 

www.soccercoachinginternational.com 

Soren Akeby of Sweden quotes from the latest issue of Soccer Coaching International.

On the 1-4-3-3 versus the 1-4-4-2:  " I prefer to play 4-3-3, but I believe it demands more of every single player to play that compared to the 4-4-2. 

“To Create, Develop, and Grow the best USSF sanctioned organization to foster the growth and development of club soccer programs throughout the United States. The result of which will be to improve the level of play of the competitive soccer player, and thereby the U.S. national teams and professional leagues.”

Every club should have a first team - an adult team. A soccer club, in most soccer playing countries, has youth teams and adult teams - within the same club. They support each other. The top, older youth players within a club are able to train with the adult teams, within a club, on a regular basis - to further their development. 

Most of the world views youth soccer as a small part of the overall soccer experience. Adult soccer teams are the most important part of a club. Hence, youth soccer players are developed for a clubs first team. Youth soccer players dream of playing in their club's first team. 

Below is information about a new league - owned, run and controlled by the teams - in an inexpensive manner. So youth soccer clubs start an adult team - lets play soccer for our entire life.