US Soccer

RSL-AZ goalkeeper Christian Herrera featured in a U.S. Soccer video

Grande News, Performance News, Real Salt Lake, Soccer Academy

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – Real Salt Lake – Arizona Academy U-16 goalkeeper Christian Herrera was featured in a U.S. Soccer “Opportunity Knocks” video, in which Herrera talks about the residency setup at the Grande Sports Academy and how the professional accommodations can help him work his way into the Youth National Team picture.

The feature was filmed at the 2013 Winter Showcase where Herrera earned clean sheets in two starts for the RSL-AZ U-16 Academy team. Before the Showcase, U.S. Soccer technical advisors selected four Development Academy Select rosters to compete against each other. Herrera and teammate Miles Stray were selected to the U-15/16 red and blue rosters, respectively. Herrera entered the match at the start of the second half and saved a penalty kick in the 49th-minute. Herrera’s save is at the 1:05 mark in the video below.

On Tuesday, Herrera and teammate Sebastian Saucedo were named to the U-18 MNT roster for an International Tournament in Spain.

Weekend Soccer Preview: Real Salt Lake U-16 Academy to play U.S. Soccer U-15 BNT in friendly

Grande News, Performance News, Real Salt Lake, Soccer Academy

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – After a busy previous weekend, which saw the Grande Sports Academy home of the Real Salt Lake Academy go a combined 6-0, Academy coaches are preparing for a historic weekend, as the U-16 Academy team has been invited by U.S. Soccer to play the U-15 Boys’ National Team on Saturday, November 2nd at the StubHub center in Carson, California in the first ever meeting between the two sides.

Through four U.S. Soccer Development league matches, the Real Salt Lake U-16 Academy team is first in the Southwest Conference, having gone 3-1, while outscoring opponents 16-3. In their most recent match, the Claret-and-Cobalt defeated Real So Cal 3-1 0n October 27th. Josh Doughty, Canadian National Team, leads all goal scorers with four, while first year Academy player Tate Schmitt has notched three. Miles Stray, Diego “Diablo” Silva and Sebastian Saucedo have each added a pair. Goalkeeper Christian Herrera has earned two clean sheets.

U-15 Boys’ National Team head coach Hugo Perez has called in 30 players for the week-long training camp, which ends with the friendly against Real Salt Lake. Twenty-four players invited to the U-15 BNT training camp currently play for U.S. Soccer Development Academy teams, 11 of whom represent six different MLS club academies, including the Colorado Rapids, D.C. United, FC Dallas, LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union. The roster also includes two players from Liga MX side Club Tijuana’s youth ranks.

Following the friendly, the Academy team will stay in California and play a local side on Sunday morning before returning to the Grande Sports Academy.

In 2010, the New Zealand U-17 MNT played the Real Salt Lake Academy in two friendly matches, which ended in a draw and a win for the Claret-and-Cobalt.

U.S. Soccer Calls Up Two Real Salt Lake Academy U-16 Players

Grande News, Performance News, Real Salt Lake, Soccer Academy

Grande Sports Academy - Real Salt Lake Reserves vs Phoenix FC - Justen Glad, Brooks Lennon Casa Grande, AZ (Monday, July 8th, 2013) – The Real Salt Lake U-16 Academy team is going to be a little shorthanded next week in Houston for Finals Week, as Brooks Lennon and Justen Glad have been called up by U.S. Soccer to participate in a international tournament in Niigata, Japan.

This is the second call up for Lennon, who made a name for himself after his stellar performance with the U-17 MNT at the Caspian Cup in Azerbaijan. In three games, Lennon notched his first hat-trick against Kyrgyzstan in the opening game of the Cup, and then scored four goals in the final game against Uzbekistan.

“The second international call up this year and it feels great,” Lennon said. “I feel more comfortable with the team and I feel that I can play a big role in the team.”

Glad has been a fixture for the U-17 team this past semester, as he was a member of the U.S. Soccer Under-17 Residency Program. He played with the U-17’s in the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship that determined the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup participants from the CONCACAF region. He also played in the Caspian Cup with Real Salt Lake Academy teammates Lennon and Bofo Saucedo.

“It feels great. It’s always an honor to get to play for your country,” said Glad, after learning he had been called up. “I’m excited to be out here with the team to help us get some wins in Japan.”

Glad and Lennon have trained with the U-17 MNT for the past four days at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, California. They depart on Tuesday for Japan, and will open up the international tournament against Japan on Saturday, July 13th. They then will take on Croatia on Sunday, followed by the Niigata All-Stars on Monday.

The international tournament in Niigata will overlap with U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy Finals Week, which kicks-off for the Real Salt Lake U-16 Academy team on Sunday, July 14th. Real Salt Lake Academy coaches are hopeful Glad and Lennon will be able to return in time for their third group game on Thursday, July 18th.

“Really bittersweet because we worked so hard to get to Finals Week and I really want to be with my RSL teammates,” Glad said. “But on the other hand Japan will be an amazing experience that I wouldn’t want to pass up.”

Q&A With Former Academy Player & Current U17 National Residency Program Defender Justen Glad

Grande News, Q&A Series, Soccer Academy, Soccer News

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Former Grande Sports Academy defender Justen Glad has a huge year in front of him. As a member of the U-17 National Residency Program, located in Bradenton, Florida, he and his teammates will try to qualify for the 2013 U-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates. Before this, he and his teammates must finish with a top 4 placing in the CONCACAF U-17 Championships in Panama. The CONCACAF Championship will be between April, 6th – April 19th, and the World Cup between October, 17th – November 8th.

Justen Glad - RSL-AZ U16 soccer academy — Justen Glad – RSL-AZ U16

Justen joined the Academy at the start of the 2012 fall semester. In December, Grande Sports Academy participated in the 2012 USSDA Winter Showcase in Florida. Justen performed exceptionally well and was called into the National Residency Program.

Coaches at the Academy have praised him for his good size, speed, foot work and strength in the air.

Assistant Coach Freddy Juarez talks about how he ended up at the Residency Program and how the Grande Sports Academy helped him.

“We spotted him playing with two kids from Tucson. He was playing on that team as a CM and when you looked at him he was getting dominated by our guys but was still able to hold his own. But when you found out he was a 1997, you’re like ‘whoa he’s playing two years up’. We bring him in, the environment your training him 5 days a week, and he’s playing with players that are now pushing him and forcing him to compete. We had talks before with US Soccer and 80% of our Academy games have a National Team scout and his name was coming up. Even there he is playing up. World cup year is 96, and if you are 97 then you are a special player.”

Grande Sports Academy caught up with Justin and here is the Q & A:

Grande – What was it like being away from home when you first came to the Academy?

Glad – There wasn’t an awkward stage trying to get to know everyone because I knew most of the kids already. I just jumped into it but it was weird living away from home even though my home was about an hour away.

Grande – Was it a good decision to join the Academy?

Glad – Oh for sure, definitely a good decision. The coaching was much higher quality and we were always playing soccer tennis or doing something beneficial to our soccer ability. Plus there was a lot more potential to get scouted by Real Salt Lake.

Grande – You are now with the U17 National Residency Program, how did this happen?

Glad – I’m pretty sure we had a US Soccer scout at every game, so throughout the season they would watch us play. Later in the year we went to a tournament in Florida and in Florida there was a select game and after the select game they just called me and told me they wanted me to come over here. So it was just instantaneous. I really wasn’t expecting it. After the Florida game everything just fell into place.

Grande – Did anything special happen in that game that made you really stand out?

Glad – Honestly not really, it was kind of another game. I just worked hard and played my game.

Grande – How has the Residency Program gone so far?

Glad – It has been great. The training has been demanding but it’s also been good for development. the kids are always fun to hang around and it is very structured and very organized.

Grande – Now you’re even further away from home. Did the Academy help you get used to being away from home?

Glad – Yes for sure. It was definitely a good transitional thing because when I was at Grande Sports Academy I would go home at the weekends if we had a home game. I was kind of away from home maybe a week or two weeks at a time. It made it an easier transition being away from home longer.

Grande – The Residency Program has the U-17 CONCACAF Championship coming up and if you qualify for that the U-17 World Cup later this year. What is this whole experience going to be like?

Glad – Nervous excitement. It is always good playing with people better, well for me it raises my level of play. It will be fun to see how I perform against the best players from other countries. I’m looking forward to it.

Grande – You played with very good players at Grande Sports Academy. Now you are with the best players at your age in the entire US. What has this been like?

Glad – Demanding but also very beneficial.

Grande – For future Grande Sports Academy players what would you tell them and why going to the Academy is beneficial?

Glad – All the kids are wonderful, there is always something to do. Ping Pong, soccer tennis hanging out in your room. Practices are good and you’re going to get noticed. There probably isn’t any downside besides being away from your family. But you go there for soccer and you make good friends doing it. It is definitely worth it.

Grande Sports Academy Participates In US Soccer Coaching Licenses

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For 38 years, US Soccer has been certifying coaching licenses at various locations throughout the US. In what is now their 4th year at the Grande Sports World, US Soccer has been hosting coaching licenses for the past week for A, B and C certification. On Thursday night the boys participated in some of the exercises lead by coaches who are looking for their license. Check out the gallery below!

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