adidas ESP 2006 Showcases America’s Top Youth Soccer Players 136 of the most talented youth soccer players in the nation . Training with top coaches from Chelsea FC, Major League Soccer’s staff as well as former members of US Soccer’s Men’s National Team. Improving performance fi tness with Athletes' Performance . Competing in front of 120 college and professional coaches . Proving themselves ready for the next level of play. The Loomis Chaffee School • Windsor, Connecticut • July 5-10, 2006 www.adidas-esp.com FEATURE SPECIAL ADVERTISING Frequently Asked Questions About the adidas Elite Soccer Program (ESP) 1. Why did adidas create while about 20% of the players will be the best will be selected to compete in adidas ESP? identified from other competitive situa- the adidas ESP 2006 All Star Game. adidas is committed to player tions. Most of the players invited will be development. In 1997, when graduating in 2007 but there will also be 4. What other developmental op- adidas started the Elite Soccer exceptional younger players selected. portunities are available at adidas Program, there was no other ESP 2006? program available that brought 3. What distinguishes adidas ESP adidas has invited Dr. Greg Dale, together the best male youth from other programs? from Duke University, to enhance players to learn, train, and The quality of the coaching staff, the players’ perspectives on "Team compete against each other. the quality of the curriculum, the qual- Building" and "Maintaining Focus", Today, adidas ESP remains a ity of the players and the quality of the Athletes’ Performance to develop per- unique opportunity for the facility distinguish adidas ESP above all sonal performance fitness plans for the top players to further develop their other programs. The first evening the players, and Alfonso Mondelo, head skills and also be recognized for their players will be assigned to teams com- of the youth division of Major League achievements. The players are provided prised of 2 goalkeepers, 15 field players, Soccer, to share the expectations for with first class facilities, equipment, and a staff coach. Over the next five top youth players. adidas: The and coaching within a high-level days the players will be challenged to training and game environment. The demonstrate their individual skills as 5. How many college coaches Leading Supporter players also receive classroom experi- well as contribute to their team’s suc- will be attending the adidas ESP of Player ences to further help them grow. cess. adidas brings in top clinicians to camp? work with the players. For instance, About 120 college coaches as well Development 2. How are the 136 players for Robin Fraser, former US national team as some professional scouts. adidas is adidas ESP 2006 players selected? and MLS star, youth coaches from very appreciative of the coaches who adidas is the leading soccer brand in the The selection process involves a net- Chelsea FC, Major League Soccer, and will come to watch the adidas ESP world. It is easy to recognize adidas’ inter- work of over 40 experienced coaches Athletes’ Performance, performance 2006 players. Consequently, adidas national stature through its association with nationwide who work year round fitness specialists who work with the will provide the attending coaches the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions scouting league games, tournaments, German national team as well as the with: a Player Profile Book, which League, the UEFA European Championship, state cups, and regional and national Los Angeles Galaxy and CD Chivas includes biographical and contact and top national teams, professional clubs, championships. Once players have USA, will provide sessions. After two information on each player; special and players. been scouted, nominated, and se- days of training, competitive games be- seminars on relevant coaching topics; In the United States adidas supports the lected, they are invited to participate. gin. One game per day will be played on site hospitality during all training highest level of the game through its com- On average approximately 80% of the to showcase each player’s abilities and sessions and games; and an off site re- prehensive support of Major League Soccer. players invited will have been involved to determine the team champion of ception and viewing of the 2006 FIFA In addition, adidas is very active at the collegiate level where six of the last seven in the US Youth Soccer ODP system, adidas ESP 2006. The players who play World Cup Final. NCAA Division I men’s champions chose to wear adidas. Equally important are adidas’ contribu- tions to the grassroots levels of soccer. The adidas ESP Alumni cornerstone of this commitment to youth player development is adidas’ sponsorship The Alumni of adidas ESP have gone to of US Youth Soccer, which includes the on to great success at both the collegiate Olympic Development Program, National and professional levels of soccer. Championships Series, coaching licenses, Some exceptionally talented adidas ESP and TOP Soccer for players with physical alumni have gone directly to the profes- and mental challenges. In addition, adidas sional ranks. Such players include Josmer sponsors the best youth competitions in Altidore (Generation adidas ‘06 - Red Bull the nation, including the Disney Showcase, New York), Nikolas Besagno (Generation adidas Final Four Showcases, Blue Chip adidas ‘05 - Real Salt Lake), Jonathan Showcases, and the USA Cup. Spector (Manchester United) and DaMarcus adidas also promotes the development Beasley (PSV Eindhoven). of individual player skills through Coerver Other adidas ESP alumni have had Coaching as well as coaching education exemplary college careers and then become through sponsorship of the National Soc- top professionals. For instance, three of the cer Coaches Association of America. Not last four winners of the Hermann Trophy, surprisingly, adidas is also very active with given to the best college player of the year, youth clubs throughout the country. are adidas ESP alumni, and three out of the The adidas Elite Soccer Program 2006, a last five number one draft picks in the MLS US Youth Soccer ODP sanctioned event, is a Super Draft are adidas ESP alumni. highlight on adidas’ player development cal- While many adidas ESP alumni decide SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE SPECIAL ADVERTISING endar. It is one of the numerous efforts that to attend major college soccer powers, it make adidas the leading supporter of player is noteworthy that adidas alumni have at- 2 development in the United States. tended over 120 different colleges. adidas ESP 2006 Showcases America’s Top Youth Soccer Players Dersu Abolfathi Andrew Adlard Fro Adu Steven Amaya CF CF CB AMF Irvine CA New Berlin WI Rockville MD New York NY ISC Strikers Brookfi eld Red U-18 Potomac Cougars Red Bull NY Kevin Ante Matt Armstrong Sam Arthur Jimmy Banks Edgar Barajas SW DMF CF CMF CF Miami FL Phoenix AZ Roswell GA Milwaukee WI Pacoima CA Miami Strike Force Sereno ‘89 White Atlanta Fire United U-17 F.C. Milwaukee U.S. U-17 National Team Daniel Barrera Mykell Bates Chance Bennett Cesar Blacido Troy Blewitt AMF CMF RW AMF CMF Thousand Oakes CA Roseville CA Vallejo CA Ramsey NJ Carmel IN Rampage River City Clash Marin FC-90 PDA Socrates CUSC Cosmos III Josh Boemecke Phil Boerger Corben Bone Ryan Brode Cameron Brown CF GK AMF M CMF O’Fallon IL Jamestown ND Plano TX Setauket NY Garland TX Metro United Wings SC Dallas Solar SC Kosmos BW Solar ‘89 SC PLAYER POSITIONS KEY GK - Goal keep er, D-De fend er, RB - Right Back, ST - Stopper, adidas ESP 2006 — CB - Cen ter Back, SW - Sweeper, Soccer America Magazine LB - Left Back, RMF - Right Action photos by: Midfi eld, CMF - Center Midfi eld, Dean Forbes/ Sportstockimages.com DMF - Defensive Midfi eld (Hold- ing Midfi eld), AMF - Attacking Barajas' photo: Internationalsportsimages.com Matthew Brutto Brandyn Bumpas Teal A. Bunbury Midfi eld, LMF - Left Midfi eld, FEATURE SPECIAL ADVERTISING GK GK F RW - Right Wing, CF - Center Player Information Summary Warrington PA Denver CO Prior Lake MN Current as of June 7, 2006 FC Delco Black V Colorado Rush Apple Valley Juventus Forward (Striker), LW - Left Wing 3 adidas ESP 2006 Showcases America’s Top Youth Soccer Players Kristopher Byrd Bernabe Camacho Christian Camacho Giuseppe Carotenuto LB LMF DMF RMF Huntersville NC Watsonville CA Woodside NY Scottsdale AZ Charlotte Soccer Club Santa Cruz Breakers 88 B.W. Gottchee Sereno SC Brice Carr Patrick Cates Eric Cava Matthew Cebula Jeremy Clark CB CB CF AMF GK Mequon WI Irmo SC Clarks Summit PA Grand Rapids MI Sterling Heights MI FC Milwaukee Lexington United U-17 FC Delco Grand Valley River Rats Vardar Stars ‘89 Pat Clendenny Billy Cortes Victor Cortez Tyler Crawford Tyler Cyrus CB RB RB CF CB St. Louis MO Lake Elsinore CA El Sobrante CA Columbia IL Virginia Beach VA Scott Gallagher Pateadores Santa Clara Sporting Metro United FC Virginia Rush Jarrett Davis Mike Deasel Cole Dittmer Alex Dixon Tuan Doan GK DMF CMF CF CMF Wilmington NC Kingsville MD Wilmington NC Humble TX Irving TX ‘88 CASL Elite Casa Mia Bays Wilmington Soccer Academy U.S. U-17 National Team Solar SC Brian Dominguez Tommy Drake Brock Duckworth William Dunaway SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE SPECIAL ADVERTISING CF CF GK CMF Atlanta GA Chapel Hill NC Parker TX Evans GA 4 U.S. U-17 National Team Triangle Futbol Club 88 Solar 89 Cobb Futbol Club Premier U-17 Navy adidas ESP 2006 Showcases America’s Top Youth Soccer Players Andrew Duran Cody Felipe Douglas Ferner Kaoru Forbess CMF AMF CB CMF Mokena IL Pukalani HI Bloomfi eld Hills MI Benton AR Chicago Magic 88/89 Maui United Hurricanes Vardar Stars LRFC ‘89 Raymon Walter Gaddis Jeremiah Gallington Gregory Garza Blair Gavin Colin Givens RB CF LMF DMF CB Indianapolis IN Mattapan MA Grapevine TX Franklin TN Troy MI Indy Burn Eagles Tri-Valley Eagles U-18 Dallas Texans ‘91 Red TNFC Vardar Stars Jose Gonzalez Cole Grossman Austin Guerrero Sean Haglund Anthony Han LMF CMF GK LW LM Soquel CA St.