First of two Fall 2012 id2 Program Training Camps concludes in Portland, Conn.

The first of two Fall 2012 U.S. Club id²Program Training Camps came to a close on Sunday as a total of 58 boys born in 1999-2000 and 53 girls born in 1998-1999 representing 20 states were on-hand for four days of high-level training and off-field sessions, Oct. 11-14, at TD Bank Oakwood Soccer Complex in Portland, Conn.

The age groups for the camp were selected in order to align with the scouting priorities for the U.S. Soccer U-14 National Teams. The id² Program Training Camps are part of US Club Soccer’s id² National Player Identification and Development Program and provide an opportunity for the country’s top youth players to be identified and developed for inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s National Team programs.

Every id² Program Training Camp is attended and scouted by U.S. Soccer staff members, as Tony Lepore, Rodrigo Marion and Mary-Francis Monroe were each in suburban Hartford. In addition, former U.S. Women’s National Team member Ella Masar was on hand to work with the players and share with them her thoughts as to what it takes to succeed at a professional and national team level.

For the fourth straight year, a team of the best 18 boys from this fall’s id² Program Training Camps will be selected to take an international trip, where they will have the opportunity to train, attend professional matches and compete against youth teams from well-known professional clubs. In the 2011-12 cycle, a team of 18 boys born in 1998 took part in the 2012 id² National Selection International Tour to Spain, which was highlighted by matches against academy teams from top Spanish clubs FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, as well as attendance at a pair of La Liga matches featuring FC Barcelona.

“The technical competency of the overall group was excellent and there were a number of outstanding candidates for the upcoming id² National Selection International Tour,” said Gerry McKeown, US Club Soccer’s id² Boys’ Program Director. “We will be able to finalize our thoughts for the International Tour after the id² Program Training Camp in Arizona in December, when we will also begin to look at our needs by position.”

Led by McKeown and US Club Soccer’s Christian Lavers, 13 top coaches from across the country worked closely with the players to teach the technical, tactical, and psychological requirements for success and development at a national level.

“The id² Program is about identifying the best players and then giving them a no-cost platform to learn and be exposed to even higher levels,” said Lavers. “This camp had good quality on both the girls’ and boys’ sides, and hopefully the players will use this experience by going back to their regular club environment determined to reach higher and higher levels.”