U.S. SOCCER TALENT IDENTIFICATION
The U.S. Way Behind the Badge Talent ID Center Series
U.S. Soccer Talent ID Centers programming is designed to help build the foundation of U-14 and U-15 regional and national player pools. TID Centers are free, single-day identification opportunities where top talents age U-14 and U-15 are invited to train and play games under the direction of U.S. Soccer Regional Talent Identification Managers and local YNT Talent Scouts. TID Centers are hosted by local clubs, organizations and facilities in 30 different locations nationwide. The goal is to provide thousands of scouted players per year an introduction to the U.S. Way and experience a best with best environment.
Talent ID Centers also offer regular touch points for local scouts, coaches, Talent Reporters, and technical leaders on the ground level, to raise awareness, build relationships, and unify talent identification across the ecosystem. To support these efforts in 2025/2026, U.S. Soccer Talent Identification is excited to launch The U.S. Way Behind the Badge Talent ID Center Series, hosted at 12 regional locations, open to all members to attend, observe and participate in pre and post session interaction with our Talent ID Managers.
For your reference, the 2025-2026 Talent ID Program Schedule can be found here.
Attendees will gain insight into the U.S. Soccer Talent ID pathway, age-appropriate player benchmarks and evaluation methods used by U.S. Soccer Talent ID Managers
- Pre-session: Participants gather on location for a brief overview of the player pool and session objectives
- During Session: Participants observe from designated area. Resources provided to support tracking of players
- Post-session: Participants gather for debrief, review of next steps, and Q&A
Attendance is encouraged by all members, serving in technical roles, from the local area. Please RSVP through this form if you plan to attend. TID Center sessions are closed to parents and spectators.
The U.S. Way Goalkeeper (side-by-side) Talent ID Center Series
U.S. Soccer Talent Identification, in collaboration with our Goalkeeping Department, is excited to launch a new initiative, The U.S. Way Goalkeeper (side-by-side) Talent ID Center Series. These goalkeeper specific training sessions will be hosted alongside select TID Center locations across the nation, led by our National Teams Goalkeeper Coaches and Goalkeeper Specific YNT Talent Scouts, who will work directly with an expanded pool of 8-12 additional goalkeepers, identified and selected from local clubs and ID programs. Our goal is to identify and support development of more high potential goalkeepers within our Talent ID and Youth National Teams pathway, while also supporting goalkeeper coaching education.
For your reference, the 2025-2026 Talent ID Program Schedule can be found here.
The sessions are designed around the age-appropriate key qualities of a U.S. Youth National Team goalkeeper and will replicate the
demands of the national team pathway in a goalkeeper-specific setting. The U.S. Way Goalkeeper side-by-side Talent ID Center Series will help to provide more opportunities for goalkeepers to be scouted, evaluated and supported in a focused environment, integrated within our broader Talent ID programming.
Local goalkeeper coaches and other technical leaders and coaches are encouraged to attend and observe the sessions, where U.S. Soccer Goalkeeper Coaches will take time to engage with them pre and post session to share best practices, exchange ideas, and Q & A. Please RSVP through this form if you plan to attend. The sessions are closed to parents and spectators.