Sockers FC Chicago

Has created a player-centered environment for soccer players to grow and showcase their talent and skills.

Sockers FC Chicago

College Commitments

Class of 2019

NIKE Classic Spring Event

8U division 1 day event Added

April 27th, - April 28th

More Info

Hannah Richardson joins U20 Women's National Team

CHICAGO (Feb. 19, 2019) – The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team will travel to La Manga, Spain from Feb. 24-March 6 to play its first three international matches of the year at the Women’s U-19 La Manga Tournament. It’s the U-20s’ second tournament after December’s Nike International Friendlies as the team continues in the early stages of the 2019-20 cycle with the goal of qualifying for the 2020 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

The USA will face the Under-19 sides from Germany on March 1, France on March 3 and Sweden on March 7 in La Manga but the opponents will feature players from the same birth years as the U.S. team as it embarks on the first year of the new two-year cycle.

The 20-player U.S. roster is made up of 11 players born in 2000 (the age cut-off year for the next U-20 WWC), eight players born in 2001 and one in 2002. Nine players on the roster were a part of the USA’s 2018 FIFA U-17 WWC Team and three – defender Naomi Girma, midfielder Brianna Pinto and forward Alexa Spaanstra – were a part of the USA’s 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup roster and return for their second U-20 cycle.

The roster is a mixture of collegiate and youth club players, with seven already enrolled in college. Eight of the 13 youth club players on the roster currently play in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, including 2017-18 West Conference U-16/17 Player of the Year Sophia Jones. The team will be coached by Mark Carr, who helmed the USA through the last U-17 Women’s World Cup cycle.

The friendly competition will feature 14 countries. In addition to the USA and its three opponents, China, Denmark, England, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain and Switzerland will also participate.

U.S. U-20 WNT Roster by Position – Women’s U-19 La Manga Tournament 2019:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Julia Dohle (New York City FC; Scarsdale, N.Y.), Hensley Hancuff (Villanova; Edmond, Okla.)
DEFENDERS (6): Michela Agresti (FC Stars of Mass; Swampscott, Mass.), Maycee Bell (NC Courage; Wichita, Kan.), Naomi Girma (Stanford; San Jose, Calif.), Brianna Martinez (Notre Dame; Albuquerque, N.M.), Makenna Morris (Bethesda SC; Germantown, Md.), Natalia Staude (Tophat; Atlanta, Ga.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Maya Doms (Davis Legacy; Davis, Calif.), Coriana Dyke (Colorado Rapids; Littleton, Colo.), Emily Gray (Virginia Tech; Sewell, N.J.), Sophia Jones (San Jose Earthquakes; Menlo Park, Calif.), Brianna Pinto (North Carolina; Durham, N.C.). Sakura Yoshida (Reign Academy; Redmond, Wash.)
FORWARDS (6): Jordan Canniff (Washington Spirit Academy - Baltimore Armour; California, Md.), Isabella D'Aquila (So Cal Blues; Mission Viejo, Calif.), Samantha Meza (Solar Soccer Club; Dallas, Texas), Alexa Spaanstra (Virginia; Brighton, Mich.), Hannah Richardson (Sockers FC; Bartlett, Ill.), Summer Yates (Washington; Pasco, Wash.

US Club Soccer announces first-ever class of Players First-licensed clubs, featuring 46 clubs from 19 states

The first-ever group of Players First-licensed clubs features 46 clubs from 19 states around the country. Through a rigorous application process, these clubs have all proven their commitment to providing a holistic club soccer experience for parents and players, which emphasizes the development of each individual to his or her full potential, and helps parents make better choices about where their children should play.

As youth’s soccer’s “Good Housekeeping Seal,” these clubs immediately take this newfound recognition into their communities and nationally, standing out as pioneers in improving the club soccer experience for players and parents.

Congratulations to Josh Penn on being called up to the Youth National Team

U-19 MNT Captures 2018 U-20 Men's Invitational Title with 4-1 Win vs. Jamaica

US Soccer

U-20 MNT Finishes Second with 3-1 Win Over Venezuela

U-20 MNT U-19 MNT Sep 11, 2018

CHICAGO (Sept. 11, 2018) – On the final day of competition, the U.S. Under-19 Men’s National Team rode a three-goal second half surge to a 4-1 win against Jamaica and the top of the final standings of the 2018 U.S. Soccer U-20 Men's Invitational.

2018 U.S. Soccer U-20 Men's Invitational Standings
Team	GP	W	L	D	Pts.	GF	GA	GD
USA (U-19)	3	2	0	1	7	7	3	4
USA (U-20)	3	2	1	0	6	6	3	2
Venezuela	3	1	1	1	4	4	5	-1
Jamaica	3	0	3	0	0	2	8	-6

Using goals from Isaac Angking, Declan McGlynn, Ulysses Llanez and Joshua Penn, the U-19 MNT finished the early game of the third matchday on top of the table. The team then awaited the result of the later game between the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team and Venezuela, to confirm its title. With Venezuela needing to surpass the U.S. on goal differential to have a chance at the title, the U-20 MNT insured their younger counterparts need not worry, defeating La Vinotinto 3-1 to finish second in the final standings.

U.S. U-19 MNT 4, Jamaica 1:
The U-19 MNT got off on the right track, scoring first for the third consecutive game of the tournament as Angking converted a penalty kick in the 24th minute. The New England Revolution midfielder’s conversion was equalized five minutes into first half stoppage time by Jamaica’s Tyreek Magee.

Two minutes into the second half, 2017-2018 U.S. Soccer Development Academy U-16/17 West Conference Player of the Year Llanez won the ball off an ill-timed back pass from Jamaica, and immediately played a pass into the path of McGlynn who finished into the bottom right corner of the net.

In the 74th minute, Llanez was back in on the action, this time on the goal scoring end of the USA’s attack. Receiving the ball from LA Galaxy teammate Julian Araujo, Llanez fired from 25 yards out and into the right upper corner of the goal.

Three minutes later, the USA put the game away for good. Receiving a pass inside the Jamaica penalty box, forward Manuel Terrazas played a cross back through the box to the feet of Penn, who finished into the net.

- U.S. Under-19 Men’s National Team Match Report -

Match: U.S. U-19 Men’s National Team vs. Jamaica U-20 National Team
Date: Sept. 11, 2018
Competition: 2018 U.S. Soccer U-20 Men's Invitational
Venue: IMG Academy; Bradenton, Fla.

Kickoff: 11 a.m. ET

Weather: 87 degrees; sunny

Scoring Summary:                   1          2          F
USA                             1          3          4
JAM                             1          0          1

USA – Isaac Angking (penalty kick)                    24th minute
JAM – Tyreek Magee                                         45+5
USA – Declan McGlynn (Ulysses Llanez)           47
USA – Ulysses Llanez (Julian Araujo)                     74
USA – Joshua Penn (Manuel Terrazas)             77 from Sockers FC

On Location: Blueprint of a Development Academy Club in the Windy City

MNT by Scott Powers on Jun 7, 2016

In his 30-plus years of coaching, David Richardson has never had a soccer player come through Sockers FC in Chicago and later find success without seeing them overcome some sort of adversity.

Richardson, who will turn 50 later this year, has helped develop nearly 50 professional players and even more collegiate ones during the course of his career. He’s seen them all face various obstacles.

It’s that community within Sockers FC, which is a U.S. Soccer Development Academy club, that Richardson often turns to with his current players – there are about 800 players in the club now – to help them overcome their own hurdles and attempt to reach new heights in their development.

“A strength to being a part of a community for 30-plus years is you have a library of times where you can go back and say I know what you’re facing,” said Richardson, who is Sockers FC president and technical director. “I have seen other players go through this. Look at what they did and this is what he does now and you can do the same. We have been stable in this community for a very long time, and that’s because we have a stable program that has been about placing players for a very long time.” Sockers FC President and Technical Director Dave Richardson

Richardson has stories for Sockers FC alumni Jay DeMerit, Mike Magee, Will Johnson, Baggio Husidic, Jonathan Spector and many others who went on to play professionally. The one example that especially grabs the attention of his current players is Michael Bradley, who will be playing in Chicago with the U.S. Men’s National Team against Costa Rica in the Copa America Centenario at Soldier Field on Tuesday.

Bradley played for Richardson for about five years when he lived in the Chicago area while his father Bob Bradley coached the Chicago Fire. Richardson fondly remembers Michael spending a lot of long days after school training or hanging out at the club.

“Here’s the thing: Michael is somebody all the kids in our program can identify with,” Richardson said. “I can tell many stories with Michael about how many challenges and obstacles he faced. They only see him as the captain of the National Team and a guy with opportunities to play in Europe and now leading a MLS club back home here. Their eyes and ears perk up.

“I can tell you this – those are the unique things about it. You can give perspective to some young players that don’t realize even for the best guys it wasn’t so easy from the beginning, wasn’t so easy all the way up. They had challenges. They weren’t the strongest guys. They sometimes had injuries. They sometimes made mistakes, had deficiencies in their games.”

How Sockers FC came to be what it is today began with the vision of Richardson and Nilton Batata, Sockers FC’s vice president and director of operations. They began building the club in the late 1980s while they were still playing professionally. In time, they transitioned from part-time coaches to full-time ones.

Richardson and Batata were very much on the same page for what they wanted their club to be.

“I would say we were very passionate about the game,” said Richardson, who moved to the Chicago area from England when he was eight. “We were passionate about wanting to teach the game. We were passionate about wanting the kids to have an experience I don’t want to say different, but it was just something we loved to do – training a lot, traveling and doing things with groups. Putting it together wasn’t difficult because it was the vision we started with.”

Sockers FC has been developing youth players in the Chicagoland area for more than 25 years and is now a well established member of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.

Richardson and Batata have always placed an emphasis on player development. The club has won its share of tournaments over the years, but that’s never been their focus. Richardson believes the creation of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy in 2007 has swayed many other clubs to that mentality as well.

“I think about soccer now nine years later,” Richardson said. “The boys game is in a much better place where success is ultimately measured. It’s done a lot of good things to guide the thought process to move away from the result-based success model to people thinking about the actual development and the actual placement and actual performance level you can get a player to.

“I always say the responsibility of the club is to be a launching pad for the players, not the players being a launching pad for the club. That’s the essence of who we are and what we should be doing and how we are measuring our success.”

Richardson holds many duties within Sockers FC from on the field to off it. He’s considered himself a mentor for players for many years. In the coming years, he’d like to be the same with coaches within youth soccer.

“I do see my role moving forward to develop and mentor others within our program, start to take on those functions and those responsibilities and in that way in terms of culturally, methodology,” Richardson said. “Where I’ve mentored players for 32 years, now I think I start to take on that role how to mentor and how to help develop other coaches and leaders within the youth profession.”

Among what Richardson will pass on to those coaches is just how much influence they can have on a player.

“It’s very humbling you realize how important the role of the coach is not just X’s and O’s, but in being able to provide hope for the player and motivation for the player,” Richardson said. “Those things are critical. Sometimes coaches don’t understand that the right word at the right time can make the biggest influence in a kid’s life. Just like the wrong word at the wrong time can make a difference the other way. We all must know we have a huge responsibility because we’ve been entrusted with this.”

http://www.ussoccerda.com/home.php

Three Sockers FC Players, Mhone Bogonko, Andrew Chavez, and Luke Van Heukelum called up to U14 YNT camp.

CHICAGO (March 13, 2019)—Eighty players will gather in Frisco, Texas for the U.S. Soccer Youth National Teams Under-14 Talent Identification Central Region Mini-Camp from March 14-18 at the Toyota Soccer Center.

The camp is the second of three such mini-camps that are part of the initial rollout of U.S. Soccer’s new YNT U-14 TID program. The West Region Mini-Camp was held in January in Carson, Calif., while the East Region Mini-Camp is set for early April at the Capelli Sports Complex in Tinton Falls, N.J.

READ: U.S. Soccer Launches New YNT U-14 Talent Identification Program
READ: Eighty Players Called In For YNT U-14 TID West Regional Mini-Camp

During the camp, 80 players from the Central Region will make up 20-player teams based on the region’s four defined scouting areas (North Central, South Central, Midwest and Southeast). U.S. Soccer staff, including Director of TID Tony Lepore and the three boys’ TID Managers, Henry Brauner, Garrett Biller and Cris da Silva, will run the camp, while the four teams will be coached by YNT Network Scouts and Development Academy coaches from the four respective scouting areas. After a day of training, the four teams will play each other in round-robin competition.

Friday, March 15
Midwest Select vs. North Central Select – 10:00 a.m.
South Central Select vs. Southeast Select – 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, March 16
Midwest Select vs. South Central Select – 10:00 a.m.
North Central Select vs. Southeast Select – 11:30 a.m.

Monday, March 18
Midwest Select vs. Southeast Select – 9:45 a.m.
North Central Select vs. South Central Select – 10:45 a.m.

In addition to the on-field competition, the mini-camp will focus on off-field education. Players will be introduced to YNT principles of play, position profiles and goal-setting to help them take responsibility for their own development. The players will also visit the new National Soccer Hall of Fame that opened last fall at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.

READ: A Hall for All: American Soccer’s Treasure Chest

Furthermore, the mini-camp will introduce the 80 players to U.S. Soccer’s High Performance department. A sport scientist will be on hand throughout the event, taking Peak Height Velocity (PHV) measurements to help educate players and coaches about the impact of growth and maturation on development. The sport scientist will also educate players about best practices for nutrition and recovery.

The majority of the players called into the Central Mini-Camp were identified at last fall’s Development Academy Central Regional Showcase and were further evaluated at YNT Identification Centers as part of the scouting process prior to being selected for this camp.
YNT U-14 TID Central Mini-Camp Roster by Position (Club)
GOALKEEPERS (8): Elijah Berumen (Dallas Texans), Elijah Buford (Atlanta Unite4d FC), Mao Diaz (Kendall SC), Drew Fromm (Vardar), Victor Gomez (FC Dallas), Misael Mena (Sporting Kansas City), Aaron Salinas (FC Dallas), Justin Stewart (Solar Soccer Club)

DEFENDERS (23): Adrian Anguiano (FC Dallas), Edwin Avalos (Monarcas Morelia/MEX), Grant Bailey (Indiana Fire), Mhone Bogonko (Sockers FC), Mathieu Brick (Atlanta United FC), Andrew Chavez (Sockers FC), Nati Clarke (Sporting Kansas City), Ryan Clanton-Pimentel (Lonestar SC), Iyke Dafe (Houston Dynamo), Pranav DuBroff (FC Dallas), Matthew Fisher (Vardar), Luis Flores (IMG Academy), Amari Fowlkes (Indiana Fire), Evan Jimerson (Texans SC Houston), Mikhail Keise (Weston FC), Josh Maher (Saint Louis FC), Kibukila Mbula (San Antonio FC), Ryder Mills (Cincinnati United Premier), Bryan Moreno (Los Angeles FC), Remi Okunlola (Atlanta United FC), David Ordonez (Dallas Texans), Emilo Rossi (Weston FC), Christopher Vang (Minnesota United FC)

MIDFIELDERS (26): Jared Aguilar (FC Dallas), Bryan Arellano (San Antonio FC), Carson Ballagh (Vardar), Josiah Benjamin (Columbus Crew SC), Micah Burton (Minnesota United FC), Alan Carleton (Atlanta United FC), Keith Chavarria (Colorado Rapids), Johann Chirinos (Atlanta United FC), Giorgio De Libera (Columbus Crew SC), Riker Doolittle (Solar Soccer Club), Anthony Eugenio (IMG Academy), Diego Hernandez (FC Dallas), Luka Ivancic (Chicago Fire), Jordan Jones (FC Dallas), Daniel Lugo (Chargers SC), Sureel McCain (Colorado Rapids), Emmanuel Monserrat (Germantown Legends), Carlos Nevarez (Chicago Fire), Nolan Norris (FC Dallas), Sebastian Otero (Weston FC), Daniel Ordonez (San Antonio FC), Sergio Oregel (Chicago Fire), Axel Perez (Weston FC), James Spatzek (FC United), Solomon Straub (Minnesota United FC), Jonantan Villal (Atlanta United FC)

FORWARDS (23): Gage Akalu (Sporting Kansas City), Mataeo Bunbury (Minneapolis United), Benjamin Chavarria (Indiana Fire), Gabriel Enriquez (San Diego Surf), Ricardo Garcia (Houston Dynamo), Italo Jenkins (Atlanta United FC), Tre Jervier (Cincinnati United Premier), Asher Jones (Chargers SC), Kelly Kipruto (Sporting Kansas City), Kai Louviere (San Antonio FC), Emir Mimic (Armada FC Academy), Luke Nicholson (Michigan Wolves), Nighte Pickering (FC Dallas), Anthony Ramirez (FC Dallas), Roberto Renteria (San Antonio FC), Diego Rosas (RGV FC Toros Academy), Danial Sebhatu (Atlanta United FC), Kevin Tlaxcalteco (Colorado Rapids), Cristian Torres (Chicago Fire), Marcos Torres (Real Salt Lake Arizona), Felipe Valencia (Kendall SC), Luke Van Heukelum (Sockers FC), Ty Wilson (Atlanta United FC)

North Central Select Coaches: Mike Freitag (YNT Network Scout – Frontier), Chris O’Neal (Sporting Kanas City)

Midwest Select Coaches: Steve Bode (YNT Network Scout – Mid-America), Ross Brady (Chicago Fire)

South Central Select Coaches: Eric Dade (YNT Network Scout – Texas), Nick Evans (San Antonio FC)

Southeast Select Coaches: Chris Kranjc (YNT Network Scout – Southeast), Blake Wagner (Tampa Bay Rowdies)

Article By www.ussoccer.com
Direct Link to the Article: https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2019/03/13/17/48/20190313-news-u14bnt-eighty-players-headed-to-frisco-texas-for-ynt-u14-tid-central-region-minicamp

Three Sockers FC Players, called up to U14 YNT camp.

Chris is entering his second year in the MLS with Orlando City. He is looking to continue a successful rookie season and has already scored in Orlando City's first game vs NYCFC. The game finished tied at 2-2 with Mueller starting and playing all 90 minutes. You can follow the Orlando City schedule here: OCSC Schedule. Good luck this year Chris!

Sit down with Chris Mueller!

Interview with Eric Leonard.

Eric played for Sockers FC until 2014, at which time he went on to attend Butler University. Eric is currently playing for the inaugural season for Forward Madison FC after playing for Nerang SC in Australia in 2018. Madison's first regular season game is April 6th and you can follow their schedule here 2019 Season Schedule.

Full Interview Eric Leonard

Catch a sneak peak of our interview with Chris Mueller. The full interview, coming soon...

Sneak Peak with Chris Mueller

GK Megan McCabe and her impact on other GK's.

After seeing more playing time than expected as a freshman due to an injury-ridden season for Megan McCabe, Kaylin Williams saw her career come full circle this past fall. Sidelined due to her own injury, Williams had to embrace a new role on a young and talented EMU soccer team.

Megan McCabe's impact on Eastern Michigan

Tune in to watch Sockers FC Boys U17 Academy vs Atlanta United FC

In US Soccer's feature game of the day. @ 11:00 AM

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ussoccerdotcom

US Soccer DA Channel: http://www.ussoccerda.com/home.php?layout=10020729

Facebook Channel: https://www.facebook.com/developmentacademy/

Sockers FC vs Atlanta United FC

Calendar

Tryouts

Dash

SOCKERS FC TOURNAMENT EVENTS

The Nike Labor Day Cup tournament provides a top level event on a holiday weekend and an opportunity to prepare for the demands of Fall season. Teams looking to test their players for Regional Leagues and State competitions should seriously consider this event. Played on Schaumburg Park District's, Olympic Park; a multiple artificial all-weather turf and grass field facility; this event presents a good soccer environment during Fall season.

Sockers FC Chicago selects and operates many different environments for members to make sure that optimal player development is achieved and opportunities to showcase their talents are readily available. Many different events for high school players are available to aid college recruitment but other events for other members to socialize, compete in tournaments and to volunteer; giving our members great memories.

More Info

NIKE LABOR DAY CLASSIC

Boys | Ages 8U - 18U/19U

Girls | Ages U8 - 18U/19U

Entry Fee $575

More Info

NIKE CLASSIC CUP FALL

Boys | Ages 8U - 18U/19U

Girls | Ages U8 - 18U/19U

Entry Fee $750.00

The Nike Classic Cup provides the top level teams around the region an opportunity to prepare for the demands of Fall season. Teams looking to test their players for Regional Leagues and State competitions should seriously consider this event. Played on Schaumburg Park District's - Olympic Park, Palatine Park District - Aspen Park both are multiple artifical all-weather turf and grass field facilities; this event presents a good soccer environment during Fall season. Grass fields at Connelly Park will be used depending on the number of teams registered for this tournament.

More Info

NIKE ACADEMY SHOWCASE

Boys | Ages 13U - 18U/19U

Girls | Ages U13 - 15U

Entry Fee 13/14 $750
15U-19U $800

The Nike Academy Showcase is an elite level showcase event for 13U - 19U boys teams and 13U – 15U girls teams. Played on Schaumburg Park District's, Olympic Park; a multiple artificial all-weather turf field facility; this event guarantees a good soccer environment early in the year for competition before the Spring season.

More Info

NIKE CLASSIC CUP SPRING

Boys | Ages 9U - 18U/19U

Girls | Ages 9U - 18U/19U

Entry Fee 11U - 19U $750.00
Entry Fee 09U - 10U $700.00

The Nike Classic Cup provides the top-level teams around the region an opportunity to prepare for the demands of Spring season. Teams looking to test their players for Regional Leagues and State competitions should seriously consider this event. Played on Schaumburg Park District's - Olympic Park, Palatine Park District - Aspen Park both are multiple artificial all-weather turf and grass field facilities; this event presents a good soccer environment during Spring season. Grass fields at Connelly Park will be used depending on the number of teams registered for this tournament.

More Info

NIKE MEMORIAL DAY CUP

Boys | Ages 8U - 18U

Girls | Ages 9U - 15U

Entry Fee 08 $500.00
Entry Fee 09U - 15U $600.00
Entry Fee 13U - Up $600.00

The Nike Memorial Day Cup provides all level teams around the region an opportunity to participate in a Spring event. The Cup will be a three day event allowing Monday off. Teams looking for a great event to test their players against teams from around the region should seriously consider the Nike Memorial Day Cup. Played on Naperville Park District's, Frontier Park; beautiful all grass fields.

More Info