Development Academy Summer Showcase and Playoffs underway in SoCal
(Via U.S. Soccer) – Over the next two weeks, more than 8000 players will come together for the biggest event in the history of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. The 2018 Academy Summer Showcase and Playoffs will feature over 630 games across seven age groups at the SoCal Sports Complex in Oceanside, Calif., just outside San Diego.
With the introduction of the Girls’ Academy this season, the 2018 Summer Showcase and Playoffs will mark the biggest Academy event ever. Here’s what you should know about the colossal competition set to kick off in Southern California.
+READ: Nine clubs to join Girls Development Academy for 2018-2019 season
WHAT IS IT?
The Summer Showcase and Playoffs mark the culmination of the season for many of the Academy’s 195 member clubs. Sixty-four teams in the Boys’ U-16/17 and U-18/19 age groups will kick off the post-season in Oceanside, while 80 teams in the Girls’ U-15, U-16/17 and U-18/19 age groups will take part in the first-ever Girls’ Academy Playoffs. Remaining in Oceanside, the U-18/19 Girls’ age group will play out its bracket all the way to the first-ever Girls’ U-18/19 Academy Championship on June 29.
For the clubs that did not qualify for the Academy playoffs, the Summer Showcase will offer one last chance to test themselves in meaningful games against top teams from across the country. Each non-playoff squad will play three games in San Diego, a trio of hand-selected match-ups based on style of play, location and other factors to ensure the most competitive contests.
+READ: Group pairings set for U.S. Soccer Girls Development Academy Playoffs
PLAYOFFS? PLAYOFFS?
The Academy Playoffs crown a champion for the country’s highest level of youth soccer in two Boys’ age groups (U-16/17, U-18/19) and three Girls’ age groups (U-15, U-16/17, U-18/19). After a long regular season, 32 teams from each age group (*16 at U-18/19 Girls) qualify for the playoffs: the top three from each geographical division and 11 wild card teams. Prior to the event, the teams were drawn into eight groups of four. In Oceanside, teams will play out their groups and the winners of each group will advance to the quarterfinals, which will also kick off from SoCal Sports Complex. From there, the eight remaining teams will battle it out for one of four spots in the semifinals, to be played at the 2018 Academy Championships in Kansas City, Mo. from July 8-11.
READ MORE: BOYS DRAW RESULTS
READ MORE: GIRLS DRAW RESULTS
| Boys’ U-16/17 | Group Stage | June 18-24 |
| Boys’ U-16/17 | Quarterfinals | June 25-26 |
| Boys’ U-16/17 | Semifinals/Final | July 8-10 (Kansas City, Mo.) |
| Boys’ U-18/19 | Group Stage | June 18-24 |
| Boys’ U-18/19 | Quarterfinals | June 25-26 |
| Boys’ U-18/19 | Semifinals/Final | July 8-10 (Kansas City, Mo.) |
| Girls U-15 | Group Stage | June 13-28 |
| Girls U-15 | Quarterfinals | June 29-30 |
| Girls U-15 | Semifinals/Final | July 9-11 (Kansas City, Mo.) |
| Girls’ U-16/17 | Group Stage | June 13-28 |
| Girls’ U-16/17 | Quarterfinals | June 29-30 |
| Girls’ U-16/17 | Semifinals/Final | July 9-11 (Kansas City, Mo.) |
*The U-18/19 Girls will play out the entirety of their playoffs in Oceanside. Just 16 teams qualify for the postseason: the top two teams from each division and two wild card teams. The 16 teams were drawn into four groups, and the four group winners will advance to the semifinals on June 27. The first-ever Girls’ U-18/19 Academy Championship is set for June 29.
| Girls’ U-18/19 | Group Stage | June 13-26 |
| Girls’ U-18/19 | Semifinals | June 27 |
| Girls’ U-18/19 | Final | June 29 |
BOYS AND GIRLS
The Girls’ Academy launched its inaugural season this past fall. With the addition of over 6000 players in four age groups (U-14, U-15, U-16/17 and U-18/19) across seven divisions, this season has been the Academy’s biggest yet. The Girls’ Academy’s addition to the Summer Showcase and Playoffs similarly makes the event the Academy’s largest ever.
MORE: Sisters of Boys’ Academy Products Look for Similar Success
Following April’s Spring Showcase in Greensboro, N.C., the Summer Showcase and Playoffs mark the third-ever Showcase event for the Girls’ Academy. After the completion of the inaugural regular season, 80 teams will seek to earn the first-ever Girls’ Academy championship hardware at the U-15, U-16/17 and U-18/19 levels.
FEATURE GAMES
Select top matchups from the event will be streamed live on ussoccerda.com, the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Facebook page and the U.S. Soccer YouTube Channel. The feature game slate will include key group stage games in both the Boys’ and Girls’ playoffs, win-or-go-home knockout round quarterfinal match-ups and top Showcase showdowns. Feature games during the first four days of the event can be seen below. The remainder of feature game lineups will be announced throughout the Summer Showcase and Playoffs.
| Date | Time (PT) | Competition | ||
| June 18 | 2:30 PM | U-18/19 Boys’ Playoffs – Group Stage | New York City FC U-18/19 | Saint Louis FC Academy U-18/19 |
| June 18 | 5:30 PM | U-18/19 Boys’ Playoffs – Group Stage | Colorado Rapids U-18/19 | Portland Timbers U-18/19 |
| June 19 | 2:30 PM | U-16/17 Boys’ Playoffs – Group Stage | FC Dallas U-16/17 | Crew SC Academy U-16/17 |
| June 19 | 5:30 PM | U-16/17 Boys’ Playoffs – Group Stage | Pateadores U-16/17 | Sporting Kansas City U-16/17 |
| June 20 | 1:00 PM | U-18/19 Boys’ Playoffs – Group Stage | Atlanta United U-18/19 | LA Galaxy U-18/19 |
| June 20 | 3:15 PM | U-18/19 Boys’ Playoffs – Group Stage | Sockers FC U-18/19 | Seattle Sounders U-18/19 |
| June 21 | 11:00 AM | U-15 Boys’ Showcase | FC Dallas U-15 | Philadelphia Union U-15 |
| June 21 | 5:30 PM | U-16/17 Boys’ Playoffs – Group Stage | Sacramento Republic U-16/17 | San Diego Surf U-16/17 |
HOW TO FOLLOW
For updates throughout the Showcase, follow the Academy on Facebook and @ussoccer_acad on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. Schedules and event related news can be found on ussoccerda.com. Share your photos and videos with #SummerShowcase #AcademyPlayoffs and #WorldClassDA.
