Youth Soccer Insider: What it means to "Be An Athlete"

JATO Athletics, JATO World, and JATO Media will continue to follow youth soccer teams around the country to find the definition of what it means to "Be An Athlete". We have traveled around the country as teams stake their quest on a National Championship.

Elite Clubs National League has come to a close crowning their National Champions last week in Aurora, Colorado and now the US Youth Soccer Associaition teams will take the field in Phoenix, Arizona the week of July 24th-31st.

Please stay tuned as we begin a year- long search to identify youth athletes and what it means to them to "Be An Athlete".

THE Academy JATO/one. Elite/Advanced II Underway in Fort Worth, Texas

JATO Athletics presents THE Academy at JATO/one. The most dynamic soccer development program in the country. Jay Fitzgerald and Jeff Johnson (Co-Directors), stand by the promise that the athletes will be better at the end of the program. Their training revolves around 2 popular slogans, "Be An Athlete" and "Always Training". Day 1 in the books, stay tuned for excitign Day 2 Highlights, including the dramatic come from behind Team USA victory against Brazil to advance to the semi-finals against France in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.

The Academy JATO/one. Elite/Advanced II Summer 2011 Day 1 from Jato Athletics on Vimeo.

Powered by JATO Media

THE Academy JATO/one. Day 2 Video Highlights

THE Academy by JATO/one. Soccer Video Update - Day 1

US Soccer Player Development Summit Recap

US Soccer unveiled its now coaching curriculum during the US Soccer SPARQ Player Development Summit from April 19-21 at NIKE International Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., Youth Technical Director Claudio Reyna presented the curriculum as coaches around the country look to take the next steps in player development.

INSPECTION TOUR IN U.S. FOR 2018 OR 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP DRAWS TO CONCLUSION IN HOUSTON

HOUSTON (Sept. 9, 2010) - The FIFA Technical Inspection Tour of the United States concluded today with stops in Dallas and Houston, wrapping up a three-day, five-city tour highlighted by meetings with national and local civic and business officials, visits to stadiums and tourism attractions, and introductions to soccer players, coaches and fans from throughout the United States who embody the spirit of "The Game is in US."

• FIFA Technical Delegation visits Reliant Stadium
Members of the FIFA Inspection Delegation join the USA Bid Committee to listen to remarks on video from U.S. President George H.W. Bush delivered Thursday during a tour of Reliant Stadium in Houston.
• FIFA Technical Delegation visits Reliant Stadium
Juergen Mueller, head of event management at FIFA, inspects the turf at Reliant Stadium in Houston with members of the FIFA Inspection Delegation and USA Bid Committee. Holding the soccer ball is Harold Mayne-Nicholls, president of the Chile Football Association and head of the FIFA Inspection Delegation.
• FIFA Technical Delegation visits Reliant Stadium
Bob McNair, owner of the Houston Texans of the National Football League, shakes hands with Harold Mayne-Nicholls, head of the FIFA Inspection Delegation, to Reliant Stadium in Houston on Thursday.
• FIFA Technical Delegation visits Reliant Stadium
Toro, the mascot of the Houston Texans of the National Football League, descends to the field at Reliant Stadium in Houston to deliver a soccer ball to the FIFA Inspection Delegation on Thursday.
• FIFA Technical Delegation visits Reliant Stadium
Toro, the mascot of the Houston Texans of the National Football League, presents a soccer ball to Harold Mayne-Nicholls, head of the FIFA Inspection Delegation, during a tour of Reliant Stadium in Houston on Thursday.
• Official closing press briefing from FIFA Inspection Visit and USA Bid Committee at George R. Brown Convention Center
The FIFA Inspection Delegation is welcomed at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Thursday by National Basketball Association star Yao Ming, of the Houston Rockets. To his right is Brian Ching of the U.S. men's national soccer team and Houston Dynamo, and Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear.
• Official closing press briefing from FIFA Inspection Visit and USA Bid Committee at George R. Brown Convention Center
Sunil Gulati, president of U.S. Soccer and chairman of the USA Bid Committee, meets Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets as members of the FIFA Inspection Delegation and USA Bid Committee look on Thursday at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.
• Official closing press briefing from FIFA Inspection Visit and USA Bid Committee at George R. Brown Convention Center
Yao Ming, star of the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association, expresses his support of the U.S. bid to host the FIFA World CupTM in 2018 or 2022 on Thursday. Yao welcomed the FIFA Inspection Delegation to the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.
• Official closing press briefing from FIFA Inspection Visit and USA Bid Committee at George R. Brown Convention Center
Harold Mayne-Nicholls, head of the FIFA Inspection Delegation, joins Sunil Gulati as they enter the George R. Brown Convention Center past dozens of Houston youngsters on Thursday.
• Official closing press briefing from FIFA Inspection Visit and USA Bid Committee at George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston youngsters turned out in force Thursday to welcome the FIFA Inspection Delegation and support the U.S. Bid Committee's "The Game Is In US" message at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.
• Official closing press briefing from FIFA Inspection Visit and USA Bid Committee at George R. Brown Convention Center
Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the head of the FIFA Inspection Delegation, shares his thoughts on FIFA's five-city tour of the United States this week during closing remarks in Houston on Thursday. Mayne-Nicholls and his delegation visited stadiums, convention centers, public areas and other sites key to the U.S. bid in New York and New Jersey, Washington D.C., Miami, Dallas and Houston.
• Official closing press briefing from FIFA Inspection Visit and USA Bid Committee at George R. Brown Convention Center
Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the head of the FIFA Inspection Delegation, exchanges a FIFA banner with Sunil Gulati at the conclusion of the FIFA Technical Inspection Tour in Houston on Thursday.

FIFA TECHNICAL INSPECTION TOUR: Final Day

LAST DAY HIGHLIGHTS
• FIFA Technical Delegation visits Cowboys Stadium
Clark Hunt, owner of FC Dallas of Major League Soccer, and Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, greet the FIFA Inspection Delegation on Thursday prior to a tour of Cowboys Stadium, a candidate stadium in the U.S. bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022.
• FIFA Technical Delegation visits Cowboys Stadium
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones discusses some of the features of Cowboys Stadium with officials from the FIFA Inspection Delegation on Thursday. Jones hosted the FIFA officials at the stadium during their five-city tour of sites proposed in the U.S. Bid to play host to the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022.
• FIFA Technical Delegation visits Cowboys Stadium
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones discusses some of the features of Cowboys Stadium with officials from the FIFA Inspection Delegation on Thursday. Jones hosted the FIFA officials at the stadium during their five-city tour of sites proposed in the U.S. Bid to play host to the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022.
• FIFA Technical Delegation visits Cowboys Stadium
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones discusses some of the features of Cowboys Stadium with officials from the FIFA Inspection Delegation on Thursday. Jones hosted the FIFA officials at the stadium during their five-city tour of sites proposed in the U.S. Bid to play host to the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022.
• FIFA Technical Delegation visits Cowboys Stadium
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders support the spirit of the U.S. bid to play host to the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022 during a tour by FIFA of Cowboys Stadium on Thursday.
• FIFA Technical Delegation visits Cowboys Stadium
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders help to support the online petition drive behind the U.S. bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022. More than 1 million supporters have signed up thus far.
• FIFA Technical Delegation visits Cowboys Stadium
The FIFA Inspection Delegation is highlighted on the world's largest high-definition video screen, one of the key features of Cowboys Stadium highlighted during the FIFA delegation's tour of the venue on Thursday. Cowboys Stadium is one of the stadiums in the U.S. bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022.
• FIFA Technical Delegation visits Cowboys Stadium
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his daughter, Charlotte Jones Anderson support the bid to bring the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup to Dallas and the United States. Jones Anderson is executive vice president of brand management for the Cowboys, the president of charities for the team and serves on the North Texas Super Bowl Committee.
• FIFA Technical Delegation visits Cowboys Stadium
Clark Hunt, owner of FC Dallas of Major League Soccer, sports a scarf supporting the U.S. Bid Committee's efforts to bring the FIFA World Cup to the U.S. in 2018 or 2022. Hunt was one of several key hosts Thursday during the FIFA Inspection Delegation's visit to Dallas.

Studio 90 on ussoccer.com continues to cover the tour of the FIFA Inspection Delegation as the FIFA team and representatives from the USA Bid Committee completed the second full day of the tour in Washington, D.C. and Miami. We'll also hear from U.S. Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley, who joined the group in D.C. yesterday.