Santa Clara Sporting has a rich history of developing very talented soccer players that are recognized for their soccer talent and have been selected to compete in various Professional Team Academys, and in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development (ODP) program.

Carlos Brasil/SCSC, Mike Leigh/WHU and Tino Silva/SCSC

In 2009, the West Ham United English Premier League Team forged a partnership with Santa Clara Sporting as one of their elite clubs. Sebastian Lleget was the first youth player from Santa Clara Sporting to make the jump to England and now trains with the West Ham United International Academy Team. Three other Sporting players were also identified to tryout for their academy program last year.

The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP) is a grassroots program created to identify and develop elite athletes for the US National Team. There are four levels of ODP progressing from the District Team, to the Cal-North State Team, then the Regional (13 Western States) Team, and finally the US National Team.

ODP is open for tryout to all CYSA registered soccer players, and provides the ultimate experience and training for the players selected. District II’s ODP players compete against players from other districts within CYSA, ultimately leading to the selection of State and Regional ODP participants, and finally the US National Team invitees.

District 2 ODP tryouts are held in the spring of each year, and the state tryouts are held in December for the following year’s State ODP pools. More information about District 2 ODP Tryouts can be found at the CYSA website.

Santa Clara Sporting’s own Sebastian Lleget who now plays in the West Ham United Academy Team has been progressing so quickly, that he may get pulled into the first team and play in the English Premier League before the year ends. Read the story at ESPN Sports.

Santa Clara Sporting's own Sebastian Lleget who now plays in the West Ham United Academy Team has been progressing so quickly, that he may get pulled into the first team and play in the English Premier League before the year ends. Read the story at ESPN Sports.

Congratulations to Jonathan Salcedo from the ’92 Sporting Boys Team for getting selected to the 2009 Disney Showcase All-Star Team. Jonathan will travel to London, England to train at the Chelsea Football Club Academy and compete against some top international academy teams in 2010.

Congratulations to the following Santa Clara Sporting players who were selected to the 2009-10 Cal-North State ODP Teams last month. These players endured a two weekend tryout in Morgan Hill and Ripon, and competed against 100-125 other players to make the selection to the State Team roster.

• 1997 Team - Fiona Sequeira
  1996 Team - Anthony Macias and Alec Prusa
• 1995 Team - Lyndon Gooch and Ryan Foo
• 1994 Team - James Pierce
• 1993 Team - Sarah Benett, Ana Maria Sola, Haley Hughes, Madison Salom and Zarette Munoz

The West Ham United International Academy has announced the launch of a North American Partner Club programme with partnerships agreed with some of the United States and Canada’s top youth football clubs, and Santa Clara Sporting was named to this elite program.

David Silva, goalie for the Sporting ’93 Boys Team is one of 18 finalist for the 2009 MLS National Youth Talent Search, "El Sueno De Tu Vida" (The Dream Of Your Life). Thousands of youth soccer players from the United States attended try-outs

Standout midfielder Sebastian Lletget is now playing full-time with the West Ham United youth program in London. The 17-year-old, who starred for the U.S. U17 Men’s National Team at the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Tournament earlier this year in Mexico, has left Bradenton Residency for this opportunity. I’ve had the chance to watch and talk with Sebastian since he was a member of the U15 Boys’  National Team and a club player at Santa Clara Sporting in Northern California. He’s a winsome young man and a dedicated soccer player.