CHICAGO, IL – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Thursday that the club has renewed its partnership with Youth Elite Soccer (YES) as its official camp and training program partner.
Youth Elite Soccer will continue to operate the club's Camps & Training and Emerging Talent Programs in soccer communities across the Midwest and through Chicago Fire Juniors programs nationwide.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Youth Elite Soccer,” said Chicago Fire Vice President of Soccer Operations Gui Petrei. “Youth Elite Soccer is an integral part of our player development pyramid. We know that the quality of their staff and the consistency of their curriculum will give players a well-rounded soccer education.”
With the overarching principles of "Train Like A Pro, Play Like A Pro" and "Think Less, Imagine More," Youth Elite Soccer utilizes a research-based, age appropriate instructional method and curriculum which transcends soccer and positively affects player development.
To better engage the local communities that YES currently serves, YES has created the position of Community Development Officer (CDO) exclusively for the Fire Juniors. The CDOs will visit schools and recreation departments with the mission of promoting and raising the profile of the Fire in the community.
"Youth Elite Soccer is proud to continue helping the Chicago Fire Soccer Club reach more young players at a grassroots level," said YES President and Owner H.B. Mertz. "That's where we thrive. With our unique approach to developing young talent, we’re looking forward to working closely and collaborating with the Fire in the coming years.”
This summer, the Chicago Fire and YES will unveil two dynamic training programs to help young players develop their skills. The National Talent Center (NTC) is an intensive 5-day training week for advanced soccer players ages 10 through 18. This residential program will be held on the campus of Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill. Information on the NTC program can be found here.
Also launching this summer is the Elite Performance Center (EPC) at Toyota Park. The EPC offers elite travel players ages 12 to 17 with a unique seven-week summer playing experience. Through a combination of week-long camps, weekly practice sessions and Super-Y games, players will receive over 70 hours of structured programming. Participants will be selected via try-outs which will be held on May 19 and 20. Information on the EPC can be found here.
The Fire return to action when they travel to face Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center on Friday, May 4 at 10:00 p.m. CT (ESPN Deportes/ESPN 3/97.5 ESPN Deportes FM). The Fire return to Toyota Park when they host Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. CT (NBC 5.2/97.5 ESPN Deportes).
