Kansas City, MO. United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) is delighted to announce that VVV Venlo Dutch Soccer Schools will be heading to KC this September.


VVV Venlo is part of a select few professional clubs in Holland that hold the prestigious four star rating by the Dutch Football Federation for their youth development program. The other teams include European Top clubs like Ajax Amsterdam, PSV and Feyenoord. "Obviously everyone knows Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord in world football, but our youth program is parallel in relation. At VVV Venlo we rely on our youth players coming through the system and into the first team. We are not able to buy expensive new players each season. We have to be very creative, progressive and professional to be able to achieve this each season" Said Roger Bongaerts who is the Technical Coordinator /Coach at the VVV-Venlo youth department.

This program will team up with USSSA and head across to all 50 states and provide training that will be open to girls and boys aged 8-14 years. The Dutch Soccer Schools are to add as a supplement to any child's current team or help the child take their first steps into soccer. "We are not here to create teams that will compete in leagues, tournaments or games. We feel there is a need for the Dutch methods to be taught in this country. All over the world the very top coaches look at the Dutch methods of coaching youth players and this is why we have organized the program and relationship with VVV Venlo." explained Craig Scriven, National Director of USSSA Soccer.

Part of the program and relationship will be the training sessions that the players take part in. "We will follow the curriculum set out by VVV Venlo, which is found through their tried and tested findings throughout the year. These curriculum's are examined in detail yearly and adjusted by top professional youth coaches to help develop children." Scriven said. "We are also excited about the exchange program that our players will be able to take part in with this relationship."

The exchange program will be offered to players that the coaching staff believe have the potential to excel in soccer. The opportunity will be handed to the player and their families on completion through the school at the age of fourteen. "We are excited about the opportunity of players coming across here to train with our teams." said Bongaerts. "As a smaller club we have to use all our resources to find good quality players and right now America is a very large market for us. We also feel that an exchange program will benefit our players as much as the US players, in more ways then just soccer."

Scriven said this about the exchange program. "This opportunity will not come to every player that enters the training school, but if we can help one player reach a step higher to a dream; then what an experience we have provided them." He also explained how this can help every child. "The program that USSSA will provide every child that enters will be unmatched anywhere in this country. We have chosen this age group for the fact that this is a key part of their development as a soccer player. The other key part in their development is that they enjoy their experience and have fun."
VVV Venlo Dutch Soccer School will be in Kansas City this September before opening locations in Las Vegas, Delaware, Tennessee and Florida.

More information will be provided shortly in regards to the schools at www.usssasoccer.net