Coach Carrasco Named Head Coach of SFEA U19 Boys Orange team and Will Lead SFEA's Unique Athletic Development Programs that Include SAQ+ and AdTEC ![]() SAN FRANCISCO, CA. JULY 9, 2019--The San Francisco Elite Academy announced today that Sebastian Carrasco, recently named to the men’s soccer coaching staff of the San Francisco State Gators, will join SFEA as a head soccer coach for U19 boys as well as SFEA’s Lead Coach for Athletic Development. Coach Carrasco brings a wealth of experience to SFEA. Before joining SF State, Carrasco was an assistant with the women’s soccer program at Whittier College. He also served as manager of A.S. Los Angeles of the National Premier Soccer League. Previously, he was the strength and conditioning coach at Division I Cal State Long Beach where he spent eleven seasons and was part of a staff that won three consecutive, regular-season championships from 2006-2008, won the Big West Tournament title in 2010 and 2011, advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times, including an appearance in the Elite Eight in 2011. Carrasco also served, from 2012-2014, as a strength and conditioning coach and assistant coach at Cerritos College, with the Falcons capturing a state championship in 2014. “We’re honored to add a coach of Sebastian’s calibre to our coaching staff,” said Lenonard Griffin, SFEA’s Director of Coaching for Boys. “Sebastian has tremendous experience coaching across multiple levels and ages of play, as well as proven insight into strength and conditioning, which will give our players an added advantage on the field.” Coach Carrasco will be the head coach of the U19 Boys Orange team and will be working closely with U19 Boys Blue head coach Bobby Quinlan as they shape SFEA’s two U19 teams for the next playing year. In his capacity leading SFEA’s various athletic development programs, which include SAQ+ for older players and AdTEC for younger players, Coach Carrasco will take over from Barry McCabe who is transitioning to a full-time position with the COPA Training Center in Walnut Creek, a soccer training facility closely affiliated with a future East Bay USL franchise. Carrasco also has years of coaching experience with various youth clubs. True to his Argentinian roots, he served as the Director of Coaching at Boca Juniors Los Angeles from 2015-17 and produced a State Cup finalist in 2017. From 2008-15, he served as a coach at Beach Futbol Club, and he was a strength and conditioning coach for Chivas USA Futbol Academy from 2011-12. He also had stints with Santa Clarita United and LA United Soccer Club. Coach Carrasco holds a USSF "A" License, a USSF "Youth" License, and an NCAA Director of Coaching License. “The San Francisco Elite Academy is always trying to raise the bar of San Francisco soccer,” said Joe Dugan, SFEA’s Executive Director. “A critical part of that means always being on the lookout to further improve our already strong coaching staff. Sebastian offers so much to our team of coaches and they all share in my excitement to see Coach Carrasco joining our club.” About the San Francisco Elite Academy (SFEA) The San Francisco Elite Academy (SFEA) is the top college placement youth soccer program in San Francisco, in just four years we have over 30 former players now competing in college soccer. We are developing the next generation of players to the highest standards, ensuring they receive the necessary training and support to successfully represent San Francisco at the highest level of play, our community, and our country. 2018-2019 Season to Feature a Minimum of 22 Teams Playing U9 Through U19 with Participation in Norcal, NPL, and US Soccer Development Academy ![]() SAN FRANCISCO, CA. ––The San Francisco Elite Academy (SFEA) announced today a substantial expansion of its soccer program for youth players. Beginning with the upcoming tryout period this May, SFEA will add an additional U.S. Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) team at the U13 Boys age level (2006 birth year) as well as eight new teams across boys and girls at the U9 through U13 age levels (2010-2005 birth years). SFEA’s addition of this new youth program comes on the heels of on-the-field success this past fall as well as the introduction of a number of new, innovative programs to support player development, like SAQ+ and Peak Performance. Today’s expansion announcement also furthers SFEA’s commitment to its mission to develop elite soccer talent in San Francisco and represents yet another milestone in raising the bar for all of San Francisco’s youth soccer players. “This starts an exciting next chapter for the San Francisco Elite Academy,” said Eddie Soto Director of Coaching for Boys and Men’s Head Coach at the University of San Francisco. “Our continued growth is something our families have been asking for, so we’re happy to be announcing we are adding younger players to our soccer programs across the board.” At the upcoming tryouts in May, SFEA will be selecting players for the following teams, at a minimum, for the 2018-2019 playing season: BOYS 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 (USSDA), 2006 (USSDA), 2005 (NPL), 2004 (NPL), 2003 (NPL), 2002 (NPL), 2000/2001 (NPL) GIRLS 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 (PRE-NPPL), 2005 (NPL), 2004 (NPL), 2004, 2003 (NPL), 2003, 2002 (NPL), 2000/2001 (NPL) “The San Francisco Elite Academy began as a promise,” said Jim Millinder, SFEA’s Director of Coaching for Girls and Women's Head Coach at the University of San Francisco. “We wanted to provide the city’s most dedicated youth players a program that elevated the level of coaching, the level of competitive play, and the level of daily training. Our new younger age group teams are about doing the same. Along with our technical partner clubs, we’ll be working to improve the foundational environment for youth players and help the next generation of great San Francisco soccer players get started.” While a few final details about the new youth program continue to be finalized, SFEA will again be leading the market in terms of quality coaching, focussed training facilities, and development-based curriculum. In addition, SFEA youth teams will be supported with additional and specialized training as well as unique playing opportunities throughout the year. “Our coaching staff is more highly-licensed and experienced than any other local club,” said Chris Flanagan, Director of Soccer Operations. “Together, we’ve conceived a youth program that better addresses the full-spectrum of developmental needs of the younger kids. We intend to be the club that sets a new standard for how younger soccer players are developed in San Francisco.” For now, SFEA youth teams will be limited in number so as to provide high value and close attention to each team, as well as to recognize that younger players often choose clubs for a variety of non-soccer related reasons. Through SFEA’s Technical Partner program, youth players at other clubs will have a chance to benefit from parts of SFEA’s youth program if their club chooses to participate. SFEA President Joe Dugan summed it up this way: “The combined lessons of our U.S. Soccer Development Academy and other specialized programs, along with the tremendous success we’ve had with our NPL-level U14 through U19 teams, have led us to establishing a more thoughtful and improved performance environment for the city’s youngest players. Since the founding of SFEA, three and a half years ago, we’ve been working tirelessly to create more opportunities for soccer players. Today’s announcement is an exciting leap forward as we’re now prepared to take the positive impact we’re making on players and expand it to more ages.” Families and players interested in SFEA’s U.S. Soccer Development Academy or our new Youth Program are encouraged visit our website at sfea.org for more information. About SFEA The San Francisco Elite is a youth soccer club for elite-level and aspiring youth soccer players in San Francisco. The organization provides next level training at a critical juncture in a player’s development by offering highly licensed and experienced coaching, soccer-first facilities, and a proven development curriculum, backed by specialized coaching and programs. SFEA was the first team in San Francisco to have a U.S. Soccer Development Academy program and places more teams in US Club’s National Premier League than any other San Francisco club. In addition, SFEA is committed to leaving no dedicated player behind and provides over $100,000 in financial aid and scholarship funding annually. About U.S. Soccer Development Academy Following a comprehensive review of elite player development in the United States and around the world, U.S. Soccer created the Development Academy in 2007 for male players in the U-15 to U-18 age groups. In 2013, the Academy expanded to include the U-13/14 age group, and in 2016, the Academy launched the U-12 age group, which has continued to improve development by setting standards and improving the everyday environment for elite players and clubs. Academy alumni have progressed to play at elite amateur and professional levels with 109 Academy graduates rostered in the MLS in 2016 and 23 Academy players earning U.S. MNT caps. |
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