Core to the new agreement is a dedicated focus on youth development and programming to help shape the future of the sport in North America.

“The United States is a breeding ground for athletic talent and we need to ensure our homegrown athletes have viable opportunities to play soccer at the highest level,” said Patrik Nilsson, president, adidas America. “We need to accelerate the model for soccer development in North America to attract and keep elite talent engaged and excited about professional opportunities in the sport. We share a long-term vision with MLS to develop the game and are excited to foster the next generation of American soccer stars.”

adidas has been a partner of MLS since the league’s inception in 1996. In 2004, adidas and MLS announced an exclusive partnership agreement that named adidas the official athletic sponsor and product supplier, outfitting all league teams and supplying the league’s official match ball.

“One of the major reasons Major League Soccer has become one of the top soccer leagues in the world is due to the support and commitment of adidas,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “They have a clear vision for the sport in North America, and they see MLS as a cornerstone of that vision. Our extension with adidas is a major statement by an internationally respected brand that MLS is increasing in value and that our commitments to stadium construction, strategic expansion, player development and improvement in the overall quality of play are playing dividends.”

adidas is the global leader in soccer and partners with many of the world’s greatest soccer clubs and federations including Chelsea FC, Liverpool FC, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Germany and Japan. adidas is an official partner of FIFA, UEFA and the Confederations of African Football. adidas also sponsors world-class athletes like Juan Pablo Angel, Jozy Altidore, Fredy Montero, Lionel Messi, Kaka, Steven Gerrard, Michael Ballack, Xavi, Frank Lampard and Andres Guardado, among others.

###

About adidas

adidas is a global designer, developer and marketer of athletic footwear, apparel and accessories with the mission to be the leading sports brand in the world. Brand adidas is part of the adidas Group, a corporation that includes brands such as Reebok, TaylorMade and Rockport.

About Major League Soccer

Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. MLS features many stars from the U.S., Canada, and around the world. MLS kicked off its 15th season on March 25, 2010. MLS features 16 clubs each playing 30 regular season matches in 2010. Those teams include Chicago Fire; Colorado Rapids; Chivas USA; Columbus Crew; D.C. United; FC Dallas; Houston Dynamo; Kansas City Wizards; Los Angeles Galaxy; New York Red Bulls; New England Revolution; 2009 MLS Cup Champion Real Salt Lake; San Jose Earthquakes; Seattle Sounders FC; Toronto FC; and, in their inaugural season, Philadelphia Union. Expansion teams in Vancouver and Portland will debut in 2011 and in Montreal in 2012. For more information about MLS, log on to the League’s official Web site at www.MLSsoccer.com.

Spencer, 39, was introduced formally at a news conference Wednesday morning in Portland.

Following an 18-year playing career, Spencer joined Houston in 2006 and served as an assistant under head coach Dominic Kinnear for nearly five seasons. He helped lead the Dynamo to back-to-back MLS Cup championships in 2006 and 2007 and four consecutive playoff appearances, including a run to the Western Conference finals in 2009. From 2006-08, Spencer also coached the Dynamo Reserves, guiding Houston’s reserve squad to the 2008 MLS Reserve Division championship.

Prior to beginning his MLS coaching career, Spencer played professional soccer for such noted English clubs as Chelsea, Everton and Queens Park Rangers, and Scotland’s Rangers. In MLS, Spencer starred for the Colorado Rapids from 2001-04, becoming the only player to be the team’s MVP and scoring leader in the same season more than once.

Spencer, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, began his professional playing career in 1987 with Rangers. As a striker, he played for several top-flight clubs over 14 seasons in Scotland and England, most notably amassing 43 goals with English-power Chelsea (1992-96).

In 2001, Spencer joined MLS with the Colorado Rapids, where he played until he finished his career in 2004. During his time with Colorado, he played in 88 games, and his 37 goals ranks among franchise career leaders. Spencer twice led the Rapids in goals scored, set the club’s single-season mark for goals (14) and career mark for assists (17), was a two-time MLS Best XI selection (2001, 2003) and was a finalist for the league’s MVP award in 2003. During the 2003 season, Spencer scored in six straight games, one away from tying an MLS record.

The two-time MLS All-Star (2001, 2003) captained the Rapids to three straight playoff appearances from 2002-04. Spencer was inducted to the Rapids Gallery of Honor on Aug. 30, 2009.

During his playing career, Spencer also earned 14 caps with the Scotland National Team from 1994-97. He earned his first cap in front of a home crowd against Russia in 1994, and his international career was also highlighted by the 1996 European Championship in England.

Spencer also played for Lai Sun of Hong Kong while on loan in the late 1980s, scoring 20 goals in 24 games.

John and his wife, Amanda, have three children, Brad, Chantelle and Dylan. John and his family are in the process of relocating to Portland.

    ###

About MLS Portland Timbers

On March 20, 2009, Major League Soccer (MLS) awarded Portland the league’s 18th franchise to begin play in the top-flight professional soccer league starting in 2011. The Portland Timbers will mark their debut MLS season in 2011 in a significantly renovated PGE Park that will create one of the most exciting and authentic soccer environments in the country. New stadium amenities will include better sightlines closer to the action, new premium seating on the east side of the field, a new club lounge and a new entry plaza and team store. The Timbers have been a beloved part of the Portland sports landscape since their early beginnings in the North American Soccer League in 1975, launching the era of “Soccer City USA” in the Rose City. www.PortlandMLS2011.com

About Major League Soccer

Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. MLS features many stars from the U.S., Canada, and around the world. MLS kicked off its 15th season on March 25, 2010. MLS features 16 clubs each playing 30 regular season matches in 2010. Those teams include Chicago Fire; Colorado Rapids; Chivas USA; Columbus Crew; D.C. United; FC Dallas; Houston Dynamo; Kansas City Wizards; Los Angeles Galaxy; New York Red Bulls; New England Revolution; 2009 MLS Cup Champion Real Salt Lake; San Jose Earthquakes; Seattle Sounders FC; Toronto FC; and, in their inaugural season, Philadelphia Union. Expansion teams in Vancouver and Portland will debut in 2011 and in Montreal in 2012. For more information about MLS, log on to the League’s official website at www.MLSsoccer.com.

“The early attendance spike is an encouraging sign of things to come, and the excitement from the World Cup will keep the ball rolling,” said Dmitry Kopylovsky, industry analyst with IBISWorld. “Additionally, MLS attendance is expected to keep building momentum throughout the summer as the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs end and there’s less competition for the consumer’s entertainment dollar.”

Although U.S. soccer has lacked the popularity of European leagues, MLS franchises are on the rise and now sell for more than $40 million – just behind the NBA and NHL. The Seattle Sounders had a fan base of 30,000 per game in 2009 – more than the Seattle Mariners baseball team. In 2011, expansion teams from Vancouver and Portland will be added to the league.

The addition of these clubs in 2011 will bring the total number of MLS franchises to 18, compared with just 13 in 2007. Since then, a team has been added to the league every year – and expansion is not limited to participation. MLS revenue has also experienced sustained growth in the past four years.

“The average revenue per MLS franchise has grown considerably in recent years,” said Kopylovsky. “In the past three years, clubs have experienced average revenue growth of 4.0 percent per year to an expected $14.4 million in 2010. Needless to say, the future looks bright for newcomers to the MLS.”

###

About IBISWorld, Inc.

Recognized as the nation’s most trusted independent source of industry and market research, IBISWorld offers a comprehensive database of unique information and analysis on every U.S. industry. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, the company equips clients with the insight necessary to make better business decisions. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IBISWorld serves a range of business, professional service and government organizations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information visit www.ibisworld.com or call 1-800-330-3772.

PORTLAND, Ore. – March 25, 2010

adidas TECHFIT: Chicago Fire (front)

adidas TECHFIT: DC United (back)

Until recently, TECHFIT PowerWeb has been more commonly worn under a player’s uniform as compression apparel; but the new adidas MLS uniforms offer TECHFIT built into the actual jersey giving players the benefits of TECHFIT in a single layer.

“At adidas we are all about equipping athletes with the most innovative gear and apparel on the planet,” said Antonio Zea, Director of Soccer, adidas America. “With TECHFIT now built into their jerseys, we are helping athletes from Chicago Fire, D.C. United and LA Galaxy play to their highest potential and we look forward to watching them perform at the top of their game this season.”

TECHFIT PowerWeb is a cutting edge athletic apparel technology that improves muscular endurance and responsiveness, and reduces muscle vibration, ultimately maximizing the athlete’s performance. Through the use of compression fabrics and strategically placed TPU (Thermoplastic Urethane) bands, located in key areas to enhance muscle power, TECHFIT is proven to increase a player’s power by 5.3 percent^*, vertical leap by 4 percent^*, sprint speed by 1.1 percent* and enhance endurance by 0.8 percent^*.

The TECHFIT jersey as worn by the players on the pitch will be specially packaged and retail for $150 starting in July.

adidas TECHFIT: LA Galaxy (detail)

All other MLS teams will wear the adidas FORMOTION uniform. FORMOTION is engineered to move naturally with the athlete’s body resulting in an ideal fit and comfort while in motion. It also features adidas CLIMACOOL technology which combines a moisture wicking fabric and mesh construction in the player’s highest heat zones to improve body ventilation and keep the athlete at optimum temperature. The FORMOTION uniform is designed to partner with traditional TECHFIT PowerWeb compression apparel.

adidas, the number one soccer brand in the world, is the official athletic sponsor and licensed product supplier to MLS. adidas TECHFIT PowerWeb uniforms will also be worn this summer at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. adidas will outfit 12 federations at the 2010 FIFA World Cup – more than any other brand – with the ultimate in personalized soccer uniform kits. Federations with the option of TECHFIT uniforms include South Africa, Argentina, Mexico, Japan, Spain, Germany and France.

####

While we at AVID Soccer cannot substantiate the performance claims, they do seem reasonable.  The most dramatic example of this was the Speedo swimsuits worn in the last Summer Games  The reduced vibration will not have the same effect in the air that it does in the water, but it will focus the players energy.  From personal observation, we have found that compression clothing not only helps with endurance, but improves recovery.

^* Proven research from adidas Global Research and the University of Calgary.

The VIP Coach Pass sponsored by the LA Galaxy returns to Soccer Nation Expo. This year, the VIP pass will enable coaches, parents or other enthusiasts to have exclusive access to various activities and seminars to help them improve their training techniques or learn new game strategies from world-class coaching talent, or network with other coaches from all over Southern California. The pass, which costs $30 and is limited to the first 500 who register, includes:

§  Early, private access to the exhibition hall on Saturday, February 13, 2010, at 8:30 a.m. — one hour before the show doors open to the public at 9:30 a.m. Coffee and pastry will be provided during the early access hour.

§  Free gifts from participating Soccer Nation Expo exhibitors including an LA84 Sack Pack, Cal South T-Shirt, Success in Soccer DVD, and Field Diagram Pad.

§  Reserved VIP seating around the Center Pitch, where coaching clinics by professional, world-class coaches will occur on the hour, every hour, throughout the two-day expo.

§  VIP access to private classroom sessions given by, Oscar Gil, James Parry, Jeff Tipping, Bob Gansler, Klaus Pabst, Jan Smisek, Steve Hoffman, and other Soccer Nation Expo clinicians.

§  Videos of Center Pitch sessions will be available on line after the event.

§  SoccerOne VIP Coach Pass, a discount card offering 10% to 60% off SoccerOne merchandise.

The VIP Pass is available by registering at www.soccernationexpo.com or at www.calsouth.com.

For the first time, an indoor beach soccer field will be set up at the expo. The field, with eight tons of sand, will have a goal and penalty box so that players can practice shooting on the sand, a considerably different pitch for most players. The sand soccer field is being brought to Soccer Nation Expo by Copa Cabana Soccer, which holds beach soccer tournaments on both U.S. coasts.

Additionally, Fox Soccer Channel newscasters Nick Webster, Eric Wynalda and Temryss Lane of Fox Football Fone-In will be attending Soccer Nation Expo and signing autographs from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13.  University of North Carolina standout and U.S.  Women’s Gold Medalist Tobin Heath will be signing autographs in the Nike booth on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 1 pm.

Soccer Nation Expo will also feature renowned soccer coaches who are schedule to participate as guest speakers and clinicians. The list includes:

Dave Sarachan, Los Angeles Galaxy. Currently an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Sarachan spent nearly five seasons as the head coach of the Chicago Fire.  In 2003, his first year as head coach, Sarachan took the Fire to the MLS Cup Finals, claimed the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and was named MLS Coach of the Year.  He also led the Fire to capture another Lamar Hunt trophy in 2006. A former pro player in the NASL and MISL, Sarachan spent 10 years as head coach for Cornell, before moving to the MLS as an assistant coach for DC United. He also spent four years as an assistant coach on the US Men’s National Team.

Bob Gansler, former U.S. Men’s National Team & MLS head coach.  Gansler was the Kansas City Wizards’ head coach from 1999-2006, winning the club’s first MLS Cup in 2000 and the U.S. Open Cup in 2004.  He was also MLS Coach of the Year in 2000, and coached the U.S. U-19 National Team (1979-82), U-20 National Team (1987-89), and then the full Men’s National Team (1989-91), taking them to the 1990 World Cup, the U.S.’s 1st appearance since 1950.  Gansler played for the U.S. National Team (1963-69), captaining the 1964 and 1968 Olympic and 1967 Pan-American teams.

Jan Smisek, USSF National Staff Coach. Smisek, who was the first woman to earn an A license, holds a KNVB Dutch National Youth Certificate.

Oscar Gil, Club Atlético Boca Juniors. Rincón is not only the head coach for the U17 Boys Academy of the renowned Club Atlético Boca Juniors, but has also served as the club’s International Director of Coaching and Player Development since 2004. In addition to founding a Boca Juniors Developmental Academy in Columbia, he recently founded a similar academy in Southern California in conjunction with the North County Pacific Football Club.

Klaus Pabst, Soccer Academy Cologne in Germany. Pabst is a former Yugoslav Premier League Player and Coach with FC Vojvodina and was the Head Manager of the National Team of the Malta Football Association for five years.

James Parry, Liverpool FC Youth Academy. Parry recently served as an assistant coach for Liverpool FC’s U18 Youth Academy squad, which he helped guide to the finals of the FA Youth Cup last season. He has worked for Liverpool’s Youth Academy through the last decade in a variety of roles, including as a full-time U16 coach, director of soccer camps, and a development and community coach. He currently serves as a talent identification scout for the Liverpool FC, and also acts as a recruitment identification scout for Fulham FC.

Jeff Tipping. The NSCAA’s Director of Coaching Development, Tipping is a well-respected speaker and clinician, representing the NSCAA at educational forums and other soccer-related events throughout the country and the world. He joined the NSCAA in 1983 as Assistant Director of Coaching, promoted to Director of Coaching in 1996, and promoted to his current position in 2002. Previously the director of soccer at Muhlenberg College for 15 years, he also served as an assistant soccer coach at Hartwick College for four years. He played professionally in the American Soccer League for five seasons, was a four-year varsity player for Hartwick and holds a master’s degree from Lehigh University.

Sacha Van der Most, Chivas USA U18 Head Coach.  Van der Most has many years of coaching experience in different youth levels, starting with Quick’s youth teams in Holland, ranging in age from U-8 to U-16.  He joined the Chivas USA youth system when it was established in 2005.

About Soccer Nation Expo

Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the two-day, action-packed and interactive experience, where fans, coaches, players and their families will enjoy free admission and host of events and activities to entertain everyone from observers to seasoned players and fanatics.

The first Expo in 2004 attracted 3,500 people and has grown exponentially each year.  With the rising popularity of soccer in America and especially in the soccer hot bed of Southern California, Cal South officials are planning for record attendance to the delight of sponsors and exhibitors, who increasingly seek marketing channels and opportunities that reach and impact target consumers.

Expo attendees encompass the full spectrum of soccer in Southern California. Cal South members, players and families from local AYSO teams and independent leagues, international ex-patriots and fans of soccer of all ages attend.

The Expo will utilize more than 150,000 square feet of exhibition space in the massive convention center located in downtown Los Angeles. More than 100 exhibitors will be on hand to demonstrate and showcase the latest in soccer gear and equipment, with participation from national and international soccer clubs, and consumer goods and service companies reaching active Southern California families.

Participants include corporations such as General Mills, Fox Soccer Channel, Time Warner Cable, Jamba Juice, Herbalife, Cuties and official sponsor Nike, which will host the popular US Futsal Southwestern Regional Championship open to adults and boys and girls ages 10 and up. Nike’s extensive exhibit space will display the newest spring lines, the latest equipment, and allow attendees the opportunity to test-drive the hottest shoes on the market.

For more information about Soccer Nation Expo 2010, visit www.soccernationexpo.com.

About Cal South

The California State Soccer Association – South (Cal South) is a 501c(3) California public benefit corporation and is the official youth and adult state soccer association of the United States Soccer Federation, United States Adult Soccer Association and United States Youth Soccer.  Cal South represents 230 Member Leagues and Clubs comprising our membership of more than 160,000 registered players, coaches, referees and league administrators. The organization, with a service area that extends from San Luis Obispo to San Diego, provides rewarding recreational and competitive opportunities for players of all ages, genders and skill levels.  For more information about Cal South, visit www.calsouth.com.

When the “super jock” of sports retailing Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE) acquired soccer merchandiser Umbro plc in 2007 for $582 million, the Beaverton, Ore.-based company also inherited a professional soccer league, the United Soccer League, as part of the acquisition. Now, nearly two years later, Nike wants to stick to selling soccer equipment from its Umbro unit and is putting the USL on the auction block, according to The New York Times.

The most logical buyer for the USL is the better known Major League Soccer, but it looks like no deal will happen. “We recently evaluated the opportunity to purchase the U.S.L., but elected to not submit a bid for the league,” Dan Courtemanche, a senior vice president for marketing and communications at MLS, said in an e-mail message to the Times.

Who can blame the MLS for not wanting to buy the USL? After all, the MLS has a long-term sponsorship deal with Adidas AG that would likely ruffle the feathers of executives at the German company. Additionally, a deal for a competing league could raise antitrust issues in the U.S.

Lastly, the MLS is still not a profitable enterprise. It’s thought that only a small fraction of the 15-team league is profitable. So how could the fledgling league afford to acquire a competing league if it’s having trouble sustaining itself? Despite soccer being a popular sport when it comes to participation by American youths, the professional game has struggled to attract the consistent turnout at the stadiums and viewership via television compared to competing professional sports leagues such as Major League Baseball, National Football League and National Basketball Association.

The Times reports that the USL has had some interest from a consortium led by Brazilian-based company Traffic, which owns the rights to several clubs and players in the Western Hemisphere. – Gerald Magpily

The 14th Annual MLS All-Star Game provides the optimal setting for four adidas athletes to showcase their artistic integrity. The Houston Dynamo’s Stuart Holden, Colorado Rapids’ Conor Casey and Seattle Sounders’ Fredy Montero will each set foot on the Rio Tinto Stadium field for the MLS All-Star Game in one-of-a-kind boots that they personally designed through miadidas.com, the premier online customization service.

Each player brought a unique approach to the design process to create boots that reflect their personality, color preferences and style both on and off the field. Holden will wear one-of-a-kind mi adiPure2 boots, Montero will lace up in a bold mi F50i and Casey will showcase his version of mi Predator PowerSwerve. All three silhouettes are exclusive to adidas Soccer and are designed to meet the needs of various playing styles and player preferences. Fans seeking to make their own unique statement on-field can follow suit and design their own boots at www.miadidas.com.

For inspiration as they design custom boots, consumers can check out each player’s design in more detail on miadidas.com by clicking on their names:

• Stuart Holden
• Conor Casey
• Fredy Montero

The idea of owning customized sneakers traces back to Adi Dassler, who strove to create the best performing footwear for athletes when he founded the company 60 years ago. Today, within the mi Performance section of miadidas.com, consumers can choose from comprehensive range of footwear selections spanning four sport categories – Basketball, Running, Soccer and Tennis. Alongside a unique 360-degree zoom and rotate capability, a wide array of colors, designs, materials and logos result in thousands of possible custom sneaker combinations. Following three key tenets – Fit, Performance and Design – mi adidas provides consumers with an easy three-step design process to create the best product for their needs.

Custom footwear is delivered direct in 2-3 weeks and price points range from $95 to $240. To learn more about mi adidas, visit www.miadidas.com.

mi Performance is the counterpart to mi Originals under the mi adidas umbrella; the overall customization concept of the two-divisional brand. Part of adidas’ Sport Style division, adidas Originals represents a fusion of sport authenticity and global street style, extending the brands unique sports heritage while creating inspiration within fashion. Under the mi Originals section of miadidas.com consumers can customize iconic styles such as Gazelle, Superstar, Stan Smith, ZX 700, Forum and Stan Smith CF.

Currently miadidas.com is only available to customers in the US.

All fans get access to Chelsea practice and can enter to win tickets to nearly sold-out July 18 Chelsea FC vs. Seattle Sounders match

adidas is hosting the ultimate Chelsea FC Fan Fest today, Friday, July 17, at Qwest Field in preparation for the team’s match against the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, July 18th.

By attending the event, fans can gain access to the Chelsea team practice at Qwest Field.

The first 500 fans to arrive will receive Chelsea FC scarves and everyone in attendance will have access to Chelsea’s practice session at 5 p.m. Attendees can enter to win Chelsea FC jerseys and several lucky fans will win ticket packages to the nearly sold-out Sounders vs. Chelsea match.

WHEN: Today, Friday, July 17, 2009
TIME: 4:00 – 6:30 p.m. PST
INFO: Fans can enter the stadium through the north gates.
LOCATION: Qwest Field – 800 Occidental Ave S

adidas, MLS W.O.R.K.S., Major League Soccer’s community outreach initiative, and FieldTurf were joined today by international soccer stars David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane to announce the “Footprint Fields” donation program, which will help develop new FieldTurf soccer fields in urban locations and communities in need across the country.

“The ‘Footprint Fields’ program is designed to encourage soccer players of all levels and backgrounds to pick up a ball and join 10 friends on the field to play the beautiful game of soccer,” said Patrik Nilsson, adidas America President. “From cleats and balls to uniforms and fields, providing the right equipment and infrastructure is an important way we can inspire and enable an American soccer nation.”

The partnership between adidas, MLS W.O.R.K.S. and FieldTurf supports the continued growth of soccer in the U.S. by providing grants to organizations to build synthetic fields. Five grants were awarded in 2009 to support new fields in Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, Milwaukee and Vancouver, Washington.

“MLS W.O.R.K.S. is proud to partner with adidas and FieldTurf to provide soccer players throughout the country with world-class soccer fields to call their own,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber, “The ‘Footprint Fields’ program provides young players the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful game. A few could rise up to the professional ranks like the Galaxy’s Tristan Bowen and Chivas USA’s Jorge Flores have done in the last two years, but all will benefit from these new fields.”

Soccer stars David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane were on hand to support the ‘Footprint Fields’ program and share their soccer skills with kids who will benefit from these types of fields.

“I’m excited to be supporting the growth of the soccer at all levels,” said Beckham in his first appearance since returning to the U.S. to play for his team the LA Galaxy. “Programs like the ‘Footprint Fields,’ as provided by adidas, MLS W.O.R.K.S and FieldTurf, is exactly what we need to give kids more places to play soccer.”

Zidane made a surprise visit to some of America’s top young soccer players earlier in the week at the adidas Elite Soccer Program in Denver. Today, Zidane celebrated the need to make the sport accessible to all kids who want to play.

“The importance of supporting youth soccer and growing the sport is my passion now that I’m retired from the professional level,” said Zidane.

Designed to replicate individual blades of natural grass and soil, FieldTurf is an engineered layered system of sand and rubber that provides the optimum level of energy restitution, which is important for soccer where midfielders run approximately seven miles during a game.

“It really is both exciting and rewarding for FieldTurf to have two world-class partners in adidas and MLS W.O.R.K.S.,” said FieldTurf CEO, Joe Fields. “We all have a tremendous desire and responsibility to grow the great sport of soccer in the U.S., while doing all we can to ensure that kids in economically challenged areas have access to top-flight fields. ‘Footprint Fields’ will certainly go a long way in working towards that goal. There is no greater achievement than what you see here today — kids coming together to have fun and play the world’s most popular sport on the greatest turf on earth.”

“Footprint Fields” will create top quality, sustainable fields for kids to play year-round with less wear and tear and lower maintenance than grass.   FieldTurf continues to become more popular at the professional level with four MLS teams playing their home matches on FieldTurf.

“Footprint Field” grant applications for 2010 will be made available October 1, 2009 and managed by the U.S. Soccer Foundation. Visit www.ussoccerfoundation.org/grants for more information.

About adidas

adidas is a global designer, developer and marketer of athletic footwear, apparel and accessories with the mission to be the leading sports brand in the world. Brand adidas is part of the adidas Group, a corporation that includes brands such as Reebok, TaylorMade and Rockport. Some of the players in adidas’ roster of athletes include: Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Kevin Garnett, Reggie Bush, Dwight Howard, Ryan Howard, and Allyson Felix.

About MLS W.O.R.K.S.

MLS W.O.R.K.S. was launched in April 2007 and is Major League Soccer’s community outreach initiative dedicated to addressing important social issues affecting young people. MLS W.O.R.K.S. serves as a platform for both league and team philanthropic programs. Specific areas of focus include health and wellness, education, respect, fair play, leadership, human rights and diversity.

MLS W.O.R.K.S. seeks to establish Major League Soccer as a leader in America for improving the lives of people through sport. For more information about MLS W.O.R.K.S., please visit www.MLSnet.com/works.

About FieldTurf

FieldTurf offers industry leading engineering and manufacturing resources, unparalleled leasing and financing capabilities and leads the synthetic turf industry with regard to setting higher environmental standards. FieldTurf is the global market leader in terms of synthetic sports fields with over 3000 fields installed. FieldTurf is part of Tarkett Sports, a Division of the Tarkett Group.

Tarkett Sports is the largest entity in the sports and landscape surfacing industries. All Tarkett Sports surfaces are developed, produced and installed with a concentration on sustainability and a commitment to protecting the environment, providing additional LEED contribution opportunities for customers.
For more information, please visit www.fieldturf.com

About U.S. Soccer Foundation

The U.S. Soccer Foundation was established in 1995 to manage the surplus funds generated by the 1994 FIFA World Cup held in the United States. The Major Charitable Arm of Soccer in the United States, the Foundation has provided $51 million in grants, financial support, and loans to help fund programs and projects in all 50 states. Hundreds of thousands of individuals have benefited from the Foundation’s support. The mission of the Foundation is to improve the health and well-being of children in urban economically disadvantaged areas using soccer as a vehicle for social change. For more information, please visit www.ussoccerfoundation.org

The adidas Elite Soccer Program (ESP) is designed to create, inspire and enable the elite soccer youth of America.  Through its sanctioning from U.S. Youth Soccer, adidas ESP is an official event within the Olympic Development Program. This invitation only camp not only offers the elite player the opportunity to train and compete in front of professional and college scouts alike, but also provides opportunities for the players to learn about college programs, professional paths, and the highly-selective Generation adidas.

Since 1997, adidas ESP has served over 1,000 of the finest youth players from across the United States. At our elite camps, high-school players come together to:

• Improve skills
• Test their competitive ability
• Learn about managing off-field opportunities and challenges as they prepare for college, professional or other sports-related paths
• Play in front of college and professional team coaches and scouts.

On July 7, 2009, international soccer star Zinedine Zidane made a surprise visit to the 12th Annual adidas Elite Soccer Program (ESP) at the MLS Colorado Rapids practice field in Denver, Colorado. This premier youth development program was attended by the top 102 youth players in the nation who were surprised by Zidane’s arrival and then treated to the opportunity of a lifetime as they ran drills with him on the field.

By ROBERT LEE
Journal Sports Writer

This is a story that could have been written by a Hollywood screen writer.   But it wasn’t. It’s a true story about a kid who grew up playing soccer, the most popular sport in the world.  It’s a story about a kid who followed his dream of one day playing for his hometown pro soccer team, and then turned that dream into a reality.

It’s Nico Colaluca’s story. On May 6, the New England Revolution, the team that the 23-year-old Colaluca watched growing up, acquired the talented midfielder in a trade with the Colorado Rapids for Generation Adidas defender Rob Valentino, making Colaluca’s life-long dream come true.

“It’s great just to be back home and have my family and friends around me and they can come and watch me whenever,” said Colaluca. “It has been a while since they’ve been able to do that because I was in Virginia and then Colorado for a couple of years. That’s where I began my MLS career but now that I’m only 30 minutes from home they can come and watch me whenever they want.”

The trade came as a complete surprise to Colaluca. “I just went in for training like it was a regular day and coach (Gary Smith) called me into his office,” Colaluca said. “I had no idea what it was going to be for and he told me I was going to get traded. I was excited because I needed a new start and then he told me where it was to – back to New England – and I was in my glory just to come back home and play for New England, the team I always watched growing up.”

Colaluca said that he was hoping to get a new start this year with a new team, but never dreamed that it would be with the Revolution. “I started well my rookie year going with the coach that drafted me (Fernando Clavijo) but then he got fired and a new guy came in (Smith) and we didn’t really see eye-to-eye, so it was frustrating there. It’s a new start here and I’m trying to take full advantage of it.”

Colaluca’s story started in Providence, where he was born. He discovered his love and passion for soccer while playing in youth leagues all over the state.  The first team he played for was a team in Coventry that his dad coached.  He was four.

He was on track to becoming a soccer star long before his legendary career at La Salle Academy. When he was nine, Colaluca was selected as the top player in the state for the U.S. Under-12 pool. He then began playing in the Rhode Island State Olympic Developmental Program when he was 10 and followed that up with a spot on the Regional Team and then the National Team.

Colaluca had one of the greatest high school careers in Rhode Island soccer history while playing at La Salle.  He was a four-time high school All-American, three-time first-team All-Stater, and two-time Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year.  He led the Rams, who had never won a state title, to four consecutive titles, including his senior season in 2003 when the Rams went 23-0 and were ranked fifth nationally. He was named as the National Soccer Coaches Association/Adidas national high school player of the year as a senior.  High school careers don’t get much better than that.

“That was great,” Colaluca said of his high school career. “My brother was the goalie there so he was in goal and I was up top. We won four state championships there. It was a great experience.”

While many of his teammates were playing other sports during the soccer off-season, Colaluca wasn’t. It was a year-round sport for him. He attended the prestigious IMG Academy as a member of the U.S. Soccer Residency Program, and he was a member of the U.S. Under-14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 20 National Teams.

Rated as one of the top recruits in the country after leading Division I in scoring both as a junior and senior, college scouts from near and far flocked to Rhode Island to see him. He was recruited by North Carolina, Duke, Connecticut, Boston College, Providence College, Wake Forest, and the University of Rhode Island to name a few, but In the end, he chose the University of Virginia.

At UVA, Colaluca amassed 11 goals and 17 assists in 61 games before forgoing his senior season to turn pro at the age of 20. He notched seven goals and 10 assists to earn second team All-American and first team All-ACC honors during his junior season to help the Cavaliers reach the semifinals of the ACC tournament and the Final Four of the NCAA championships. “It was just unreal to play for Virginia,” Colaluca said.

Colaluca is still developing, but pro scouts saw his potential. He was drafted sixth overall of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft by Colorado, and even though he only made four appearances with the Rapids his rookie season, Colaluca started all nine of the Rapids’ reserve team’s games in 2008, scoring three goals.

Now he is getting his new start with the Revolution, a team he trained with for two summers while he was at La Salle.

“It’s going to take some time to find my place here,” Colaluca said. “I knew I wasn’t going to come here and play right away. Every day I’m working at it.  I’m doing what the coaches ask and finding my way into their system.”

By Jack Bell

The Chivas USA defender, who will turn 32 on May 19, is in his first season in Major League Soccer after having played nearly his entire professional career in his native Mexico. He joined Chivas USA on a free transfer after playing with Atlante of the Mexican First Division last year.

With Trujillo on the right side of the defense, Jonathan Bornstein on the left, Shavar Thomas and Carey Talley in the center, Chivas USA has trotted out a steady and steely defense in front of the revitalized goalkeeper Zach Thornton (who has conceded only 3 goals, the fewest allow by an M.L.S. team). Over eight games, Chivas USA has taken 19 of a possible 24 points (6-1-1) and leads the league’s Western Conference by 6 points over the Seattle Sounders. Chivas USA will host Real Salt Lake at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., on Saturday.

“In Mexico, I always wanted to play for Chivas Guadalajara, but it was a dream and it didn’t happen,” Trujillo said in a telephone interview on Wednesday, referring to the M.L.S. team’s Mexican cousin, which only fields players born in Mexico. “If you play there, it means you’re good enough. I didn’t get my chance. Now Chivas USA is part of my dream.”

Trujillo is married to an American. He speaks English fluently (having begun his study in elementary school) and he is the rare soccer player from outside the United States who has attended college.

“I couldn’t get into the university when I was with UNAM,” he said, referring to Mexico City’s Pumas club whose initials stand for the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. “But when I went to Morelia I went to study for a career after football, in the media — that’s my next goal. You must be prepared for something else, not just soccer.”

Trujillo trained with Chivas USA in 2007, but when he was not offered a contract, he went to Greece for a short stint that ultimately did not work out.

Now with Chivas USA, Trujillo and Bornstein give the club’s coach, Preki, a pair of diminutive wing defenders who are often challenged physically by the opposition, but are skillful and flexible enough to present the opposition problems when going forward. Trujillo is listed at 5 feet 7, 150 pounds and Bornstein at 5-9, 145.

Trujillo concedes that the style of play in M.L.S. was a bit of a surprise.

“The style of soccer is developing here,” he said. “Most of the Mexicans who come to M.L.S. I think believe it’s going to be easy. But it is harder — more physical, the guys are bigger the teams are organized. It’s completely different from Mexico. I’m not a tall guy, but I think I have the skill to fight against those big guys. Most are bigger and stronger than me, but I have a lot of experience and that is the most important thing in sport. You don’t have to be the strongest or fastest, but it helps being the smartest.”

In Mexico, Trujillo attempted to balance his job (soccer) with his aspiration to obtain a university degree. It was a pursuit he ultimately had to abandon because “in Mexico, you do not have a culture where you can be an athlete and still study hard,” he said. “You have to make a decision to play soccer or to study. I made my decision and I’m very happy. But I still believe it’s important to have something else. That’s why I still plan to finish my university, either in the U.S. or in Mexico, after I stop playing.”

That might not be for a while. He is under contract to Chivas USA (he was signed after March 15, so a salary figure from the league’s players union was not available) for one season, with a three-year league option, he said.

“I would very much like to be a reporter, either in front of or behind the camera,” Trujillo said. “After my career, I want to stay here, in the U.S. My wife is from here, California, and it has given me the opportunity to study and learn and practice another language. That will help me be prepared.”

Inevitably, the conversation came around to the outbreak of the swine flu in Mexico. Last weekend, Mexican clubs played in front of empty seats (the ban has been relaxed for this week’s games) as the authorities try to forestall the spread of the illness that has, to some degree, stigmatized all Mexicans.

“I’m not uncomfortable with the question,” Trujillo said. “I have worries about my family, who live near to Mexico City. It’s a difficult thing, but nothing I can do anything about. But you turn on the TV and it’s everywhere. I don’t think it’s as bad as we’re hearing or seeing in the media. Yes, it’s still dangerous. For the empty stadiums, it’s sad as a soccer player to think about playing without fans. I think these will be the last games.

“I’m Mexican and I don’t think there’s a reason to treat us all like sick people, but I don’t think there is any racism involved. It’s just a tough situation.”

Chivas USA seems like a perfect fit for Trujillo. The club is hot right now, but it is a long way to M.L.S. Cup at the end of November. For an analysis of quick starts in M.L.S., take a look at this posting on WVHooligan.com. The club has had a balanced scoring attack (three players each have scored two goals) among a diverse group. And Trujillo has fit right in.