Press Release - For Immediate Release

 April 30, 2010 – Sicklerville, N.J. – Starting in Fall 2010, NJSA 04 and Highland Youth Soccer Club will join together to form NJSA 04/Highland Academy in an effort to provide new and exciting opportunities for players in Southern New Jersey. The collaboration between NJSA 04 and Highland will set a new standard for player development by taking a “player first” approach to develop every player to their fullest potential.

NJSA 04’s influence will not be limited to NJSA 04/Highland Academy teams.  The group will take a grass roots approach to player development by implementing NJSA 04’s time-tested and proven development curriculum for players of all levels and abilities within the Highland Youth Soccer Club, including the Recreation, Travel and Academy Programs.

The top teams in Highland will play under the NJSA 04 Academy, training under the NJSA 04 curriculum. Rob Johnson, former Metrostars player and director of coaching for NJSA 04, will oversee the NJSA 04/Highland Academy program. Rob has a solid history of player development and will assist Highland in the implementation of the NJSA 04 Curriculum.

The program includes 10 months of coaching and training from August to June, twice-a-week training during primary seasons and one training per week during the winter/off season. It also includes one or two games on the weekend, a minimum of four tournaments per year, and NJ/US Club State Cup(s).

NJSA 04 and NJSA 04/Highland Academy teams will cross train together periodically giving players a chance to learn new skills and techniques, further challenge themselves and build new and lasting friendships across the state. The academy teams can compete against each other and with each other, and may combine for Premiere Tournaments.

Teams will be coached and trained by certified professionals, who will be expected to advance their knowledge of the game by attending USSF/NSCAA Coaching Courses.

Each team will schedule and conduct their own tryouts in April and May.

NJSA 04, based out of Holmdel, was founded in 2004 by co-founder and president Tab Ramos. Tab is an Olympian and three-time World Cup player, in addition to having played 7 years for the New York/New Jersey Metrostars of the MLS. Soccer America named NJSA 04 #17 Club Nationally in September 2009.

NJSA 04 has produced players selected to participate with the US Youth National Teams.  Also, NJSA 04 is one of 77 US Development Academies in the country recognized by US Soccer and one of only 3 clubs selected to participate in New Jersey.  This program has been developed to encourage players who aspire to play in college, for the US National Team and Professionally to take on the challenge of playing in a sponsored US Development Academy.  It will provide you with the development and opportunity to compete at the highest levels.  For more information about the US Development Academy go to www.ussoccer.com and click on Academy.

Highland Youth Soccer Club, founded in 1993, is based out of Gloucester Twp and is one of the largest and most-respected soccer clubs in Southern New Jersey.  Highland serves over 700 players from throughout Southern New Jersey.  Their in-house youth development program starts at age 4 and their travel soccer program starts at age 8.

Please contact the coach for further information or go to www.hysc.org.