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The United States Under-15 Boys’ National Team – known as the Under-16 Boys’ National Team prior to 2003 – serves as a developmental and identification squad for potential future national team players. Based on recent results at the U-17, U-20, U-23 and full Men’s National Team levels, the Under-15 program is doing exactly that as numerous players have been able to move on and succeed at the next level.
Head coach Jim Barlow, who took over the team from Ken Lolla late in 2004, uses the Under-15 program to prepare players for the next step in international soccer, and the majority of the players in U.S. Soccer’s Under-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla., have come through the U-15 program.
“I am looking forward to improving the players over the course of the year,” Barlow said. “It is our task to identify, evaluate and develop as many prospects for the U-17 and U-18 National Teams as possible, and we will continue to look at numerous players over the course of 2006. Similar to years past, we will be able to give these players some great experiences and put them in the best position to excel at the next level.”
Last year, the U-15s were busy with trips to Mexico, Florida and New Jersey. This year, the Under-15s are scheduled to conduct a number of domestic training camps, including one at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., possibly one foreign camp and compete in the 2006 Nike Friendlies.
The age group for this team changes every year in conjunction with the Under-14 program. Barlow attends the Under-14 National Identification Camp each fall to evaluate players who eventually make up the core of his Under-15 National Team player pool for the coming year.
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U-15 Boys National Team 
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