The U.S. Way
The U.S. Way - A Player Centered Approach provides guidance and best practice for all those coaching youth soccer in the U.S.
The Framework for Player Development helps bring The U.S. Way to life.
Explore resources and tools that will help coaches:
We recognize that each player, club, and organization is different and has their own unique needs. The ideas presented are intended as a guide and should be adapted to each environment and context.
Pathways is U.S. Soccer's commitment to creating a more connected system that is easier to navigate, more accessible, and better aligned around the needs of players and participants. The goal is simple: help more people find the right environment for them, stay in the game longer, and reach their full potential — wherever their soccer journey begins.
We look forward to welcoming you to the brand-new home of soccer in America: the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Atlanta, located just 20 minutes south of the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Completed in the spring of 2026, this center is more than a cutting-edge training facility for our 27 National Teams, technical education and referee programs. It’s a symbol of our sport in America, and a space that exists in service to you, our members.
U.S. Soccer takes pride in investing in the future of all 27 National Teams, and as such, are committed to ensuring that our Youth and Extended National Teams continue to develop as world-class programs. The U.S. Way unites all national teams as one family, reinforcing our shared values and commitment to excellence.
At U.S. Soccer, we celebrate the members, coaches, referees, technical staff, and leaders who shape the game at every level across the country. It is our mission to provide the tens of thousands of soccer participants with the skills and development they need to reach their full potential.
Everything starts with the player.
The U.S. Way brings together player pathways, infrastructure, and professional development around a shared vision for how soccer should be played, taught, and experienced in the United States. The goal is simple: develop players to reach their full potential and build winning teams.
The Framework for Player Development (FPD) is a reference library that comprehensively provides the foundational elements of player development across ages and stages.
U.S. Soccer’s goal is to provide the information needed for all parents, volunteers, and seasoned coaches to be successful.
Creating clearer, more connected pathways for players.
Building the systems and environments that support long-term growth.
Supporting the people who support players.
The U.S. Way is about more than elite player development. Through initiatives like Soccer Forward and Soccer at Schools, Coaching Education, and community-based programming, U.S. Soccer is working to reduce barriers to participation and bring soccer closer to where players already are—in schools, neighborhoods, clubs, and communities across the country.
The U.S. Way is a long-term commitment to improving how soccer is experienced, supported, and developed in America.
Because winning at the highest level starts long before matchday.
It starts with building better environments for players.