Justin Vom Steeg was among 119 players from around the country to be selected to attend the U.S. Soccer Under-14 national program’s identification camp in Concord, Mass.
Justin, the eldest son Almeria and Tim Vom Steeg, the men’s soccer coach at UCSB, is trying to make the first U14 boys national team, which will compete at the Disney Showcase in Florida in November. Spots on regional teams are also at stake.
Justin, a goalkeeper, plays for the Santa Barbara Soccer Club and is in the Region 4 Olympic Development Program player pool for his age group. Another player from the club that’s in the camp is Luis Carbajal of Ojai.
The players at the I.D. camp are selected by U.S. Soccer’s technical advisors and the national scouting network, a select group of scouts from throughout the country. The U14 program introduces young players to a level of soccer they would not otherwise see at such a young age and allows the country’s top youths the chance to experience soccer at its highest level and in an international setting.
According to U.S. Soccer, the identification camp began in 1997, and has been held at Middlesex Prep since 2001. Players who have come through the U14 program include Michael Bradley (2001), Benny Feilhaber (1999) and Ricardo Clark (1997).
The camp is run legendary Seton Hall coach Manny Schellscheidt, a former professional player in the NASAL and ASL and a member of the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame.
