USL News Release
Thursday, April 19, 2012
TAMPA, Fla. – United Soccer Leagues has fortified the leadership team for its youth leagues with the appointment of three experienced administrators to guide the Super Y-League, Super-20 League, and ODP identification program into a new and exciting phase of its development. Jason Arnold has been named Senior Director, Youth League Development, and is joined by Director, SYL & Super-20 League Operations Natalie Akula, and Manager, SYL & Super-20 League Operations Bryan Bachelder.
Under the tutelage of this new youth department leadership team, Super Y-League and Super-20 League teams will continue to benefit from a tremendous array of team services including the support of full-time professionals in the areas of communications, marketing, player registration, and referee administration.
USL has been blazing the trail for “what’s next” in domestic elite youth soccer since the establishment of the SYL (1999) and Super-20 League (2005), and in 2012 will introduce additional bold and innovative programs.
“USL is committed to providing the most comprehensive and integrated series of player development programs for the elite youth soccer players, clubs, and coaches available in the U.S. and Canada,” USL President Tim Holt said. “USL senior management has spent the past several months developing key strategic initiatives related to youth player development that will serve to redefine our approach for years to come.”
Details of the new USL youth programs will be announced in the coming months and share the common theme of creating a higher level of benefit to players, coaches, teams, and clubs on and off the field. This will be accomplished by taking a comprehensive approach to integrating all of USL’s youth programs, more actively linking player development, scouting / identification, league competition, and championships.
Since 2010, Arnold has served as USL PRO & MISL Operations Manager and brings a strong league management background. As Senior Director, Youth League Development, Arnold will oversee the entire department and all staff while also working to identify new member clubs which meet the Super Y-League’s and Super-20 League’s high standards. A three-time NCAA College Cup final four participant with the University of Maryland, Jason also won a youth national championship with the Braddock Road (VA) Warhawks.
With vast experience on the team side of sports operations and administration, Akula has spent the past several years working in professional soccer including time with the franchises in Boston (WPS) and New York (USL PRO). In addition, she is a veteran certified athletic trainer who has worked with several US Soccer National Teams and earned her Sports Management MBA from San Diego State University.
Bachelder, who spent two years working for the Marketing Department of Liberty University Athletics and is a 2011 graduate, was a key member of SYL operations team during the 2010 season. During this stint, he helped enhance USL’s current online database and league management system, while proving particularly adept in event operations.