Read below for a press release from COPA Soccer Training Center in California:
COPA Soccer Training Center (COPA STC), in collaboration with Racing Louisville, is excited to announce the launch of the Objective Pathway, a groundbreaking free initiative designed to revolutionize talent identification and provide direct opportunities for aspiring female professional soccer players aged 15–22.
Starting Jan. 2, 2025, this initiative will offer 1,000 free assessment slots at COPA STC, enabling players to showcase their skills through the COPA Score. This advanced evaluation system objectively measures performance across technical, physical, cognitive and skeletal age/maturation metrics, setting a new standard for talent identification. Following this, the top performing players in the COPA Score will be selected for Racing Louisville’s Talent ID Day to be held in the Bay Area on Feb. 23.
Racing Louisville have shown a commitment to young players who shine on the professional stage. New Zealand forward Milly Cegg, 19, joined the club in 2024 after multiple call-ups to youth international tournaments in addition to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympics. Both Savannah DeMelo and Emma Sears have emerged as standout young players, earning recognition for their impact in the NWSL and the USWNT. Their stories inspire the next generation of players and highlight Racing Louisville’s dedication to nurturing talent to the professional level. The club structure is uniquely poised to advance this further in the coming years as they leverage their Academy and USL W League Team to nurture talented young players.
“The Objective Pathway is an exciting step forward for talent identification in women’s soccer,” said Barry McCabe, Senior Director of Talent Identification and Science at COPA STC. “This collaboration with Racing Louisville highlights the club’s desire to continue to find the best young talent who could impact their environment while taking a fair and objective approach.”
“At Racing Louisville, we’re passionate about identifying talent and providing environments for players to grow,” said Racing Louisville head coach Bev Yanez. “Joining in on this initiative with COPA STC allows us to extend this mission and potentially uncover players to represent Racing Louisville.”
Who Can Participate?
- Female players aged 15–22 who aspire to play professional soccer.
- Active college players are eligible to participate without compromising NCAA eligibility.
- Players with a strong ambition to pursue a professional soccer career are encouraged to apply.
Key Dates
- Jan. 2-Feb. 16, 2025: Take your FREE COPA Score assessment at COPA STC.
- Feb. 17, 2025: Decision Day—Top-performing players will be invited to the Talent ID Day.
- Feb. 23, 2025: Talent ID Day—Invited players will compete in front of Racing Louisville scouts.
- Feb. 23, 2025: A minimum of one player will be selected to join Racing Louisville for a trial.
Pioneering Talent Identification
The Objective Pathway builds on the strong collaboration between COPA STC and Racing Louisville, combining cutting-edge technology with a shared vision for talent identification. By leveraging the same metrics used to evaluate professional teams as well as a large database of players, this initiative ensures that aspiring players are assessed against the highest standards of the game objectively.
Players and families interested in participating can learn more and register at www.copastc.com/copascore.
