Power of Data to Support Development: Success Stories from COPA STC Players
At COPA STC, our mission is clear: use objective data and a gamified training environment to help players reach their full potential. From assessments to feedback, development to opportunity — we’re creating a new standard in youth soccer where players aren’t just seen, but truly understood.
This summer’s Talent ID cycle was the biggest yet — culminating in two major events:
- COPA Talent ID Day (July 23) brought over 140 top-performing players to the pitch after thousands of assessments.
- NorCal PDP Talent ID Days (August 2) invited players who ranked above the 50th percentile compared to their PDP age group — as observed through the COPA Score Dashboard
These events weren’t showcases — they were outcomes. Each player earned their spot based on their COPA Score, a standardized benchmark that evaluates players across technical, physical, and cognitive domains.
And from those outcomes emerged success stories.
Turning Objective Feedback into Purposeful Development
While all players impressed, a handful stood out in a big way. These players maximized their COPA STC memberships — not just by testing, but by training toward the feedback they received. They committed to regular reassessments and used our feedback loops to elevate their performance across the board.
Meet 4 Players Who Used the COPA System to Break Through
DJ Gray (2013) – Bay Area Surf
DJ Gray continues to set the bar among his age group. Representing Bay Area Surf, DJ regularly ranks in the top percentiles for technical proficiency — and that quality shines when he plays. Through quarterly COPA Score assessments, DJ identified speed as a key area for development. With structured, targeted training built around his schedule, he’s seen measurable progress — and that data-driven feedback has become a powerful motivator.
His latest COPA Score in May 2025 earned him an invite to the COPA Talent ID Day in July, where he impressed in front of six MLS academies. He also qualified for the NorCal PDP Talent ID Day, where his play led to an official invite to join the PDP program — a major step forward for a player not previously on their radar.
DJ’s story is a great reminder: consistency, data, and opportunity are a powerful mix.
Ethan Ha (2013) - FCA
Ethan Ha has quickly emerged as one of the most promising players in his age group. A dynamic winger with FCA, Ethan has leaned heavily on regular COPA Score reassessments and the membership training program to target and sharpen key areas of his game.
Where he’s excelled most is in the cognitive and technical categories, consistently ranking among the strongest performers when compared against the NorCal PDP demographic for his age. That data-driven consistency has translated onto the field, where his decision-making and effectiveness on the wing have become defining traits.
In June 2025, Ethan’s latest COPA Score assessment stood out enough to earn him an invite to the NorCal Talent ID Day in August. There, his performances impressed staff and ultimately secured him a spot in the PDP program — a huge step forward for a player who, until then, hadn’t been on their radar.
Ethan’s journey is proof of how consistent assessment, targeted training, and hard work can open doors to opportunities at the next level.
Bhavnie Sunil (2013) - Livermore Fusion
Bhavnie Sunil has shown remarkable growth since joining COPA in mid-2024. Playing as a winger for Livermore Fusion, she is known for her proficiency in 1v1 situations — and credits COPA as a major driver in her development.
Her progress is clear in the data. Through consistent COPA Score assessments and targeted membership training, Bhavnie’s technical statistics have nearly doubled over her time with us. That feedback loop has been instrumental in sharpening her technical ability, allowing her to shine more consistently in her club environment.
Her June 2025 COPA Score stood out strongly in both technical and cognitive areas, earning her an invite to the NorCal Talent ID Day in August. There, she impressed the staff and secured an official invite to join the PDP program — a well-earned recognition for a player whose improvement has been steady and significant.
Bhavnie’s story highlights how measurable progress and focused training can help players unlock their full potential.
Jordan Ponce (2013) - Diablo Valley FC
Jordan Ponce has grown up within the COPA family, training with us for the past four years. A versatile forward for Diablo Valley FC, he excels both as a winger and a striker. Jordan has used his membership training to focus on key areas of development, particularly his speed of play and awareness — qualities that have seen major improvement over time.
That growth has translated directly into opportunity. Jordan recently earned a place on the DVFC U13 MLS Next team, a big step forward from the club’s pre-MLS program. His COPA Score from earlier this year highlighted strong technical and cognitive skills compared to his PDP age benchmark, while showing he was right in the mix physically.
At the NorCal Talent ID Day, Jordan performed well against top-level peers and earned his spot in the PDP program. His story reflects the impact of long-term commitment, data-driven development, and hard work paying off at the right moments.
A Program Built for Development
Every success story begins with a first step — and for many players, they leverage COPA to enhance their development.
With unlimited access to training, data, and testing, our program is built around each player’s needs:
- Individualized feedback tied to their COPA Score
- Sessions targeted by age group and skill development area
- A flexible schedule that allows players and families to train at their pace
- Real-time tracking of development and percentile changes
Explore more about what’s included in the membership:
COPA Membership Details (Ages 12–19)
What’s Next
NorCal PDP Talent ID Day
Dates:
- November 8 – 9, 2025
Eligibility:
Players born between 2013 and 2010 who are actively playing for a NorCal Premier club. Current PDP players are not eligible.
To Qualify:
Players must complete a COPA Score assessment between August 1 and October 30 and achieve a score at or above the 50th percentile for their PDP age group.
Qualified players will be invited to perform in front of NorCal PDP staff for evaluation and potential inclusion in the program.
COPA Talent ID Day
Dates:
- December 13–14, 2025
Eligibility:
Players born between 2014 and 2008. Three sessions will be available for both boys and girls by age group:
- 2014 & 2013
- 2012 & 2011
- 2010 to 2008
To Qualify:
Top-performing players across each age group will be invited based on COPA Score assessments completed between August 1 and November 30.
This event offers direct exposure to scouts and coaches from professional (MLS & NWSL) and collegiate programs.
From Data to Discovery
We’re proud of every player who stepped on the field this summer. What they proved — with both data and performance — is that there’s more than one path to the top. And with COPA STC, that path is clear, objective, and built around your development.
Whether you’re already a member or just getting started, your journey starts with your next COPA Score.
Power of Data to Support Development: Success Stories from COPA STC Players
At COPA STC, our mission is clear: use objective data and a gamified training environment to help players reach their full potential. From assessments to feedback, development to opportunity — we’re creating a new standard in youth soccer where players aren’t just seen, but truly understood.
This summer’s Talent ID cycle was the biggest yet — culminating in two major events:
- COPA Talent ID Day (July 23) brought over 140 top-performing players to the pitch after thousands of assessments.
- NorCal PDP Talent ID Days (August 2) invited players who ranked above the 50th percentile compared to their PDP age group — as observed through the COPA Score Dashboard
These events weren’t showcases — they were outcomes. Each player earned their spot based on their COPA Score, a standardized benchmark that evaluates players across technical, physical, and cognitive domains.
And from those outcomes emerged success stories.
Turning Objective Feedback into Purposeful Development
While all players impressed, a handful stood out in a big way. These players maximized their COPA STC memberships — not just by testing, but by training toward the feedback they received. They committed to regular reassessments and used our feedback loops to elevate their performance across the board.
Meet 4 Players Who Used the COPA System to Break Through
DJ Gray (2013) – Bay Area Surf
DJ Gray continues to set the bar among his age group. Representing Bay Area Surf, DJ regularly ranks in the top percentiles for technical proficiency — and that quality shines when he plays. Through quarterly COPA Score assessments, DJ identified speed as a key area for development. With structured, targeted training built around his schedule, he’s seen measurable progress — and that data-driven feedback has become a powerful motivator.
His latest COPA Score in May 2025 earned him an invite to the COPA Talent ID Day in July, where he impressed in front of six MLS academies. He also qualified for the NorCal PDP Talent ID Day, where his play led to an official invite to join the PDP program — a major step forward for a player not previously on their radar.
DJ’s story is a great reminder: consistency, data, and opportunity are a powerful mix.
Ethan Ha (2013) - FCA
Ethan Ha has quickly emerged as one of the most promising players in his age group. A dynamic winger with FCA, Ethan has leaned heavily on regular COPA Score reassessments and the membership training program to target and sharpen key areas of his game.
Where he’s excelled most is in the cognitive and technical categories, consistently ranking among the strongest performers when compared against the NorCal PDP demographic for his age. That data-driven consistency has translated onto the field, where his decision-making and effectiveness on the wing have become defining traits.
In June 2025, Ethan’s latest COPA Score assessment stood out enough to earn him an invite to the NorCal Talent ID Day in August. There, his performances impressed staff and ultimately secured him a spot in the PDP program — a huge step forward for a player who, until then, hadn’t been on their radar.
Ethan’s journey is proof of how consistent assessment, targeted training, and hard work can open doors to opportunities at the next level.
Bhavnie Sunil (2013) - Livermore Fusion
Bhavnie Sunil has shown remarkable growth since joining COPA in mid-2024. Playing as a winger for Livermore Fusion, she is known for her proficiency in 1v1 situations — and credits COPA as a major driver in her development.
Her progress is clear in the data. Through consistent COPA Score assessments and targeted membership training, Bhavnie’s technical statistics have nearly doubled over her time with us. That feedback loop has been instrumental in sharpening her technical ability, allowing her to shine more consistently in her club environment.
Her June 2025 COPA Score stood out strongly in both technical and cognitive areas, earning her an invite to the NorCal Talent ID Day in August. There, she impressed the staff and secured an official invite to join the PDP program — a well-earned recognition for a player whose improvement has been steady and significant.
Bhavnie’s story highlights how measurable progress and focused training can help players unlock their full potential.
Jordan Ponce (2013) - Diablo Valley FC
Jordan Ponce has grown up within the COPA family, training with us for the past four years. A versatile forward for Diablo Valley FC, he excels both as a winger and a striker. Jordan has used his membership training to focus on key areas of development, particularly his speed of play and awareness — qualities that have seen major improvement over time.
That growth has translated directly into opportunity. Jordan recently earned a place on the DVFC U13 MLS Next team, a big step forward from the club’s pre-MLS program. His COPA Score from earlier this year highlighted strong technical and cognitive skills compared to his PDP age benchmark, while showing he was right in the mix physically.
At the NorCal Talent ID Day, Jordan performed well against top-level peers and earned his spot in the PDP program. His story reflects the impact of long-term commitment, data-driven development, and hard work paying off at the right moments.
A Program Built for Development
Every success story begins with a first step — and for many players, they leverage COPA to enhance their development.
With unlimited access to training, data, and testing, our program is built around each player’s needs:
- Individualized feedback tied to their COPA Score
- Sessions targeted by age group and skill development area
- A flexible schedule that allows players and families to train at their pace
- Real-time tracking of development and percentile changes
Explore more about what’s included in the membership: COPA Membership Details (Ages 12–19)
What’s Next
NorCal PDP Talent ID Day
Dates:
- November 8 – 9, 2025
Eligibility:
Players born between 2013 and 2010 who are actively playing for a NorCal Premier club. Current PDP players are not eligible.
To Qualify:
Players must complete a COPA Score assessment between August 1 and October 30 and achieve a score at or above the 50th percentile for their PDP age group.
Qualified players will be invited to perform in front of NorCal PDP staff for evaluation and potential inclusion in the program.
COPA Talent ID Day
Dates:
- December 13–14, 2025
Eligibility:
Players born between 2014 and 2008. Three sessions will be available for both boys and girls by age group:
- 2014 & 2013
- 2012 & 2011
- 2010 to 2008
To Qualify:
Top-performing players across each age group will be invited based on COPA Score assessments completed between August 1 and November 30.
This event offers direct exposure to scouts and coaches from professional (MLS & NWSL) and collegiate programs.
From Data to Discovery
We’re proud of every player who stepped on the field this summer. What they proved — with both data and performance — is that there’s more than one path to the top. And with COPA STC, that path is clear, objective, and built around your development.
Whether you’re already a member or just getting started, your journey starts with your next COPA Score.