COPA STC Announces Summer Talent ID Day — July 22nd, 2026
Building on a year of proven, objective Talent ID and 800+ player invitations to events, COPA announces its next flagship event for youth soccer players
In just its first year of launching its mission on objective talent identification and player development, COPA has proven that a standardized, objective approach to player identification can create real opportunities. More than 800 players have earned invitations to events through COPA’s objective pathways over the past 12 months — not through nominations or reputation, but through a standardized assessment protocol designed to remove bias and put performance first.
Building on that momentum, COPA Soccer Training Center is excited to announce its next flagship COPA Talent ID Day, taking place on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in the Bay Area. Most recently, COPA’s Winter Talent ID Day on February 15, 2026 welcomed 200+ players and 25 professional and collegiate scouts, generating meaningful follow-up conversations and pathway opportunities.
What continues to set COPA Talent ID Days apart is simple: every invitation is earned through data. No nominations. No politics. Just objective evaluation — applied consistently — and an environment where players are given the platform to prove themselves.
How It Works: Earn Your Invite
To be considered for COPA Talent ID Day, players must complete a COPA Score assessment at COPA STC by Friday, July 2, 2026.
Invitations are extended to top performers in each age group based on:
- The COPA Score — a proprietary rating built from key technical, physical, and cognitive Talent ID metrics
- Standout performance indicators — exceptional qualities such as speed, technique, and decision-making
- Developmental benchmarking — placing players in objective context relative to maturation
There are no nominations. Every athlete goes through the same objective standardized assessment protocol, ensuring a fair opportunity regardless of club affiliation or background.
What Is the COPA Score?
The COPA Score is a standardized assessment protocol used to objectively evaluate a player’s technical, physical, and cognitive performance, while integrating skeletal age or maturation testing for true best practice comparisons. Every athlete completes the same consistent testing process, allowing results to be compared fairly across chronological age, skeletal age, positions, and levels of play. This standardized approach ensures evaluations are transparent, repeatable, and grounded in objective data rather than subjective opinion.
Learn more about the COPA Score: COPA Score – COPA STC
The COPA Talent ID Pathway
The COPA Talent ID Day is part of a clearly defined, objective pathway designed to reward performance and provide exposure to talented players by taking an objective approach.
Step 1: Complete the COPA Score
Players complete their COPA Score at COPA STC by July 2, 2026. Schedule fills up so we recommend registering early!
*To keep access equitable, any player taking The COPA Score for the first time can complete the assessment free of charge. See notes below on how to avail for first timers.
Step 2: Review Your Results
Each player receives access to their results same day through The COPA Score Dashboard, where performance is objectively benchmarked against peers. Use this feedback to prioritize your development plan.
Step 3: Earn Your Invite
Invitations to the COPA Talent ID Day are extended to top performers per age grouping based on COPA Score results and key performance indicators. High potential late developers may also earn invites.
Step 4: Attend COPA Talent ID Day
Invited players compete on the field in a traditional gameplay setting in front of professional and collegiate scouts.
🔗 Register for a free COPA Score
📍 Event Details — COPA Talent ID Day
- 📅 Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
- 👥 Eligible Birth Years: 2014 – 2008
- 🏟️ Eligibility: This initiative is open to any and all entrants in these age groups. Attendance may be limited by age, level, gender, and capacity.
- 💰 Event Cost: Free (Invitation Only)
Who It’s For
The COPA Talent ID Day is designed for players and families who are serious about understanding where they stand and gaining meaningful exposure, while ensuring opportunities are unlocked objectively – not through what club you play for, who you coach is or where you’re from.
This includes:
- Youth soccer players across all levels of play (ECNL, MLS NEXT, GA, NPL, and beyond)
- Players seeking objective, data-driven feedback on current performance and future potential
- Families looking for transparency, benchmarks, and clarity in the development process
Whether a player’s goal is collegiate soccer, professional pathways, or simply understanding how they compare within their age group and aspiring levels of play, the COPA Score provides a clear, unbiased starting point.
What to Expect on the Day
Players selected for The COPA Talent ID Day will be grouped by birth years and evaluated through a combination of small-sided games, full field games, and live scout observation.
Age Groups (projected):
- 2014 – 2013
- 2012 – 2011
- 2010 – 2008
This format allows scouts to evaluate players within their developmental cohort, in environments that reflect real game demands. Certain players may be invited to play outside their chronological age group.
Scout Access & Exposure
As with previous COPA Talent ID Days, attending scouts and technical staff will not only evaluate players live on the field, but will also receive all attending player’s COPA Score data and access to COPA’s performance database to increase scouting opportunities.
This means exposure does not end when the event does.
Partner clubs and organizations are able to:
- Review objective performance data
- Identify players across age groups, position and skill
- Track high-potential athletes over time
This extended access significantly increases the number of players who can be identified and followed beyond a single showcase.
Media & Player Spotlights
The COPA Talent ID Day includes dedicated media coverage designed to extend player exposure beyond the event itself.
Players receive professional photos and access to live game footage they can clip for highlights or recruitment use, with select performances featured through COPA’s media channels. These efforts help amplify visibility in ways that go beyond what scouts and coaches alone can provide, supporting players’ exposure long after the event concludes.
Building on Proven Success
Built on years of data collection proving the COPA Score to be a standardized approach, and now one year in to turning data into real on field opportunities. Some examples of this is below:
2025 Summer COPA Talent ID Day – Boys Event & Girls Event & Watch Here
A first flagship event, which provided 180+ high-performing COPA Score players an opportunity to play on the field in front of 26 different scouting organizations.
What The Scouts Think – Watch Here
Insights from the experts and the future of Talent ID
35 Players selected by PDP via The COPA Score – Learn More & See some of the players here
Through forward thinking collaboration and a shared commitment to creating opportunities, the NorCal x COPA Objective Player Pathway invited 35 players into the PDP Program, all based on The COPA Score.
23 Players invited to trial via Oakland Roots X COPA Objective Pathway – Learn More
When compared to COPA Score benchmarks established by Oakland Roots players, these players stood out in the COPA database and were invited to trial.
Ricky Gonzalez – Learn More
Earned a trial with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim after a standout COPA Score and maturity-adjusted performance.
Mercy Karson – Learn More
Posted one of the top 2010 COPA Scores, earning invitations to both COPA Pro Pathway and then to Racing Louisville FC (NWSL).
What Makes COPA’s Talent ID Days Different
This is not a generic camp or open tryout. COPA Talent ID Days are merit-based identification events built around objective performance data. Every player completes the same standardized assessment protocol, and every invitation is earned through results, not reputation, club affiliation, or nomination.
For ambitious players seeking their next step — and for families looking for clearer, data-driven insight into a player’s strengths and potential — the COPA Score provides a transparent pathway to visibility and long-term development.
Key Dates & Info
Program | Deadline | Details |
COPA Score Registration | Now Open | |
Last Day To Qualify for COPA Summer Talent ID Day | July 2nd 2026 | COPA Score must be completed by this date |
COPA Summer Talent ID Day | July 22nd, 2026 | Invite-only event in the Bay Area |
How to access the free first-time assessment:
Please email assessments.wc@copastc.com with your athlete’s full name and date of birth exactly as is in our system. The athlete must already have a profile in our registration system before emailing. You can create or log in to your parent and athlete profile here:
COPA STC Registration System
To ensure fairness for all families, please use one profile per athlete. Creating duplicate or inaccurate profiles to bypass eligibility will result in account suspension.
🔗 Register for a free COPA Score