The 5th Annual USL Men’s Player Combine, presented by Umbro, returned to the first-class confines of Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina. The event, held January 20-23 and hosted by USL PRO’s Charleston Battery, featured 102 of the top players from North America and abroad hoping to land a professional contract.

To date, more than 125 players have gone on to sign professional contracts with USL, MLS and international squads since the debut of the USL Men’s Combine in 2006. The event attracts the top U23 talent from throughout North America, with many of the participants coming from the USL Premier Development League.

This year’s event was be led by USL National Technical Director Peter Mellor, who worked alongside USL staff to develop a comprehensive curriculum that challenges participants while providing coaches with the proper environment for evaluation. Coaches participating in the event included USL National Technical Advisor Tony Waiters, who led Canada to the 1986 World Cup Finals, as well as MLS assistant coaches and several current PDL head coaches.

Recent beneficiaries of the event include rising star Tom Heinemann who signed with the Battery following the 2008 Combine, was named MVP of this season’s USL-2 title game, and then finished the year in the USSF Division-2 League.

Players participating in the USL Men’s Player Combine are selected based on their playing background and their soccer achievements. Players selected are placed on teams to provide the optimum level of scouting to coaches and general managers.