Revolution Development Squad to Play Canada

The USA Revolution, fresh from their success at the 2011 Australian Football League (AFL) International Cup, are busily preparing themselves to take on Canada in the 49th Parallel Cup, to be held in Dublin, OH, on August 4.

The 49th Parallel Cup is played between the U.S. and Canada each of the two years preceding an International Cup year, the next being in 2014. In 2010 an Under 23 Revolution team was drawn together for the very first time and played Canada as a curtain raiser to the women’s and men’s 49th Parallel Cup games. 

The Under 23 concept, the brainchild of Washington D.C. footy advocate Christopher Adams, was extremely successful with the USA team defeating Canada by 80 points. More importantly six players from that squad were subsequently selected in the Revolution squad that traveled to Australia for the International Cup, including one being selected in an honorary World Team.

An exciting initiative that is being worked upon by the USAFL is a possible tour of Europe in April, 2013. Players selected to join the Development Squad on this tour will have the opportunity to play a combined European Development Squad. Any players that participate in the 49th Parallel Cup will have the best chance to be selected for this tour.

To demonstrate how important this concept is to the development of Australian Football in the U.S. a Development Squad Head Coach has been appointed by the USA Revolution Head Coach, Matt Bishop, and the USAFL Board.

“I am very excited to announce that Dan Sarbacker, affectionately known as Sars, has been appointed the Development Squad Head Coach,” stated Coach Bishop. “Sars is an exceptional individual with a vast knowledge of Australian Football, a significant coaching background and impeccable leadership skills.”

To help prepare a very competitive Development Squad Coaches Bishop and Sarbacker would appreciate any nominations for players under the age of 25 from any USAFL clubs. These players must be willing to travel to Dublin, OH, for the game on August 4. If you wish to nominate a player please contact Coach Bishop.

Dan “Sars” Sarbacker, Development Squad Head Coach

A two sport athlete in college (soccer, track & field), Sars discovered footy a year after graduation in the fall of 2002. He joined the Revolution in 2003 and has appeared over 30 times for the Revolution in exhibitions, internationals, and three International Cups.  Captaining the squad in recent years, he led the national side’s climb back into prominence in the world footy scene at last fall’s International Cup, as the Revolution reached the semifinals, ultimately finishing 4th behind perennial powers Ireland, PNG, and New Zealand.

Sars began coaching soccer in 2000 with Busch Soccer Club in St. Louis and carries a US Soccer National D Coaching License.  He finished with Busch in 2007 sending a majority of his players to collegiate programs, including the Player of the Year as a freshman at Marquette.  After some informal coaching stints around the USAFL, he took an official position with the US Freedom Women’s National Team on their 2009 Australian Tour.  He was an assistant for the first ever women’s international team to tour Australia.

He looks forward to joining the Revolution staff as the Development Squad Head Coach supporting the National Team program as it grows and gathers momentum toward the 2014 International Cup.