The USL Super Y-League announced today the release of the 2005 Season Olympic Development Program (ODP) Divisional Select Teams.  The selected players represent the top U.S. based players during the USL Super Y-League 2005 Season, and the top American citizen players within the Canadian clubs.

 

Over the course of the 2005 season, players were scouted by the league’s ODP Scouting Network, which comprised of the nearly 600 coaching staff members of clubs across the nation.  With the active involvement of the Scouting Network during the season, players were evaluated for their technical ability on the field during league play for selection to the 18-player ODP Divisional Team roster. The scouting staff was lead by USL Super Y-League Technical Director, Perry Van Der Beck.

 

“Players and coaches now recognize that this ODP system is providing new opportunities for the elite player to be identified for US National Team Programs,” commented Van Der Beck.  “The [Super Y-League ODP] Scouting Network offers a tremendous amount of resources for aiding the US National Team Coaching Staff in identifying players.”

 

The next step for these Divisional ODP Teams are the National ODP Camps, where they will be placed in an intense training and competitive environment for identification to US National Team Programs.  Various members of the US National Team Coaching Staff will be present, working with Van Der Beck and other ODP Staff Coaches to identify players.

 

The ODP National Camps will take place at the Cocoa Expo (Cocoa, FL) from January 12-15, 2006 for the 15, 16, 17 Boys, January 26-29, 2006 for the 13, 14 Boys, February 2-5, 2006 for the 15, 16, 17 Girls, and February 9-12, 2006 for the 13, 14 Girls.

 

In addition to the primary focus of identifying players for US National Team Programs, many of the country’s top collegiate soccer coaches will be in attendance scouting players for their programs.

 

“The [Super Y-League ODP] program makes sense.  It is simple. The qualified club coaches that see the players every week know who is playing the best at their position,” said Creighton University Head Coach, Bob Warming. “It is a natural environment for objective evaluation.  The coaches know who rises to the occasion when they are faced with tough competition.  It is what I want to know as a college coach.  Not just if someone is a good player.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THE USL SUPER Y-LEAGUE
The future of soccer lives in the Super Y-League, a professionalized system that is the first step for developing youth soccer players in North America. Affiliated with US Soccer and partnered with US Club Soccer, the league is designed for talented youth players destined for professional or international careers. Through Olympic Development (ODP) status programs and events such as the North American Finals and National ODP Camps, the nation's top players are selected for US National Team Programs. The league is made up of a series of regional leagues within the framework of a North American league containing the top clubs and players from the United States and Canada.

 

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUES
As the largest organization of soccer leagues in North America, United Soccer Leagues is dedicated to growing the sport at the grassroots level in every community across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. USL is the leader in player development and is dedicated to growing the game in North America.  USL operates the USL First Division, second division men's professional; the USL Second Division, third division men's professional; the USL Premier Development League, North American U23 amateur league; the USL W-League, North American women's amateur league; and the USL Super Y-League, North American youth leagues.