SYL ODP '92-'94 Boys National Camp
A player’s point of view: Giovanni Tacconelli of the South Jersey Barons
 Friday, February 8
COCOA, FLORIDA – United Soccer Leagues Super Y-League ODP National Camps for their ’91-’93 boys weathered an early morning deluge at the Cocoa Expo Center in Cocoa, Florida Friday. The morning training sessions were a bit soggy, but necessary, as the boys began a series of six, 35-minute matches that will take place over the next two days. Members of the Super Y-League ODP Coaching Staff will evaluate the boys play during those games, preparing a roster for a primary, Saturday evening Select Team Match that will kick off at 7:30 PM for the ‘93/’94 age group and at 8:30 PM for the ‘92’s.
A ’92 born player back for his second year of Super Y-League ODP Camp is Giovanni Tacconelli of the South Jersey Barons. Tacconelli impressed the coaching staff enough during his first run at SYL ODP camp last season that he earned the right to accompany the 2007 SYL Select Team on their trip to Germany.
“Playing in Germany with the Super Y-League Select Team last summer was a great experience,” said Giovanni Tacconelli of the South Jersey Barons. “The German teams we played against were very high-level players. Every pass had to be at pace, just one or two touches each time you get the ball. That is the mentality I take with me time I step onto the field.”
 In place of the SYL Select Team tours in 2008, USL has partnered with West Ham United to allow the top 10-12 players attending these camps to train with one of the premier youth academies in the world.
“It is a very intriguing idea,” said Tacconelli. “If I play well enough to be chosen to go to West Ham, I would not even have to think about it – I am going.”
Tacconelli, along with the other 300+ Super Y-League players in camp this week, was chosen based on his performance throughout the 2007 SYL regular season. Tacconelli’s South Jersey Barons U15 side finished the Super Y-League season with a record of 8-5-2, good enough for seventh place in the dog-eat-dog, 16 team Mid Atlantic Division.
“The Mid Atlantic Division of the Super Y-League has to be one of the toughest divisions in the league,’ said Tacconelli. “The Barons, PDA, FC Westchester, Parsippany and D.C. United all have great sides each season. Every match is played at a very high level.”
This is Tacconelli’s third season with the South Jersey Barons.
“I learned a lot from the coaching staff of the Barons during my time there,” said Tacconelli. “They are great coaches and have helped me to take my game to the next level. One thing I learned from them is to play every game as if it were my last.”
“I would love to continue to play for the [USL Premier Development League] Barons,” added Tacconelli. “I don’t know exactly where soccer is going to take me, but I am going to take it to the highest level I can.”
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