USL News Release

Friday, February 4, 2005

 

TAMPA, FL – Nearly 200 of the nation’s top U16-U17 year old girls will gather in Cocoa, Florida this weekend (February 4-6) in the final of four Super Y-League Olympic Development Program National Camp weekends that will scout over 1,100 players when they come to a close Sunday.
 

“We introduced these identification camps as the pinnacle of our ODP system, which is based on a season-long evaluation process to identify the players for the camps,” said SYL Director Matt Weibe. “The camps were a great success last year and we look forward to providing these elite youth players with the opportunity to display their skills in front of National Staff Coaches.”

“These camps are an excellent learning opportunity for these players, who are nearing a point in which they will take their careers to higher levels whether it is with the US Women’s National Team program or in the W-League, where the number of elite teenage players seeing action has increased dramatically over the years.”

Players selected from each of the SYL divisions will come together at the Cocoa Expo Center for three days at each camp, playing a series of 40-minute matches and going through several specialized training sessions. Tailored training and evaluations for goalkeepers will also be held at the camps.

All levels of the scouting system will be present at each camp with the regional SYL scouts on hand with US Soccer’s National Staff Coaches and new SYL ODP National Camp Technical Director Perry Van Der Beck. Players will be evaluated on their technique, tactics, fitness and psychology and will receive written reports for feedback on their performances.

An SYL ODP National Team will be selected by the SYL ODP Scouting Coaches in consultation with the USSF National Staff Coaches for each age group following every camp based on the players’ camp and season performances.