Super Y-League News Release
Thursday, February 21, 2013
BRADENTON, Fla. - The 2013 Super Y-League Boys ODP National Camp kicked off Thursday at IMG Academy with 165 of the top players from throughout North America reporting for the first day of the four-day camp. Under the direction of USL National Technical Director Peter Mellor, the camp features an impressive lineup of coaches including University of Portland Director of Soccer Bill Irwin, former MLS star Raul Diaz Arce, former Penn State Head Coach Barry Gorman, and longtime MLS keeper Kevin Hartman.
Thursday's kickoff session started with an introductory talk from Mellor and Super Y-League & ODP Director Natalie Akula, followed by testing and the first training sessions with the players divided into U13/14 and U15/16 age groups. Mellor and IMG's Scott Bowers worked with the goalkeepers while the other coaches had an opportunity to train their teams for the first time.
"This is really just an opportunity to identify some of the talents of the kids and really try to get them comfortable with each other," said Hartman, the all-time MLS leader in clean sheets. "We're also trying to identify some of their strengths and weaknesses, so it's been good to get the kids out here and see where they are from a physical perspective."
Each team was run through performance testing by IMG Academy staff, with players participating in the 40-yard dash, the vertical jump and the dreaded beep test. The latter left many gasping for air on the ground, while also showing the coaches who showed up in top physical condition.
Hartman said the coaches have already begun the process of trying to identify the standouts who will have an opportunity to be part of the camp select teams.
"For me it's about understanding the game and knowing when you need to beat somebody rather than trying to beat people all the time," he said. "That being said, you don't want to take that creativity and that agressiveness out of a player at this age. [I'm looking for] a good understanding of the game, opening up, giving good options early, good technically with the ball, and a good understanding of how they can assist their teammates and be a good team player."
Friday's session kicks off at 9:30 a.m. with team training, followed by a nutrition session, afternoon games and evening mental conditioning.