Super Y-League Feature
Friday, March 1, 2013
BRADENTON, Fla. – Atlanta Fire United is well known as one of the top youth clubs in the nation, and it’s no surprise it’s well represented at this weekend’s Super Y-League Girls ODP National Camp at IMG Academy.
Not only is AFU Girls Director of Coaching Mark MacKain serving as a coach at the four-day event, but six of his club’s players earned the right to showcase their skills for the assembled coaches and scouts. The Fire are represented by U14 players Kathryn Batchler and Kameron Downs, and U16 standouts Kristian Leone, Kaitlin Mayer, Cosette Morche and Tiffany Raygor.
“The experience here that they’re getting, meeting kids from around the country, is fantastic,” MacKain said. “Kate [Batchler] just got back from ODP in Phoenix, and we’ve got four others from the 16s that play in the ECNL that come out here and think it’s a great experience themselves. We’ve got some college coaches on the sidelines that I know they were looking forward to playing in front of, and the exposure is fantastic.”
With more than 150 of the top players from throughout North America gathered at IMG Academy, the competition level is high. With coaches from colleges such as the University of Miami, the University of South Alabama, Bowling Green State University, East Tennessee State University, Rice University, Troy University, East Carolina University, Columbus State University and Seattle University either on staff or scouting, the players are working hard to make an impression.
“The coaching staff that Peter Mellor put together is fantastic, and the kids are all getting to know the players coming in from around the country and they seem to really be enjoying it,” MacKain said. “The last five years or so that Peter Mellor and Alec Papadakis have been involved it’s just been better and better every year.
Each of the Fire players will be aiming for a spot on the camp’s select teams, and they won’t feel out of place thanks to the high level of competition they experience through their club. MacKain said the Fire’s secret to success starts with the high-level coaching staff.
“I think we have a fantastic staff, both on the boys and the girls side,” MacKain said. “Raul Diaz Arce on the boys side, he’s put together really a crack staff. On the girls side we’ve got Demetrius Donald and Nathan Borror, who won a national championship this year for the 16s, and Denny Jenkins won a national championship last year at 14s.
“These guys know how to recruit talent, maintain talent, grow and develop talent, and most importantly, manage the talent. I truly think it starts with the coaching.”
With the Fire already part of some of the other top youth leagues in the nation, MacKain said the Super Y-League fills an important role.
“Super Y fits a niche for us,” he said. “It’s the only summer program that we’re doing right now, and it provides an opportunity for our kids that are on the top teams that may not be getting all the playing time or need to come through injury or confidence issues, or just want to play more. And maybe kids from our second teams want to just make the leap and continue to improve and better their games.”
