Super Y-League News Release
Thursday, February 27, 2014
BRADENTON, Fla. – The 2014 Super Y-League Boys Olympic Development Program National Camp opened on Thursday afternoon at the world-class facilities of IMG Academy with more than 150 players from throughout North America set to receive training from elite youth and college coaches and participate in the IMG Cup College Showcase.
On the same day that former Super Y-League ODP alums Jozy Altidore, Juan Agudelo and Cody Cropper were selected by Jurgen Klinsmann for the U.S. Men’s National Team contest with Ukraine next Wednesday, USL National Technical Director Peter Mellor and his assembled staff put the group of players aged 13 through 16 through training.
“We are very pleased with the standard of players that have accepted their invitations to The camp," Mellor said. “We believe this weekend will offer them the chance to improve not only their skills and tactical awareness on the field, but also their knowledge of how to prepare to play at a consistently high level thanks to the off-field seminars they will participate in.”
In a new feature this year to the camp, all of the players will compete in the IMG Cup College Showcase, which attracts many top college coaches from throughout the country looking for potential prospects. The players in the two age groups, U14 and U16, will compete against other teams from throughout the United States in front of scouts from such colleges as Akron, Indiana, Creighton and Portland.
“Giving the players a chance to not only train, but also compete during the event will give them the chance to put into practice the new techniques and ideas they are being introduced to as part of the instruction,” said Mellor. “It will also give them exposure to a number of top college programs, for which the IMG Cup is an important date on the recruiting schedule.”
The 2014 Super Y-League Boys ODP National Camp continues through Sunday, with IMG Cup College Showcase games set to be played on each of the next three days.