Super Y-League Feature
Saturday, March 1, 2014
BRADENTON, Fla. – Watching the U14 Super Y-League ODP National Camp squad coached by Steve Gummer on Friday afternoon take on IMG Academy’s U14 side, you would have been forgiven for thinking the group of players that had trained together for the first time on Thursday had been together a lot longer.
With quick passing movements through the midfield, driven primarily by the trio of Nazar Tsaruk of Orlando City, Francisco Corral of Cedar Stars Academy and Nick Kozdron of Parsippany SC, the side claimed a 4-1 victory behind two goals apiece from Alliance Academy’s Vinny Manzo and the Kalamazoo Kingdom’s Michael Ketteman.
In the middle of the action was Kozdron, pictured, a U14 All-Tournament selection last December at the North American Finals, who was quick to praise the preparation the side was put through by Gummer as it quickly developed chemistry ahead of its opening scrimmage of the IMG Cup College Showcase.
“He got us all together and started putting us in drills where we just kept passing the ball, one-, two-touch, and it really just clicked from the first moment,” Kozdron said. “I think the whole team’s doing well; the chemistry on the field, and off, is just fantastic.”
Gummer, the Technical Director at Southern Soccer Academy, was as quick to praise his players, who quickly took on the principles he instilled.
“I was actually a little bit lucky because I put those three in the middle at the beginning of practice, and the three guys in there were kinda the smallest guys, but they were the best technicians,” Gummer said. “Everything we’ve done yesterday and this morning was all about how to move the ball through midfield, how to play one-touch quickly, combining and forming a triangle around the ball as quickly as possible.”
Gummer was also impressed by the leadership shown by Kozdron. Throughout the day’s scrimmage, and in the squad’s training sessions, the 14-year-old was consistently vocal, providing guidance as the side moved the ball well for much of the contest.
“From the very first day of camp we named him the captain because he’s one of those players that takes charge,” Gummer said. “You can see from the way he plays the game, he understands the game, he understands the principles, he was understanding what we were looking for as a team, but he was also doing the other things, which was encouraging the players, he was getting at them if they needed to work harder, but he was certainly patting them on the back when they’d done well.”
For his teammates, that leadership proved useful as they faced a well-organized IMG side that tried to press quickly when the ODP side had possession.
“It’s very useful, because it helps you know how you’re going to move, what’s your next move,” said Corral. “It’s very fast, very technical, because he’s a great midfielder, he knows how to play. It’s very enjoyable.”
Kozdron said the influence of his father is a big reason behind his communication on the field. His goal, in addition to linking play with a solid technical ability, it to make sure his teammates are always aware of what’s around them as they look to find the right pass or run.
“You have to help your teammates and be a team player,” Kozdron said, “and the best way to do that is not only play with your team, but communicate and help them with what they can’t see.”
With the way the side was able to play in its opening game, it seems certain that the players will be able to take a number of lessons back to their sides this summer as the Super Y-League’s regular season comes around. From Gummer’s perspective, the chemistry that the side is showing on and off the field also illustrates how good players can come together quickly, and help one another raise their respective levels.
“I think it goes to show that soccer is a worldwide game, whether you’re playing as a 13-, 14-year-old in the United States at the Super Y National Camp, or you’re playing professionally,” Gummer said. “We’re trying to emulate what the professionals do, and it can be done at a level which is consummate with the player’s level, and I think bringing the players from different squads around the country, players are players, the technical ability, the tactical ability is usually the same, and if they all buy into the same program, I think you can mesh players together real well, and they can get a good experience from it.
“We’ve got players from Florida, New Jersey and Michigan, and it’s been a nice little bunch, they’ve seemed to jell real well, and if they’re jelling well, communicating, working hard together and understanding the objectives of how the team wants to play, I think that leads to a successful experience.”