USL Feature
Thursday, February 24, 2011
By NICHOLAS MURRAY
The USL Super Y-League Boys Olympic Development Program camp opens today as 188 of the best players in North America across four age-groups come to the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Fla. for four days of intensive training.
The ODP Program, which brings players from across the United States and Canada, is a crucial component of the USL Super Y-League, offering the best players from the U13 to U17 age groups a chance to receive top-quality coaching and the opportunity to be scouted by U.S. National Team and college coaches.
USL National Technical Director Peter Mellor, who has spent the past 18 years as a member of the U.S. National Staff and 25 years as an ODP coach, will direct the camps.
For some in attendance, the camp won’t be a new experience as a number of players are returning from last year’s camp. Among the players in that group is Rece Buckmaster, who last year was named to the camp’s 1996 All-Select team after impressing coaches with his ability.
For Buckmaster, who began playing competitively when he was nine years old, that affirmation was a big confidence boost he was able to return to the Fort Wayne Fever with as he pushes to fulfill his goal of playing at the next level.
“I just got a big boost of confidence that I could play with these guys and have fun,” Buckmaster said of the 2010 camp. “It’s helped me bring what I’ve learned back to my club team and teach them some things.”
Even when he was just starting to play competitively, there were indicators that Buckmaster could be something special. According to Fort Wayne Fever Director of Coaching Bobby Poursanidis, the drive that Buckmaster showed even at a young age set him apart.
“He’s a very driven kid; he never shied away from anything; he applied himself,” Poursanidis said. “His technical [ability] wasn’t completely sharp at that age, but it was definitely getting there. I think that’s what’s delighted us is how he’s evolved to where now at 14 years old where his technical [ability] is a lot better and I think it’s got a lot to do with his drive and his persistence and wanting to be the best he can be.”
Buckmaster himself talks about the enjoyment he gets from being challenged to raise the level of his game. While he plays the bulk of his soccer against fellow 1996 birth year competition, Buckmaster also occasionally competes against older players in the Fever’s men’s indoor league.
“I like to play with older people because they’re stronger, they’re faster and it’s more of a challenge to try and do things,” Buckmaster said. “It’s fun; it’s really cool because you can try and take some of their moves and learn from what they’ve been through and try to get to the level they got to or even further.”
That type of drive is what Poursanidis believe will allow Buckmaster to reach the goals he’s set for himself. Growing up in Indiana, Buckmaster said he would like to play for the renowned Indiana University men’s program one day, and hopefully turn professional after that.
With his approach to the game, and the confidence he gained from last year’s camp, Poursanidis believes that could become a reality sooner rather than later.
“I think his commitment was raised even more, he wanted to do a lot more,” Poursanidis said. “We had to slow him down a little bit because he wanted to do so much more, and I think what it’s going to do for him this year is he’s going to go in and think ‘I was one of the best here last year; I feel like I can come in and accomplish similar things and hopefully impress a lot more people.’
“He wants to make it to that next level; he wants to take every possible angle to get to that next level and he’s got the attitude for it. I’m excited for him.”