We had another great day yesterday, January 22, 2012 for ODP Tryouts for 96-97 Boys and 95-96-97 Girls!
Forty coaches and evaluators assessed the skill and ability of almost 300 players. Talent levels were high as many of these players have already attended Region III camp and a couple of them had previously advanced to the National Pool. Jorge Cruz, US Soccer scout, in conjunction with Neal Ellis, South Texas DOC, watched players for possible candidates for the US Soccer Training Centers.
Special thanks go to ACYSO for the use of the Culebra Creek Soccer Complex. Much effort and expense have gone into creating the immaculate fields we were privileged to use this weekend. Troy McGath, Gary Zepeda and Joyce McGath were onsite both days to assure our needs were met! Thank you all for your diligent work!
Thank you also to the volunteers who helped with set-up and registration.
Sunday’s tryouts were brought to a close by Wally Crittenden, President of the Brazos Valley Youth Sports Foundation Board of Directors, Volunteer Assistant Coach for the Texas A&M soccer team and one of our ODP Tryout evaluators. Wally encouraged the players that they are not defined by whether they made the pool or not, but that they are defined by how they competed and prepared for the challenge. He went on to say that should they be selected for the pool they need remember that someone is preparing to take their spot next year and if they were not selected they should work to prove the coaches wrong. He reminded the players to thank their parents for their commitment to get them to the tryouts and for allowing them to experience the ODP opportunity. He advised the players that good grades will offer more options when choosing a college or university. He concluded by challenging the players to make a positive choice; in that they had two choices as they left the event—and these were not related to whether they were picked for the pool or not.
- They could choose to leave the tryouts and become satisfied with their experience… Where will that lead them in the next 12 months? Or
- They could choose to leave the tryouts regardless of selection determined to push harder than ever before… Where will that lead them in the next 12 months?
All-in-all it was a GREAT weekend of soccer!
Click here to see the Boys Pool List.
Click here to see the GIRLS Pool List.