By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) hosted its inaugural ODP College Showcase featuring Olympic Development Program teams from ENYYSA and neighboring states on April 27 to 29. The scenic venue was Golden Goal Park in Fort Ann, located at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains and a short corner kick from Lake George. To keep costs down, players and coaches stayed at the scenic facility.
Top players born in 1995 and 1996 had the opportunity to compete in front of men’s and women’s college coaches from the Northeast United States. This showcase offered coaches, specifically collegiate and national staff, with a stage to evaluate future roster selections.
One of the highlights of the weekend happened off the field. On Saturday night, after a day of great soccer, both players and coaches had the opportunity to attend panel discussions led by Ray Selvadurai, College Player Process, Manhattan Soccer Club. The panel consisted of college coaches from Division 1, 2 and 3 programs as well as community colleges. This forum provided athletes and coaches with valuable information, insight and strategies to assist in the navigation of the college recruitment process.
“The ODP College Showcase was a very well-planned event,” commented Eastern New York ODP Director Gregg Satzinger. “A lot of parents were there and there was a lot of activity outside of soccer including a DJ and a college forum.”