By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
The United States Under-15 Boys’ National Team has named 20 players, including Billy Stevens, a defender from New Hyde
Park who is a member of the New York Red Bulls Academy, and a graduate of the Red Bulls Developmental School, a program funded by the LIJSL. The team will travel to Zagreb, Croatia this week for a training camp and friendly games. The 20-man roster includes 16 players with US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) experience, all born in 1996.
The trip to Croatia is the first time the group has come together since a March training camp at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, and is the only international trip planned for the this elite team in 2011. Head coach Jim Barlow’s group, which includes 17 players from the March camp, will undergo daily training and two matches against Croatia during their 10-day trip.
US Youth Soccer ODP prepares players for selection to the U.S. National Team programs by bringing together the best players from their club teams to compete in state, regional, national and international competitions, mimicking the U.S. National Team system. Players selected to US Youth Soccer ODP are exposed to the nation’s top coaches from collegiate institutions, U.S. Soccer and the professional leagues.
The US Youth Soccer ODP, established in 1977, is the original Olympic Development Program in the United States. Formed to identify a pool of players in each age group from which a National Team could be selected for international competition; to provide high-level training to benefit and enhance the development of players at all levels; and, through the use of carefully selected and licensed coaches, develop a mechanism for the exchange of ideas and curriculum to improve all levels of coaching.
Programs exist in each state and with competitions such as the US Youth Soccer ODP Championships, Interregional Training/Competition, Regional Camps and International play. US Youth Soccer ODP continues to lead the way in elite player identification and development. US Youth Soccer ODP is an approved program of the U.S. Soccer Federation.
*Denotes US Youth Soccer ODP experience
Goalkeepers Hometown Club
Gianni Carillo* Pine Bush, N.Y. New York Red Bulls Academy
Evan Louro South River, N.J. New York Red Bulls Academy
Defenders Hometown Club
Vernon Bailey* Dallas, Texas Dallas Texans
Bryce Cregan Dallastown, Pa. PA Classics
Elijah Martin* Fresno, Calif. Cal Odyssey
John Requejo* Carpinteria, Calif. Santa Barbara SC
Billy Stevens* New Hyde Park, N.Y. New York Red Bulls Academy
Midfielders Hometown Club
Corey Baird* Escondido, Calif. San Diego Surf
Omar Castro* Plant City, Fla. Plant City FC
Bradley Dunwell* Grand Rapids, Mich. Alliance Academy
Emerson Hyndman* Plano, Texas FC Dallas Juniors
Herber Mejia-Flores* Manassas Park, Va. GFA Rangers
Victor Rolph Golden, Colo. Colorado Rush AJ Auxerre
Joab Santoyo* Fontana, Calif. Arsenal FC
Tyler Turner West Haven, Conn. South Central Premier
Forwards Hometown Club
Jorge Calix* Alexandria, Va. Team America
Danya Kafai* Redwood City, Calif. Juventus SC
DeAndre Robinson* Hollywood, Fla. West Pines United
Rubio Rubin* Beaverton, Ore. Westside Metros
Wesley Wade* South Orange, N.J. New York Red Bulls Academy