By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
November 12, 2012-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is improving its Olympic Development Program (ODP). ODP, considered the highest level of competition in the state, recently hired Jose Luis Rebay as Technical Director.
A native of Buenos Aires and current resident of Bay Shore, Long Island, Coach Rebay played professionally in both South America and the United States plus holds a United States Soccer Federation National-A Coaching License. He has coached Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) teams in Dix Hills, HBC and Massapequa during the past decade, winning two State Cups along the way. Coach Rebay has served as a Region 1 ODP coach since 1997 and as coach of Eastern New York ODP since 2000.
Every year, players throughout Eastern New York have an opportunity to be evaluated by the ODP professional staff of coaches for a position on each age-specific team. Because of the large geographic region and population that Eastern New York encompasses, ENYYSA has both North and South ODP squads in all age groups and both genders from Under-12 to Under-17.
"With the changes planned for 2013, every player in Eastern New York will have a real opportunity to try out for ODP," commented ENYYSA Trustee Julian DiDonato. "Over 90% of the players within Eastern New York will be within 30 minutes or less of an ODP tryout field. We’re trying not to overlook anyone no matter where they live in Eastern New York."
Under-12 to Under-15 Divisions (based on calendar year of birth). Two tryouts will be held in March 2013 at 10 locations throughout ENYYSA, from Long Island to the Capital District to Central New York State. A player is not limited to where he/she can try out and can try out in more than one location. Registration is required for each location. All tryout results will be posted to the ENYYSA website, http://www.enysoccer.com/, under ODP. Players identified at the tryouts will attend the State ID Training starting in April 2013 with dates and locations to be announced.
The fee is $35 for an affiliate player who "pre-registers" or $45 for on-site registration. For non-affiliated players, meaning those players that are not registered with a league or club affiliated with ENYYSA, the fee is $250. Each player will receive a numbered tryout t-shirt, which is required to be brought to all tryout sessions. Registration is open until February, 2013.
"The pricing is structured to be very affordable. If you are selected to be part of the State ODP pool, your total fee for the tryouts and training sessions would be $185," commented Mr. DiDonato. "Tryouts will be held throughout Eastern New York. For example, there’s plenty of talent in Manhattan and Staten Island but this is the first time that we will be holding ODP tryouts in those boroughs of New York City. With these changes, we expect to increase our talent pool, offering the elite youth soccer players in Eastern New York the full benefits of being a part of ODP."
Under-16 and Under-17 Divisions. No tryouts, move directly to State ID Training. Players in the program the prior year will be invited back to participate in the State ID Training, starting in April. Any premier and/or elite player who did not participate previously can be recommended by a League/Club President, Director of Coaching, League Select Coach or an USSF/NSCAA National Licensed Coach. A Recommendation Form is now available online at the ENYYSA website, http://www.enysoccer.com/, under ODP. Player recommendations will be reviewed by the ODP staff, and if accepted, that player will be invited to the first training session.
With these changes ODP, which was a year-round program for many years, is now just from March to July with a great reduction in traveling for ODP families. All the details about the selection process and costs can be found at http://www.enysoccer.com/ under ODP.
With 123,843 youth soccer players––68,587 boys and 55,256 girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 12 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Special Children. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.