The USL Super Y-League Girls Olympic Development Program camp opened this weekend as a large pool of the best players in North America across four age-groups come to the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Florida for four days of intensive training. Among those elite selected from the United States and Canada, fourteen players from the Northern Virginia Majestics and NOVA FC Girls SYL programs traveled to the ODP camp.
In the younger 96-97 girls age group, Taylor Woods and Idil Yonis represented the U13 NOVA FC girls SYL team at the national event. Annagret Venter earned her spot in Bradenton follow a standout season on the U13 Northern Virginia Majestics. Three players from the 2010 North American Championship U14 Majestics SYL team rounded out the age group, as Jewel Christian, Annah Lindberg, and Ashley Skertic began camp this weekend.
Northern Virginia sent eight players in the older 94-95 age group, including Maggie Chapman and Thyla Peterson from the same U14 champion Majestics squad. The U15 NOVA FC girls were represented by Megan O’Keefe and Gabi Perry after their successful stints last summer. Autumn Berry, Niki Clark, Nicole Schweitzer, and Madison Smith all made their second trip to Florida in the last several months following an appearance at the SYL North American Finals last November on the U15 Northern Virginia Majestics.
The U15 Majestics players are pictured, from left to right Berry, Smith, Clark, and Schweitzer.
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 Northern Virginia players in that group is Berry, who was named to the camp’s All-Select team each of the last two years after impressing the staff coaches.
Northern Virginia Football Club, comprised of the Northern Virginia Royals (male), Northern Virginia Majestics (female), and NOVA FC (male and female) USL teams, was represented by seven teams in the 2010 North American Finals as well as thirty players in the 2010 SYL ODP Camp pool
United Soccer Leagues unveiled its 2011 Super Y-League Boys Olympic Development Camp select teams this week, honoring the players in the 94-95 and 96-97 age groups that had standout weeks at the annual SYL ODP National Camps this past weekend at the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Florida. 
