EDP TIP Program Gives Players An Upper Hand In Securing College Placement
Nominated youth soccer players come together for first U11-U14 event
New Jersey Youth Soccer News: Top EDP league players traveled from all reaches of the mid-Atlantic to participate in EDP Soccer’s TIP to College program. Players were nominated to the program by club coaches based on their high level of skill and potential to bring their soccer careers to the next level.
The program hosted 4 competitive sessions comprised of boys and girl players from ages U11 through U14 playing each within the age group. U11 and U12 boys kicked the day off followed by the U11 and U12 girls. The later portion of the day was comprised of the U13 and U14 boys and closed out with the U13 and U14 girls’ teams.
Players were welcomed into the athletic facility and offered a full kit and uniform to play in. “I feel like a professional,” one youth player exclaimed.
Soon after registration and lacing up, players started their session with coaches Justin Abbey and Scott Baker. On the field, Abbey and Baker ran technical drills to warm-up, but devoted the majority of the session to small-sided games for the players to compete in. The competition is designed to challenge top players to elevate their level of play by competing with other top players within the EDP league.
Meanwhile, parents were invited to a seminar run by TIP’s Executive Director, Peter Gooding. Gooding spoke to parents about the program’s intentions of creating a pathway for young athletes to advance into college soccer and how to navigate the recruitment process. There is also a short seminar after each session designed to inform and benefit the players. Although Gooding explained the importance of the college recruitment process, he stressed that there are more important aspects of the young player’s development. Gooding asked parents to promote player development by embracing the following: “the goal is to create an environment where the kids love to play soccer; we don’t need to add any pressure on them. If they love it, they will play great.”
This event, hosted at The Fields Sports Complex in East Brunswick, NJ, was the first of 4 projected events to be held for the 2015 TIP to College program year.
This program is part of MSSL, a 501 c3 not-for profit organization whose mission is providing player development opportunities to advance soccer in the USA.
