The LIJSL Academy USL Youth program will be well-represented at the Electrolit USL Youth Finals in Tampa, Fla. from December 13-17. Three teams – U12, U13, and U15 Boys – will be in action.
All three sides have been busy preparing for their journey down south.
“Our preparations for the USL Y Finals began the moment we won the bid for Nationals,” U12 Boys Coach Jorey Garcia said. “Since August, we have participated in leagues and tournaments to prepare for Nationals. Once the fall season ended, we increased the intensity and consistency of our training by adding morning sessions before school and playing several scrimmages.”
Using scrimmages to prepare for Nationals was a common theme among the sides.
“The team has had a strong lead up in preparing for the USL Y Nationals with a few scrimmages against local competition along with a comprehensive understanding of our tactical approach leading into this weekend,” U15 Boys Coach James Timmons said.
Earning the bids to Florida was a reward for all the hard work that was put in during USL Youth league play and is a great opportunity not lost among players and coaches.
“The opportunity for the team is a huge milestone in their development over the past few seasons,” U13 Boys Coach Christian Vazquez said. “The work they have done has paid off and now there is a chance to showcase our abilities against some of the best in the country. With each step, it provides us the chance to learn and grow as a team but also as players as well.”
“This competition is a fantastic opportunity for our players to compete at a high level,” Garcia said. “Every team participating understands what’s at stake and will be fighting to win it all. Winning a National Championship requires many factors to align, and for our players to start learning these important lessons at such a young age will be key for their development as soccer players.”
For the U15 side, it’s a chance to take lessons from reaching the national stage a year ago and applying them to this year.
“This is a great opportunity for the group to learn from our obstacles last year,” Timmons said. “The group qualified into a very difficult bracket which left many hurdles, but I’m optimistic that we have learned a lot from last year. I’m hoping with a few new additions the team will be eager to rewrite last year’s Nationals while enjoying this showcase.”
During their upcoming time in Florida, the players from all three teams will have the success they’ve seen during the summer and the style of play that has led them to Nationals to lean on.
“This particular group of players have completed well in league play by pressing early creating defensive errors resulting in ample opportunities for the boys,” Timmons said. “We will be a high tempo squad looking to press constantly. The summer season was key for the group to understand our strengths leading into Nationals.”
“There were many things emphasized with the group that have defined the culture of who the team is and what they are about,” Vazquez said. “We have a fair idea as to how the teams will play but things are always changing. Constants such as hard work, being a good teammate, and competitiveness will all stay the same against every team we play as it’s in the core beliefs of the group we have.”
With the USL Youth Finals now beckoning, all that’s left is to step on the field and showcase all the effort and skill that has led them there.
“Our team has come together in recent weeks and is focused on the task at hand,” Garcia said. “I’ve seen them push each other during challenging parts of training sessions, and in our scrimmages, they’ve successfully executed the system of play we’ve been working on. If we can continue to play for one another and maintain the drive that got us here, we should have a strong and successful showing.”
“Most of the work has been done and is now getting the boys mentally ready and excited for the challenge of the Finals,” Vazquez said.