More than 180 youth soccer players from across the globe descened on the Houston Amateur Sports Park last week for the winter camp programs held by the Houston Dynamo. The three four-day camps consisted of one Dynamo Camp for 5-12 year olds in the morning and Center of Excellece and Academy ID camps in the evening for players ages 8-12.
More than 60 players participated in the morning sessions and were led through an exciting and challenging camp emphasizing the importance of improving their dribbling, passing, and shooting skills. These camps were led by professional coaches from the Dynamo Youth Programs. In addition, campers were given the opportunity to meet and take pictures with Dynamo All-Star goalkeeper Tally Hall, as well as have their picture taken with the 2011 Eastern Conference trophy.
In the evening sessions, players eligible for the Houston Dynamo Junior Academy participated in the Center of Excellence camp. The advanced curriculum of the Center of Excellence provides an environment for skilled players to develop through teaching advanced techniques and allow them improve attacking play within age-specific small-sided games. These players were also given movement and agility training from Houston Dynamo training partner Competitive Edge Sports, who will be supporting the Dynamo at their new training facility at HASP in 2012 and beyond.
The following players were rewarded for their performance in the Center of Excellence programs in 2011 and have been invited to the Houston Dynamo Junior Academy in 2012:
Eli Donaho (2002)
Roberto Carlos Hernandez (1999)
Endy Lopez (1999)
Felix Serpas (2000)
The following players were selected to trial with the Houston Dynamo Junior Academy in 2012:
Thomas Anderson (2001)
Juan Castilla (2003)
Dylan Chapellat (2000)
Ivan Jara (2001)
Dylan Malpass (1999)
Jiei Ojima (2003)
Jorge Rivera (2003)
William Tucker (2001)
The Academy Identification camp was led by coaches from the Dynamo Academy staff and provided boys aged 13-18 the opportunity to showcase their ability and try to get a coveted place on a Houston Dynamo Academy Squad. Players from the Houston area, all across the United States and as far away as Venezuela and Brazil came to participate in the ultra-competitive, twice yearly Academy tryout.
After three days of Academy-style training sessions with features Competitive Edge Sports strength and speed training and intra-squad scrimmages, the campers played a 25-minute scrimmage against the Dynaom U-15 squad under the watchful eye of Dynamo Director of Youth Development James Clarkson.
“The level of players on these Academy Identification Camps is always improving and in turn keeps the current Academy players on their toes and keeps us competitive year round," said Clarkson.
After last summer's Academy ID camp, 10 players were selected to train with the Academy with three of those players joining the Academy full-time.
The following 11 players have been invited to train with the Academy in early 2012:
Juan Agredo (1997)
Jose Agredo (1994)
Arik Arredondo (1996)
Thomas Barboza (1996)
Gilberto Betancourt (1996) GK
James Cox (1993)
Dener Dos Santos (1994)
Jordan Jenkins (1995)
Daniel Martinez (1993)
Sergio Mejia (1997)
David Stekla (1995) GK
Eduardo Zuniga (1995)
The full 2012 Houston Dynamo youth programs schedule will be made available shortly with Spring Center of Excellence Training beginning in mid-February. Register for the Spring Break camp before December 31st and receive a 10% discount on registration. Click here to register.
