John Loiodice, Madison Tiernan, Yael Averbuch and Nick LaBrocca Participated as Panelists
The New Jersey Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP) recently hosted an ODP Success Stories Seminar at Rider University, where attendees were treated to an insightful panel of former ODP players that included Yael Averbuch, Nick LaBrocca, Madison Tiernan and John Loiodice.
“Our goal for this event was to take the audience through the minds of some of New Jersey’s finest talents, and to highlight that the road to the top is littered with obstacles and adversity. I think we definitely achieved that,” said James Galanis, New Jersey ODP Technical Director. “The speakers were open and honest about the impact the ODP had on their lives. It was incredible to hear their stories and exactly why we are working so hard to continue to inspire our ODP players to believe in their dreams.”
During the event, the panelists each spoke about their personal experiences with ODP, as well as explaining how participating in ODP helped them set the stage for their careers. They also addressed both the achievements and setbacks that they encountered along their journeys, stating that both were equally as impactful for them. The program started with the athletes providing background information on their careers, and the second half of the seminar was opened up to a Q/A session.
The parents and players in attendance found the program to be very insightful, which was noted by 2002 New Jersey ODP goalkeeper Brett Hintz.
“Hearing these former ODP players tell their stories gave me an added sense of will that I can reach a high level of success in this game,” Hintz remarked. “It also showed me that there is an accessible pathway to get there. Continuing my soccer career is definitely a goal of mine, and this seminar gave me even more motivation to strive for that.”
NJ Youth Soccer has officially set the dates for its 2019 ODP Tryouts, with four sessions planned on July 27-28 and August 3-4. Registration and further information regarding ODP Tryouts can be found online: ODP Tryouts Registration & Details
For all of the latest news regarding New Jersey ODP, make sure to follow our official ODP page on Facebook. To find out more information about New Jersey ODP, visit the program online or contact us directly at odp@njyouthsoccer.com.
