Current Section

Home

Players’ Perspective: Road to the USL Experience

09/15/2016, 4:30pm EDT

By AARON CRANFORD - aaron.cranford@uslsoccer.com

Alice Walker, Domenico Procopio and Alexa Vegoda share their thoughts on the journey

Educational, memorable, rewarding, professional, fun, challenging and unforgettable were all words players used to describe the first USL Experience, hosted by FC Cincinnati, in April.

The journey to the USL Experience, an event unlike any other elite youth player program in North America, starts in the regular season of the Super Y League. Players will then participate in Regional Scouting Series Events before being named to the SYL National Player Pool. The SYL North American Finals in December provides another chance for SYL players to be evaluated and identified for the opportunity to be named to the National Player Pool.

RELATED: San Antonio FC to Host 2017 USL Experience

The top players from the National Player Pool will then be chosen to take part in the USL Experience. The second edition of the elite multi-day residential event will be hosted by San Antonio FC in April of 2017.

“What I see and in my experience here [in Cincinnati] with the USL Experience is you’re treating them exactly as a professional, so every aspect of what you’re doing from the photoshoots to the interviews, that is preparing them and showing them … what it really takes,” said Peter Mellor, former USL National Technical Director and distinguished player and coach. “It’s easy to say as a kid, ‘I want to be a pro.’ These kids have got the chance of actually feeling and seeing what is expected of them to be a pro.”

Players' Perspective

Alice Walker

Washington Spirit Academy MD
2016 USL Experience Participant

2015-16 National Pool Player

On the Super Y League Season:

“My first season with Super Y was actually one of my biggest developmental steps in the game. Up until that point, I wasn’t playing on a super high-level club team. I wasn’t necessarily stuck, but I wasn’t improving at the rate I would like to be, and when I went to Super Y with the Spirit … that summer I got so much better.”

On the Regional Scouting Series and USL Experience:

“I was at both the Regional Scouting Series and North American Finals,” Walker said. “I thought I played really, really well at the Regional Scouting Series, and although I didn’t necessarily have my best performance at the North American Finals – my team actually tied all of our games, so we didn’t qualify for the semifinals – but both were great experiences. We were also at the North American Finals last year, so this was our second year doing it. All in all, it’s just been really great. The whole path from the league to the Scouting Series to the Finals and now to [the USL Experience] is really awesome.”

Domenico Procopio

Westchester Flames
2016 USL Experience Participant

2015-16 National Pool Player

On the Regional Scouting Series:

“It was a great experience, meeting and seeing all of the different types of players that were invited and the different playing styles that there were,” Procopio said. “By seeing that and being involved with so many different playing styles, I was able to adapt to any situation.”

On the USL Experience:

“Two years ago, I went to IMG Academy [for Super Y League ODP National Camp],” Procopio said. “I got invited down through Super Y, and it was a great experience – nothing like I ever expected, but this experience [USL Experience] is more important to me because I have to focus more on college, and I feel like I can benefit through this.”

Alexa Vegoda

Long Island Rough Riders
2016 USL Experience Participant

2015-16 National Pool Player

On the Regional Scouting Series:

“It was really fun and a really great experience,” Vegoda said. “I got to meet a lot of coaches and players, and playing there was really fun.”

On the SYL North American Finals:

“We made it to the [2015] SYL Finals, and we (were) national champions,” Vegoda said. “It was incredible because we went to the finals the year before that, and I did blame that on myself because I had responsibility for a girl I had to guard, and she happened to score the goal. So I was happy that I was able to be a part of the win and to come back [in 2015].”

"From not winning anything or getting invited to anything last year, it proved that my hard work has been paying off.”

Current Section