Presentation Held at Rider University in Lawrence Township
Earlier this month, New Jersey Youth Soccer held an Olympic Development Program (ODP) Mental Toughness Seminar at Rider University, which was led by New Jersey ODP Technical Director James Galanis.
The seminar outlined the upcoming 2019 ODP season and objectives for the program, as well as reviewed the roles and expectations for its players.
Additionally, the presentation was designed to provide an inside look into the mental skills and character development that is needed to be successful in a high-level program like ODP.
“Our second ODP Mental Toughness Seminar was a huge success,” Galanis stated. “This year, we were able to share the 5 Pillars of Champion Methodology with our ODP players, which gave them the tools to learn the essential components of an elite athlete and self-evaluate to find areas of their game where they need to improve. Our goal is to continue providing off the field seminars for our ODP players. We want our players to be effective both on and off the field, and an event like this helps in achieving that goal.”
Both players and coaches who attended the seminar responded with high praise for the presentation.
“As an ODP player, the seminar helped me to understand what coaches expect from me,” said Familson Pierre, who is a 2004 player in New Jersey ODP. “The 5 Pillars is a great tool that I will use as a guide for my development as a player. It helped me to identify my strengths and weaknesses. It provided me with different weapons that will help me to improve my game in the future.”
Parents who joined the young players and coaches at the seminar also found it to be a rewarding experience.
“We felt it was very informative,” said one New Jersey ODP parent. “Our daughter felt that it gave her insight on how to be a good all-around player, and how to identify areas where she needs to improve.”
In addition to Galanis and the New Jersey ODP coaches who presented, the seminar was also complemented by information from Ryan Stevens, Manager of Operations for RWJBarnabas Health, who educated the attendees about injury prevention.
