When Addison read Alex Morgan's biography, she learned of the "Olympic Development Program" (ODP) and she came to us last Fall wanting to try out for the Texas State ODP Soccer Team. We quickly tried to talk her out of it, since tryouts consisted of multiple weekends, all out of town. And if she made it, it was even more additional travel, out of state. But Addison didn't let it go so we gave her things she had to do, for us to register her for tryouts, including her having to pay for half the tryout registration fee and some goals with her school work. We figured sh'ed forget and loose interest. But on the last weekend to sign up, with no reminders, she came to use with money in hand and academic goals accomplished. We spent multiple weekends out of town, in the frigid cold, for her try out with the Winter and were shocked in February when the Texas State Teams were posted and she made the 2008 Team! Yet again, this girl shows us what determination and passion can do! It was incredible seeing the poise and confidence of 10 and 11 year old girls, at this level, and see how they can come together for a friendly training weekend of games. They met one their teammates and coaches for the first time and within 30 minutes were playing some incredible soccer. Addison is a lucky girl to heave her dear and talented friend, Mikayla, by her side for this incredible journey.
Jan 11 & 12, 2019 - Round Rock 2 Day Tryouts, in the frigid cold with super early mornings.
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| We stayed with YaYa and Grandpa at the lake and they got Addison her very favorite dinner after a big day at try-outs! |
February 9 & 10 weekend was filled with another San Marcos tryout.
June 1-2, 2019 Dallas training weekend:
And then, the first week of March, we found out both Addison and Mikalya made the team. There are twelve 2008 girls that are playing on a separate 2008 team as this marks the first year they have made a separate team for this age group.
There was an additional training weekend June 15 in San Marcos:
Then, it was off to Alabama for regional ODP camp to train and play with older girls from North Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee! On Saturday morning, Blake flew up to Birmingham, Alabama with Addison and Mikayla and home on Monday at 6AM. I took off afterwork on Tuesday and brought them home on Wednesday evening. Addison had a tremendous week while there. Each night, after all day of practices and games, they asked a select few to come out for a special evening training. Each night, Addison made the evening training. And on the last day of camp, as we were leaving, they posted the regional 2007 team and Addison made the team, even as one of the handful of 2008 girls that were in attendance.
Besides playing lots of awesome soccer with a such great soccer girls, she was surrounded by incredible soccer coaches that answered her questions and shared their personal journeys of playing soccer through life and how they have made it a huge part of their adult lives helping young girls like herself, grow the love of soccer in the USA. Equally as important was how Addison loved being surrounded by a couple hundred 11-13 year olds that have the similar passion for soccer! That was one of her very favorite things.
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