Chivas player Alexis Contreras attends Region IV ODP camp

South Valley Chivas Academy continues to develop youth soccer players who continue to be invited to participate in elite soccer program, so is the case of Chivas player, Alexis Contreras who just got back from participating in the Region IV Olympic Development Program camp which took place on the Cal Poly Pomona campus from July 5-8. Players chosen to the elite soccer camp needed to be part of their State ODP team and needed to be scouted from the State ODP pool of players of which Contreras is part of in the 2000 age group.

A total of 110 girls from Arizona, Alaska, California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Washington attended the elite player invitation only soccer camp. A typical day at the camp for Contreras consisted of waking up at 7am and preparing for a three hour specific topic soccer session. After resting from the session the players would have lunch and then in the afternoon would be required to attend a soccer lecture given by one of the elite soccer coaches at the camp.

Alexis Contreras on the Cal Poly Pomona Campus

On the final day of the camp the lecture was given by both former US Women National Players Brandi Chastain and Shannon McMillian.

During the camp Contreras was put on the team which was coached by Kim Sutton, current head women’s coach at Chico State. At the end of the camp each player received an evaluation and had the opportunity to have a one of one meeting with their coach to go over their evaluation.

“The academy as a whole is very proud of Alexis Contreras, “Chivita”, representing our soccer academy, Porterville and CYSA District 7 at the regional ODP camp. Being invited to participate in the Regional camp means you are one of the best soccer player in your respective age group in the western region of the United States”, quoted Gilbert Hernandez one of the director of coaching of the academy. “Next step for players at these regional camps is the US National Soccer Teams. You are basically one step away from representing the US at the international level.”

Although South Valley Chivas doesn’t participate in the California Youth Soccer Association (CYSA) which puts on the camp, Chivas players were invited to participate in the tryout because of the level of play that Chivas players have shown. One of the state ODP coordinator contacted South Valley Chivas president, Esmaldo Hernandez and asked him if he could recommend players from the Chivas academy to represent the local CYSA District 7 league. In order to make the State team players were initially chosen from a group of about 200 players in their respective age groups and then needed to attend numerous tryouts. After making the state pool players were required to attending state team practices which could be as far as Marin County and as close as Manteca/Ripon.

South Valley Chivas Academy players who are currently on the CYSA State ODP player teams are Jaybree Lopez (99), Valeria Rios (99) and Contreras (00). All three players currently play on the South Valley Chivas 98 girls’ soccer team which is coached by Juan and Gilbert Hernandez and which participates in the Premier/Gold division of the Nor Cal Premier.

Alexis Contreras is the daughter of Jennifer Wood of Visalia.