Back in 2004, Chris and Claire McClain brought a cutting edge philosophy of Soccer training from New England back to their hometown of Oneida, New York. Chris, the Assistant Men's Varsity Soccer Coach at Colgate University and his wife Claire, the women's Varsity Soccer Coach at Utica College, had a plan, to bring a soccer club to Central New York that would put individual skills training and player development ahead of competition.
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"That first season we had twenty six players" Chris McClain told MHTS, "when we were growing up here, we didn't have an opportunity to train or receive certified coaching beyond the regular soccer season so our goal was to provide a club program that stresses skills development and training for the players instead of just playing games all the time".
What was once a fledgling club consisting of twenty six players, has evolved into a 200 + member organization of boys and girls soccer players who are hungry to learn the world's most popular sport from some of the area's best teachers.
(Chris McClain talking to his U-12 girls team after a hard fought game.)
"We're following state of the art training guidelines which are being used by USA Soccer, to include the U.S. National Team that recently competed in the World Cup" said Paul Stinson, Assistant women's Soccer Coach at Colgate and a key member of the Odyssey Club Coaching Staff.
While the scholastic soccer season runs in the fall here in Central New York, the Odyssey offers its student athletes, which travel from more than 30 school districts to take part in its programs, the opportunity to train year round at the Odyssey Training Facility located in Sherrill, New York.
After winter training, which runs at a ratio of three practice sessions to each game played, Odyssey boy's and girl's teams ranging in age from U-10 through U-19 hit the fields each spring and summer for games and tournament games.
This past weekend, MHTS caught up with an Odyssey girls team at the Camden AYSO Tournament. This Odyssey team was made up of 9, 10, 11 and 12 year old girls and was entered in the U-12 division with Westmoreland's Rising Stars and a club from Syracuse.
While the young Odyssey players may have "lost" on the fields in Camden, the experience of playing against older competition was a great way to show off the skills they have developed in the Odyssey program.
As players progress progress from the youngsters we witnessed in action this past weekend, The McClain's and Coach Stinson utilize their networks of collegiate coaching contacts to assist capable players in playing collegiate soccer.
"We consistently make calls and communicate with other College coaches to help our older players connect with the college opportunities that meet their goals" Chris McClain said.
Congratulations to Chris and Claire McClain on the growing popularity and success of your truly unique soccer club. Odyssey Sport Soccer is giving back to the local community just as you intended!
To get involved with Odyssey Sport Soccer, which begins with a Junior Academy that reaches players as young as 5, contact Claire McClaine at 315-280-4408 or visit the club website at www.odysseysportny.com .
