Bloomfield HS soccer standout Jason Ricca advances through New Jersey Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program tryouts

BLOOMFIELD, NJ – The long and demanding road to the United States National Men’s Soccer team continues for Bloomfield High School sophomore Jason Ricca.

Ricca was selected to advance to Stage 2 of the 2017 New Jersey Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program tryouts.

“This is a great honor for Jason and Bloomfield,” said Bloomfield Soccer Club president Barry Weiner. “As pointed out in the NJYS email to Jason, it is a clear indication of his ability and dedication to play at a high level, positive attitude and versatility, key parts of the evaluation process. “

The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program, of which the New Jersey Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program is part, helps identify potential national team youth players through an organized series of trials which began at the district or local level, progressed through the state and region and finally the national level.

The higher up the ladder a player progresses, the more intense the training and play becomes.

The regional teams experience both interregional and international competitions on an annual basis. A pool of players is selected for each age group with the rosters changing each year as players develop at different rates. Regional players have traveled around the country and internationally such as Spain, Italy, France, England, Argentina, Costa Rica, Germany and Russia.