FC WI Eclipse goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer was a part of the United States U19 Womens National Team training camp in Los Angeles, CA in early October.  After getting back, she answered some question on the experience, what she learned, and what's next for her.

FC WI Eclipse goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer was a part of the United States U19 Womens National Team training camp in Los Angeles, CA in early October.  After getting back, she answered some questions on the experience, what she learned, and what's next for her.

What did you do and how did you feel when you first got the invitation to attend a National Team Camp?

"When I found out I was invited to attend a National Team Camp at first it didn’t seem real. As I was reading the email I just couldn’t believe that I was actually going to go to California and train for a week with the U19 National Team. And, to be completely honest, when I was explaining it to my friends I started to tear up a bit (embarrassing, I know) because this was something I had always dreamed about." 

What did you like most about the camp?

"My favorite thing about the camp was being able to train and play in a scrimmage with the US Soccer crest on my training gear. Playing in the scrimmage was even better because putting on the USA uniform was just an unreal feeling." 

How did the sessions and environment at camp compare to your daily training environment at FC WI Eclipse?

"The training sessions at camp were extremely similar to the trainings at the club. The first day of camp the goalkeepers trained with the field players, and we started with some of the same passing patterns that I had already done at trainings here, so I felt really confident. The competitive environment was also similar to the training environment at the club because, just like FCWE, all of the girls there held each other accountable, made every drill competitive, and were able to push themselves and each other to compete at their best."

What did you learn from camp that you need to do in order to take your performance to the next level personally?

"In order for me to personally take my performance to the next level, one thing I learned was that I need to work on my footwork and keeping my body positioned behind the ball and balanced as I move across the ball and through the dive. That may sound basic but keeping a sharp eye on the little things helps a ton when the difference between making a big save and getting scored on could be that lack of a step or taking one too many steps" 

What was it like to actually train with members of the full WNT?

"Having the opportunity to train with two members of the full Women’s National Team was an awesome experience. Watching them play with us in our inner-squad match showed the difference in their speed of play, decision making, and movement on and off the ball. The highlight of playing with members of the full WNT was definitely making a save on Christen Press."

How do you use this experience to get better and make those around you better back in Wisconsin?

"I want to use this experience to help impact the training environment at the club by being a leader on the field through my work and attitude. This camp taught me to keep a positive attitude with myself and those around me to help make even the most difficult training session more manageable and get the best performance out of myself and my teammates."