Region 1 ODP Camp

[Unregistered]

Yes but she is stuck with you as a parent forever -- quite the trade off if you ask me, I'd say she definitely got the short end of the stick of life.

Yeah you got me...I suck at life but your kid sucks at soccer.

[Unregistered]

Yes but she is stuck with you as a parent forever -- quite the trade off if you ask me, I'd say she definitely got the short end of the stick of life.

So tell us, how does one go about being perfect just like you?

[Unregistered]

This is one of biggest problems with our current system - which for the girls remains centered almost exclusively on ODP and the National Championship series. Both of which begin in earnest for most players as U12s. It fails to recognize that the strength of the American soccer world is first and foremost - OUR SIZE. We fail to utilize our incredible advantage in QUANITY to improve our overall QUALITY. At U12, 13 and 14 we should not have regional or national pools and no National championships! Why? because there are too many girls at these ages with the potential to ultimately contribute to our national teams to ID and evaluate them all. We have the local resources to train these players - through the clubs. But the clubs can't be concentrating their efforts to win at SC, regionals and ultimately nationals. I'm not talking non-results oriented soccer. These kids should play games for real, keep score and pay attention to results. But at the younger ages we would be better off letting them play and train without the burden of selection pools and zero sum competitions. Then at 15 start to narrow down, but even then the NT pools should be in the 100s not 40 -60.

Do you think that the USSF would have the stones to essentially cut out the heart of the USYSA and mandate a dismantling of the ODP and NC Series for U12-14? Personally, I think the USSF is praying that the ECNL works and that it will accomplish the same thing as the DAP - just at no cost to the USSF. It is too bad that we don't have a national governing body that cares enough about women's soccer to stand up and do what is right, but let's face it - politics ain't beanbag and it won't work that way.

[Unregistered]

My daughter played with a younger girl this season whom was clearly State and perhaps even higher caliber. She has tried out a couple times for state ODP, and never even gotten a call back. Yet she's able to compete and excel against older top level players. Either she didn't do well under the pressure of tryouts, or the State coaches missed her.

I'm not her parent. My child has made State and Regional teams, so I have a pretty decent grasp of the level of play. The system is what it is, and sometimes players slip through the cracks.

[Unregistered]

Yeah you got me...I suck at life but your kid sucks at soccer.

Yes because it is an unqualified truth that making State ODP but not the regional team = soccer player who sucks. Your argument is brilliant, you win.

[Unregistered]

My daughter played with a younger girl this season whom was clearly State and perhaps even higher caliber. She has tried out a couple times for state ODP, and never even gotten a call back. Yet she's able to compete and excel against older top level players. Either she didn't do well under the pressure of tryouts, or the State coaches missed her.

I'm not her parent. My child has made State and Regional teams, so I have a pretty decent grasp of the level of play. The system is what it is, and sometimes players slip through the cracks.

I know a similar player - maybe even the same one. She hasn't been instructed how to showcase herself in the odp setting but you can put her almost anywhere on any team age appro and a year or two higher and she contributes Big Time. Some players need to be pulled aside and reminded how it's all about the "I".

[Unregistered]

I know a similar player - maybe even the same one. She hasn't been instructed how to showcase herself in the odp setting but you can put her almost anywhere on any team age appro and a year or two higher and she contributes Big Time. Some players need to be pulled aside and reminded how it's all about the "I".

From experience, I can tell you that it is rare that a player who may be talented and shine in a comfortable team setting will necessarily translate into a star in the ODP setting. Even if she makes the team at the state level it will be incredibly difficult to break into the regional spots. And your last sentence absolutely says it all. It is ALL about the "I" and zero about the team.

We even saw that when several girls from the same club team were together on ODP, it was much more likely that they would earn regional spots, and not just because they all were accomplished players who showed well at ID camp, but because they had a confidence and flow when playing with their teammates all through the long involved tryout process (Nichols, play days, Rider). It is what gave them the edge over equally skilled players.

If a girl (especially) loves the game of soccer because she loves the team aspect of it and for example, is a player who would rather assist than score, or who does not have a "demand the ball" selfish (not necessarily in a bad way) personality in her play, she will struggle in the showcasing that is ODP. Love of team sports does not match up, in many cases, to winning spots in high level tryout situations, no matter how skilled the player.

[Unregistered]

From experience, I can tell you that it is rare that a player who may be talented and shine in a comfortable team setting will necessarily translate into a star in the ODP setting. Even if she makes the team at the state level it will be incredibly difficult to break into the regional spots. And your last sentence absolutely says it all. It is ALL about the "I" and zero about the team.

We even saw that when several girls from the same club team were together on ODP, it was much more likely that they would earn regional spots, and not just because they all were accomplished players who showed well at ID camp, but because they had a confidence and flow when playing with their teammates all through the long involved tryout process (Nichols, play days, Rider). It is what gave them the edge over equally skilled players.

If a girl (especially) loves the game of soccer because she loves the team aspect of it and for example, is a player who would rather assist than score, or who does not have a "demand the ball" selfish (not necessarily in a bad way) personality in her play, she will struggle in the showcasing that is ODP. Love of team sports does not match up, in many cases, to winning spots in high level tryout situations, no matter how skilled the player.

The system is what it is. Those who are picked are talented individuals. Those who aren't picked may (or may not) be better on their respective teams. The ID process is not about picking the best team or team with the most chance of winning, rather identifying individuals.

[Unregistered]

The system is what it is. Those who are picked are talented individuals. Those who aren't picked may (or may not) be better on their respective teams. The ID process is not about picking the best team or team with the most chance of winning, rather identifying individuals.

Maybe they should consider scouting players at games/tournaments instead.

[Unregistered]

I know a similar player - maybe even the same one. She hasn't been instructed how to showcase herself in the odp setting but you can put her almost anywhere on any team age appro and a year or two higher and she contributes Big Time. Some players need to be pulled aside and reminded how it's all about the "I".

Do parents or coaches really instruct players on how to show themselves during an individual identification tryout? What advice is given? Maybe they need to be reminded there's no "I" in the word soccer.

[Unregistered]

Maybe they should consider scouting players at games/tournaments instead.

Super Y odp does this. Players are nominated based on their game performances, and then sent to a regional ID camp.

Kids can also be ID'd outside of the typical ODP process, particularly with the help of an influencial coach. The really strong kids will be found, especially if they or their supporters want them to be.

As far as the ODP programs go, if they miss some kids at young ages they have plenty of opportunity to find them later on and the national program isn't lacking for a pool. Unfortunately if there is a star who's greatest strength is making other players look good and play better - the US is not working to find them.

[Unregistered]

Been there done that

Do parents or coaches really instruct players on how to show themselves during an individual identification tryout? What advice is given? Maybe they need to be reminded there's no "I" in the word soccer.

As parents, ask yourself why do I want my child identified? For college? Maybe thats the wrong reason, ok it looks good on the resume, but thats what showcase events are for. To make it to the national pool. Ummm...thats a tough climb, just go and watch the ones that made it and ask, is my child just as good and be honest with yourself. And then there is the political hurdle. ODP was once the vehicle for movement, though now there are so many others both at the individual and club level. Bottom line, you got cash to burn, along with the time, go and chase the dragons tail. If the player is of national team quality, the scouts are watching, ODP or no ODP. Oh and top players really don't need to be instructed to "show themselves", its just part of their style and they do it in tryouts, in a match, at training, and at id camp, its who they are and that why they get picked.

[Unregistered]

Do parents or coaches really instruct players on how to show themselves during an individual identification tryout? What advice is given? Maybe they need to be reminded there's no "I" in the word soccer.

You can't make your kid be someone she is not, I think is the point. A girl who loves soccer mostly for the team contributions she makes, from town travel all the way up through Region 1 play, can't be forced to be an "I" kind of player if it just is not her personality. No amount of advice will help, no matter how much the kid wants to be picked for the regional team..... and ours did - desperately I might add - and she wasn't, and even her coaches said it wasn't for lack of talent, fitness, skill, smarts, coachability or even drive or perserverance, but that too quiet, non demanding personality just failed her in the ID process. She couldn't change who she was. Some players can and obviously do transition and have both the team AND the "I" personalities and know when to turn on which switch, and good for them, they are the ones who manage to make it work. The other poster was right, that is the ODP process, and it is what it is. But again, you can't change the personality of your kid if she is not a showy, about me kind of person when it counts on the pitch (not a criticism of those who are, just a fact of the soccer world).

[Unregistered]

Have a nice time on the bench.

What do you mean?

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Unregistered;174167]1995 Girls

Massachusetts
Olivia Aha
Morgan Andrews [InterReg NatlCamp]
Brooke Murphy
Shae Claire Newman [InterReg NatlCamp]
Andrea O'Brien
Amy Yang [InterReg NatlCamp]

1996 Girls

Massachusetts
Julia Carr (now on stars u14)
Rachel Morrier (seacoast united u14)
Alysandria Wayne (now on mps u14)