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**Unregistered** · 09-05-2009, 09:52 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

There always is a bit of truth that politics, personalities, looks, etc affect choices in almost all team sports. Going back to a previous post where the poster put kids in 3 groups - the top kids make it no matter what.

If they are not "known" prior to tryouts, or rostered on a top team so they garner attention, they can be inadvertantly overlooked. It's rare, but it does happen. The evaluators sometimes are too focused on speed, size, or strength, or have their minds made up, or just have a bad day, and miss a top player or two.

**Unregistered** · 09-05-2009, 01:30 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

If they are not "known" prior to tryouts, or rostered on a top team so they garner attention, they can be inadvertantly overlooked. It's rare, but it does happen. The evaluators sometimes are too focused on speed, size, or strength, or have their minds made up, or just have a bad day, and miss a top player or two.

I'll buy that. There also is some strange things that can happen when a bunch of kids from the same club are in the pool. They like to pass to each other, and this can make others not look as good as they would in a completely impartial environment. Say you are that player that is the one that always makes those special passes and none ever come your way? The evaluators can only go on the information they have.

**Unregistered** · 09-05-2009, 01:38 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

I'll buy that. There also is some strange things that can happen when a bunch of kids from the same club are in the pool. They like to pass to each other, and this can make others not look as good as they would in a completely impartial environment. Say you are that player that is the one that always makes those special passes and none ever come your way? The evaluators can only go on the information they have.

that is why over 1/2 the time is spent on 4 v 4, there is no hiding talent in small sided games. if you are a top player you cannot be missed, if you are a borderline player then it is possible some could go either way in a short look at them during tryouts.

**Unregistered** · 09-05-2009, 01:49 PM

You can be missed, even 4 v 4, if you end up in a crappy group and hardly touch the ball. A friend's son was with a few kids that knocked the ball out of bounds every touch, run ragged defending, and because of 100+ degree heat, gassed for the remainder of the practice.

**Unregistered** · 09-05-2009, 03:48 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

You can be missed, even 4 v 4, if you end up in a crappy group and hardly touch the ball. A friend's son was with a few kids that knocked the ball out of bounds every touch, run ragged defending, and because of 100+ degree heat, gassed for the remainder of the practice.

It was 100 degrees for everyone, please stop making excuses and accept your player just might not be good enough.

**Unregistered** · 09-05-2009, 04:14 PM

It was not an excuse. The kid probably wouldn't have made it. The luck of the draw for 4x4 teammates definitely sealed the deal though.

**Unregistered** · 09-05-2009, 06:39 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

It was not an excuse. The kid probably wouldn't have made it. The luck of the draw for 4x4 teammates definitely sealed the deal though.

4 V 4 tells some aspects of the game, but not all. Benefit definitely goes to those who are naturally pushy here, as team does not come into play when deciding who plays what position. The kids are allowed to place themselves, and there isn't a rotation. My kid has been doing odp for 2 years and is a much better field player than 4 v 4 player.

**Unregistered** · 09-06-2009, 01:20 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

A friend's son was with a few kids that knocked the ball out of bounds every touch, run ragged defending, and because of 100+ degree heat, gassed for the remainder of the practice.

Sounds like Crusaders players

**Unregistered** · 09-06-2009, 02:23 PM

Having observed the boys ODP for the last 3 years, I've also come to the conclusion that its political and mostly a waste of time for everyone concerned, especially beyond the state level. First of all, certain clubs, like Benfica, keep their coaching staff involved in ODP so they can advertise that to their club players, and they do. My kid used to play for Benfica and we've seen it. And Benfica kids are over-represented after every cut. Second, in the regional camp and above, early puberty (and sometimes a fake birth certificate) is more than half of the deciding factor. For U13 and U14, they ought to eliminate the regional and national programs, and give more year-round attention to the kids on the state teams. Until they get to U16, the extra attention given to a select few is doing more harm than good.

**Unregistered** · 09-06-2009, 02:54 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Having observed the boys ODP for the last 3 years, I've also come to the conclusion that its political and mostly a waste of time for everyone concerned, especially beyond the state level. First of all, certain clubs, like Benfica, keep their coaching staff involved in ODP so they can advertise that to their club players, and they do. My kid used to play for Benfica and we've seen it. And Benfica kids are over-represented after every cut. Second, in the regional camp and above, early puberty (and sometimes a fake birth certificate) is more than half of the deciding factor. For U13 and U14, they ought to eliminate the regional and national programs, and give more year-round attention to the kids on the state teams. Until they get to U16, the extra attention given to a select few is doing more harm than good.

Part of the problem is that odp has to sell itself to be roughly self supporting. If you do away with the carrot of a regional berth, that is just one less thing the program has to offer. Lose a few more of the top kids because they don't think there is much in it for them and the level of play goes down, which is arguably the largest benefit for kids that don't have comparably skilled players on their own teams to play off.

**Unregistered** · 09-06-2009, 02:58 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Sounds like Crusaders players

Sounds like you're bitter.Let it go,you'll feel better

**Unregistered** · 09-06-2009, 03:04 PM

loser

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Sounds like Crusaders players

Wow, you've got staying power. Been posting the same stupid stuff for over a year. You are a sad individual.

**Unregistered** · 09-06-2009, 04:44 PM

If they did away with U13 and U14 regional and national selections, the U13 and U14 state teams could play more tournaments, like Ryder cup, including some international exposure. The program would end up bringing along more kids with talent, instead of asking which U13 or U14 kids have U16 bodies. In U13, my kid went to ID camp. He had played outside back for two years straight. His mixed-state team's coach, from Virginia, looked at him and said, you're too small for defense, you have to play forward. His chance ended there. All he got was more religious training than he'd ever experienced at home.

**Unregistered** · 09-06-2009, 07:23 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

If they did away with U13 and U14 regional and national selections, the U13 and U14 state teams could play more tournaments, like Ryder cup, including some international exposure. The program would end up bringing along more kids with talent, instead of asking which U13 or U14 kids have U16 bodies. In U13, my kid went to ID camp. He had played outside back for two years straight. His mixed-state team's coach, from Virginia, looked at him and said, you're too small for defense, you have to play forward. His chance ended there. All he got was more religious training than he'd ever experienced at home.

It would be nice if the odp teams played more games. As far as international games, that is really expensive, and I would expect that the program would slide even further towards those with money.