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**Unregistered** · 07-09-2011, 12:10 PM

2011-2012 Timbers Academy/ODP (part 2)

History & Overview of ODP
The Olympic Development Program aims to identify and advance the most talented and passionate youth players through state, regional, and national team selection and competition. ODP continues to identify players of the highest caliber on a consistent basis, which has led to increased success for all the U.S. National Teams in the international arena.

In the years prior to viable professional leagues, ODP provided the only avenue to an international cap. Through key developmental years, American players went to college and most were not in the professional training environment required to fulfill their potential. First the MLS and now through the WPS young players are offered the dream of a professional soccer contract and a further avenue to the National Team. The pinnacle still remains being selected for the US National Teams from U15 and up but now we must recognize that there are players who develop at all different ages and that now there are additional avenues to achieve this goal, as well as many more opportunities to play, make a living and achieve the proverbial �American Dream�.

By combining forces with the MLS Portland Timbers, this new program will enhance player development with shared resources in all areas and also offer and provide an avenue to the professional ranks and exposure to professional scouts and coaches.
Purpose of Portland Timbers/OYSA ODP Pre-Academy Age Groups
The Olympic Development Program was formed to identify a pool of players in each age group from which a National Team would be selected for international competition; to provide high-level training to benefit and enhance the development of players at all levels; and, through the use of carefully selected, and licensed coaches, develop a mechanism for the exchange of ideas and curriculum to improve all levels of coaching.

The Portland Timbers and OYSA will continue to utilize, enhance and expand the Regional Training Center (�RTC�) model currently implemented by OYSA�s Olympic Development Program. The Portland Timbers/OYSA ODP program intends to expand to six RTC�s for the Fall of 2011, from the four utilized in 2010. Portland will be split into two RTC�s, the east side and west side of Portland and an RTC will be added in Vancouver, Washington to accommodate the MLS designated territory for the Portland Timbers. These centers will run for the U12-U14 age groups after tryouts in summer 2011 in each RTC area. This will encompass the 2000, 1999 and 1998 birth years in fall 2011.

The six Regional Training Centers will each be at conducted at the best facilities available in that area. The highest professional standards will be maintained by coaches, players and facilities alike. Portland Timbers and ODP signage will prominently be displayed at these centers to help achieve this end for this elite program. In addition, player safety is paramount and the Portland Timbers will enhance player knowledge of warm-up exercises, recovery post-training and education about care and prevention of injuries. A relationship with qualified medical professionals will be established in the proximity of each training site.

The six RTC venues in Fall 2011 will be (from south to north):
Medford, OR (South)
Eugene, OR (West)
Bend, OR (East)
Beaverton, OR (North-West)
Gresham, OR (North-East)
Vancouver, WA (Washington-South)

The RTC�s will be utilized by the best players in each area, the Elite. The Portland Timbers/OYSA ODP program is for Elite players and once identified these players will train in their RTC in their age group, but will then return to their Clubs for their main development. Playing with and against the best players most definitely helps a player develop, but as with the current ODP program, coaches understand that the principal development is done by the clubs. The RTC�s will simply provide enhanced developmental opportunities as well as preparation for competition among the RTC�s and the selection of the best in the state. It expands the reach of the Portland Timbers/OYSA ODP program and provides top-level coaching of an advanced standardized curriculum to the best young players in the state.

The U15 age group will be formed by a stand-alone statewide tryout at a location TBD. In this age group we will select an expanded pool of players in order to continue development opportunities prior to the Academy age groups. It is expected that the Portland Timbers will work with clubs around the state to develop a 2011 soccer calendar in the next few weeks to determine the most suitable dates for this tryout. This will be the 1997 birth year age group in fall 2011.

It is expected that these Pre-Academy age groups will train through fall 2011 at a minimum of once a month.
Purpose of Academy Age Groups
Through the MLS mandate, the Portland Timbers will form teams to compete in the US Soccer Academy leagues. These teams will be formed in the U16 (1995 birth year), U17 (1994 birth year) and U18 (1993 birth year) age groups beginning in spring 2012.

Following a comprehensive review of elite (be consistent with upper case or lower case with elite) player development in the United States and around the world, U.S. Soccer created the Development Academy in 2007 to improve the everyday environment for the elite youth player.

The Development Academy is a partnership between U.S. Soccer, MLS and the elite youth clubs around the country to provide the best youth players in the U.S. with an everyday environment designed to produce the next generation of National Team players. The Academy�s programming philosophy of increased training, less total games and more competitive games is based on U.S. Soccer�s Best Practices utilized by the U-17 U.S. National Team Residency program.

The Academy also connects National Team coaches directly with the Academy clubs to develop and identify players and coaches for future Youth National Teams. Each Academy team is evaluated by a National Team coach at least ten times each year and each Academy club receives two formal evaluations in over 100 categories each year from National Team staff.

The Portland Timbers and OYSA will endorse this structure as the best development system for players in their Academy program. Players who play for the Portland Tim bers Academy teams will no longer be able to play with their local club teams and will become part of the Elite Player Development program for the Portland Timbers homegrown talent mandate.

After scouting, selection and supplemental tryouts, these Pre-Academy age groups will train through Fall 2011 at a minimum of three times a month. It is understood that there will be complications with regard to high school soccer, but strategies will be developed around those issues.

This training will be most likely be held in the Portland Metro area on Sundays.

**Unregistered** · 07-09-2011, 12:12 PM

2011-2012 Timbers Academy/ODP (part 3)

Portland Timbers Academy Coaching Staff
The top coaches in the state will be utilized for this program. The Portland Timbers Academy Director will appoint coaches to the RTC�s, the Pre-Academy State Teams and the Academy Teams. Head Coaches whenever possible will have their �A� License, the highest License offered by the US Soccer Federation.

The Portland Timbers Head Coach, John Spencer, as well as his assistants Trevor James, Amos Magee and goalkeeper coach Adam Smith, will all take an active interest in the Academy Teams and will attend and run sessions as guest coaches when their schedule allows. General Manager and Portland Timbers Technical Director and former Head Coach, Gavin Wilkinson, will oversee technical matters and will deliver guest field sessions as well as educational seminars on a regular basis.
How will players be selected?
Portland Timbers/OYSA ODP pre-Academy players will be selected or scouted for the Regional Training Center programs on the basis of regionalized open tryouts for their age group. These training groups will be formed by birth year. The tryouts will be overseen by the Portland Timbers Academy Director/OYSA Technical Director.

For the U15�s, the Academy Director will formulate a program that combines scouting and invitations to selected players, along with open tryouts. There are many talented players in each of the RTC areas and selection of these players will not be an easy task. The Academy Director/State Technical Director (Director of Coaching & Player Development) will name a staff of qualified and licensed coaches from within the state association to assist in the selection process.

Portland Timbers/OYSA ODP Academy players will be selected through scouting, invitation and supplemental tryouts. There will be a pathway developed to accept talented young players into the system at any time. This will be done on a limited basis and under the direction and supervision of the Academy Director.
Portland Timbers/OYSA ODP Selection Process for Oregon
The process for which a player is selected to the Portland Timbers/OYSA ODP Academy will have slight variances at different age groups. An identification process and scouting network will be developed, but initially only for the age groups entering or in the Academy. This will trickle down to the younger age groups over the next three years. The scouting network will initially include all qualified Club Head Coaches.

For the Academy age groups, invitations to identified players will be extended and there will also be a supplemental field tryout for players who have not been identified in their home playing environment. With a developing network and limited number of scouts, not every good player will necessarily be identified. This additional mechanism allows an alternative pathway. Each tryout will include games and functional training.

The Pre-Academy age groups will each undergo a regionalized tryout process. The six RTC�s will each have a director appointed by the Portland Timbers who will be responsible to market and then hold a tryout for each identified age group. Appropriately qualified RTC age group staff will be identified by the Portland Timbers Academy Director and will report to him through the RTC Director.

After a designated number of training sessions to cover the curriculum devised by the Academy Director, the groups will come into a designated facility to be trained and compete against one another. This training/selection event will consist of functional training as well as small-sided and 11v11 games. At this event, the Portland Timbers staff will select a State Training Pool from the RTC�s. This squad will continue to train at specified intervals and from this fluid pool a group of players will be chosen for each event to form a Portland Timbers/OYSA ODP State Team.

For 2010-2011, the older age groups (94�s, 95�s & 96�s) had state tryouts in August and the younger players (97�s & 98�s) were identified through regionalized tryouts in December and January.

In 2011-2012, the timing of the selection of players will be modified to fit more smoothly into the soccer calendar. Tryouts for the Pre-Academy age groups 95�s, 96�s and 97�s will be August 13th and 14th at the CFC Complex in Salem, Oregon.

The tryouts will typically consist of small-sided and full games assessed by Portland Timbers/OYSA ODP Staff in order to evaluate them in a playing environment with and against other elite players. Speed, strength and agility will also be assessed by the professional coaching staff. Once all open tryouts have been completed, a specified pool of players will be chosen in each age group.

It is expected this year that the RTC regionalized tryouts occur in August or at minimum before December 20th. Each RTC will select the most appropriate days or weekend in conjunction with the Academy Director and Manager. This will allow a handful of training opportunities through the fall season and November, culminating in the centralized RTC training and selection event which will now occur in either December or March for the regionalized 98 and 99 age groups.

Selection is never an easy task for age group coaches. The Portland Timbers Academy Director/OYSA Technical Director together with each age group Head Coach, will use input from other qualified coaches and evaluators at tryouts to make their selections. In 2011 final decisions for all teams will be determined by the age group Head Coach and the Portland Timbers/OYSA Technical Director. Players may also be identified and added to the pool at various times throughout the year at the recommendation of State Scouting Staff with the approval of the Portland Timbers/OYSA ODP Technical Director.

Players will be evaluated and rated on the four components that make up a soccer player:
� Technical ability
� Tactical ability
� Fitness and athletic ability
� Psychological ability (mentality and attitude)
Without a doubt, the level of play in Oregon has got better over the past 10 years, with enhanced programming, the development and professionalization of competitive clubs, the hiring of full-time coaches and more kids playing longer through the calendar year. In addition, there is more parity in play and the top of the player pyramid is being pushed higher an expanded number of elite players. The partnership and amalgamation of the Portland Timbers Academy with the existing OYSA Olympic Development system will further enhance opportunities for players in Oregon and southern Washington.
Player Development & Education
The Portland Timbers Youth Academy will be cutting-edge and offer unique and special programming to enhance each player in the system in the 4 pillars of development; technical, tactical, physical and mental. In order to be considered cutting-edge and to enhance performance, the Academy Director has visited other top professional team Academies, such as Chelsea and also top University Athletic programs in the United States, such as the University of Oregon.

In addition to the on field technical development in practice, players will be provided homework and testing will be included to hone each players skills. A good proportion of training sessions in the Academy will involve functional training by position and coaches will be assigned accordingly to the small player groups. Portland Timbers Academy players will also participate in futsal training in the winter months to enhance their technical speed and comfort with the ball in attacking situations.

Each game played by the Academy teams will be recorded. This will allow Timbers youth players to see clips of themselves playing and provide an additional tool to learning about their technique and positional, line and team tactics. This will require an investment of time by coaches, but will enhance each players understanding of the game and recognition of their role within the team. Classroom video sessions will also be utilized for small group and team goal-setting and to enhance player appreciation for the game.

The Portland Timbers Academy players will also undergo physical testing by the Strength and Conditioning coach and will have personalized warm-up and training plans developed to enhance their play on the field. All players will participate in speed and agility training, core-stabilization and balance training, plyometrics and light weight-training to enhance their individual fitness. The Timbers Youth program will emulate the full professionals and prepare players earlier for all the facets of the college and/or professional environment.

The psychological side of the game at the top level has become more important than ever before. Portland Tim bers Academy players will have regular individual and team sessions with a qualified sports psychologist. Players will learn skills such as appropriate goal-setting, the importance of a positive attitude, building confidence as a player and mental preparation exercises. Indeed learning these skills at a young age will enhance all around player development in each of the other pillars as well.
Portland Timbers Academy Apparel
All players in the Portland Timbers/OYSA ODP program will wear Portland Timbers adidas apparel although not in violation of any current United States Youth Soccer (USYS), United States Soccer Federation (USSF) or United States Olympic Committee (USOC) policies. Each player in the Academy program will be provided full uniforms free of charge. In the Pre-Academy age groups, the RTC players will purchase their training gear at cost from the Portland Timbers while those making the state teams will be provided uniforms.

**Unregistered** · 07-09-2011, 12:13 PM

2011-2012 Timbers Academy/ODP (part 4)

Program Costs
The Portland Timbers Youth Academy will utilize a pay for play model in the Pre-Academy and ODP age groups. The cost will be kept as low as possible, but the facilities will be rented and the top coaches will be paid for their time. In the agreement with the Portland Timbers and OYSA, it was mandated that the cost of the RTC/Academy program would not increase from what it currently is. Indeed, the goal of the amalgamation is to reduce costs to the best players in the state. It is understood that the model that exists in other countries is that the better you are, the less money you pay. In the United States currently the opposite is true, the better you are, the more expensive it becomes, due to travel expenses, coaching fees and tournaments. The Portland Timbers/OYSA partnership has a goal of moving towards the international model.

As players graduate from the RTC programs to the State ODP Teams, the cost will be kept as minimal as feasible also. Players will still pay for training and facilities and local competitive games. The top players in each age group will also be offered the opportunity to attend Regional ODP Camp each summer. This cost is dictated by the Region and will be passed onto the players.

For the Academy teams, the goal of the program is to have players pay for no cost. In addition, it must be reiterated that these teams will no longer be permitted to play for their local youth soccer club. In providing subsidies to players, the Portland Timbers organization will work with the NCAA to make sure that no college entry provisions are violated. In the initial set up year, there will be nominal fees to help with the increased travel cost for travelling to play the best teams in the country. These figures will be finalized once the Portland Timbers enter the US Soccer Academy and a game/travel schedule is provided.

The Portland Timbers Academy program will be a mutual beneficiary of the franchise sponsors. A title sponsor for the Academy will also be sought to minimize costs to all participants in the program.
Media, Marketing & Communication
Once players are selected for the Academy teams, they will be provided a player profile page, which will enhance opportunities for scouts and college coaches. The Portland Timbers coaches will be able to communicate with all their players and parents through this portal. It will also allow the organization appropriate PR for their youth program and ongoing outreach to Timbers Alumni and supporters.
Policies
A policy handbook is being developed internally with Portland Timbers Coaching Staff
Policies will be implemented for required attendance at RTC�s when selected.

Portland Timbers RTC coaches will not coach the same age groups or genders at their home clubs.

Policies will continue to be developed as necessary by the Portland Timbers Academy Director together with the Portland Timbers General Manager.
Enhanced Benefits of the Portland Timbers/OYSA ODP Development Academy
� Development as a player. Enhanced learning opportunities on field and in classroom to fulfill a player�s soccer potential.
� The opportunity to train in a Portland Timbers/OYSA ODP Regional Training Center (RTC).
� Quality instruction from top-level Portland Timbers/OYSA ODP Staff Coaches.
� Exposure to the top Regional, National, and Professional Team Coaches.
� Provided opportunity to attend Regional ODP Camp and compete against 13 western states.
� The opportunity to represent one�s State, Region or Nation in competition.
� Quality competition in every game. Games against other states� ODP Teams.
� Maximized exposure to college coaches.
� A clear pathway from youth player to professional team soccer.
Conclusion
The OYSA ODP program has played an important role in the development of soccer in Oregon over the past 20 years. It has given OYSA players the opportunity to train and compete at a high-level and to bring back what they have learned to their respective teams and clubs. Partnering with the Portland Timbers with the support and respect that the franchise garners will undoubtedly raise the profile of the program and provide a clear pathway to the professional ranks. Their involvement, brand and marketing power will undoubtedly raise the level of and promote fairness and equality within the Academy/RTC/ODP program.

Both organizations will mutually benefit from with the fusion of the player development model. This program will be rebranded and professionalized in a way that the ODP program could unfortunately never do.

The pay for play model will be inverted with the best players eventually paying the least to participate. The Portland Timbers/OYSA ODP Training Academies will be the cornerstone of this cutting-edge partnership from which both entities will grow and develop. Many home-grown players will be developed for the MLS Portland Timbers and protected by this unique development system.
How to Register?
Starting next season, the Portland Timbers, OYSA and ODP will run all registration and payment information through the Bonzi On-line System. This will make the registration process much easier for families and the ODP staff. Below is some information you will need to know about registration for Timbers ODP Tryouts this August 13th and 14th at the CFC Fields in Salem for players born in 1995, 1996 and 1997.

Below is the link to the tryout application on Bonzi. The application process is very easy. If you have not used Bonzi before, you will need to create a user name and password. If you have used Bonzi before, you should already have a user name and password. If you have any issues with the Bonzi system when applying, please contact me at elyslo@portlandtimbers.com or 971-404-1574.

The step-by-step registration process will only take a couple of minutes to go through, and when completed, you will receive a confirmation email from the system verifying your registration and giving you the tryout schedule.

ODP Tryouts will take place at the CFC Fields, August 13th and 14th. The tryout fee is $65 again this year. Again, the link for registration is below. We look forward to seeing everybody at tryouts this August.
http://registration.portlandtimbers....m/registration

Erik Lyslo
Portland Timbers Youth Academy Manager/ODP Coordinator
503-626-4625 Ext. 230
elyslo@portlandtimbers.com
erik@oregonyouthsoccer.org

**Unregistered** · 07-09-2011, 12:31 PM

I posted the 3 parts of the email from OYSA. There is a 4th part that I posted which is being held up until approval by administrators on this board.

The reason I posted this was to try and get a healthy, constructive conversation going about this new direction ODP is headed in Oregon. Is this good overall for Oregon youth soccer and/or Oregon's elite youth soccer player?

Playing for Timbers Academy means not playing for your club team anymore. How will that affect club soccer in Oregon, especially for those teams that have numerous ODP players on them now? Financially the goal appears to make ODP/Academy affordable for everyone (or at least no one will not be able to play because they can't afford it). That is a good thing I think.

How about Timbers Academy vs. high school soccer?

Is this new ODP link with the Timbers for boys and girls, or only boys as earlier suggested on this board? Should it be both?

Will this program boost OYSA? We're all in agreement most of the best players are with clubs in the OPL now (this is not an OYSA vs OPL thread please). Does stepping up OYSA through an enhanced ODP program mean that the OPL will not be as viable an option (depending on how many elite players are chosen at each age for the pool)? How does this affect tournaments such as the NW Champions League?

Will there be a lot more interest in ODP now? Will Oregon be more competitive in the region?

**Unregistered** · 07-09-2011, 12:54 PM

You say that players won't be playing for their clubs anymore, yet one of the above paragraphs clearly states:

ODP participation does not mean that the players cannot participate on their club team. On the contrary, Timbers-ODP participation, whether at the pool, state, regional, or national level, is concurrent with club team participation. A mutually agreed upon training calendar will be implemented. Participation at this elite level provides many advantages for the clubs too, such as exposure. The advantages of player development outweigh any conflicts this might pose and indeed criteria will be produced to protect the club from poaching or recruiting within the soccer year.

Where do you get that they won't be playing for their clubs anymore?

**Unregistered** · 07-09-2011, 01:21 PM

Not ODP, but ultimately if you are selected for the Development Academy team

The Portland Timbers and OYSA will endorse this structure as the best development system for players in their Academy program. Players who play for the Portland Tim bers Academy teams will no longer be able to play with their local club teams and will become part of the Elite Player Development program for the Portland Timbers homegrown talent mandate.

**Unregistered** · 07-09-2011, 01:22 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

I posted the 3 parts of the email from OYSA. There is a 4th part that I posted which is being held up until approval by administrators on this board.

The reason I posted this was to try and get a healthy, constructive conversation going about this new direction ODP is headed in Oregon. Is this good overall for Oregon youth soccer and/or Oregon's elite youth soccer player?

Playing for Timbers Academy means not playing for your club team anymore. How will that affect club soccer in Oregon, especially for those teams that have numerous ODP players on them now? Financially the goal appears to make ODP/Academy affordable for everyone (or at least no one will not be able to play because they can't afford it). That is a good thing I think.

How about Timbers Academy vs. high school soccer?

Is this new ODP link with the Timbers for boys and girls, or only boys as earlier suggested on this board? Should it be both?

Will this program boost OYSA? We're all in agreement most of the best players are with clubs in the OPL now (this is not an OYSA vs OPL thread please). Does stepping up OYSA through an enhanced ODP program mean that the OPL will not be as viable an option (depending on how many elite players are chosen at each age for the pool)? How does this affect tournaments such as the NW Champions League?

Will there be a lot more interest in ODP now? Will Oregon be more competitive in the region?

This does not appear to be any different than the pdf on the OYSA website.

**Unregistered** · 07-09-2011, 08:31 PM

Yes, it looks to be the same. Did you have any opinion or insight or are you just pointing out you were able to click through to the OYSA website?

I for one welcome any input about this new model.. if it means that politics aren't involved.

**Unregistered** · 07-10-2011, 09:11 AM

You know it looks like there is potential to have this program start moving us beyond OPL vs OYSA. To that I am grateful. It is tiring how recently every conversation about youth soccer ends up being OPL/OYSA.

The right people are onboard, and they seem well focused. All that said, we won't know if any of it works until the rubber meets the road.

**Unregistered** · 07-10-2011, 10:19 AM

Odp

Personally, I am glad to see that ODP will not only be as good as it was but has the potential to be better. I was a little disturbed by the notion that the OPL was starting its own ODP like program. It was to be the Timbers program. The reality is that it is one and the same and that is good. No more dilution of the talent pool which doesn't serve the best players. Come on Oregon we can figure this out.

**Unregistered** · 07-11-2011, 09:24 AM

The Breakdown

At the young ages ODP/OYSA with the Timbers name on it. Same people running it same format. It is just green lipstick on the pig.

U-16 and U-18 US DA. I wonder who the coaches will be. Vertic still out on this one until they get the thing running.

**Unregistered** · 07-11-2011, 10:56 AM

"U-16 and U-18 US DA. I wonder who the coaches will be. Vertic still out on this one until they get the thing running."

This will be a great thing for boys soccer in Oregon. The Seattle Sounders 15/16s are in the DA Finals this week in Wisconsin in their first year in the Academy. It's a true national Academy. The players train and learn like young pros. Very serious and a step in the right direction to better emulate european youth academies.

**Unregistered** · 07-11-2011, 12:08 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

"U-16 and U-18 US DA. I wonder who the coaches will be. Vertic still out on this one until they get the thing running."

This will be a great thing for boys soccer in Oregon. The Seattle Sounders 15/16s are in the DA Finals this week in Wisconsin in their first year in the Academy. It's a true national Academy. The players train and learn like young pros. Very serious and a step in the right direction to better emulate european youth academies.

I think this is definitely a good thing and i hope this one is successful where the prior FCP effort was not. I think with the Timbers brand it is likely to be more successful and accepted.

That said i think it creates interesting decisions for some. I think it would be great, if you are one of the top 13/14.... if you arent, seems like one would be better off playing alot with a club. Same old debate.

**Unregistered** · 07-11-2011, 04:42 PM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

I think this is definitely a good thing and i hope this one is successful where the prior FCP effort was not. I think with the Timbers brand it is likely to be more successful and accepted.

That said i think it creates interesting decisions for some. I think it would be great, if you are one of the top 13/14.... if you arent, seems like one would be better off playing alot with a club. Same old debate.

Correct me if I am wrong. My understanding is only the best players will be allowed to participate. They will be evaluated somehow, and the vest offered a spot. Really it will be pretty simple if you are chosen you go, if not you don't.

Announcement

2011-2012 Timbers Academy/ODP (part 1)

2011-2012 Timbers Academy/ODP (part 1)

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