99 ODP Eugene Tourn.

[Unregistered]

You are missing the joke. The joke is on the one prodding to have some say who was outstanding. That's the dad (or kid).

Think about it, how many boys run around with frohawks or have spikey hair? A whole bunch. See, I just made every parent out there whose kid has spikey hair or a frohawk feel good by making them think I was talking about their kid. The funny thing is that I wasn't even there. I don't have a 99 boy.

But if it makes you feel any better, the boy with the brown hair, medium length, he looked better than anyone. Well, maybe the boy with the somewhat short blond hair, he looked awsome too.

I'm actually the grandpa of a kid that didn't make it. I'm looking for examples of kids that showed well so that I can encourage my grandson to foccus on the things those boys did well and try to replicate those efforts when he tries out again next year. I hesitated about getting on this forum because of the lack of respect that seems to be pervasive on other threads.

[Unregistered]

I'm actually the grandpa of a kid that didn't make it. I'm looking for examples of kids that showed well so that I can encourage my grandson to foccus on the things those boys did well and try to replicate those efforts when he tries out again next year. I hesitated about getting on this forum because of the lack of respect that seems to be pervasive on other threads.

Remind him that there is about 40% turnover in the team from the first year to a couple years later. So with lots of hard work on his own, good coaching, love of the game and, yes, a little luck (growth and minimal injuries), he has a good chance to take a spot next year or the year after that. Happens all the time.

[Unregistered]

I'm actually the grandpa of a kid that didn't make it. I'm looking for examples of kids that showed well so that I can encourage my grandson to foccus on the things those boys did well and try to replicate those efforts when he tries out again next year. I hesitated about getting on this forum because of the lack of respect that seems to be pervasive on other threads.

Fine, but asking on a public forum is the wrong place, and that should be obvious to you. You should ask the coaches. They should provide some feedback regardless. Also ask any of the parents who were there. Ask them face to face. And to be honest, skill and ability may not have been the reasons he didn't make it. It could be the good old political games at play, which is very prevelent at the younger ages. It could be as simple as your family not being connected in the Portland soccer community. Trust me, there are several people who make it based on that fact alone.

As an alternative, send him to some camps this summer. Go to both a soccer camp or two and a track camp. Also, have him go out for track if they have it at his school. If you can find him a skills coach, send him for some sessions. If you can drive him during the day when school is out, there are likely a number of decent soccer coaches who look to make extra money and have some free time during the day. And lastly, have him do lots of pushups, situps, and other strength and conditioning exercises. The 98 group worked really hard on this whereas the 99 group didn't. It will benefit him in the long run, even if he never goes out for ODP again.

He will be a better soccer player by getting stronger and faster. Track might not make him the fastest player, but it will make him faster than he is today.

[Unregistered]

I'm actually the grandpa of a kid that didn't make it. I'm looking for examples of kids that showed well so that I can encourage my grandson to foccus on the things those boys did well and try to replicate those efforts when he tries out again next year. I hesitated about getting on this forum because of the lack of respect that seems to be pervasive on other threads.

I have been thru this now twice at the younger ages and it's funny but those players that more replicate an older player (jumping higher for headers, slide tackles safely and successfully, jukes more then one player with the ball and is unselfish with the ball to a deserving teammate) tends to stand out more then the rest. Not that your grandson needs to be able to do it all, but if he was above the rest on a couple of these items it would surely help his chances.

[Unregistered]

And to be honest, skill and ability may not have been the reasons he didn't make it. It could be the good old political games at play, which is very prevelent at the younger ages. It could be as simple as your family not being connected in the Portland soccer community. Trust me, there are several people who make it based on that fact alone.

Speaking first hand here ? or was your child not chosen either and this your excuse why ?

Assuming for a moment that 2-3 (of the 40) are chosen this way, the rest all had to earn their way into the final 40.

[Unregistered]

2 or 3 yeah riiiiiiight

Speaking first hand here ? or was your child not chosen either and this your excuse why ?

Assuming for a moment that 2-3 (of the 40) are chosen this way, the rest all had to earn their way into the final 40.

I've watched the process for 6 years now and can tell you its waaaaaaaay more than 2 or 3 each year. To be honest I would say out of a team of 44 at the younger age the number is closer to 8.

When you get to the single team older groups out of 26 you are probably looking at 2 or 3 that are there on reputation alone and another 1 or 2 that are there for "political" reasons.

As long as club coaches are involved in the selection process it's only natural but for anyone to say that these are purely the best soccer players at each age group I have to say.....I've got the great deal on a bridge over the Willamette!

[Unregistered]

Speaking first hand here ? or was your child not chosen either and this your excuse why ?

Assuming for a moment that 2-3 (of the 40) are chosen this way, the rest all had to earn their way into the final 40.

I don't even have a 99 so it has nothing to do with mine not being chosen or not. I've just seen too many of these and have heard from too many people about the process. I know of one player who is very weak (they have played on our team) yet made the 99 pool. This player is slow, small and weak but plays soccer all the time so understands the play of the game but has very minimal impact on the game. Yet their name was on the list. Why - could be that the family is well connected in the soccer world.

[Unregistered]

I don't even have a 99 so it has nothing to do with mine not being chosen or not. I've just seen too many of these and have heard from too many people about the process. I know of one player who is very weak (they have played on our team) yet made the 99 pool. This player is slow, small and weak but plays soccer all the time so understands the play of the game but has very minimal impact on the game. Yet their name was on the list. Why - could be that the family is well connected in the soccer world.

you made my point ----- 1 player. Out of how many ?

[Unregistered]

I've watched the process for 6 years now and can tell you its waaaaaaaay more than 2 or 3 each year. To be honest I would say out of a team of 44 at the younger age the number is closer to 8.

When you get to the single team older groups out of 26 you are probably looking at 2 or 3 that are there on reputation alone and another 1 or 2 that are there for "political" reasons.

As long as club coaches are involved in the selection process it's only natural but for anyone to say that these are purely the best soccer players at each age group I have to say.....I've got the great deal on a bridge over the Willamette!

So your saying that 36 had to make it on their own and these 8 were the worst youd ever seen and probably couldnt make a decent rec team ? but were all instead picked because of political reasons ?

I call B.S.

Your just another parent of a player that didnt get chosen.

[Unregistered]

Getting to the next level.

I was there. My daughter did not make it. Guess what? There were better girls out there.

She's had a pretty easy ride up until now. Got by on the seat of her pants for years. She has a few impressive moves but she's not the total package and it showed. Politics or not it was a real eye opener that in order to move up in this group its going to take a lot more than just showing up to practice.

For those who did make it, what do your daughters do? Are they glued to FoxSoccer? Are the pages falling out of Mia Hamm's book? Can they juggle well into the 100s? I'm just curious what getting to this level looks like. I think that's the lesson from this experience.

[Unregistered]

Wrong .....Twice!

So your saying that 36 had to make it on their own and these 8 were the worst youd ever seen and probably couldnt make a decent rec team ? but were all instead picked because of political reasons ?

I call B.S.

Your just another parent of a player that didnt get chosen.

The problem with having so many favorites chosen is that better players get discouraged and do not work on their game as hard and or leave the sport entirely to play other sports where the treatment is not AS political.

As for your second ASSumption I am the proud parent of a regional player!

[Unregistered]

Practice & Genetics

I was there. My daughter did not make it. Guess what? There were better girls out there.

She's had a pretty easy ride up until now. Got by on the seat of her pants for years. She has a few impressive moves but she's not the total package and it showed. Politics or not it was a real eye opener that in order to move up in this group its going to take a lot more than just showing up to practice.

For those who did make it, what do your daughters do? Are they glued to FoxSoccer? Are the pages falling out of Mia Hamm's book? Can they juggle well into the 100s? I'm just curious what getting to this level looks like. I think that's the lesson from this experience.

Yes touches are important but genes are going to play a bigger role. She needs to have quickness AND speed. She will also need size and strength which is unfair for those born late in the calendar year. According to studies of national teams 70% of the members have birthday's in the first 6 months of the year in which they are competing.

[Unregistered]

I was there

I did and was impressed with a number of the boys. My son did the tournament with the 98's last year and with the 99's this year and, in my opinion, the 99 group selected for the state team are a stronger group than last years 98's (which of-course had some very good kids but overall not as strong as the 99's at the same point).

I was at the Boys 99 tournament and all I can was that the talent seemed fantastic to me. I thought there was a couple of standouts on the Westside team maybe, but really, the talent was pretty strong throughout. The cut to 18 will be very tough.