ODP - Oklahoma Soccer Association

certamen speciosum ludamus 2013-14Oklahoma Select Training Centers and OlympicDevelopment ProgramWHAT IS IT?Player Development is one of those phrases that most people involved with youth soccer have heardand perhaps even said on occasion, but most, including many soccer professionals, do not truly graspthe concept.PLAYER: The CHILD. Yes, I said “child.” We must remember that we are talking aboutchildren. Even kids that are of the same chronological age will be all over the map in termsof their cognitive, physical and social evolution.o As a result, our staff is trained specifically to recognize the ‘SOCCER’ in the child,regardless of size, speed, etc.o Too often, in competitive soccer environment, only the biggest, fastest children arerewarded. Yes, speed is nice to have. At the higher levels, skillful, intentional socceris applauded more than pure speed. Of course, if we can take a really fast player andadd a skillful ability to play the game, then we have something special.DEVELOPMENT: Intentional curriculum. This modern curriculum is designed with theLONG TERM benefit of the player in mind.o Without the pressure of short term results, our staff can afford to take the time toteach the players the principles of play and the techniques necessary to play the gameefficiently and creatively.o The child/player treated as a long term investment rather than a short term asset.o We will have sessions throughout the year that will be working on the WHOLEdevelopment of the player:• Sports Psychology• Nutrition• Speed/Agility/Strength Education• Game Analysis assignments and discussionMODEL: We are looking to partner with the clubs in the state and supplement the alreadyexcellent work they have put in with the players in our state. In doing so, we are looking tobring on promising young coaches from clubs around the state and develop them as well asdevelop the players. In turn, we can then hope to have a far reaching positive effect on thegame throughout the state and the region!

certamen speciosum ludamus 2013-14MULTIPLE LEVELS:As you can see from the pyramid to the right,there are multiple levels to the program. In thepast, the only opportunity that was state-widewas the Olympic Development Program(ODP.)We want to reach deeper and broaderthroughout the state. The ODP program is stillpart of the structure. It is the avenue throughwhich we will send off our Oklahoma StateSelect team to compete against other stateteams from Region 3 (OK, NTX, STX, LA, AR, AL, GA, MS, FL, SC, NC, TN).OUTREACH: We will be having Training Clinics throughout the state at various “satellite”communities. These will take various forms, but the main idea is to work with kids and clubs NOTin the OKC/Tulsa area. To get those communities/players exposed to a high level of coaching andsome new ideas. In addition, when the staff finds a player in these outlying communities that has thepotential to play at the next level, they will invite them to the East/West Oklahoma Select TrainingCenter.TRAINING CENTERS: Here is where the vast majority of the program will take shape. Each agegroup will train about once a month on their side of the state. If players want to travel to both, theyare more than welcome to get in as much training as they can! Since we are looking to stay localand reduce costs (time/money) for players and families, we can now train during the week and stayaway from league/tournament conflicts. We will have TC locations in OKC area and Tulsa area andthen be rotating TC site through other communities throughout the year. Dates and Locations TBA.PLAYER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES: These are the introductory level events. These areopportunities to test your mettle against other states in games. There will be at least two PDO’s foreach age group and three in some. These are open to all players from the Training Center Pools.These are typically at the end of the Fall Season (December) and beginning of the Spring Season(January/February). Some age groups will have multiple teams going to events. Most of the oldergroups will likely only have one team attend and may even combine with another age group. Justdepends on numbers and quality.OKLAHOMA SELECT TEAM (The pool of players for the Oklahoma ODP TEAM): During theFall Training Center sessions, some of the staff will be making notes and formal assessments on theplayers every time they come to a session. SO, if a player attends 4 sessions in the fall, they willhave four formal assessments in the database. If they come to the December friendlies, then they willbe assessed during that gameplay as well When it comes time in the early spring to name theOklahoma Select Team, it will be primarily based on these evaluations. The State Select Team willbe invited to participate in the summer Region III ODP Camp to represent Oklahoma . There, stateteams from all the Region III states train and compete. The Region III Coaching staff are topcoaches from around the Region. State DOC’s, National Staff, College Coaches, Club DOC’s. They

certamen speciosum ludamus 2013-14run the training sessions with the state staff and watch every game. At the end of the camp, they willchoose a Region III Team and pool of players who will be eligible for the National Camp. 38 out of40 players at the residential US Soccer Program have been on their home state’s ODP teams.WHAT IS THE REGION 3 ODP CAMP ALL ABOUT?The Summer Region 3 ODP Camps are the END GOAL of the state program. The TOP kids in eachage group are invited. At the end of the camp, the Region Staff will select a Pool of players for theRegion 3 team. I was on Region 3 staff last year in two age groups and got to see the camp from theother side. I can tell you that the region staff did a GREAT job talking and fighting for a LOT of thekids from EVERY state. I know there has been some real or perceived bias in the past toward someof the bigger states. I can tell you that the staff I worked with did not care what state a player wasfrom or even if he was put on the second or third team from his own state. If they thought he couldplay, they would put him in the pool games to see if he could prove it against other good players. Icame away from the week very impressed and felt much better about the process.As a developmental environment, I can’t think of a better opportunity for a young driven player.There are many college camps every year. Some are pretty good. Some very poor. Some havesome great players. The one thing about the Region 3 ODP Camp that you KNOW is this: it is bytryout/invitation. SO, you KNOW there are going to be very good players from around the nationthere. The past two years they have even brought in National Championship youth teams fromCosta Rica and Monterrey, Mexico to play against the best teams and the All-Star Pool of players.Really inspiring environment for the youth players.They train and play each day with and against the best players from the region and are trained eachday by the Region 3 staff. These are Club/State Directors of Coaching or College Coaches from theRegion. They have to have a minimum of a USSF National A License. Some are evenformer/current National staff coaches.These players that make the Region 3 Pool will then:A) Be eligible to be invited to play in prestigious Regional events internationally and domestically.B) If they make the top group in the Pool, they will be invited to take part in the National Camp andplay for and train with the National Staff Coaches for their age group!***A PLAYER MUST ATTEND REGION CAMP TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SELECTION INTOTHE REGIONAL/NATIONAL POOL.***Only exceptions are: Injury and Playing in the USYS National Championships.To be eligible for invitation to Region Camp:1) Must be a USYS Registered Player (this is automatic if you are playing in an OSA/USYS League.If you are playing on an ECNL team, this may or may not have been done by your club. You willneed to ask your club registrar.)2) Must be Registered OSA Training Center Player. LINK BELOW

certamen speciosum ludamus 2013-14http://www.gotsport.com/asp/application/reg/?ProgramID=23283&Type=PLAYER3) Must have all the ODP Forms turned into the office. Mailed or (Preferred) emailed:Bethann@oksoccer.comhttp://regioniii.usyouthsoccer.org/programs/ODP_Forms/(Code of Conduct, Player Data, Medical Release, Medical Questionnaire and copy of Insurancecard)4) MUST HAVE ATTENDED AT LEAST 1/3 OF TRAINING SESSIONS AVAILABLE.(Exceptions: Injury, moved into town/state later in the year. If other situations arise, we willentertain reasonable requests to waive this requirement.)WHO CAN BE IN THIS PROGRAM??Any registered player with Oklahoma Soccer Association playing BIRTH YEARS: 2002-1997.(ECNL Players ARE able to participate, but they must also register with USYS, since they are USClub registered. Oklahoma Soccer Association is a USYS member, so all programs are USYSprograms and players must be members. Most players are already registered with USYS.)Please note that the Player Development Model goes purely by the BIRTH year, which is differentthan the club calendar. (So, if you were born in July 2000, you are a 2000. January 2000, you are a2000, November 2000, you are a 2000.)HOW TO GET STARTED:Any player wanting to participate in the Oklahoma Player Development Model must pay the AnnualRegistration Fee ($150.00), register in the online database and submit the Region III ODPPaperwork necessary. This Registration Fee pays for all training sessions through the year, TrainingKit [2 numbered shirts and shorts] and invitation to the December Friendlies. There will be 8-10sessions on each side of the state. So, if your child attends all 10 on your side of the state, that’s aneven $15 a session! If you choose to go to some of the others on the other side, great! More bang foryour buck! (May add some more perks to the registration in the next month for the first 300players!)Here is the LINK for online registration and payment.The papers that must be turned in:5 forms:Code of Conduct, Medical Release, Medical History, Player Data formAll found on Region III Site below:http://regioniii.usyouthsoccer.org/programs/ODP_Forms/

certamen speciosum ludamus 2013-14Copy of Medical Insurance card (front and back)Photo. (This is for the ODP Scouting staff at state and regional level so they can identify themquickly. Since their jersey number may change from event to event.)These may be mailed in or sent electronically (Preferred) DO NOT BRING PAPERWORK TO THEFIELDS. The staff will be focusing on the kids and the training session and we don’t want tomisplace anyone’s paperwork.Email: bethann@oksoccer.comMailing Address:OSAC/O ODP FORMS 2013-149820 E. 41 stSuite #115TULSA, OK 74146WHEN: Training Center dates are to be determined. Likely will have a session ONE Wednesday amonth and possibly a scrimmage here or there. We are finalizing Training Center Locationscurrently. Training will start in October. Dates/fields to be announced.Players should make every attempt to make ALL Training Center sessions ON THEIR SIDE of thestate. If you can make some on the other side, great! More training for you. In the event that youcannot attend one of the training sessions, please email your child’s name, age group, gender andreason for not attending to:kurt@oksoccer.comThere will not be any CUTS from the Training Center Sessions. ALL PLAYERS will be invited toparticipate in the first event. The December Friendlies. Players may continue to train at the TCsregardless of their status with the State Team. Players may be asked to train with an older group if itis developmentally appropriate.December Friendlies (In OKC area this year.)After January 1 there are three levels of Participation:Player selected for one of the State ODP teams – this means that the player will receive informationabout the first travel event we will be participating in, how to register, cost and training dates. Inseveral age groups there will be multiple State Teams.Player selected to State Pool –The player has not been asked to attend the event at this time, but willbe asked to attend training sessions with the team. Coaches may choose to add players at any timefor an event. The roster goes through changes constantly before an event. Injuries, family

certamen speciosum ludamus 2013-14emergencies, and other life instances can prevent a player from participating in a PlayerDevelopment Opportunity. That will leave space for another young person to step up and takeadvantage.Training Center Player. (Everyone in the program is AT LEAST at this level.) This means that thestaff feels the player needs more time to train and develop prior to being involved with the StateODP pool of players. This does NOT eliminate them from contention for a State Team roster spot.They can still train/play their way into that group! The staff feels that they are simply not ready atthat moment in time.TENTATIVE LIST OF EVENTS FOR THIS YEAR’S CYCLEDECEMBER FRIENDLIES. All Ages (SATURDAY, 12/14 and possibly Sunday 12/15) WithKansas and North Texas.SOUTH TEXAS SUBREGIONAL: (2002-2000): MID FEBRUARY (LA, NTX, STX, OK)ARKANSAS COLLEGE SHOWCASE/COMBINE. (1999-1997) LATE FEBRUARY (AR, MS, LANTX, OK)NORMAN GIRLS SUB-REGIONAL CAMP (2002 &2001): JUNE 11-15ARKANSAS BOYS SUB-REGIONAL CAMP: (2002): MID-LATE JUNEREGION 3 CAMPS: 2001-1997 (2001 GIRLS is usually just before July 4 th the rest of the campsstart after July 4 th and run through mid-July typically. Dates not posted yet.)