Alabama Soccer Association

Olympic Development Program 2014-2015

By Zac Crawford, Technical Director

Alabama Soccer Association

Rainedout.com

Notifications

Text ALODP15 to 84483 to receive ASA

ODP State Pool 2015-2016 alerts from

Alabama Soccer Association.

What is ASA?

Alabama Soccer Association

ASA is the state governing body through

USYS and US Soccer

Mission is to foster the physical, mental, and

emotional growth of players of all ages, by creating and

increasing opportunities for wholesome participation.

ASA is the fastest growing state in the country and has

a current membership of over 18,000+ registered youth

players statewide, youth and adult, and approximately

2,000 active coaches, referees, and administrators.

What do I do?

Technical Director for Alabama Soccer

Association

Oversee:

Olympic Development Program

Grassroots Soccer/Outreach- TOPS

Education- Coaching, Parents, etc.

Who am I?

Zac Crawford

Life-long soccer player across

different levels.

First job was as a youth

referee.

Played collegiately at

Bethel College.

Have two masters degrees-

Cognitive Psychology & Human

Performance/Sport Management

USSF “A” License, USSF

National Youth License, NSCAA

Premier Diploma

US YOUTH SOCCER OLYMPIC

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, REGION III-

Opportunities to DEVELOP as Player

The primary mission is to identify elite level Region III

players and facilitate their selection to the U.S. National

Team programs. The selection process takes place

through state, regional and national trials. The primary

benefit to the player is to be able to try out, train and

play against the best players in their age group,

allowing the best players to further their development

as soccer players.

It does not replace a player's involvement on a team with

an ASA member association, but rather supplements that

experience.

USYS Region III

US YOUTH SOCCER OLYMPIC

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

US YOUTH SOCCER ODP PHILOSOPHY

To identify players of the highest caliber on a continuing

and consistent basis, this will lead to increased success

for the U.S. National Teams in the international arena.

PURPOSE

The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program

was formed in 1977 to identify a pool of players in each

age group from which a National Team will be selected

for international competition; to provide high-level

training to benefit and enhance the development of

players at all levels.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF

PARTICIPATING IN ALABAMA ODP?

Opportunities to DEVELOP as a Player

The primary benefit to the player is to be

able to train and play against the best

players in their age group. This allows

the best players to be with the best in

order to further their development as

soccer players.

Benefits- Development

Development as a player. Players are challenged

by training/playing with the best players from

across the state in his/her age group while

competing against the best-of-the-best from the

other states spanning the southern US. The

individual player’s development is enhanced

because he or she must learn to adjust to

varying groups of teammates.

Benefits- Development

(cont)

The training environment requires the player to

respond to the varying styles, strengths,

weaknesses and abilities of the other elite players,

rather than becoming dependent on habits of a

fixed group.

Players are also challenged by being asked to

play different roles/positions than they may

normally play with their club teams.

Benefits- Quality over

Quantity

Quality instruction from nationally

licensed coaches.

Quality competition. Games against other

state association ODP teams.

Benefits- Exposure

Exposure to regional and national team

coaches.

Exposure to college coaches.

Getting exposed for growth opportunities.

Benefits- Opportunities

An opportunity to show that a player can

play outside of their comfort zone, in

unfamiliar surroundings with unfamiliar

players.

The opportunity to represent our state,

region, and country in competition.

Benefit- US Soccer

Curriculum

An opportunity to play within the US

Soccer Curriculum and the 1-4-3-3

shape. The ODP style is to build from

the back (goalkeepers are not allowed to

punt the ball), maintain a rhythmic

possession based game, with quick

transitions.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS – WHAT

SHOULD YOU EXPECT?

The mission of the Alabama Soccer

Association ODP is to identify and train the

elite player, so they may qualify for state,

regional and national events.

Alabama ODP State Staff is comprised of

coaches at the club, high school, and college

levels. All coaches are nationally licensed, and

are committed to enhance the development of

each player, while assisting them in obtaining

college scholarship opportunities.

The Program- 2003

Open Tryout

Recognized from EPD

Recommendations sent in for 2004 players

Last weekend November

Training/Matches to evaluate all players

Get an idea of the quality of the pool

Notification by Wednesday at noon on

ODP News Page

The Program- 2003

2nd Trials

Sunday January 24 - SHAC

Similar format

Form the state pool.

# TBD

Enough to form two teams

1st team

2nd team

The Program- 1999-2002

Scouting/Recommendation System

Returning Players

Open Tryout

The above groups will comprise a squad

of players called the ‘State Pool’. The

State Pool phase will take place in the

Fall. This phase will consist of

approximately 4-6 training opportunities.

State Team Selection

Alabama Soccer Association understands that conflicts

will arise. Players must register and attend at least one

session to be considered for the State Team.

After the fall training sessions/events, 22-26 players

will be selected in each age group to represent the

‘State Team’. In some cases, the Technical Director

may choose to also select a 'Y State Team' that will

consist of younger players born in the latter half of the

ODP year (July-December).

The state team(s) will continue to train/compete

throughout winter, spring, and represent the state of

Alabama at Region 3 Camp in July.

Selection Process

Players are evaluated in the US Soccer

1-4-3-3 Style and System.

We strive for consistency in the coaching

staff from session to session.

Coaches meet before and after each

session to compare notes.

Each head coach ranks the players every

session.

Events-

State Pool Training Events (Development +

Evaluation)

Regionalized/Specialized Training Events (Development>Evaluation)

Sub-Regional Events- training/matches

(Development + Evaluation + Exposure)

Girls 99-03 Jan- Gainesville, GA

Boys 98-02 Jan 31/Feb 1- Calera, AL

Both 99-03? April Alexandria LA

Region Trials

US Youth Soccer is divided into four regions;

each offers a Regional Camp for state

association ODP teams in each eligible age

group. The trials are designed to provide high

level training and competition for these elite

participating players. During this training and

competition, players who are capable of

performing at a higher level of play are identified

for possible Regional Team and National Team

participation.

Region Trials- Purpose

The main purpose of Region Camp is to evaluate the

players from all the states within our region and select

a region pool of players in each age group for further

evaluation and competition.

All the states send their state teams to camp and play

each other in front of the regional staff coaches.

The other purpose of region camp is to expose the

players to a higher level of competition and contribute

towards their personal development through

challenging games and training with high level region

staff coaches.

WHAT IS THE PLAYER SELECTION

PROCESS AT THE REGION LEVEL?

At Region Trials, players play against other states each day and

are evaluated for selection into the Region Pool in each age

group. At the end of camp, a Region Pool of 30-40 players is

selected. On the boys side, the Region Pool in most age groups is

held over at camp for another 2-3 days to train under the Region

Coaches. In the months after camp, Region Teams of 16-18

players will be selected in each age group to participate in

National camps, Inter- Regional events, and/or international trips.

The National Staff Coaches attend these events and evaluate

players for inclusion into National Pools.

To provide some perspective here, since each region selects a

similarly sized pool, when a player is selected for the region pool,

he/she is considered in the top 120-160 players in the country in

his/her age group. Once a player is selected for a region team,

he/she is now considered in the top 60-70 players in the country.

HOW MANY GAMES AND

PRACTICES IN REGION TRIALS?

The key objective in region camp is to maintain a good balance between

work and rest, to make sure the players can show their best when it

matters. For that reason, players have one game and one practice per

day on full days (day 2 to day 4) and one practice or one game on half

days (days 1 and 5). Whenever possible, players who are selected to play

in pool games sit out their state team game so they don’t play two full

games on the same day. It’s not fair on the players to make selections

based on fatigue-induced performance since there is so much at stake.

The summer heat and humidity combined with the higher intensity and

speed of play at region camp require significant rest periods between

activities. Region camp is not like a standard college summer camp or a

club tournament, where players are on the field for long periods playing or

working on technique. Region camp is a test of ability, not a marathon of

games. It’s about quality rather than quantity.

WHAT BENEFITS DO PLAYERS WHO

ARE NOT SELECTED TO REGION

POOLS GET FROM REGION TRIALS?

Challenge/Quality Matches/Quality

Opponents

Humbling/Exposed

Exposure to college and national staff

coaches

Opportunity to be recognized/ Pride in

accomplishment

What are the odds of

Regional Pool?

12 state associations

Each state sends 1-3 teams. 14-18 players

per team.

Region Pool- 200-450 in each age group

5-10% of state team players make Regional Pool

Administrative Items

Register at least one week prior to each

event

Check emails/ODP News Page

Frequently Refund requests must be made by completing the ODP

Refund Request Form. Documentation (Dr.’s note) is

required to submit the form. Only documented player

injuries will be considered for a refund, minus a $15

administration fee. There is no pro-rating of sessions

or rolling-over to a future event.

Administrative Items

Please check website first, if you can’t

find the answer there, then contact ODP

Administrator Martha Disko

Communicate absences via the survey

monkey link, not through emailing Zac or

Martha

Financial Assistance is available on a

case by case basic.

Role of ODP Parent

Become familiar with the ODP Handbook

Be sensitive to the pressure that most

players feel when participating at ODP.

NO COACHING.

Stay in designated areas during events.

Be part of the development process, not

part of the under development process.

THE CYCLE OF

UNDER-DEVELOPMENT

Parents put

pressure on coach

Coach focus on

teamdevelopment

Individualplayer

development suffers

Players don’t

reach their potential

Parents transfer child to another club

Development Components

TECHNICAL

Ability to control the ball. Touches

TACTICAL

Ability to solve soccer problems (cognitive)

FITNESS

Endurance, speed, strength, agility

PSYCHOLOGICAL

Enjoyment, coping with anxiety, confidence

Learn to play before learn to compete

Long Term Athlete

Development- US Soccer

U6-U8 Initial Stage

U9-U12 Basic Stage

U-13-U14 Intermediate Stage

U15-U18 Advanced Stage

U19-U20 Specific Stage

SENIOR Performance Stage

Training > Games

PRACTICES FAR MORE IMPORTANT FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT THAN GAMES (many more touches, more opportunities to make decisions and solve problems. – school tests

YOUTH SOCCER’S BIGGEST PROBLEMS: OVER COACHING by parents and coaches

Children learn from trial and error

MISGUIDED EMPHASIS ON GAMES

TOURNAMENTITIS

PRACTICES VS GAMES

(*R = REC, S = SELECT)

AGE GROUP GAMES PER

YEAR

PRACTICES

PER WEEK

U-8 20-25 1-2

U-10 20-30 2

U-12 25-30 1-2(R*) 3(S*)

U-14 30-35 2(R) 3-4(S)

U-16 35-40 2(R) 3-4(S)

U-18 35-45 2(R) 4-5(S)

Responsibility of the

Soccer Parent

Parents must:

Make sure their player is SAFE.

Understand the role of sport

Understand the odds of playing pro

Be a role model, not a bystander

Understand the club/evaluate the club

and coaches

Understand the pursuit of excellence

Role of the Soccer Parent

Understand the role of sports

Develop a healthy lifestyle (Sport = Leisure)

Games: Learning Opportunities not Contest

Develop life skills

Social skills

Positive self-image

Values, character and coping skills

Role of the Soccer Parent

Understand the odds

Academy/Select/ODP no guarantee of success

~ 410,000 male HS players

Only 5.7% high school soccer players to NCAA

Only small percentage get athletic scholarship

Only 1.9% of NCAA soccer players go pro

Only 0.09% of high school go pro

Need to prepare your child for disappointment. Not build up his/her hopes unrealistically.

Role of the Soccer Parent

Be a role model

Actively Listen to your child

Sideline behavior – NO COACHING!!!

Referee Crisis

Dealing with performance (unconditional love)

How to praise and how NOT to praise

Don’t compare or be critical of others

Don’t become his/her coach

Focus on process/journey (paradox of sports)

Shield from abuse, NOT from life lessons

Role of the Soccer Parent

Understand pursuit of excellence

Intrinsic motivation (if you need to push….)

Know the opportunitiesAcademy - Select soccer – ODP – College ID Camps

Know the two best coaches in the world:Watching professional soccer

Playing pick up games

How to reach potentialTouches on the ball

Self training

Learning from the pros

Practice to game ratio

Focus on process. Where is he/she at 18?

MAIN Role of the Soccer

Parent

Let the playersmake mistakes.

RESOURCES FOR

PARENTS

www.alsoccer.org or email

zac@alsoccer.org Parent Education page (under

‘EDUCATION/Resources’)

Articles

US Soccer Best Practices Guide

WWW.USYOUTHSOCCER.ORG

WWW.USSOCCER.COM

If we take

care in the

beginning,

the end

will take

care of

itself