Well, as the song goes, the times they are a'changin.... http://www.superyleague.com/mediacenter/A/50863_E.html Maybe I am biased, but this seems incredibly rational and logical... But funding is the rub. If it can get funded from outside sources, then the dollar factor is eliminated. If I was a State Association director, or a full-time state Director of Coaching, I would be VERY nervous...
This was one of the main reason that the club my son plays for joined the Y League. However, there is still one major hurdle to overcome -- the two different soccer calenders in US Youth Soccer. When an ODP coach goes to scout kids in his age group, what he has to go scout two teams at each club. That makes it difficult for them. When the Y-League goes to the calendar year as their soccer year beginning in 2004, then that hurdle will be overcome too. At that point, the ODP coaches can go to single age group events and see all the kids at that event and know that they all will fall into the same ODP age group. Baby steps...
Say What? Karl - Link doesn't open. Care to give us a brief summary of what we would be seeing if the link did work? I'm glad to see Super Y moving to calendar-year age breakdowns. That's how they do things for international competition. Right now, U.S. kids are very disadvantaged in club competitions when playing against other countries, because U.S. kids must either: a) play 7 months up, or b) combine players from 2 different squads. There is a logic for organizing kids via the August 1st birthday so that "they can play with their school friends," but if they're good soccer players the whole playing-with-the-school-friends element quickly becomes irrelevant. So best to move to calendar years and join the rest of the world.
Re: Say What? Rather than a summary, here's the whole thing... ***************************** SYL Olympic Development Program (ODP) Overview Program to be implemented in 2003 The following information contains information on the Olympic Development (ODP) programs of the Super Y-League. This information provides the insights, logistical structure and plans for the development of these ODP programs to identify players for United States Soccer Federation National Team Programs. This program will be implemented in the 2003 season. Olympic Development Program (ODP) What is ODP? •ODP is a program of the United States Olympic Committee and the United States Soccer Federation •ODP is the player identification system for U.S. National Team Programs National Team Selection The 3 ways to be chosen for U.S. National Team Programs: 1)USYS ODP system (Formed in 1977) – Open Tryout System for State Select Teams (most states) – Regional Select Teams (I, II, III, IV) - Regional / National Camps (1, from www.usyouthsoccer.org) 2)SYL ODP system (Formed in 2003) – Identification of players through SYL league play utilizing a scouting system – Regional Select Teams and Identification Weekends – League Finals 3)Direct contact and evaluation from NT Coaching staff – Scouting of players at any team matches at any time Why ODP through league play and club system utilizing the SYL? Since its conception in 1999, the Super Y-League has maintained the philosophies and goals to provide a comprehensive elite national youth soccer league that contains the top one percent of players between the ages of 14 and 19. Over the past few years the success of the league and its structure has enabled the top players to compete in a highly competitive environment. The involvement of professional soccer has also aided the development of the league with many teams at the professional ranks establishing comprehensive youth programs for elite players in their areas. The league structure also provides a resource to U.S. National Team Programs to identify players. In August of 2002, the Super Y-League was officially granted ODP status by the United States Olympic Committee and U.S. Soccer. The designation of these ODP programs will further advance the opportunities for elite players that aspire to compete at the international level. (2, Comments on the USYS open-tryout ODP system from Project 2010, U.S. Soccer's quest to win the men's World Cup by 2010.) “As a National Team coach, I had zero say with the ODP and state program” “Not everyone tries out for ODP, so it is difficult to see all the players. Players are forced to select between ODP and clubs.” “The relationship between clubs and ODP is not good.” “ODP should be subsidized and all inclusive. Eliminate the dollar factor.” “The scouting network can be done by the club system. Only some club coaches are involved in the ODP selection process.” “The best players are being produced at the club system. Why have tryouts when the clubs already know who are the best players? Why have the kids pay?" SYL ODP Designation The USOC and the USSF have granted the status of two ODP programs for the Super Y-League: 1) The Super Y-League Finals • U.S. Soccer National Staff Coaches to scout players 2) The establishment of Regional Select Team Identification Weekends • Players will be scouted for Regional Select Teams during the intensive week in-week out SYL season • U.S. Soccer National Staff Coaches to scout players ODP Scouting Hierarchy USL Technical Director • Assigned to oversee the SYL ODP system for U.S. National Team Staff • Will advise SYL scouting staff of National Team requirements and agenda • Will be the liaison between the SYL and National Team Coaching Staff Regional ODP Staff Coach • Responsible for all Age Group Head Scouts • Will ensure equity in scouting all teams • Will help organize the Regional Identification Weekend • Will assemble final Regional ODP team for their region Regional Age Scout • Will be the main contact for all Club Scouts • Will verify that all games being scouted are being input into the internet system • Coordinate with Regional Staff Coach to generate the Regional ODP team ODP Club Scout • The Club Scouts will be technical staff of each club • Coach, Assistant Coach, Director of Coaching • Will scout all team’s games and identify players from both teams • Insert comments and evaluations to the SYL web site • Seek players outside the SYL system that should be seen by National Team Coaches and get these players competing on SYL teams The Identification Process for Regional Select Teams Regular season games • For every game, each club scout will pick the top 5 players on the opposing team and 2 on their team • The Club Scout will then enter the player information and comments on the website • The Club Scout will pass on any additional information to the Regional Age Scout if a player needs to be further looked at for evaluation or recommended directly to USSF National Staff Coaches Technology Utilizing the internet as a player tracking resource • Demosphere is the internet developer for the SYL • Scouting information will be available to all scouts, SYL personnel, and National Team Staff Coaches • The web site will be able to query player information for viewing • All Club Scouts will be able to access the ODP information to add comments and view upcoming schedules • Long term player histories will track players from U 14 through professional and National teams ranks Regional Select Team Selection Process Regional Team Selection • Data gathered over the course of the year will be compiled by the SYL office and its Regional Administrators. • At every age group, 30 players (two teams of 15) will be selected by the scouting network within the region to attend the Regional Identification weekend based off of the players evaluations. • The Regional ODP Staff Coaches will work with the Regional Age Scouts to determine the the selection for each age group in the Region. The Regional ID Weekends Scouting Process Regional Identification Weekends • Four Regional Identification Weekends will be held in September or October • USSF National Staff Coaches downtime • Stay away from summer months and USYS ODP activities • ODP ID Weekends will excuse players from scholastic soccer • Region I – Northeast, Mid Atlantic, Metro • Region II – Great Lakes, Midwest • Region III – Florida, South Atlantic, Mid South • Region IV – Northwest, Northern California, Southwest Super Y-League Finals • Championships are a crucial time to evaluate players in peak performance • Environment in the Finals will closely resemble the environment of a player in the World Cup where he/she is playing for points and advancement • All team rosters, player profiles and player evaluations will be handed to National Team Coaching Staff • Club Directors of Coaching will be able to share player information to USSF National Staff Coaches • Regional ODP Staff Coaches will be available to aid NT Coaches in scouting process Financial • USL recognizes that the financial aspects of identifying players is crucial to the operation of the program • USL will be seeking sponsorship and funding to subsidize cost of Regional Identification Weekends • USL will seek financial assistance from the U.S. Soccer Foundation to help fund player identification and further establish a scouting network • USL will encourage senior Professional and Amateur teams to develop financial programs to offset cost of players selected to ODP Regional ID Weekends ________________________________________________ References 1. www.usyouthsoccer.org 2. Carlos Queiroz & Dan Gaspar, U.S. Soccer Project 2010, U.S. Soccer, Chicago, IL, 1998
Comments Karl - Well, this does have the sense of the first shot being fired on Ft. Sumter, yes. I can't possibly predict what will happen in this war between USYS and Super Y, or even understand the underlying politics and machinations. But I do admit, Super Y would seem to have the better player identification model. No question that scouting players over multiple games in a league situation is far, far better than the tryout process. The catch, of course, is that you've gotta be in Super Y to qualify. With its extensive travel and typically expensive clubs, Super Y doesn't seem to be for everybody. Still, that's quibbling. It's nice to see somebody challenge the status quo with what looks to be a thorough, well-considered plan.
Re; Queiroz Reference Citing from the $500,000 reference "A key component of the programs is the restructuring of elite youth competition to include interstate competitions at the U14, U16, U18 levels and a National Youth Professional League at the U19 Level. The aim of this restructuring is to provide a gradual natural progression from youth soccer, up through the ranks of the professional level It must be emphasized that this restructuring is not a criticism against the Olympic Development Program (ODP) which has been the backbone of American soccer scouting in these formative years. ODP will continue to carry most of the load of identfying players, but would gradually give way to the proposed programs, which provide a much broader scope for the future". For sure USISL picked this part up. If they would cut PDL down to U19 and emphasize pro development versus extra play for college players, a system close to Queiroz's report would be in place.
Re: Re; Queiroz Reference Dan...VERY interesting. I hadn't gone back to look at the Quieroz Report, but I think based on what you note here, I will have to dust it off and look at it again. If, for some reason, the states and USYSA start balking at the increasingly prominent role of the Super Y/US Club, the Federation can simply point to the recommendations of the the Querioz report as, in part, the "authority" for evolving in this fashion.