In a pilot program that may expand to other age groups in future years, Eastern New York Youth Soccer will change the way its 1996 Boys and Girls ODP state teams are selected for the 2007-08 years by choosing teams using more localized initial tryouts via what ENYYSA is calling “District ODP” teams. The 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992 and 1991 Boys state ODP teams and 1995-1990 Girls teams will be chosen as per the past for the 2007-08 year.

“What we are piloting is what we believe can be a more family- and player-friendly ODP selection system that cuts down on the amount of travel and time required to participate in state ODP,” says Barry Salter, ENYYSA president. “The new pilot system can provide more opportunities for players to be seen prior to selection for the State ODP team and will, at the end of the state selection process, create an environment where played can be seen in real competition, where they can be better evaluated.

Specifically, during the coming fall, players in the 1996 boys and girls age groups will tryout for local “district”/ league select teams managed by ENYYSA’s member leagues. Players would tryout in the areas in which they are registered in their clubs. For those who do not want to tryout for a local select team, there will be a tryout in the early spring for what the state association is calling an “open” team.

In ODP South, there will be a Long Island Junior Soccer League Select team, a Cosmopolitan/Staten Island Select team; a Big Apple/Metro Kids Select team and an Open team. In ODP North, there will be a Westchester Youth Soccer League Select team, a East Hudson Youth Soccer League Select team; a Hudson Valley/Counties United Select team, a Capital District Youth Soccer League Select team and an Open team.

After teams are selected via local tryouts by each local “district”/select team, local practices will be held throughout the winter and early spring. Age group state ODP coaches would attend these winter and spring practices to view/evaluate players and help the district/league coaches conduct training sessions.

During April or May, ENYYSA would conduct a State ODP Tournament in which District/Select teams would play in a tournament format. The state coaching staff would attend the tournament and identify players to be selected for State ODP teams.

After the tournament is completed, State ’96 ODP teams consisting of 18 plus 2 alternates would be selected. Players would be picked based on evaluations during the District/Select ODP practices and performances during the State ODP tournament.
Once selected, State ODP teams would then practice as teams the second and third Monday of May and first weekend of June. Teams would then attend the Region 1 ID tournament held the second weekend of June, then go back to their local district/select teams for the rest of June for practices and then reconvene at the Region 1 ID camps on their respective dates in July.

So that district/select coaches can focus on correct development/identification factors in initially picking players and then training them, ENYYSA’s State Director of Coaching would provide input to each “district’s” Director of Coaching/Head of Select on coaching curriculum and what state is looking for in selecting state players. The State DOC will also meet regularly with District DOCs/heads of Select to solidify coaching curriculum/player selection factors.

“We will use this new system with our youngest group this year and see how it works. We’re hopeful that this new system will be a better way to select ODP players and if it is we will expand the program to other ages in the future years,” Salter said.
IMPLEMENTATION (continued):

Player Selection

· ’96 District ODP teams would conduct tryouts in during the September/October/November time period...pools of 25-30 should be selected to leave enough players to play league Select tournaments during the summer.

--State association would also conduct open tryouts for Boys North and Girls South and Boys South and Girls South at time to be determined.

· After District ODP pools are selected, District ODP teams would then practice a few times during the winter and then all through April.

· Age group state coaches would attend these winter and April practices to view/evaluate players and help the district/league coaches conduct training sessions.

· On first weekend of May – or on another date or dates to avoid state cup or premier league conflicts -- ENYYSA would conduct a "State ODP Tournament” during which District ODP teams would play in a tournament format. Tournament format to be determined. The state coaching staff would attend the tournament and identify players to be selected for State ODP teams.

· State ’96 ODP teams consisting of 18 plus 2 alternates would be selected after the Tournament. Players would be picked based on evaluations during District ODP practices and performances during the State ODP tournament.