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ODP Tryout Prep: Part 1, Dr B
U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy, the ECNL, and ODP serve as excellent gateways for youth soccer players to get valuable exposure to college coaches with the coveted D1 scholarships, with some “full rides” worth in excess of $100,000. Who are the frontrunners to receive these handsome scholarships to the nation’s college soccer powerhouses? The players who are selected to the regional and youth national teams. For many, their journey begins in ODP. Therefore, in this seven-part series, I’ll explore what separates these elite players, the top ~100 in each age group, from the rest.
First, let's consider where these players come from. With regard to the chart below, on the U.S. Soccer web site (You can visit it and check the calculations I’ve already done for you), is a list of players’ names and their respective club affiliations. These players were all recently
called up for national team camps. The ECNL/Academy column represents those players whose club teams are in the ECNL, the Academy, or both. This is but a representative sample. U.S. Soccer, as you likely know, doesn’t, at any given time, necessarily list the rosters of every YNT or “pool,” providing not just players names, but also their respective affiliated clubs. Therefore,
I used the representative sample from information currently available.
National “Pool” Player ECNL/Academy Affiliation
G U15 (24 players) 62.5%-ECNL/Academy
37.5%-No affiliation to ENCL/Academy
B U14 (48 players) 85.5%-ECNL/Academy
14.5%-No affiliation to ENCL/Academy
G U17 (30 players) 60% ECNL/Academy
40%-No affiliation to ENCL/Academy
FYI: I’m not affiliated with U.S. Soccer, the ECNL or the Academy, and am not here to debate which route a player takes to get to a youth national team is the best one. I just know that a
large percentage of these regional and national youth team players, estimated in upwards of 90%, at least at the beginning of their ascension to the top, attend ODP trials. For many, it’s the starting point of their quest, though their journey might take them elsewhere later. Also, draw your own conclusions about the B U14 data. I’d like to hear what theories are out there. I included this data to show that, contrary to some player, parent and coach perceptions, not every soccer player on a national youth team plays in the ECNL or Academy.
I’ll remain anonymous throughout the seven-part series, with my goal to write and post a new part every two or three days. What I will tell you is this: At seventeen, I was selected to the U19 YNT, and at eighteen began playing professional soccer. With a keen interest in what separates these players mentioned above from the rest, while watching four ECNL
championship and nine league games, as well as six Academy league and four championship games, I collected data on “performance benchmarks” for some of these players (N=19), many of whom I saw on either regional or national rosters in 2013, who are included in the list above. While the sample size is not as large as I would like—I will augment it significantly during the next year by adding players from other age groups—the results are interesting and offer valuable insight into these elite players’ performance levels, ones ODP aspirants should, during this upcoming tryout, try to match to increase their chances of being selected.
There are, I suggest, “seven critical facets” of player performance that are taken into consideration, in addition to less important ones, during the selection process by ODP coaches. The first one I’ll discuss is one- and two-touch play. Using a 30-minute game segment for assessment, the results for the national team “pool” players are as follows:
National Team “Pool” Player 1- and 2-Touch Play in ECNL/Academy Games
Boys U14
(N=7)
Touches
1 26%
2 29% (54% for 1- and 2-touch)
3 14%
Girls U17
(N=7)
Touches
1 22%
2 37% (59% for 1- and 2-touch)
3 9%
Girls U15
(N-5)
Touches
1 21%
2 27% (48% for 1- and 2-touch)
3 8%
What this limited data suggests is that national team “pool” players, U14-U17, play 1- and 2-touch soccer 48% to 59% of the time during high-level games (ECNL/Academy). So how do these numbers match up with players who, for whatever reason, have yet to be selected, but
want to be, at the regional or national team level? This is what I recommend you find out to determine how close they are to matching the 1- and 2-touch performance standards of those who have been chosen at the highest levels of ODP.
It’s easy for a parent to do: While watching your son or daughter at the next game, take a 30-minute segment of the game and, with pen and paper in hand, note the number of touches he or she uses on each possession, then calculate the percentages. Wingers, in particular, I’ve
noticed, take significantly more touches on the ball than do the other nine field players. Please adjust accordingly.
Why is playing such a high percentage of 1- and 2-touch soccer so important for a player who wants to be selected in ODP? At the ODP regional or national team level, the game demands it. At times, the pace is exceptionally fast and furious; players are very physical; they’re excellent athletes who are exceptionally quick and can, at will, apply tremendous pressure. As a result,
to be successful in this challenging environment, efficient and effective distribution of the ball is essential.
Players have to let the ball run, pass it with as few touches as possible. This helps the team maintain “purposeful possession” and gives opponents less time to react and get behind the ball. Plus, players are less likely to get stripped of the ball by hanging onto it too long. Invariably, elite ODP players demonstrate, time and time again, that they can do using only 1-
2 touches what lesser players need, or take, 3+ to do.
From my experience in ODP as a player, I recommend to any player hoping to get selected in ODP at any level, even at the open tryout, the following: During the scrimmages or “showcase” games, play 1- and 2-touch soccer; use three or more touches on the ball only when you have to. Doing so will separate a player from the rest. Also, I always recommend that youth players emulate the pros, so it’s important to take into consideration some 1- and 2-touch soccer
statistics I collected from the 2014 World Cup. Collecting data from seven games (using all players on both teams) using seven 25-minutes segments, the results are as follows:
World Cup 2014 1- and 2-Touch Play
1-touch 39%
2-touch 29% (68% for 1- and 2-touch)
3-touch 9% (77% for 3 or fewer touches)
4-touch 5%
5-touch 7%
6- touch 3%
7-touch 2%
8-touch 2%
9-touch 3%
10-touch 1%
There isn’t any reason, by the way, that youth players shouldn’t aim for these WC goals.
Remember, the ODP youth-player data above indicates “averages.” Therefore, some individual players scored higher with regard to 1-3 touches than the group’s listed average.
As a learning tool, parents can have their child watch a Premier League game, for example, and have him or her (10 minutes is enough) collect data on the number of touches players are
taking.
The highly efficient and effective play a player demonstrates by using as few touches on the ball as possible, is but one of the “seven critical facets” of player performance in which these elite players excel. There are six more. In two or three days, be on the lookout for Part 2 of this seven-part series, to be titled “ODP Tryout Prep: Part 2 (Intelligent Soccer).
U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy, the ECNL, and ODP serve as excellent gateways for youth soccer players to get valuable exposure to college coaches with the coveted D1 scholarships, with some “full rides” worth in excess of $100,000. Who are the frontrunners to receive these handsome scholarships to the nation’s college soccer powerhouses? The players who are selected to the regional and youth national teams. For many, their journey begins in ODP. Therefore, in this seven-part series, I’ll explore what separates these elite players, the top ~100 in each age group, from the rest.
First, let's consider where these players come from. With regard to the chart below, on the U.S. Soccer web site (You can visit it and check the calculations I’ve already done for you), is a list of players’ names and their respective club affiliations. These players were all recently
called up for national team camps. The ECNL/Academy column represents those players whose club teams are in the ECNL, the Academy, or both. This is but a representative sample. U.S. Soccer, as you likely know, doesn’t, at any given time, necessarily list the rosters of every YNT or “pool,” providing not just players names, but also their respective affiliated clubs. Therefore,
I used the representative sample from information currently available.
National “Pool” Player ECNL/Academy Affiliation
G U15 (24 players) 62.5%-ECNL/Academy
37.5%-No affiliation to ENCL/Academy
B U14 (48 players) 85.5%-ECNL/Academy
14.5%-No affiliation to ENCL/Academy
G U17 (30 players) 60% ECNL/Academy
40%-No affiliation to ENCL/Academy
FYI: I’m not affiliated with U.S. Soccer, the ECNL or the Academy, and am not here to debate which route a player takes to get to a youth national team is the best one. I just know that a
large percentage of these regional and national youth team players, estimated in upwards of 90%, at least at the beginning of their ascension to the top, attend ODP trials. For many, it’s the starting point of their quest, though their journey might take them elsewhere later. Also, draw your own conclusions about the B U14 data. I’d like to hear what theories are out there. I included this data to show that, contrary to some player, parent and coach perceptions, not every soccer player on a national youth team plays in the ECNL or Academy.
I’ll remain anonymous throughout the seven-part series, with my goal to write and post a new part every two or three days. What I will tell you is this: At seventeen, I was selected to the U19 YNT, and at eighteen began playing professional soccer. With a keen interest in what separates these players mentioned above from the rest, while watching four ECNL
championship and nine league games, as well as six Academy league and four championship games, I collected data on “performance benchmarks” for some of these players (N=19), many of whom I saw on either regional or national rosters in 2013, who are included in the list above. While the sample size is not as large as I would like—I will augment it significantly during the next year by adding players from other age groups—the results are interesting and offer valuable insight into these elite players’ performance levels, ones ODP aspirants should, during this upcoming tryout, try to match to increase their chances of being selected.
There are, I suggest, “seven critical facets” of player performance that are taken into consideration, in addition to less important ones, during the selection process by ODP coaches. The first one I’ll discuss is one- and two-touch play. Using a 30-minute game segment for assessment, the results for the national team “pool” players are as follows:
National Team “Pool” Player 1- and 2-Touch Play in ECNL/Academy Games
Boys U14
(N=7)
Touches
1 26%
2 29% (54% for 1- and 2-touch)
3 14%
Girls U17
(N=7)
Touches
1 22%
2 37% (59% for 1- and 2-touch)
3 9%
Girls U15
(N-5)
Touches
1 21%
2 27% (48% for 1- and 2-touch)
3 8%
What this limited data suggests is that national team “pool” players, U14-U17, play 1- and 2-touch soccer 48% to 59% of the time during high-level games (ECNL/Academy). So how do these numbers match up with players who, for whatever reason, have yet to be selected, but
want to be, at the regional or national team level? This is what I recommend you find out to determine how close they are to matching the 1- and 2-touch performance standards of those who have been chosen at the highest levels of ODP.
It’s easy for a parent to do: While watching your son or daughter at the next game, take a 30-minute segment of the game and, with pen and paper in hand, note the number of touches he or she uses on each possession, then calculate the percentages. Wingers, in particular, I’ve
noticed, take significantly more touches on the ball than do the other nine field players. Please adjust accordingly.
Why is playing such a high percentage of 1- and 2-touch soccer so important for a player who wants to be selected in ODP? At the ODP regional or national team level, the game demands it. At times, the pace is exceptionally fast and furious; players are very physical; they’re excellent athletes who are exceptionally quick and can, at will, apply tremendous pressure. As a result,
to be successful in this challenging environment, efficient and effective distribution of the ball is essential.
Players have to let the ball run, pass it with as few touches as possible. This helps the team maintain “purposeful possession” and gives opponents less time to react and get behind the ball. Plus, players are less likely to get stripped of the ball by hanging onto it too long. Invariably, elite ODP players demonstrate, time and time again, that they can do using only 1-
2 touches what lesser players need, or take, 3+ to do.
From my experience in ODP as a player, I recommend to any player hoping to get selected in ODP at any level, even at the open tryout, the following: During the scrimmages or “showcase” games, play 1- and 2-touch soccer; use three or more touches on the ball only when you have to. Doing so will separate a player from the rest. Also, I always recommend that youth players emulate the pros, so it’s important to take into consideration some 1- and 2-touch soccer
statistics I collected from the 2014 World Cup. Collecting data from seven games (using all players on both teams) using seven 25-minutes segments, the results are as follows:
World Cup 2014 1- and 2-Touch Play
1-touch 39%
2-touch 29% (68% for 1- and 2-touch)
3-touch 9% (77% for 3 or fewer touches)
4-touch 5%
5-touch 7%
6- touch 3%
7-touch 2%
8-touch 2%
9-touch 3%
10-touch 1%
There isn’t any reason, by the way, that youth players shouldn’t aim for these WC goals.
Remember, the ODP youth-player data above indicates “averages.” Therefore, some individual players scored higher with regard to 1-3 touches than the group’s listed average.
As a learning tool, parents can have their child watch a Premier League game, for example, and have him or her (10 minutes is enough) collect data on the number of touches players are
taking.
The highly efficient and effective play a player demonstrates by using as few touches on the ball as possible, is but one of the “seven critical facets” of player performance in which these elite players excel. There are six more. In two or three days, be on the lookout for Part 2 of this seven-part series, to be titled “ODP Tryout Prep: Part 2 (Intelligent Soccer).
Never trust anyone who is not prepared to put their name to a document .
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