Cal South ODP – The Right Way
By: Mike Saif – Editor, WORLD CLASS COACHING magazine.

At the 1997 USYSA Convention, then National Team coach, Steve Sampson presented his vision of an Olympic Development Program to the presidents of all 55 state associations.  His vision was a selection system based on scouting rather than the traditional tryouts and as National Team coach, his hope was that this vision would be taken on board by each state association.  CYSA-South believed in that vision and when Sampson resigned as National Team coach in 1998, they offered him the position of Technical Director with responsibility of developing the CYSA-South Olympic Development Program (ODP) and making it the best in the country. 

Since then CYSA-South ODP has proven to be the most successful ODP program in the country on the soccer field.  Their success can be measured by the fact that they have won six of eight National ODP Championships over the last two years.  An incredible achievement when you consider that 10 other states have more registered youth soccer players than CYSA-South. 

It has also proved to be a hit off the field with the players and coaches of Southern California as more top players are now involved with the program and just as importantly, it is supported by more of the club coaches than the previous system ever was.

So why did Steve Sampson feel the need for change?  And what are the criticisms that are often directed at ODP?  For reference, please check out a previous article by me and a response by April Heinrichs.  These can be found on the WORLD CLASS COACHING web site at http://www.worldclasscoaching.com/editorials.asp  It is also worth looking at the current ODP system and how and why it was initiated.

About 30 years ago the ODP program was started as a way of identifying and developing players for the state, regional and ultimately the national team pools.  Back in those days soccer was still a relatively new sport in this country.  Many of our competitive teams, even in some major metropolitan areas, were still coached by enthusiastic parents.  Back then ODP was organized to have regular district/state training sessions which were conducted by “experienced, knowledgeable coaches”.  These regular training sessions were important for the development of our better players.  Teams and players were glad of the opportunity to attend these regular sessions and get much needed training and exposure of “professional” coaches. 

Over the last 30 years the ODP program has pretty much stayed the same with states holding regular district and state tryouts/training sessions to form teams.  Regions conduct ODP camps to select the players that are sent there by the state associations.  And the players for the youth national team pools are selected from these regional camps.  However, youth soccer has changed dramatically in the U.S. over the last 30 years.  Every major metropolitan area and smaller cities and towns now have literally dozens of highly qualified, experienced coaches involved with the major youth soccer clubs.  Our youth players are now receiving quality coaching 2 – 4 times a week with their club teams.  Our clubs are now producing some exciting young players that compare favorably with some of the world’s best. 

Over the last 12 months I have talked with ODP coaches, ODP players, club coaches and club players from across the country, I have found the following to be the main criticisms of ODP:

• Too time consuming – our top players have complained that the regular district and state tryouts/practices are just too much on top of an already hectic club schedule.
• Unnecessary tryouts – our top players don’t feel they should have to attend tryouts year after year, often alongside 50 or more players of lesser ability.  They feel the coaches should know their ability level based on play with their clubs and previous ODP events.
• Poor selection process – many players complained that they were played out of position, and therefore weren’t given a good opportunity to show their ability during tryouts.  Others complained that tryouts were an artificial environment to play alongside other players that they didn’t know and to try and fit into often, unfamiliar team shapes, patterns and styles of play.
• No benefit from state and district tryouts/practices – our top players receive quality coaching with their club teams 2 – 4 times a week and therefore didn’t really benefit from ODP practices.
• Conflicts with club events – the regular state and district tryouts/practices often caused conflicts with club events.  Not only did this create tough decisions for players but it also created a lack of support from club coaches.

Another damning indictment to the traditional ODP system came up when I posed a question to the players and coaches of the U17 & U18 age groups.  The question was, “Does the fact that it will help your college recruiting chances have an impact on your decision to participate in ODP?”  Unbelievably, the vast majority (approximately 80%) said it was either “The only reason” or “The main reason” why they participated in ODP.  In other words, our top U17 and U18 players are saying that apart fro enhancing their college recruiting chances, they don’t see much value in the current ODP system.  Admittedly, it isn’t a scientific survey, but go ahead and ask the question yourself and see what kind of response you get.

In other words, ODP needs to evolve to fit in with the way that youth soccer has developed over the years.  Our best players don’t need the regular state and district practices anymore.  They receive all the quality coaching they need at the club level.  As for holding tryouts to select our players, this method is outdated and should be replaced or at the very least complimented by a scouting system.

Why scouting and not tryouts?

Over the years some of our most highly regarded coaches have recognized the need for ODP to refine its system to reflect the major development in youth soccer, and have campaigned for changes.  During his time as National Team coach, Bob Gansler realized the limitations of tryouts when attempting to put together a U20 National Team.  When he was Director of Coaching for U.S. Soccer, Bobby Howe wrote an article advocating that ODP to be brought up-to-date and for the district, state and regional tryout system to be abolished in favor of a system made up of scouting and inter-regional games.  And of course, Steve Sampson advocated the same system at the 1997 USYSA Convention.

As recently as the November 26, 2001 issue of Soccer America magazine, Bob Gansler, giving the reason why the Kansas City Wizards would not be holding a combine/tryout to evaluate players, was quoted as saying “I’ve always been of the persuasion that I like to see the creature in his natural habitat, so to speak, not in a trial situation or an all-star situation”.  The same article by Will Kuhns also stated, “Many MLS coaches base their draft-day decisions largely on the games they see during the college playoffs”.  There appears to be very little argument that players can be better evaluated playing for their own teams.  Plus it eliminates the club/ODP conflicts caused by state/district tryouts that alienate so many of our best players and club coaches.

So exactly how has Steve Sampson revolutionized CYSA-South ODP and turned it into the most successful in the country?  Quite simply, he addressed the major criticisms of ODP by implementing a scouting system to replace the regular district tryouts/practices and gained the support of club coaches by practically eliminating all conflicts with club events.

A look at the CYSA-South and the Steve Sampson ODP system

• Over 20 scouts work regularly at the sites of the major leagues and the non-affiliated leagues, scouting players.  Of these scouts, over 10 of them work regularly almost every weekend.
• Scouts don’t usually have any affiliation with club teams to avoid conflicts of interest.
• Some scouts work specific age groups.
• Players are scouted during the entire fall season and are evaluated in approximately 10 games.
• If a scout makes a recommendation the player must been seen by at least one other scout who would second that recommendation.
• Club coaches can also recommend players for evaluation by a scout.
• There are approximately 4 – 6 scout meetings during the fall season to discuss nominated players.
• At the end of the fall season the pools are selected.  A typical pool could have around 40 players, however, the younger age groups are usually larger than the older age groups.
• Steve Sampson selects the team coaches for each ODP age group.  Many of these coaches are college coaches, which again avoids any conflict of interest with club.
• Each ODP coach selects his own staff of assistants.
• The ODP pools train once a week on Sundays from December through February (agreed with the California Interscholastic Federation) at various locations.  Scrimmages are sometimes arranged within the pool or against other age groups.
• In February, each coach will release any players from the pool that don’t reach the desired level.  However, it’s important to note that these players could always impress the scouts enough to be invited back at anytime.
• The scouting process starts again in March when the clubs start playing their spring season.  New players or players that were released from the pool by the ODP coach can be added to the pool at this time.
• Pool training starts again in May as the club season ends.
• Players whose teams are still involved in State Cup, Regionals or Nationals do not need to attend the pool training sessions if it conflicts with club preparations.
• In June selections are made for the players to attend Regional Camp.
• In the past, 18 players have been selected from each pool to attend Regional Camp.  However, this year the intention is to send 36 players from each age group.

Notes

• Cal-South hosts it’s own International Tournament with overseas teams and other state ODP teams to give its players international experience and is also a fundraiser for the program.
• All players that make the ODP pools at all ages are invited to travel internationally.  These overseas trips include games against international teams as well as experiencing the soccer cultures of the countries visited.
• Instructional Camps are held in the summer and between Christmas and the New Year for U12 – U16 age groups to expose players to ODP coaches and as a fundraiser.

The million-dollar question is, if the current ODP system isn’t embraced by our top players and lacks the support of many of our club coaches, if our top coaches have all campaigned for changes to the tryout process, then why has change been excruciatingly slow or non-existent in most states?  A couple of reasons are often cited.

1. In other countries, the National Team coach and/or Director of Coaching is a position with certain responsibilities and decision making power to reflect those responsibilities.  His recommendations and visions for the development of soccer (after discussions and input with the various governing soccer bodies involved) are passed down and mandated.  For example, Gerrard Houllier, during his time as the French F.A. Technical Director, put together the current development system and academy structure that has been responsible for the rise of the French National team to the best in the world as well as the development of the many French players that are now gracing the best teams in the best leagues in the world.  However, in the U.S., the National Team coach and/or the National Director of Coaching are virtually powerless.  They cannot mandate their recommendations at the youth level.  USYSA is independent of U.S. Soccer.  And even USYSA is made up 55 independent states so the national USYSA office cannot enforce ideas, rules and regulations downwards.  Therefore, each state association is left to their own devices to implement their own rules and programs as they see fit.

2. There are many people, actively involved in the ODP system that have much time and energy invested.  Many of these people are involved administratively and see any change as a threat to their involvement.  So change is resisted.

There is hope on the horizon though.  Seven other states including smaller states like NM and larger ones like South Texas have all adopted the scouting methods and proved that regardless of size or location, scouting can and should be the method of identifying our best players.

I write this article, not to criticize or complain about our ODP system.  Nor do I write it to extol the virtues of Steve Sampson (I had never met him or spoke with him prior to my visit to observe his program).  This article is written in the hope that it will start a dialogue and hopefully spur changes for the betterment of our youth players and therefore, our future National Teams.

Nor do I write this article to condemn the coaches and administrators involved with the ODP.  I am advocating a change in the system, not the people involved in running the system.  In fact, I’m sure the same administrators and coaches would stay involved as ODP evolves and changes for the better.

The Olympic Development Program is an important system that is needed to identify our players at the elite level.  Every state should have a “State Team”, so should every region.  Our future National Team players need the experience of playing with the best and against the best.  It can only be good for them to be exposed to our top-level coaches at the regional and national level.  However, the current system fails by making our players jump through unnecessary hoops to participate in ODP at the state and regional level.  ODP needs to evolve and reflect the developments made by club soccer over the last 20 years.  I think we should listen to what our most experienced and knowledgeable coaches are telling us.  It’s time for change!