North Carolina Youth Soccer Association
Olympic Development Program
Information
2016-17
Monday, March 13, 2017
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North Carolina Youth Soccer Association
P.O. Box 18229
Greensboro, North Carolina 27419
State Office 336.856.7529
Fax 336.856.0204
Players and Parents:
Welcome to the NC Youth Soccer Association Olympic Development Program tryouts! This
information packet describes the purposes of the North Carolina Olympic Development Program
and its focus upon the growth and development of soccer players within North Carolina. Also
included are a listing of North Carolina Olympic Development Program Events and a fee
schedule. The event and fee information is preliminary and subject to change.
The ODP program is designed to compliment a player’s club commitment. US Youth Soccer’s
ODP is not only the first and original ODP program, it’s the only elite player development program
that can claim members of Major League Soccer and women’s professional soccer leagues, as
well as a majority of current and past national and youth team members, as alumni.
The North Carolina Olympic Development Program demands a commitment to excellence as the
program offers the experience of being developed, exposed and identified by some of the State
and Region’s top collegiate, club and US National team coaches! Those participants who are
selected will be representing our state at an elite level of youth soccer.
If you have any questions about the tryouts or the Olympic Development Program, please email
or call. Again we thank you for your time and commitment. Good luck with tryouts!
Sincerely,
Bill Furjanic
Art Rex
Keri Jones
Bill Furjanic
Technical Director of Coaching Education
& Player Development
North Carolina Youth Soccer Association
[email protected]
Art Rex
VP of Player & Coach
Development
Keri Jones
ODP Administrator
[email protected]
(O) 336-856-7529
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What are the Parents Expectations?
NC Youth Soccer Association appreciates the time and commitment parents make on the behalf
of their sons and daughters. This information packet was developed in an effort to educate both
parents and players about the ODP process. Please utilize this information packet as a tool to
answer most of your questions as well as give you an insight into our ODP program.
IT IS THE PARENTS’ RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK E-MAILS AND OUR WEBSITE PRIOR TO
ALL TRAINING DATES. FIELDS CAN BE CLOSED UNEXPECTEDLY FOR REASONS
OTHER THAN WEATHER. Please pay particular attention to ALL deadlines and instructions for
various activities. Adherence to these dates is the key to reducing costs. IT IS THE FAMILIES’
RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPOND TO CORESPONDENCE FROM THE STATE OFFICE. Not
doing so in a timely fashion may jeopardize the players’ opportunity to participate in an event.
Parents are responsible for transporting players to and from training sessions, sub-regional
events and Region III camp.
The US Youth Soccer/NC Youth Soccer Association Olympic Development Program
Philosophy
Our Olympic Development Program is designed to identify players of the highest caliber on a
continuing and consistent basis for the purposes of developing their skills and abilities; and
creating sustained success for the U.S. National Teams at the international level.
The Olympic Development Program Provides Superior Benefits
The Olympic Development Program is an integrated and comprehensive approach that provides
benefits superior to other elite player concepts:
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Focus upon the individual player.
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Development of the individual player is enhanced as he or she trains and plays against
the best players in his or her age group.
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Development of the individual player is enhanced because he or she must learn to adjust
to varying groups of teammates. This 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.
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The highest quality of competition against the best of the best selected from the entire
state rather than one or two associations.
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Exposure to regional and national team coaches.
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Exposure to college coaches within the environment of the highest quality competition.
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The opportunity to represent North Carolina, Region III and the United States in domestic
and international competitions.
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Non-profit sponsorship and administration. Our Olympic Development Program is a not
for profit organization. Our goal is to be significantly less expensive than other elite
soccer concepts.
ODP Video – Click Here!
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How Are Players Selected?
Players are selected in North Carolina on the basis of open tryouts conducted by NC Youth
Soccer Association State Coaches, experienced college and club coaches. These coaches are
selected by the State Select Standing Committee, based on the coaches’ ability to identify and
train players with superior talents. Players can also be invited into the ODP program if they are
scouted and identified by our extensive ODP staff and scouts.
Selection of Olympic Development Program players is not an easy task. Players are evaluated
on the four components that make up a soccer player:
1. Technique
2. Tactics
3. Fitness and Athletic Ability
4. Psychological Component (attitude/desire for excellence)
What Will Happen at Tryouts - Policies and Procedures
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ODP goes by birth year, for example a player born in the year 2000 would try-out for the
00 age group.
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Dates and locations of ODP try-outs/ training sessions can be found on the ODP calendar:
http://www.ncsoccer.org/layout_container/show_layout_tab?layout_container_id=1804007
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In the youngest age groups (2004 & 2005 & 2006 birth years) players will attend try-outs
on November 20, 2016. They do not train on Saturdays. If the calendar shows two
times for the training date, players should attend both sessions!
All other age groups (00, 01, 02, & 03): Tryouts are Saturday & Sunday. Boys:
December 3rd & 4th, 2016 and Girls: December 10th & 11th, 2016. Players should
attend both days and both time slots!
Players will receive two numbered T-shirts
Coaches will receive a list with players’ designated numbers and first names only!
Players will be placed in small groups, rotate through games, etc.
Players will be assessed and identified by the ODP staff. The staff will determine those
players selected to the initial State Pool.
Coaches don’t immediately reduce to a team, but rather a player pool.
Communication with Identification and Selection
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All Players must currently be registered with NCYSA.
Player status after tryouts/training sessions will be posted on the NCYSA website, by the
following Tuesday afternoon at 5 PM.
Players must pay for all training sessions in which they are invited, whether in attendance
or not, to stay in the ODP Program.
Payment is due no later than 9 AM the Wednesday prior to training. Attendance is
notated during the payment process.
Payment can be made online. PLEASE DO NOT PAY AT THE FIELD.
If withdrawing from the ODP program please notify Keri Jones, ODP Administrator, via
email of your intentions at [email protected] Players need to notify the NC ODP
Administrator to formally withdraw from the program or they will be responsible for all
training sessions in which they were invited.
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What are Region Camps? (NC is in Region III)
US Youth Soccer is divided into four Regions. Region III offers a Region Camp for ODP
participants in each eligible age group. The camps are designed to develop the selected elite
players through high-level competition and training. During this training and competition, players
who are capable of performing at the highest level of play are identified for possible National
Team camp, Region Pool, or Region Team participation.
The NC Youth Soccer ODP/State Select program doesn’t provide transportation for players
attending sub-regional events and/or Region III Camp. Therefore, all players will have the
responsibility to transport themselves to and from sub-regional Events and Region III Camp in
Alabama.
The specifics, as well as the cost, of these Region camps will be provided by NC Youth Soccer
Association to all invited players.
National ODP Championship - North Carolina Guidelines
The Region III Representatives for the National ODP Championships are considered each year at
Region Camp and decided upon at the Region III Fall Meeting. Due to the unique opportunity
and the high honor this represents, North Carolina’s focus, if selected, is winning the National
ODP Championships, not only for our State but also for the Region. The following guidelines will
be followed for determining participation in the National ODP Championships.
1. Selection of Team (players and coaches)
a. The North Carolina team (both players and coaches), that is selected through their
performance during games at Region Camp, earns the right for the age group to
represent North Carolina and Region III at the respective National ODP
Championship.
b. The player’s age group that earns the right to attend the championship is not
necessarily the same players or coaches that will represent North Carolina at the
National ODP Championship.
c. The team that represents North Carolina at the National ODP Championship will
be chosen from:
i. Player pool of those players that attended or could have attended the most
recent Region Camp.
ii. Current player pool in that age group or from a younger age group.
iii. Age group head coach will be the head coach for the team at the National
ODP Championships (i.e. – if the 2000 age group is represented at the
Championship, the 2000 head coach will coach the team at the event).
d. If the age group head coach is unable to attend, he/she will be replaced by the
NCODP Technical Director of Coaching Education & Player Development or their
designee upon approval of the State Select Standing Committee.
e. All team members (players and coaches) must be in good standing with NCYSA
and NCODP.
2. Team Guidelines (players and coaches)
a. Players and coaches chosen to participate in the National ODP Championships
are required to attend at a minimum the January and February training sessions as
well as the February Sub-regional Event (currently conducted in VA). If not, they
cannot be selected for participation. Exceptions will be considered on an
individual basis. Acceptable exceptions are: Injury, personal hardship, and
participation in National or Region team call up and/or team participating in USYS
National Championship or President’s Cup National Championship.
b. All additional training sessions, those beyond the normal ODP training sessions,
must be attended by all players and coaches. These trainings are held in order to
prepare the team for participation in the championship. Exceptions will be
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considered on an individual basis. Acceptable exceptions are: Injury, personal
hardship, and participation in National or Region team call up and/or team
participating in USYS National Championship or President’s Cup National
Championship.
c. If any player misses the required training outlined in item a. and item b. above
without an exception, the player will not be eligible to participate in the ODP
National Championships.
d. It is important that players selected are injury free and able to participate at 100
percent for this event. While we understand that players want to attend this event it
is expected that they are honest with themselves, the team, the coaches and
NCODP when assessing their form and readiness to participate. Any players that
are rehabbing from injury or become injured leading up to the competition will need
a doctor’s clearance to participate or they may be replaced.
e. All individuals will be required to act in accordance with the Code of Conduct or
they will be released from both the team and NCODP.
3. General Guidelines
a. Participation in the National ODP Championship does not guarantee continuation
in the NCODP team selection process. Players representing North Carolina at the
National ODP Championships must continue to compete for the right to represent
North Carolina at their Region III events. They may be released from the pool at
any time after the National ODP Championship event.
What is a National Camp?
National Camps and Interregional Events are held throughout the year at various locations in the
United States. The National Team Coach or a National Staff Coach is present at these events to
observe, train, and identify players for placement in the National Pool or on a National Team.
How Can I Learn More?
NC Youth Soccer Association is committed to providing the highest quality Olympic Development
Program at the lowest possible cost and with fully informed parents and players. Additional
information can be found at www.ncsoccer.org or by contacting Bill Furjanic, Technical Director of
Coaching Education & Player Development and/or Keri Jones, ODP Administrator, as well as
members of the NCYSA staff at 336-856-7529 or [email protected] or [email protected] .
What are the Players Expectations?
NC Youth Soccer Association has rapidly become a leader within our Region largely due to the
strong clubs/associations in North Carolina. NC Youth Soccer Association provides several
avenues for the players to improve, but it is their own enthusiasm, and commitment to excellence,
as well as the support from their club coaches, that promotes them to the State, Region and
National Teams.
The Olympic Development Program expects a lot from its players:
1)
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Commitment to Excellence.
Work Hard – Play Smart!
Personal responsibility – each player must sign the Code of Conduct. Violation of this
contract will be dealt with fairly and firmly.
Attendance – players are expected to attend all training/competitive events, absences
for a training session must be notated during the payment process.
Please advise your Director of Coaching, Coach or Team Manager to avoid
scheduling games on ODP dates.
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What happens if I miss a Training Session?
Be aware that players are always being evaluated at every training session and players can be
released from the program at anytime. If you are going to miss a training session, please notate
during the payment process. Coaches plan their sessions early in the week based on the number
of players attending and we make arrangements for coaches based on expected numbers. The
sooner we know the number of players missing the better we can plan. ABSENCES SHOULD
BE NOTATED NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY AT 9 AM prior to a training session.
Remember that you are responsible for the training session fee regardless whether you
attend or not.
When are the final Pools Selected?
Coaches are always evaluating the players so that they can select the best players to represent
NC ODP. The final pool selection for the Region Camp in June/July will be selected after your
respective training sessions in April.
Tentative Budget 2016/17
Tryout Fee
$75.00
$90.00
$115.00
Register before October 31st – early bird fee.
On-line registration closes at midnight the Thursday
night prior to tryouts.
Walk-up fee if not pre-registered for try-outs.
Training Sessions
$240.00
$40.00 per session x 6 sessions
(The number of sessions is tentative and subject to
change.)
Boys Sub-Regional in NC
Girls Sub-Regional in GA
$160.00
Includes fees, coach’s fees (does not include
hotel, meals or transportation, 2005’s & 2006’s don’t
attend)
Sub-Regional in VA
Boys & Girls
$160.00
Includes fees, coach’s fees (does not include
hotel, meals or transportation, 2006’s don’t attend)
Region III Camp
$675.00
Includes room, meals & coach’s fees (2000-2004
Boys and Girls)
($250.00)
(Non-refundable Deposit is required for Region III
Camp by May 1st.)
Wilson Event
$160.00
Includes fees, coach’s fees (does not include hotel,
meals or transportation; 2005’s & 2006’s only)
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Total Estimated Cost
$1,310.00
(tentative and subject to change: 2000’s - 2004’s
Boys and Girls)
$475.00
(tentative and subject to change: 2005’s & 2006’s)
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Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is available for those that demonstrate a need. All players must pay the
registration/tryout fee. After this, families may apply for financial assistance. Financial Assistance
Applications will be emailed upon request by contacting Keri Jones, ODP Administrator, at
[email protected] . All financial assistance information needs to be in the office by
April 30th of each calendar year. Please apply early as funds are limited.
NC Youth Soccer Association Olympic Development Program is financially self-supporting. It will
be the policy of this administration to keep the total cost of this program as efficient as possible.
Costs are determined by facilities, hotels, coaches, transportation, entry fees and other projected
miscellaneous expenses.
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