ODP

I just returned from New Jersey from the Region I Olympic Development Program Tournament.  I was pleased (and to be honest, pleasantly surprised) at the progress and play shown by our boys (PA West, 1998).  However, I have to say, watching and ODP tournament, it is easily seen why, in spite of our massive participation numbers, we fail to develop players to the highest levels.

While individual skill was shown, watching 1997 and 1998 players, the level of understanding of the shape of the game -- that is, basic application of principles of play, was fair at best.  The understanding of width was generally limited to the weakside wide midfielder going high and wide.  As central midfielders were rarely mobile off the ball, nor did they look two passes in advance, even that rudimentary width was never exploited.  Instead, the most common method of buildup was one pass into the midfield, and then a ball launched over the top or into the corner.  Although many players possessed the skill to possess and penetrate, the default setting of most squads appeared to rely on big balls, and the athleticism of the forwards to catch up.

I always tell my players I cannot make them better -- I can only give them the tools to improve, but they are responsible for their own game.  Watching the ODP tournament, theoretically the second tier of our player development in the US (the first being the players in the Developmental Academy system) and comparing them to the tactical understanding of same age players in England, I wonder if we, as a coaching fraternity, are giving those kids the tools.  We have little time with the ODP squads (due to weather, I believe we had a grand total of five outdoor training sessions in PAWest) and I´m not sure we are really making a positive impact.

That said, I have to say I was pleased with the performance and improvement of our lads.  After the first day, we tasked them to think of something they did well, and something they could improve upon for the second day.  I could tell in the way they approached the game on Sunday morning, they certainly did.  We played with intelligence and a bit of a cutting edge.

I don´t have any Earth-shattering insights on our next step of improvement, either the 1998 PAWest boys squad or the Olympic Development Program as a whole.  However, I will be thinking about the details of what I can do to be a little better, give the lads a few more tools, a little better learning environment next year.  If I´m not improving, I don´t deserve to work in youth soccer.