Director of Dakota ODP Sums up 2016

Transcription

1 Volume 1; Issue 6 Page 1 BREAK OUT YEAR FOR DAKOTA ODP & DIRECTOR, STEVE KEHM IN THIS ISSUE Director of Dakota ODP Sums up 2016 by Steve Kehm, Director of Player Development The summer is almost over and we have wrapped up another ODP Season. We had great success and as a result many firsts were accomplished. Or coaching and administrative staff did an amazing job and it showed in the numbers and success of our players. We had several players attend Region Camp and some of those players have secured spots on the Region 2 Team in their respective birth years. We also have one player who has been invited to the National Team Camp, an extremely exciting turn of events for Dakota ODP. I want close this article with a little more information about ODP. With the Olympics right around the corner we are all gearing up to watch our Women's National Team got for the Gold. Here are some interesting facts about ODP concerning our last Olympic Gold Medal in The women's national team won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. But look deeper: of the 18 players on the roster, 17 spent at least part of their youth playing in the U.S. Youth Soccer's Olympic Development Program. The program is a vital part of the development in many accomplished soccer players, and it's set up so everyone has a chance to try out. Founded in 1977, the ODP is designed to improve the overall level of soccer from the ground up, and is accomplished through open tryouts and the organization of state teams that play against each other. Close to 100,000 players between the ages of 12 and 17 participate in ODP every year. Actual seasons vary by state, but can start as early as November and finish as late as June. Every state has an ODP program, and the hierarchy expands up to four regions and-- for the elite--a national camp. Anyone within the age parameters (teams are separated strictly by birth year) has a chance to try out. The experience could lead to increased exposure to both national coaches and college coaches. In addition, your skills will improve under the direction of select coaches. We hope to see even more of you in the program when we get started with the tryout process early this winter. Steve Kehm, Director of Dakota ODP CORNER KICK With REX SDSSA President, Rex Rolfing, attended the US Youth Annual General Meeting in Frisco, TX. Page 2 REGISTER FOR FALL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Dates and locations are set for Fall Champions League Page 2 SDSSA Camp of Champions It was a great kick off to SDSSA summer camps! Take a look at how our first summer camp went in Aberdeen Page 3 GET TO KNOW OUR DAKOTA ODP REPRESENTATIVES AT REGION II We have profiles from ten of the 17 Dakota ODP players that represented us at the Region II ID Camp in Saginaw, Michigan. Page 3 REGION II PRESIDENTS CUP Three teams experience success at the 2016 US Youth Region II Presidents Cup this last month! Find out what they thought of their experience! Page 4

2 Page 2 CORNER KICK by Rex Rolfing; SDSSA President As Jeremy indicated, we are in Frisco, TX to attend the USYSA Council Meeting and a Region II meeting. It is even hotter down here than in SD!! Here are some highlights: Region II meeting: The Midwest Regional League continues to be very popular with teams and an example for others to copy. The USYSA according to their rules requires a Primary Regional League Administrator. The regional Technical Director was appointed to this position. MRL Sub-Committee assignments were also made. The President s Cup produced a lot of discussion. Some rule changes are being looked at such as changes in the guest player rules, distance teams are allowed to live from the venue without having to secure hotels for the tournament, should we add 12-U and 18-U age groups. More discussion will follow. We had a lot of discussion around ODP. It is not carrying its own weight and needs some changes to fulfill its mission and cost. Rich Jensen was elected Region II chair and Jim Martella was elected Vice Chair and Regional Representative. Our (ND, MN, SD) Northern States Soccer League charter was approved. It is coming in the spring. We had a long discussion surrounding the budget. It has been customary for Region II to support a negative budget (the MRL has come in with more revenue than projected which makes up the difference). The staff was directed to put together a balance budget for our consideration in October. This is only a summary. The minutes will be available soon online. In August I will discuss the USYSA AGM that was held this same weekend. Changes are coming!!! Rex Rolfing, President SDSSA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IS BACK FOR FALL!! Sign your teams up for the 2016 Fall season of Champions League! This fall South Dakota State Soccer Association is providing two dates to supplement your Fall season plans with some in-state competition that will give your players quality competitive games based on ability instead of age. This fall the two dates will be September 10 & 11 in Aberdeen, SD and September 24 & 25 in Sioux Falls, SD. You can play one weekend ($50 per team) or two weekends ($100 per team). If you want to play ONLY on Sunday please specify on your team application. Every team must register individually this season through the state website. Due to communication and registration issues we faced last spring we are asking each team manger or coach to register their teams for the league. Join us for a fun fall season of Champions League!! Some fun and exciting updates are coming in Spring 2017!!!

3 Page 3 Get to Know Our ID Camp Participants As mentioned by Dakota ODP Director, Steve Kehm, on the front page this Dakota ODP cycle was one for the books!! We wanted to highlight the players who were selected to represent North and South Dakota at the Region II ODP ID Camp in Saginaw, MI. These players were selected two ways; by their participation in last year s Region II ODP pool or team, and they were identified at the Subregion Tournament in Sioux Falls by coaches from the Region II staff and the Nebraska and Kansas ODP staff. This month we will highlight 10 of the athletes who attended the ODP ID Camp and how they saw the experience benefit their development as soccer players. At the Region II ODP ID Camp our athletes from the Dakotas had the privilege of training along side the best athletes from 12 other state soccer associations in the Region II ODP system. The Region II staff were the highest caliber coaches selected from clubs, states, and colleges to provide a top level experience for the players. Congratulations to these 10 young men and women!! I hope you enjoy reading their stories! II ID Camp? Playing and training with such high level players 4) What was the biggest challenge you faced at Region II ID Camp? Playing at the level of the others players 5) How has ODP this year made you a better soccer player? It made me stronger mentally, tactically a better player, and my technique improved First Name: Noah 2002 Boys Team: Minot Magic Left Wing Favorite Team: Seattle Sounders Favorite Food: Baked Potatoes First SDSSA Summer Camp a Huge Success! Coach Lopez and the campers had a great week! The first edition of the SDSSA Summer Camp was a big success in Aberdeen, SD this past month. Here are a few numbers about the campers who attended our inaugural event Two states represented (ND & SD) this year with Dakota ODP? Skill From 14 different cities and clubs level normal club environment? More players my 35% of the campers were preparing for high school soccer this fall age 3) What did you enjoy most about the Re Our coaching staff had gion II ID Camp? Coaching and improved accumulated 15 licenses skills and diplomas over a 25 years of combined coaching Camp? Ian Barker; the Region II ODP Director and national Director of Coaching EducaThe weather was perfect in tion for the NSCAA Aberdeen, SD for the week, 5) How has ODP this year made you a better and the players left camp soccer player? Speed.. Going at a faster wanting more soccer! The reviews regarding pace Coach Lopez were so amazing we might be forced to ask him back for another year! First Name: Pablo 2003 Boys Team: FM United Attacking Mid Favorite Team: Manchester United Favorite Player: Ibrahimovic Favorite Food: Pizza this year with Dakota ODP? Playing with players from all across the Dakotas Continued on Page 4 normal club environment? A much higher level of players and coaches Check the state website later this month for some video footage of our camp recap! Look for 2017 dates in November!

4 Page 4 ID Participants First Name: Taylor 2003 Girls Nickname: Tay Team: Dakota Alliance SC Attacking Mid Favorite Team: USWNT & Seattle Reign FC Favorite Player: Megan Rapinoe Favorite Food: Pasta 1. What did you enjoy most about your experience this year with Dakota ODP? Getting to play with other good players from both North and South Dakota, and great coaching. 2. How is Dakota ODP different from normal club environment? In ODP, everyone is there to be the best and play at a higher level, unlike club where some players are there just to have fun with their friends. 3. What did you enjoy most about the Region II ID Camp? I enjoyed many aspects of the camp, such as, higher level of competition, classroom sessions - specifically game video breakdown, and coaching staff. 4. Who were your coaches at Region II ID Camp? I had five different coaches: Sarah, Ian, Lisa, Chris, Katie 5. What was the biggest challenge you faced at Region II ID Camp? Playing new positions was the biggest challenge for me. 6. How has ODP this year made you a better soccer player? It's made me more adaptable to new positions and I need to know how to play them all. It also taught me the things that I need to improve in order to be better. First Name: Ma- Liah 2003 Girls Nickname: Burkey Team: Minot Magic FC Right Forward Favorite Team You Follow: US Women's National Team Favorite Player: Ronaldo Favorite Food: Wings this year with Dakota ODP? I enjoyed having both indoor and outdoor trainings and tournaments. normal club environment? It is a faster pace. II ID camp? Learning how to be a better soccer player and playing with teammates who have lots of talent. Camp? Sarah, Lisa, Ian, Chris, Katie 5) What was the biggest challenge you faced at Region II ID Camp? My biggest challenge was not knowing many people since it was my first year there. soccer player? It has helped me realize what I am really good at and what I need to work on to become better. First Name: Saylor 2002 Girls Ice Cream Team: Dakota Alliance Forward Favorite Team: US Women s National Team Favorite Player: Mallory Pugh Favorite Food: Cookie Dough My favorite thing about Dakota ODP was scrimmaging other State ODP Teams. On the last day of the Sub Regional Camp, we mixed up our state teams and played a scramble game. I enjoyed playing with and against people I never met before. Compared to my normal club environment, Dakota ODP introduced me to new people from different cities. Although I had never played with my Dakota ODP team before, we seemed to connect well and learn each other s strengths and weaknesses by the end of camp. In my opinion, the best thing about the Region II ID Camp was experiencing a new speed of play. It took awhile to get used to having to play the ball so quickly, but by the time I left camp I felt like a better player. For the majority of the camp I was coached by Dawn Crow (UW Stevens Point Head Coach and former US Women s National Team member). My biggest challenge at the Region II ID Camp was being creative as an attacker. The defenders at the camp were very good at closing space and gaps for the ball to be played into, which forced me to think more about my decisions as an attacker. Through ODP, I can tell my decision making and assertiveness has improved. I was challenged in ways I have never been before. Playing with new players shows you different styles of the game. First Name: Ethan 2000 Boys Nickname: Gliss Team: Dakota Alliance SC Central Defensive Mid Favorite Team: Manchester United Favorite Player: Arturo Vidal Favorite Food: Steak this year with Dakota ODP? I enjoy playing with different players and being trained by different coaches. Playing with different coaches and players helps make you a better player. normal club environment? Playing with ODP is different because your playing with other top players from other clubs and more players with high skill levels. II ID Camp? The challenge of playing against other good players and the classroom time. Camp? Gareth Smith (Drake University Head Coach, and Reid Ayers Baldwen-Wallace College Head Coach and Youth National Team scout) Continued on Page 5

5 Page 5 ID Participants 5) What was the biggest challenge you faced at Region II ID Camp? Getting comfortable and not worrying about the mistakes 6) How has ODP this year made you a better soccer player? I learned how to make better decisions with my passing. Also when its better to dribble or better to pass. First Name: Lindsay 1999 Girls Team: Dakota Alliance SC Center Mid Favorite Team: USWNT Favorite Player: Carli Lloyd Favorite Food: Sushi I always love getting a chance to see and play with girls from home and all over the state that I normally wouldn t get to play with. Competing well together in the tournament that was held was also very rewarding. Maintaining good mental toughness throughout the week was a hard thing for me at first. Learning about all the accomplishments that some of the other players from other states had made was kind of intimidating. Once I got through the first full day, I realized that it was truly a blessing to be able to play with some of these high level players. Soon my mind was back on the right track. I was also able to talk with Jo, another 99 player, and I think we really helped each other out. We supported each other and were both able to play at that high level as well throughout the week. There were so many things that I learned from ODP this year. Many of those things came from the camp in Michigan. The speed of play was something that I learned I needed to be able to adjust to faster. At the same time, from talking with the coaches at camp, they understood where I was coming from and really helped me out by giving me things I can be doing outside of practice that will help me in that area. Overall, going to Region II ID camp opened my eyes to other areas of my game where I can work to improve, making me a better player now and in the future. I think that the camp gave me a real taste of what the college level is going to be like and will definitely help me when I make that transition. I think the main difference between ODP and my club is the group of girls that you are playing with. I have been with the same club team for many years prior to this year of ODP, so I have a good understanding of how the girls on my team play. I haven t known some of the girls that were at ODP as long, so adjusting to their style wasn t too terribly hard. It just took a little bit longer to find a rhythm when we would all play together. First Name: Hailee 2000 Girls Nickname: Hishy Team: Dakota Alliance Soccer Club Goalkeeper Region II camp was an experience that I Favorite Team : will never forget. For me, going to camps, Chelsea being social and meeting new people is Favorite Player: Hope Solo something I always look forward to. I liked Favorite Food: Fettucine Alfredo working with a different coaching staff and Have you committed to college? Yes, South different players that were at a very high Dakota State University. level. The 99 girls head coach was Markus Roeders from Marquette University Continued on Page 6 UPCOMING STATE EVENTS SDSSA Fall Champions League Join us this fall for two dates of competition against teams from all over the state to help supplement your fall league schedule. Teams will be matched up based on ability level to provide quality games for the development of the players. Sept in Aberdeen, SD Sept in Sioux Falls, SD Teams can sign up for one date; $50 per team per weekend plus referee costs; guaranteed two games per weekend (if you want three must request). More details at SDSSA FUTSAL STATE CUP MAKE SURE YOU SAVE THE DATE TO ATTEND SDSSA S 1ST ANNUAL FUTSAL STATE CUP! When: JANUARY 20-22, 2017 Where: MITCHELL, SD Online registration will open November 1st for teams to register ; so start putting your teams together for your chance to be South Dakota s first representatives at the North Central Regional Finals!

6 Page 6 ID Participants this year with Dakota ODP? Getting to compete against and play with high level players. I really enjoyed getting to know people from all over the Dakotas. normal club environment? It's different in the sense that we got to play with girls from a variety of other clubs and they bring their own style of soccer to Dakota ODP. It's fun to come together and mix the styles. II ID Camp? Definitely meeting new people! And just having fun playing with them and getting to know them on/off the field. I developed some great friendships with girls from all over our region. Camp? Head coach: Paul Webster 5) What was the biggest challenge you faced at Region II ID Camp? The biggest challenge I faced at Region II ID Camp was getting comfortable. I was the only Dakota ODP 2000 girl, but I got to know a teammate from IL that had been at the camp many times before and she helped show me the ropes. Then I was just able to enjoy and learn! soccer player? It has made me a better soccer player this year because it helped me gain more confidence in myself and my abilities as a goalkeeper. I think that anytime you are forced to go outside your box of comfortability you grow not only as a player but as a person. It was a great experience! First Name: Rayni 2002 Girls Forward Favorite Team: US Women s National Team Favorite Player: Lionel Messi or Megan Rapinoe Favorite Food: Grilled Cheese this year with Dakota ODP? It was my first time playing with teammates from different states and Coach Eric gave me suggestions on how to improve on my game. normal club environment? There is more communication on the field and quicker play. II ID Camp? Playing at a more competitive level and learning more about the phases of ODP and what you need as player to be able to move on. 5) What was the biggest challenge you faced at Region II ID Camp? I was surprised at how fast the level of play was, this helped me improve on making quicker decisions before I get the ball. soccer player? The coaches helped me with my attacking runs: diagonal, straight, crossing, going in front of the player. First Name: Reece 2003 Girls Attacking Midfielder Favorite Team You Follow: FC Barcelona Favorite Player: Lionel Messi or Tobin Heath Favorite Food: pizza this year with Dakota ODP? Meeting new players and coaches. normal club environment? It is more intense and faster play. II ID Camp? There was good competition and it was a great opportunity to improve on skills. Camp? Sarah Cook; University of Mary Head Coach 5) What was the biggest challenge you faced at Region II ID Camp? This was my first year attending the camp and the level of competition was impressive. There were many good players representing their individual states. soccer player? I know what I need to improve on such as long balls and taking shots from further distances.