03/04

by sukiakiman 8/25/2014, 12:37 pm

So what are people's thoughts on ODP yesterday? was told there were 150 kids in attendance. It was hot as hell. Not sure I have an opinion yet.

by Soccer27 8/25/2014, 3:13 pm

Opinion. It was hot!! Boys looked like they had fun. Two more try outs left. Will be interesting to see how the selection will be made with last year 03s keeping their spots depending on how many are returning.

by nopassnoplay2 8/25/2014, 4:06 pm

Saw some kids that can really play, then some kids like mine (bubble kids at best), and finally some kids that made me scratch my head as to why they were even out there.

by studsup77 8/25/2014, 4:14 pm

nopassnoplay2 wrote:Saw some kids that can really play, then some kids like mine (bubble kids at best), and finally some kids that made me scratch my head as to why they were even out there.

Have to agree...I think the coaches probably identified potential during the first 10 minutes - first touch was probably a weeder. It was interesting to see how some kids really excelled at small sided play and completely flopped on 1v1's. Should be interesting how the coaches rate this and accept 'developing talent' as opposed to the kids who just focus on toeing the ball in from distance to score.

BTW - almost too hot to be out there.

by sukiakiman 8/25/2014, 4:47 pm

Pretty sad that only four boys out of 150 could do over 50 juggles. Not sure how many slots are open...will be interesting if any 04s get a look.

by studsup77 8/25/2014, 4:52 pm

sukiakiman wrote:Pretty sad that only four boys out of 150 could do over 50 juggles. Not sure how many slots are open...will be interesting if any 04s get a look.

Educate me - are they only filling slots for 03's? I thought they were filling 03's and building a new 04 team.

by sukiakiman 8/25/2014, 5:03 pm

I think it is filling up 03

by Number13 8/25/2014, 5:09 pm

My understanding is that they will build a combined 03/04 group. Last year was first year they did it with two years, so they did 02/03 last year. This year 02s become their own group, and I bet they have (max) 30 '03s returning from last years 02/03 group. If last year was a guide they want 108 combined kids, so they will take half or so from the ones out there now to bolt onto the returning 03s. And if this was the first session, there will be a lot less by the last session if last year's pattern holds. Maybe I'm wrong.

I don't know what kind of juggles were going on, but if you just get one shot at it I could see where the % of kids who could do 50 (under scrutiny) might not be that high.

by allen04 8/26/2014, 9:25 am

Two more try outs left.

So they are having a make-up session for the rain out?

by Soccer27 8/26/2014, 9:39 am

Yes the boys were told that there will be two more sessions.

by allen04 9/8/2014, 9:12 am

Went last night for the first time. Son had a good time. The pool (100+) was only together at the beginning and end. Beginning they did typical warm ups with skills, even from the sidelines you could tell which kids were struggling and which were on autopilot. They broke the kids out by age and 1st time, 2nd time attendance.

Pull out groups were about 12-14 kids with a coach. They did short sided games and 1v1's; with the kids keeping score and track of who beat whom along with the coach and his clip board. My son's group ended the evaluation period with 11v11, '03's vs '04's. No coaching or instructing, just observing the kids; exactly how it details on the ODP website. Rough play and slide tackling was addressed by coaches, but that was it. Event was well organized and once the groups were pulled moved at a good pace, probably too quick of a pace for some (mix in a salad).

I was surprised how out of the pool my son only knew two other kids. I maybe recognized 3 or 4. I was not surprised by the rush for parents to start claiming teams as 1st, 2nd, 3rd. Rolling Eyes

by mpcls55 9/8/2014, 11:52 am

Did you feel as if the talent pool was at a high standard? Just curious, as I had heard from another 03 that a large percentage of the kids were lacking in the technical ability department.

by sukiakiman 9/8/2014, 12:10 pm

I think there were some decent kids. Since my son has played with the 04 group for sometime despite being an 05 player he knew quite a few boys. That being said there were a lot of talented kids that weren't participating which would have made it more competitive.

by fan1527 9/8/2014, 12:11 pm

There was certainly a mixed bag of talent and awareness. Also, lack of chemistry as boys did not know each other. But you could tell the over dribblers, and the kickballers, from the kids that were trying to open up the field with passing even if it wasn't executed.

by Soccer27 9/8/2014, 12:21 pm

The scrimmages were nice to see yesterday. Don't know which one was the 03v04 field but there was one game going on that both teams played really well. A lot of touches, passing, communication. Keepers actually played ball out instead of punting.

by allen04 9/8/2014, 12:35 pm

Did you feel as if the talent pool was at a high standard?

Yes or No? Overall, I'd go with No, it is open tryouts.

I would say 4 of the 14 in the '04 group my son was with knew how to create space and move without the ball. Top half could dribble with their laces and had first touches that wouldn't kill them. The '03 group training on the same field had 5 or 6 with good tactical skills and 3/4 showed decent foot skills, I didn't watch them as much and it is likely during the scrimmage a couple of them never even touched the soccer ball.

Maybe I just watched a good group but there was only 2 or 3 that were getting frustrated and struggling to at least compete and forced to use their bodies versus their skills. There was only 1 kid I thought was wasting his time and others. I give all of them credit for coming out.

Honestly for my son it was perfect. He had match ups that tested him and match ups he built confidence on. We stressed that the coaches would be watching the whole time so he needed to pressure himself to perform well.

by mpcls55 9/8/2014, 12:58 pm

allen04 wrote:

Honestly for my son it was perfect. He had match ups that tested him and match ups he built confidence on. We stressed that the coaches would be watching the whole time so he needed to pressure himself to perform well.

Just based on that statement, it sounds like it was a success!

by donovansucks 9/8/2014, 2:50 pm

We were in the first timer group (03) and my kid said he had fun. It was organized and well run. I thought the 1v1 ran a bit long but I was told they had to compete against each kid before finishing that "drill". Agree with the other comments about talent, skill, technical ability, etc. My son said he recognized a few kids from Solar Gold, Toshack, Ayses, Trevino, Pritchett and maybe Ayvar.

by Fanofson 9/9/2014, 3:41 pm

Any more dates?

by sukiakiman 9/9/2014, 3:51 pm

next Sunday

by Fanofson 9/9/2014, 4:04 pm

Time/location?

by sukiakiman 9/9/2014, 4:23 pm

Same time same place. East field college mesquite. 5.30

by Soccer27 9/15/2014, 11:15 am

What did y'all think of the last try outs? Nice to see kids out there playing with no screaming parents or coaches. Just out there using their creativity and having fun

by allen04 9/15/2014, 11:37 am

Last night was nice. Son said it felt shorter than last week but I think that was because he was playing 11v11 the majority of the time.

There does appear to be a lack of defenders. My son volunteered last week in the scrimmage and this week they didn't even ask, coaches just put him back there.

I don't know how this ODP experience will play out or how long my son will go with it (assuming he makes the team); but the tryout process has been a fun experience and would definitely recommend to others and would do again if necessary. I did chuckle at the end when Williamson (sp?) told the boys they were the 'best of the best'. Slight stretch to say the least.

by sukiakiman 9/15/2014, 12:04 pm

allen04 wrote:Last night was nice. Son said it felt shorter than last week but I think that was because he was playing 11v11 the majority of the time.

There does appear to be a lack of defenders. My son volunteered last week in the scrimmage and this week they didn't even ask, coaches just put him back there.

I don't know how this ODP experience will play out or how long my son will go with it (assuming he makes the team); but the tryout process has been a fun experience and would definitely recommend to others and would do again if necessary. I did chuckle at the end when Williamson (sp?) told the boys they were the 'best of the best'. Slight stretch to say the least.

Had a parent who had been there before with his older son and he said he gave the same speech to them! LOL....Overall i think it was good....there were a lot of good players not in attendence...but there were some quality players there...just wish the pool was a little larger