E M A G G N I V L O THE EV October, 2017
Issue 42 Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Coaching Newsletter
A Letter to ODP Players Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer recently released the rosters for ODP Callback Tryouts, the second phase of ODP tryouts. Technical Director Mike Barr penned this letter to share with players on how to deal with setbacks and triumphs. The Olympic Development Program is primarily developmental in nature but also a program to recognize players who have potential to make regional and national teams. The players who made the ODP pool teams, and possibly ODP, have been recognized as being the elite players in their age Mike Barr group among the thousands of players who play soccer in Eastern Pennsylvania. Eastern Pennsylvania For those selected, your success is quite an achievement. Our goal is to provide top-level training Youth Soccer Technical Director and competition to all the players and to assist each of you in reaching the next level. Only through hard work and commitment can you expect to achieve that goal. Youth soccer has changed dramatically since I first began coaching. The pressure to make travel teams and to be judged on your playing ability at seven or eight is the new norm and has created an environment that chips away at the enjoyment soccer once brought to children. Adults determining who will be the better players in years to come face an impossible and unrealistic task. I find a great deal of satisfaction when I see a group of kids playing on their own, because we as adults often lose sight that soccer is just a game and meant to be fun. For many of you, this may be the first time you did not make a team, but you bravely stepped forward and approached trying out for ODP knowing there was a possibility you would not be selected. To face that possibility means you are willing to take on an endeavor that may result in failing. For younger players, it was an experience outside your comfort zone. This setback and working outside your comfort zone should make you successful in the future. Examining so many players in only two tryouts is a difficult task. Though we have numerous evaluators present, we as coaches sometimes overlook a player's ability in the tryout process. In past years, many players have come back to make ODP the following year. Others who were cut have come back to compete as regional team players, and in two cases, players who were cut were actually selected for U.S. Youth National Teams. Two of my four children did not make ODP when they first tried out but went on to have success playing soccer in college. Coaches are human and very capable of making mistakes in the identification process. Don't be discouraged, but understand all of us may be faced with other selection processes throughout our lives. The secret to future success may be failing at something you really want. If you are willing to persevere and overcome what may be perceived as shortcomings by others, you will achieve success and recognition. Numerous artists, athletes, actors, politicians, inventors, CEO’s and musicians failed for years before achieving success. Thomas Edison failed 1,000 times before developing the light bulb. He did not see the attempts as failures but 1,000 steps towards his invention. Carli Lloyd was cut from the United States Under-21 team. Morgan Brian did not make her ODP team and is now a star on the U.S. Women's National Team. I draw inspiration constantly from the commencement speech of Naval Admiral and ninth commander of the Special Operations Command William McRaven at the University of Texas in 2014. I suggest every Inside: An parent sit down with their child and absorb the information he provides to those graduates. Here is one small portion from that speech as he Interview with describes Navy SEAL training. I think it’s a powerful inspiration of how failing can only make you better in all your endeavors. Keep in mind Russell Payne 1,000 recruits make it to SEAL training, but only 250 complete the rigorous tests: