Technique: A player’s individual technique on the ball and how it is applied to the demands of the game will be our focus, i.e, passing on the ground or passing in the air.

Tactics: Each player will be evaluated on how they carryout their individual and team tactics during the course of the game. More specifically how they adapt when defending, attacking, time, score and adjustments made throughout the game.

Fitness: Each player will be evaluated by their speed/agility, strength/power, recovery and overall game fitness.

Psychology: Each player will be observed on their positive attitude on and off the field.

The SYL ODP Scouting Network is looking for players that possess a combination of these components and more importantly how they apply these to the demands of the game.

Q: What will the SYL ODP Scouts look for in a Goalkeeper?

A: The goalkeeping position is unique and requires different skills to be evaluated. The areas in which the goalkeeper will be evaluated are:

• Shot-Stopping (defending their goal)
• Dealing with crosses (defending the 18-yard box)
• Connection with the backline (defending the space behind the defense)
• Distribution (Throwing, rolling and feet)
• Organization/Communication skills (set pieces)

The SYL ODP Scouting Network is looking for goalkeepers that possess a combination of these components and more importantly how they apply these to the demands of the game.

Q: Can I be on both the State ODP Teams and SYL ODP Teams, and what is the difference?

A: Yes. Both programs offer equal opportunities to be identified for U.S. National Team Programs.
The difference is the SYL is that the identification for SYL Regional ODP teams is based around your league play within the SYL. The National Scouting Network contains coaches within the club system to identify players. Each of your coaches in the club are part of the scouting program.

If you are one of the players that does not react well to the state open tryout system or do not react well with unfamiliar players, this system will be able to help you get identified if you have the abilities to go to the next level. You also may be one of those players that plays better on your club team. The National Scouting Network will look at players over the course of a season, so you don’t have to worry if you don’t perform well in a few games because there will be plenty of games.

Just as other national teams throughout the world utilize the club system to identify players, we recognize that the club system is the most important means to identify players. The US Soccer National Staff Coaches will then scour players at the Regional ODP weekends to identify players for US National Team Programs.

Q: The ODP Regional ID Weekends are during October. What if I have High School soccer at the same time?

A: No matter where you are in the country there will always be a conflict somewhere. Some High School seasons are in the spring, some are in the fall and some are in the winter. Prior to the start of the High School season, you should have your parents notify your High School coach and athletic director in writing that you have been selected to the Regional ODP Identification Weekend which is a sanctioned program of the United States Olympic Committee and the United States Soccer Federation. Since the Regional ODP Weekend will be on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday, you should miss minimal High School soccer activities.

Criteria for evaluating goalkeepers

The goalkeeper is a unique position on a soccer team and requires special attention when it comes to evaluating them. Listed below are criteria of the attributes the top goalkeepers should possess as well as aspects of their game they should be accomplished in. Goalkeepers playing at a high level like that of the Super-Y League should be an accomplished in the following areas.

SHOT-STOPPING (Defending their goal)
• Handling
1. Do they catch balls they can handle or do the parry them?
2. Do they make simple plays look difficult or difficult opportunities look easy?
• Range
1. Do they stop shots within their frame or can they cover a large area of the goal?
• Angle play
1. Does he make himself look big when he closes the shooter down or does he stay on his line and look smaller?

DEALING WITH CROSSES (Defending the 18-yard box)
• What kind of range does the goalkeeper have – handling crosses inside the six yard box/twelve yards out/18 yards out?
• Does the goalkeeper catch most of his crosses or does he box balls that he should handle?
• Decision-making: does he come/stay when he should depending on the service?
• Can the goalkeeper initiate a counter-attack after receiving the ball?

CONNECTED WITH BACK FOUR (Defending the space behind their defense)
• Is there a large gap in between the defense and the goalkeeper (i.e. – Is the goalkeeper inside his six yard box while the ball is on the other side of the field?)
• Are there opportunities for the opposition to play balls behind the defense, and how did the goalkeeper handle those situations (decisive, courageous)?
• Were there any scoring opportunities that were eliminated by the goalkeeper being able to come out and win ball (dealing with through balls/decision-making)?
• What kind of information does the goalkeeper give to the players in front of him: organizing defense, talking to teammates when in possession?
• Is the goalkeeper an option for defenders to play into (11th attacker)?

DISTRIBUTION
• Ability to deal with back passes from teammates (with left and right foot).
• Ability to distribute with feet (off ground; punt; drop-kick; goal kicks/dead balls).
• Ability to distribute with hands (throw, bowl).
• Decision-making: When to try to initiate a counter attack and when to slow the game down; when to throw vs. bowl/ kick vs. punt? Can they keep possession or are they creating 50-50 opportunities?

ORGANIZATIONAL/COMMUNICATION SKILLS
• What kind of environment does the goalkeeper create – is there a lot of commotion inside their 18-yard box or is it organized?
• How does the goalkeeper deal with set pieces?
• How does the goalkeeper interact with their teammates – does the goalkeeper ‘fix problems before they happen’ or does he/she scream and place blame after goals are conceded?
• What kind of information does he give his teammates after he distributes to them?