John Napier reporting from ODP in Moscow, Idaho - July 2011
John Napier is one of the greatest youth coaches in Southern California. A coach for the ODP (Olympic Development Program) and for the San Diego Soccer Club, Napier has been developing soccer players for decades. Here is his latest column on ODP's player development program and camp for SoccerNation.
As the new head coach of the ODP 96 girls, I have really been looking forward to our week at Regional Camp in Moscow, Idaho.
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| Regional Staff left to right: John Napier, Matt Potter Head Regional Coach G96 (Washington State), Twilla Kaufman (Pepperdine University), Ali Khosroshahin (USC) |
Since the selection process was completed, I have not had the chance to work with these girls, and in some cases, I was still putting names to faces at the airport. So this week would be very important both for me and the girls to get to know each other as players and coach. I had narrowed the traveling group down to 18 soccer players from the initial 58 girls that came out to tryouts, and I made sure everyone knew up front that past reputations did not mean much to me.
I wanted players with good technical abilities, total commitment, passion and desire to play this great game, and be part of our team going forward.
A lot of things we coaches can help players with; we can help them technically and tactically with parts of their game, but the player's desire and passion for the game has to come from them. Also, being mentally prepared is important, being mentally tough is a large component in today’s game, especially on the girl’s side.
I feel I selected the players that fitted the requirements needed and the style of play I wanted to implement with this group.
Our goal is to represent Cal South in a National ODP final next March, 2012 so we have a long road and many obstacles to over come.
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| Head Coach John Napier and his ODP '96 Girls at camp |
The breakdown of the soccer club players that traveled is:
- So Cal Blues (6) players.
- Arsenal FC (4) players
- West Coast FC (4)
- San Diego Surf (2)
- CV Manchester (1)
- Legends FC (1)
Most of this group plays for high profile soccer clubs in Southern California and are used to playing at the highest level, some already have played on the U15 National team and others have been in the US Pool for training.
We arrived in Moscow on Monday afternoon the 4th July; we flew from LAX to Seattle and then another fight to Pullman, Washington and short bus ride to Moscow. We were to spend the next six days at the University of Idaho, along with all the other western states of America, known as Region 4
As viewed by the region as being one of the strongest groups, we were going to find out a lot about ourselves real fast as Cal South was selected the play the best of the other western states in a Tuesday night showcase game, where all the other kids watch and want to be on the field!The Girls ODP 97 groups were also in camp the same week, so we had 420 young players, no doubt someone or more than one will one day play in a World Cup, that is their “dream” and so it should be.
We did pretty good. The final score was 2-2 after we had a 2-0 lead for a long period of the game. I felt we were the better technical team and dominated the first half, after the interval we got a little sloppy at the back and gave a couple back. But overall very good performance, I was very pleased at the way we were trying to retain possession in all areas of the park, I am a big believer of players being comfortable on the ball and wanting to play their way out of trouble, takes a little time but we will get it done.
Wednesday afternoon we were matched up against our great enemy from the north (Cal North), these are always hard fought games with a lot to prove, and mainly champions of (California) anyway that is how the kids look at it!
Again we displayed good character and patience coming from a goal down to win 3-1, I know the result should not mean too much in these showcase games, especially when you have all the Regional Staff coaches watching along side a National Coach, but everyone of these kids want that “W”.
Head Regional Coach Platini Soaf was present most of the week along with, the G96 Head Regional Coach Matt Potter (Washington State) and his staff. They will select the final 36 girls that will be invited to be part of Region 4, and participate in games across America and in foreign countries in the next 12 months; needless to say all these players want to be in that final 36.
All the Cal South girls were invited to play in the invite games each evening, we would have a couple of games going and the Regional coaches would be observing every move, pass, and tackle. The goalkeeper sessions were impressive; there were 7 goalie staff coaches who put the goalies through a very intense program every day. I watched a few of those sessions and it certainly was going to bring out the best in those young ladies.
Thursday we had a match up with the Colorado team, our girls came out fired up and took a strong lead early on, the final score was 5-1 but I was more impressed with the girls ball movement, they really took it to a higher level. That is what I got out of that game. As the week goes bye I am starting to see a good pattern develop, we are showing a good comfort zone with the ball, our spacing and movement is much better, it seems the more we get to play together it is starting to click. Our back line has been showing a good understanding, and wanting to play out of the back as we had stressed from day one. It has only been a few days and we have 18 players from 6 different clubs, so that is really pleasing to everyone.
Our final game on Friday would be against Washington, they are a pretty strong side, and probably a little bigger than we are in certain areas, also show a lot of passion for the game. This would be a good test, but once again we did dominate with good possession soccer and a good result at 3-1.
Overall this was a “great get to know you week” the girls worked really hard on the field and their attitude off the field was exceptional, just a pity the week was too short, those are the weeks you just want to continue on!
A special thank you to our great team manager “Raelene” she did a great job with both the 97 and 96 girls, always on time, always had the right colors, and made my job a little easier.
FINALLY THE BIG DAY ARRIVED, SATURDAY MORNING THE 9TH OF JULY.
Matt Potter the G96 Head Coach would name the 36 players that would make up the Regional Pool. Then everybody would depart for their home states. I was pretty confident after the week’s performance we would be well recognized by the staff, I hope so, and these girls played their hearts out.
THE FINAL COUNT OF CAL SOUTH GIRLS MAKING THE REGIONAL POOL WAS (14). Which is exceptional, I felt sorry for the four girls that did not make it, but we talked and I know they will step up even higher next time, being a little biased I think we deserved some more in there, but that is ok.
I was very happy for all the girls, they set the standard very high, so we will see if we over achieved or is this just the beginning.
We all arrived back at LAX on Saturday night and headed home to all parts of Southern California.
Really an exceptional week.
I am so fortunate to be able to coach such a talented group of players, to have the best of the best at this age group in the hot bed of youth soccer Southern California is a coach’s dream.
We won’t meet up again till late December, and we will get ready for Regional Championships in Phoenix Arizona in late January 2012, and hopefully a National Championship in March 2012.
John Napier Girls 96
ODP Head Coach
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