U-23 State Team Program
Purpose
To identify and develop outstanding amateur soccer players within North Texas for selection to State Select Teams and for advancement to Regional Olympic Development Program and the United States Olympic and National teams.
Objective
- Development
- Training
- Competition
- Evaluation
- Identification
- Selection
Overview
The North Texas Soccer State Amateur Select Team Program offers opportunities to amateur players in a broad range of age groups. Depending on their age, players will attend either District/Area Team Trials. The emphasis and focus for each age group will depend upon how that particular group fits into the Regional and National Team Program.
The North Texas State Team Program
Any player registered with the North Texas Soccer Association is eligible to participate in the Olympic Development Program. However, in order to advance beyond the state program, a player must be a United States citizen. Information about tryouts will be advertised in THE PITCH, sent to member associations, published in local newspapers, and mailed to interested players, as well as being available through the North Texas Soccer office.
The Process
- Tryout Procedures
- As stated previously, trialists must first attend tryouts for the State.
- Trialists are to wear shinguards (MANDATORY in the ODP), bring their own water, soccer ball,and a white and a dark T-shirt to the tryouts.
- An ODP registration form will be filled out at each different tryout location visited. A Medical release form will be given out to each trialist and must be completed.
- State Pool and Teams
- At the State level, North Texas will develop a Men's and Women's pool.
- Open/Invitational trials will take place to select the most talented twenty-five (25) players for the State Select Pool.
- State Pools will practice, on an average, once a week and will be involved in Sub-Regional competitions with other state teams in Region III, as well as exhibition matches in invitational tournaments. Eighteen players and an appropriate number of alternates will be selected from the state pool to form travel teams for any specific event. At the conclusion of an event, these players will return to pool status. Each event will require a subsequent selection for travel team positions. This selection will be made up of players from the previous travel team and the current pool. A greater training and travel time commitment will be required from the travel team prior to and Regional activity as our goal is to place as many players as possible on Regional teams.
- A small administration fee will be collected from all players in the State Pool along with the appropriate paperwork as requested by the Region.
- Regionals, tournament costs, and travel expenses are paid by the state association.
- Regional Pool and Teams
- From the twelve state associations in Region III, a Regional Pool is chosen. These players participate in a higher level of training and competition to qualify for the Regional Team.
- Successful Regional ODP Team Players eventually become candidates for Olympic and National Team recognition in direct competition with players representing the other three USASA regions of the United States.
Responsibilities
Players are to conduct themselves in a manner so as not to discredit State, Regional, or national programs. They are to show respect for teammates, coaches, opponents, referees, and property. Substance use/possession (drugs, alcohol, tobacco) is cause for immediate dismissal from the program. Participation in tournaments, camps and competitions is at the expense of the state association (i.e. travel, lodging) unless invited at Region expense or to National Camps, where some part of the costs may be defrayed.
Benefits of Participation
- Continued Development of Soccer playing ability.
- The opportunity to train and compete with and against talented players.
- Quality instruction from State and Nationally licensed coaches.
- Exposure to Regional and National Team coaches.
- The Opportunity to Represent one's State, Region, or Country.