Did anyone get to the ODP subregionals this weekend?

I was in Winston-Salem this weekend with the 2002 Boys, great weekend of soccer and the boys played well.

The 2002 boys won four games and lost two but played very well. The boys were split into two balanced teams while some other states it was apparent did a true A and B team. Technically the boys are very good and have a great understanding of the game, ability to possess the ball for long periods of time and build through all three thirds of the field. Many times there were stretches of eight to ten passes in a row built up from the back. I wouldn't say they have a particular area of strength as they do well in all positions on the field, it speaks to the quality of the players as many are asked to play a different position on ODP versus their club team, we have forwards that play in the back, holding mids that play attacking mid, mids that play forward, etc. The team plays a 4-3-3 typically so the understanding between the three mids is vital and may be different as most teams play with traditional outside mids in a four mid formation, the outside backs are encouraged to get forward and overlap to join into the attack.

Great group of boys

GK's did good as well, a few of the games they were under some pressure based on the team make ups I mentioned above (ours balanced vs true A and B teams from other states), they are instructed to build from the back (no punting and utilizing outside backs on goalkicks) while other states allowed their GK's to punt and allowed their GK's to just launch goal kicks. Once other teams become aware that our GK's are not going to punt and look to outside backs for goalkicks they are going to high press and create potential turnovers, which happens from time to time however the boys will be better for it as they get older and have a better understanding how to adjust and direct their teammates in those situations.

Technically all the GK's are very sound and work hard.

Too early to tell, one of the players from last year got pulled to the 2001's this year I believe, lots of very good players on the 2002 but I wouldn't say any are head and shoulders above the rest, just a very good collective group.

Though I am a parent and not a coach, I thought that there were at least 2 or 3 kids on each team who had "dominant" impacts on the games and stood out from the everyone else. That doesn't take away from the high level of play from everyone else. That also does not mean that these players will be national team type players. First, people don't realize how good those older Georgia players are. Carleton and Torres, and some of the others are arguably once in a generation players. Also, being "dominant" in some of these games doesn't necessarily mean they are "talented" enough for National team duty.

In essence, there were 2 questions asked by blueronin: 1) did anyone stand out?; and 2) is anyone looking good enough to go on to become a national team player?
My thoughts: 1) Even though the entire group played well, there were some standouts on each team; and 2) I agree with SF30--too early to tell.

I watched half of the 02 girls.  They were split into two groups.  I heard both won all their games.  The group I saw played North and S Carolina and Tenn. They split the group so 1/2 played the first half and then the second group came in. I don't know all of the girls, but it appeared that kids that were in the program last year were mostly in the first group.  The next game the teams were the same but the second group started first.  Third game some kids were moved to the 'A' (for lack of a better description) team and some moved down.   With girls this age it's hard to tell what they'll be in a couple of years but there were some really good players out there, including a couple in the 'newer' group (who might have been around last year for all I know)!  In any case, it appeared to be a good platform for the coaches to evaluate for the next step.