Player Evaluation

Value is often a common word that comes up when a family or player thinks about ODP and their experience. As players develop throughout their career their ability in specific capacities of the game will vary and influence performance. Often players and their families are in search of feedback, assessment or a rubric to know whether their son or daughter is developing on the pathway towards becoming the player they want to become. 

Dakota ODP values the importance of providing tangible feedback and assessment of players. We believe this is one unique way in which the program can serve players in a unique way compared perhaps to their club or high school experience. Below is a description of our evaluation process for players in Dakota ODP.

What do local club and Dakota ODP staff based their evaluation of players on?
The 6 Key Qualities of a US Soccer Players 
*Read and Understand the Game. Make Decisions
*Optimal Technical Ability
*Optimal Physical Ability
*Demonstrates Bravery
*Takes Initiative
*Takes Responsibility for their own Development 

**Examples of each below**

Read and understand the game. Make decisions
*Based on positional roles and responsibilities, a player makes decisions that influence the team's ability to move the ball forward, backwards, side to side, to create chances and score goals.
*Attacking Example: #6 (holding midfielder) - Understands that linking play side to side can create openings for herself and her teammates to move the ball forward. Makes decisions in training and games where this is visible.
*Defending Example: #10 (attacking midfielder) - Understands she can funnel the opponent with the ball in front of her to one side as it will force the opponent into a more compact space. Makes the decision to bend her run to seal off one side where the opponent has only two options to play the way she’s being forced or backwards.

Takes initiative
*Based on positional roles and responsibilities, a player demonstrates taking initiative that influences the team’s ability to move the ball forward, backwards, side to side, to create chances and score goals.
*Attacking Example: #9 (central forward) - Takes initiative by making various runs to receive the ball from a teammate or to pull the opponent out of spaces.
*Defending Example: #5 (right central defender) - Organizes the group early to drop off, get organized and compact as the opponent prepares for a goal kick.

Executes with optimal technical ability
*Based on positional roles and responsibilities, a player demonstrates a technical skill that influences her ability to solve a problem and the  team’s ability to move the ball forward, backwards, side to side, to create chances and score goals.
*Attacking Example: #2 (outside right defender) - Prior to receiving a pass, the player positions her body such that her next decision can be excuted. The decision is to dribble into space, her first touch allows her to move forward with pace up the field. 
*Defending Example: #3 (outside left defender) - Uses proper mechanics to delay opponents in 1v1 situations (staggered stance, moves feet, makes self big, gets low to the ground).

 Executes with optimal physical ability
*Based on positional roles and responsibilities, a player demonstrates  the physical abilities necessary (speed, agility, quickness, strength)  that influences her ability to solve a problem and the team’s ability to move the ball forward, backwards, side to side, to create chances and score goals.
*Attacking Example: #7 (outside right midfielder) - With the ball at her feet dribbling, decides to dribble past her opponent. Her first steps are explosive (speed/quickness), her change of direction separates herself from the opponent, she uses her body to seal off the defender (strength).
*Defending Example: #4 (left central defender) - Wins aerial dual from goal kick, times jump, using body to gain position on opponent. 

Demonstrates bravery
*Based on positional roles and responsibilities, a player demonstrates bravery which influences her ability to solve a problem and the team’s ability to move the ball forward, backwards, side to side, to create chances and score goals.
*Attacking/Defending Example: #1 (goalkeeper) - Comes off her line early to intercept a through ball. Initiates the attack by immediately switching it to allow the team to move the ball forward quickly. 

Takes responsibility for own development and performance
*Based on positional roles and responsibilities, a player takes responsibility for their own development and performance which influences future behavior and performance of herself and the team.
*Example: Player reflects in the evenings after training and games  by completing a self assessment in her IDP.

PLAYER RATING SCALE 
5 Major Strength - A players best quality or strongest weapon to perform well REGION ODP PLAYER 

4 Consistently a Strength - A quality a player has that they are able to replicate over and over again to positively impact their performance individually and within the team REGION ODP ID CAMP PLAYER

3 Competent with room for Improvement - A quality a player has that they can execute well in the right conditions (time, space, on preferred foot. etc.,), but could improve with planning and intentional action DAKOTA ODP STATE POOL PLAYER

2 Inconsistent in executing - A quality a player can demonstrate at times, but cannot rely on either under pressure or even with no pressure. 

1 Significant opportunity for growth - A significant deficiency in a players ability to demonstrate a specific quality

EVALUATIONS OCCUR AFTER EACH ODP EXPERIENCE A PLAYER HAS - PLAYERS CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM THE COMPANY 'TEAM GENIUS' WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF HAVING AN ODP EXPERIENCE