ODP/RTC

What is the RTC ID Program?

Over the past 10 years, the Timbers and Thorns Regional Training Center (RTC) program has offered additional training and identification opportunities to younger players in order to identify and train players in Portland and areas around the state for the eventual ODP state pool. The program was very successful in identifying players, especially outside of Portland, who normally wouldn’t have a chance to be seen for the ODP state pool. As the years have gone on, the soccer landscape has changed and the club schedules and activities have increased, making an added training session to areas outside of Portland difficult for staffing in these areas for the local clubs, expensive and a big commitment for families. While we really enjoyed the training aspect of the program, we needed to make some changes moving forward. So instead of offering a 16-week training program like we have done in the past, we have now modified the program to ID events where our staff can come to the areas listed below and hold a tryout or ID event for players. The players we feel that are ODP caliber, will then be invited to the ODP tryout we hold for the 2009, 2010 and 2011 age groups later in the calendar year. We will offer a summer ID event in August, a fall ID event in October/November and one more in the winter if we feel this is necessary for the 2010 and 2011 age groups.

What Age Groups are eligible for the RTC ID Tryouts?

We will conduct tryouts for 2009, 2010 and 2011 born players, both boys and girls.

When do the ODP State Pool tryouts take place if I am identified?

The 2009 ODP tryouts take place in late November/early December. These tryouts occur in Portland. The 2010 and 2011 ODP tryouts take place March 19-20 at the RTC Tournament in Eugene, Oregon. This event will bring together all RTC ID players for a statewide tryout for the eventual ODP state pool. As a reminder, the ODP state pools are made up of the top players from all over the state of Oregon. Every state in the US has an ODP program and players compete for ODP regional and national pools.

How do I register for an ID event?

All registration for the RTC ID events can be taken care of online by clicking on the tab located here: click here! Make sure you select the RTC Tryout option and then find your age group or ID event location.

How much is the RTC ID Event tryout fee?

The fee to tryout is $60 and this covers all of your ID events we hold in your area, along with the ODP tryout fee if you are identified to tryout.

Is there more information on the RTC program?
Yes, below are links to both the boys and girls documents we provide on the Timbers website. This also has information on the ODP program, which is the goal for all players who participate in RTC.

Boys RTC Information Document

Girls RTC Information Document

Do players from Bend, Eugene, Corvallis, Salem and Southern Oregon typically make ODP state pools?

Absolutely! There are talented players all over the state and we see a good number of players selected to the ODP state pools each year from a lot of areas outside of Portland.

Check-In Times for Tryouts?

Check-in times will always take place 30 minutes prior to the session start time. Players will receive a tryout number at check-in they will keep throughout the entire ID process.

What to Wear?

Players need to wear a white shirt with black shorts to tryouts. Players need to bring their own ball and something to drink and/or eat.

Tryout Attendance and Expectations

The ID events will only happen 2-3 times in your specific area, so we would recommend you attend all of these if you can. The fall dates will be released within the next few weeks for the second-round of ID tryouts.

How will I find out if I have been invited to attend ODP Tryouts?

After the second ID event in the fall, our staff will identify players we feel are ODP caliber and we will send individual emails out to each player. The family will then be a part of all ODP and RTC communication from here on out and will have all the ODP tryout information they need once we schedule this event.

Tryout Format

Much will depend on the numbers we see at each ID event, but we always like to start with small-sided activities and build into full-sided games which would be 9 v 9 or 11 v 11, depending on the age group.

Questions?

Erik Lyslo: [email protected]

Website Manager

Bend FC Timbers & Thorns

Timbers and Thorns Regional Training Center (RTC)