Iowa City Alliance

Iowa Boosts Midwest Standings

     There is no doubt that Iowa has made significant progress at the higher levels of youth soccer over the last twelve months or so.
     Yes, there are differences between the relative strengths of Olympic Development Program (ODP) teams and players at each age group, but its fair to say that Iowa stacks up pretty well against the other states in the Midwest. (Iowa is one of fourteen states that make up Region II in ODP play. The US is divided into four regions).
     Iowa hasn't always been competitive at the ODP level, and having been involved as an ODP coach for the last six years, I've heard many stories and seen a number of examples of our state teams falling short.
     But since last summer, examples abound as to how Iowa has become a force to be reckoned with in the region:
        The 1984 Girls -- Won the Region II Tournament last year and achieved a fourth place finish at the National Championships in Arizona in February;
ii) went 2-2 at this year's regional tournament;
iii) placed one player on the Regional Pool (a selection of the best players from all 14 states) in 1999 and three players this year; iv) have the chance to test their mettle overseas with a 16 day tour of England and Norway in late July and early August.
        The 1984 Boys -- Were 3-1 in their Region II tournament, only failing to qualify for the National Championships by a dubious rule change mid-way through tournament play; ii) mirrored their previous year's record of 3-1 in 2000, narrowly missing out again on a trip to the Nationals; iii) had one player selected to the Region II Pool for each of the last two years.
        The 1985 Boys -- Struggled a wee bit at last year's Regionals but emerged as a very competitive opponent at this year's event. A 2-3 record housed three narrow defeats; ii) got one player on to the age group Regional Pool.
        The 1986 Boys -- Enjoyed a successful early season with notable victories at the President's Day Cup in Florida, the West Des Moines Friendship Tournament, and the Missouri ODP Festival; ii) went 3-1 in bracket play at the recent Regional Camp in Bowling Green, Ohio with convincing wins over Minnesota (5-0), Illinois (2-0), and South Dakota (5-0), and a narrow 0-1 loss to Missouri which ultimately cost them a play-off spot; iii) had an unprecedented FIVE players picked for the thirty-one player Regional Pool, some of whom have an excellent opportunity of being chosen to attend the National Developmental Camp in Massachusetts in mid August; iv) set off for a 16 day trip to Europe on July 22 which will see them play four exhibition games in England, take part in the prestigious Manchester Umbro Tournament, before moving on to Iceland and three more exhibition games en route back to the US on August 6.
     It's not easy for Iowa to compete against some of the other states in the region, based on simple geography and population distribution. In Michigan, for example, the 1986 boys are able to practice once per week during the season as 17 of their rostered 18 players, reside in Metro Detroit. Iowa's ODP teams are doing well if they can practice an average of once a month.
     It's good to know though that in spite of certain disadvantages, Iowa players and teams can compete with other states in the Midwest. It's not a "level playing field" and while it gets even more difficult for players as the get older, hopefully more and more Iowa players will get the chance to play even further up the soccer ladder, at the collegiate, or even the professional level.

From the Iowa City Press Citizen, July 17, 2000
Submitted By: Ian Parratt - Coaching Director, Iowa City Alliance Soccer Club