If the initial results are any indication, then the partnership between Washington Youth Soccer's Olympic Development Program (ODP) and Seattle Sounders FC will be a fruitful one. Washington won two regional finals recently in Arizona. More than that, there was a renewed sense of pride and community amongst the players, families and coaches as they wore Seattle Sounders FC jerseys during the tournament.
See also: WYS Press Release
Washington '96 ODP boys with their regional championship plaque and medals. (US Soccer ODP photo.)
"We were a sea of Rave Green the entire weekend," said Sounders Director of Youth Development Darren Sawatzky of the representation in Phoenix. "The teams supported each other and were chanting “Seattle-----Sounders” during the games. It was a great atmosphere. The 1996 boys Championship Final was incredible as the team was down 0-2 until the last fifteen minutes and came back to win 3-2 over California South '96. Four to five Sounders FC/ODP teams rushed the field to celebrate with the 1996 Boys Champions. The 1995 Boys Championship Final was also great as the supporting teams rushed the field to celebrate following the win (1-0 over California South '95.) It created an amazing culture. These young players conducted themselves in the utmost professional manner on and off the field throughout the competition."
The first-time impact of the Washingtonians wearing Sounders colors was noticeable, says Sawatzky. "Most of the other states were amazed by the sea of Rave Green and the professionalism of the players, coaches, and staff. Everyone from the referees to opposing coaches thought the (newly developing) Sounders FC youth culture had a great impact on the tournament."
Washington '95 ODP boys with their regional championship plaque and medals. (US Soccer ODP photo.)
The 1995 girls lost a heartbreaking game to California South '95 in penalty kicks and could have easily advanced to the final if they could have finished in regulation, said Sawatzky.
Up next for the ODP clubs, the older girls have league play starting and the boys and younger girls teams will have State Cup competition.
"During all of these activities," added Sawatzky, "Sounders FC/Washington Youth Soccer will reconvene the RTC program (Regional Training Centers) so these players will train once per week for a month and then break after a “RTC Game Night”. The RTC Game Night pits the RTC groups from around the state against each other in game competition at Starfire. These games allow a venue to see how the levels of different areas of the state match up with each other and it gives the head coaches of the Sounders FC/ODP teams a chance to see the players in a larger pool in competition."
Sawatzky gives us a general timeline: "The Sounders FC RTC program starts again on February 1st. There will be intermittent training for the top pools in the teams that traveled to Phoenix. The Sounders FC U16 and U18 Academy teams will be trying out soon. Stay tuned for details."
'95's win regional trophy...
Comments
Awesome job RAVE GREEN Washington!
What great scenes in that video! Thanks for sharing this David and thank you to Darren and eveyone else for such a great job!
Waiting for the Sounders big boys to start...this made my day!
The determination on that tieing goal is awesome!
I'm loving seeing our state's kids in Sounders uniforms. Great times now, even greater times ahead!
great stuff here. those players show a of pride and heart. Go Sounders! :)
Cal South is a juggernaut so to beat them at two age levels is quite an accomplishment! Way to go WA...
Wow, ODP actually meaning something more than an obscure chance to play for the national team, I am glad, as an ODP Europe Alum.
Go RTCs, let's get another Keller, hopefully a field player though, we do fine creating goalies already.
It was a great experience to watch this happen and see these kids represent their State and Sounders FC.
Thanks for your ever-increasing youth soccer coverage. You are the only one doing it.
This coverage is as wonderful as it is rare! How is it that youth soccer is so very popular in WA and so very good, but it gets so little support from the press? Thank you thank you thank you!!!
Offside on the equalizer.
Pretty cool. Looks like some solid prospects in there.
Just sayin: do you mean on the winner? The same user who uploaded the video in this story also slowed down the winning goal in a seperate video...clearly ONSIDE.
Both goals are close, but both are onsides from my viewing of the videos. Too bad MLS linesmen aren't as focused as those were...
Amazing experience, only had one celebration with the boys '95, the feeling of them winning replaced the feeling i had after the semi's after PK's. Washington is definately #1 in my book :)
Thanks for the article Mr. Falk (aka pugsly on the ECS forums). :)
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