District Development Information

A program for committed players

The District Development Program is designed to promote player development through training and playing opportunities. DDP follows a philosophy of providing players an education in the game to permit them to develop to their maximum potential. While there are separate programs in each of MSYSA’s seven regions, a uniform training syllabus has been developed for each age group to promote consistent development throughout the program. Program activities within each age group will be coordinated to foster a defined development progression.

As part of the restructuring of its player development programs, MSYSA has re-established a close relationship between its District Development Program (DDP) and its Olympic Development Program (ODP). Under the Player Development Path program, the DDP—beginning at the U-10 age group—will operate on the local/regional level, while the ODP—beginning at the U-13 age group—will work on the state level. Younger players who begin with DDP will have two years to advance their development before seeking entry into the statewide ODP program.
Training sessions will start April 21st. Players who register online and provide an e-mail address will receive a direct e-mail notice of session times.

I. WHAT IS THE DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (DDP)?

The DDP was initiated by MSYSA in 1996 as a way to provide increased playing and training opportunities for players in the outlying areas of Maryland . From the outset, the program has been a "developmental" program in concept, philosophy and function for youth players. Beginning with two boys’ teams, one each in the West and . From the outset, the program has been a "developmental" program in concept, philosophy and function for youth players. Beginning with two boys’ teams, one each in the West and East MSYSA regions, the program was expanded to five teams, with one girls’ team, in the same two regions in 1997. In subsequent years the program experienced considerable growth, with expansion into the other five MSYSA regions with both boys’ and girls’ teams. There were more than 500 players in the program in 2006.

II WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM?

The exclusive purpose of the DDP is to promote player development through training and playing opportunities. Under the overall direction of MSYSA Director of Soccer Development, Bill Stara, the DDP follows a philosophy of providing players an education in the game to permit them to develop to their maximum potential. While there are separate programs in each of MSYSA’s seven regions, a uniform training syllabus has been developed for each age group to promote consistent development throughout the program. Program activities within each age group will be coordinated to foster a defined development progression.

III WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE DDP?

All players who are residents of Maryland and registered with MSYSA through one of its affiliated organizations are eligible, provided they are not members of an MSYSA Olympic Development Program player pool. All players must begin the evaluation process for the team designated for the year of their birth. Age groups are based upon calendar year, as opposed to club team years (Aug. 1—July 31). Since the DDP is a "developmental" program, players may be moved to an older age group when it is determined to be advantageous to a particular player’s development. The core age groups (birth year) for the 2008 DDP are: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998. This is an optional program, to be determined by each region based upon interest and resources within their region. All "clinic" program activities will be within the respective region.

IV HOW IS THE PROGRAM ADMINISTERED?

Overall program administration is handled by the MSYSA program administrator working in conjunction with the MSYSA director of soccer development. DDP regional administrators, working with the MSYSA program administrator, will administer programs in the seven regions. The coaching portion of the program is administered in each region by the region’s DDP head coach. All DDP coaches are approved by the MSYSA director of soccer development.

V. DURING WHAT TIME PERIOD IS THE DDP ACTIVE?

In order to eliminate as many conflicts as possible with players’ club team activities, the DDP is primarily a spring–summer program running from April through June. .Training sessions will be held once a week on Mondays starting April 7th. Once league seasons are over, additional training sessions may be added. Multiregion weekend training "camps" were added in 2005 and featured a mixture of player development coaches from other DDP regions and ODP staff. Also a program-ending “play day” for all DDP players from across the state the last weekend in June. All DDP activities are held within Maryland .

VI. WHAT TYPE OF WEEKEND ACTIVITIES WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM?

With the emphasis of the program being player development, the weekend activities are designed to expose players to varying concepts and game conditions. The multiregion training evenings are designed to provide players with exposure to additional coaches, including ODP staff. At these sessions, players will be mixed with players from other regions for specific training activities. The end of program “play day” consists of a variety of game formats, such as 4 v 4 and 7 v 7, as well as full-sided, 11 v 11 play. At the “play day,” players will play both with their own region and also will be mixed with other players from other regions.

VII WHAT ARE THE PLAYER FEES FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE DDP?

Containing overall costs to the participants is of primary concern. There is a pre-registration tryout fee of $20 ($30 at the tryout site) per player. All players will receive a numbered DDP tryout T-shirt. For players selected for the program in the core age groups (’93, ’94, ’95,’96), the overall program fees will be approximately $200. This will cover the cost of uniforms (through a special arrangement with Adidas, MSYSA’s sponsor), all training and weekend activity costs, end of program “play day,” coaches’ salaries and administrative costs.

VIII. AGE GROUP PLAY

All players initially must register in their birth-year age group. If the age-group coach, in consultation with other coaches, thinks a player would benefit from participation in an older age group, that player can move to the older group. A player also may be moved back to their birth-year age group by coaches.

For more information contact the MSYSA office at 410-987-7898 or programs@msysa.org.