Our Philosophy
The goal of Oregon Rush is to push player development in all arenas.  This constant drive to develop players at all levels is demonstrated in the process the club has titled "Player Movement."  The process by which a player moves from one roster to another is based upon the player's individual abilities, performance, Head Coaches evaluation and Director of Coaches evaluation.  Player movement has become at times a very controversial topic with numerous opinions.  However, the process has clearly proven beneficial to a large number of individual player's growth and development and therefore will remain a major tool within the club's operating strategy.  The following guideline outlines the reasoning and mechanics involved with Player Movement.

First, try and simplify the process to the fundamental reason for coaching youth soccer.  All of us are here to develop soccer players.  That is simply a fact and our excellence as a club is due to that simple focus!  Therefore when looking at our teams we the Head Coaches, Assistants and Directors of Coaching must ask ourselves the same question with every player:

>  How does the player perform in games?
Is the level of the game too high, and therefore they give the ball away, hide and don't compete, never touching the ball.  Is the level of the game too low, do they score in every game, or dribble by most opponents with ease, as a defender does the opponent only rarely beat them.  With most of the players the level is suitable, they are challenged but find success, they are highly productive in a few games, but average in most. 

In the promoting of a player we are looking for certain characteristics.  Does the player posses one or a mixture of the following traits, technical speed, tactical speed, pure physical speed and a strong psychological demeanor? 

In the relegating of a player we are looking at the same characteristics but the player has been found to be lacking in these areas.

>  How are the players training habits?
The player will demonstrate these through their commitment level and intensity and excitement during training.

>  Is movement in the player's best interest?
If the player is moving up, is this what they really want to do based on the expectations of the next level?  If the player is moving down will this ensure more playing time in an environment they will enjoy?  Will they be competitive at that level?

>  Is movement in the team's best interest?
In the opinion of many this is where the process becomes difficult.  We all know that it is not easy to give up top players.  But we all must remember that we are here for the development of the individual players, we must do what is in their best interest.  For example, Colorado Rush players Aleisha Cramer and Conner Casey both missed USYS Regional and National Championship events at 18 and 19, so that they could train and compete with US National teams.  How is this in the best interest of the team?  It required other players to step up and take on new roles within the team.  It is an opportunity for other player(s) to grow up and be developed.  This is the same process regardless of what level it takes place within the club, from Developmental to Academy.  This is why the club has a competitive branch.  To give players the opportunity to compete at the highest level they are capable of.

Answering these four questions regarding each individual on a team will demonstrate the necessity for Player Movement with regard to each individual situation.  All parties involved should give this considerable thought before a player is asked to move teams.  The mechanics of how a player is actually moved requires a great deal of clear communication and solid decision making between the Technical Director, the Academy Director of Coaching and the Head Coaches involved. 

This process of Player Movement begins each year with Player Placement meetings that occur before tryouts and continues throughout the spring and fall seasons.  Throughout the year it is critical that the Head Coach and Director of Coaching communicate with regard to all phases of Player Movement.  The following outlines the general mechanics of this process:

>  The Director of Coaching must give final approval to any player movement.  Any attempt by a coach to circumvent this process for team or personal benefit will not be tolerated.

>  The process begins with the Pre Placement meetings that occur each year before tryouts.  At this time the Head Coach should come prepared to nominate players for both relegation and promotion.  The Head Coach must discuss their thoughts with the Director of Coaching prior to this meeting.  Head Coaches should use the form in this manual to help prepare for this meeting.  Head Coaches should be a bit "pushy" with regard to player promotion, as it is their job to promote players.  Proper promotion demonstrates a coach's true abilities.  Head Coaches should also be prepared to give a realistic and relevant assessment of a player they are relegating.

>  In the promotion of a player there is no ladder.  For example a player from a Developmental team can go straight to the Nike team.  A player can jump up to as high a level team as is necessary to ensure their development.  In relegating a player, players should not normally be dropped more than one team; from Swoosh to Developmental for example.  Usually this drop is sufficient and we want to try and keep players playing.  If dropping two teams is a possibility, speak with a Director of Coaching and they will make the final decision. 

Tryouts
The Oregon Rush holds tryouts twice a year.  The tryout for girls and boys ages U11 - U14 are held each year in the first week of May, as dictated by OYSA.  The girls and boys U15 - U18 are held in early August, and again after the conclusion of the High School season.  Tryouts are held to assess players from within and from outside the club who are interested in joining the Rush.  Players are placed in one of two areas the Academy, which consist of the Nike and Swoosh teams, or the Developmental, which encompasses between one and five teams.  These tryouts over a number of days, usually two x 1.5 hour sessions, and usually consist of 4v4, 7v7, and 11v11 games.  OYSA rules require that all players tryout every year for Competitive teams, with no exceptions.  Current Rush players are mandated to attend, but they are evaluated more for their performance throughout the year then during tryouts.   This is the proper method of evaluating players.  Rush players are promoted and relegated throughout the year, and discussed in pre-tryout meetings held every year, before any of the "new" players are added into the equation.

Tryouts in and of themselves require a tremendous number of man hours to hold, and the environment created is to judge a player's abilities in a couple of hours.  This is an extremely difficult process, and clearly not the most ideal.  For example, if in an elementary educational setting a student were tested only once per year, in a test that they only have two hours to complete, it would be difficult to judge how much they've truly learned.  Where as if a student was tested on a regular basis, with their progress being monitored regularly it is more likely they will learn.  Therefore, the club has selected the method of Player Movement based on what is in the player's best interest.

Playing Up:

Beginning in May 2007, any player wishing to play up a year, and attend the older age tryouts, must have the permission of the Director of Coaching and Technical Director.  While we encourage players to challenge themselves by playing up, they must meet the following criterion: