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The Lubbock Soccer Association offers players an opportunity to play at a purely recreational level and also the opportunity for players to compete for all positions at all levels of youth play offered by North Texas State Soccer Association, United States Youth Soccer Association, and United States Soccer.

7.3. INDIVIDUAL PLAYER OPPORTUNITIES
      Players who wish to play soccer with state, regional, or national teams are also given
      the opportunity to try out for these teams. During the process of selection of these
      teams, the emphasis is on the skills and team play of the individual player, not on
      how well his team plays as a team. Naturally, players on a team which plays well as
      a team are shown in a better light. Still, being selected to play on a state, regional, or
      national team requires a great individual effort. Players are usually between 11 and 14
      years of age when they first enter these selection processes. The selection process
      is known as the Olympic Development Program. These programs are controlled by
      the North Texas State Soccer Association, the United State Youth Soccer
      Association, and the United States Soccer Federation. The Lubbock Soccer
      Association works within the rules developed by our affiliated organizations to help
      our players successfully compete within these programs.

      North Texas Soccer invites selected players to participate in the Olympic
      Development pools beginning in November each year. Players selected to the
      state pools will practice together weekly for a couple of months before the coaches
      select the state teams for the age group. The state teams then usually play with
      other state teams in regional events where a regional pool is selected. Our region
      includes North & South Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi,
      Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North & South Carolina, and Florida State Soccer
      Associations. Players selected to the regional pools again work together for some
      period of time before regional teams are selected. The four regional teams then
      compete in national level events to select the players in the national pool and then
      players selected to the national team. Players on the national team represent the
      United States in events such as the Youth World Cup, CONCACAF tournaments,
      international games, the Olympics and the World Cup tournament. Lubbock Soccer
      Association players can, if they have enough desire, play on the national teams.
      Selection to these teams is not a one year process. Usually a player begins to
      participate in this process during the eleven to fourteen age group. The first year they
      might only be selected to the state pool but not be selected to the state team which
      goes to regional events. In another year they might make the state team. Some
      players may be good enough to make the state team the first year they participate in
      the process. Just as in any sport (or any other endeavor) a tremendous commitment
      is required from the player and his family to engage in this process and carry through
      to possible selection to a national team.