NorCal Premier & COPA STC: Early Success of the Objective Player Pathway
NorCal 17 players selected to join PDP
In early August, NorCal PDP hosted its first Talent ID Day at COPA STC, as part of the two organizations’ multi-year partnership and commitment to talent identification. The goal was simple: create more opportunities for players through objective data and a bias-reduced process. Players earned their invite to this event by taking The COPA Score and seeing how their results compared with their relevant PDP age group in their COPA Score Dashboard. Anyone at or above the 50th percentile (average score) for their age group received an invitation. Thousands of players completed The COPA Score, and 120 were invited to Talent ID Day—an objective pathway backed by years of data collection and science at COPA.
At the event, players represented 52 different clubs from across the region—proof that talent is everywhere. 2013, 2012, and 2011 birth years were guided through on-field training and observation by PDP Technical Leaders Jovan Yamagishi, Marcus Ziemer, and Mani Salimpour. Each athlete’s COPA Score earned them the opportunity, and their skills were then showcased on the field.
“The NorCal region is rich with talented players. This initiative with COPA is creating a unique pathway for players giving them an opportunity to showcase their ability and potential to the PDP program through The COPA Score. It will be very interesting for us to see if this could become a viable way to find talented players going forward”
— Ben Ziemer, NorCal Premier President
From the event, 17 players were selected to join PDP training sessions in September. These players were not previously on PDP’s radar—highlighting how this approach can uncover emerging talent. Congratulations to everyone who took part!
“My son is always looking for opportunities to get exposure to higher levels of play. With the PDP program having such a strong history of developing and showcasing players, he was determined to take his COPA Score and earn an invite to play in front of PDP staff.”
— Parent, 2013 Player
What’s Next? Fall NorCal Talent ID Day
Looking ahead, the focus on opportunity continues. The Fall NorCal Talent ID Day is set, and players are already taking their COPA Score to see how they compare to their PDP age group. Players who exceed the 50th percentile for their age group will be invited to November’s Talent ID Days.
November 8th : Boys — 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 – COPA STC, Walnut Creek, CA
November 9th : Girls — 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 – COPA STC, Walnut Creek, CA
Key Dates & Info
Program
Date
Details
Now through Oct 31st
Last Day to Qualify for Talent ID Day
October 31, 2025
COPA Score must be completed by this date to be eligible for invite
Invites Sent for NorCal Talent ID Day @ COPA
Ongoing through Nov 1, based on comparison to PDP age group
Sent to parent email; Non-PDP players only are eligible; RSVP requested
NorCal Talent ID Day — FREE
Sat Nov 8th (Boys)
Sun Nov 9th (Girls)
Invite-only at COPA STC, Walnut Creek, CA. On field training and observation session led by PDP staff
Program
Now through Oct 31st
Last Day to Qualify for Talent ID Day
October 31, 2025
COPA Score must be completed by this date to be eligible for invite
Invites Sent for NorCal Talent ID Day @ COPA
Ongoing through Nov 1, based on comparison to PDP age group
Sent to parent email; Non-PDP players only are eligible; RSVP requested
NorCal Talent ID Day — FREE
Sat Nov 8th (Boys)
Sun Nov 9th (Girls)
Invite-only at COPA STC, Walnut Creek, CA. On field training and observation session led by PDP staff
About the Objective Player Pathway
Launched in April 2025 by NorCal Premier Soccer and COPA STC, the Objective Player Pathway adds a data-driven entry point to PDP alongside traditional nominations and scouting. The PDP program is designed to identify and support the region’s most promising youth players by offering elite training and exposure opportunities in support of their development at their clubs. The COPA Score benchmarks each player across technical, physical, cognitive, and maturation factors—giving families clear, comparable standards for selection and actionable feedback for development.
COPA Talent ID Day with Professional and Collegiate Scouts – December 13 / 14, 2025
Following the success of this summer’s first-of-its-kind Talent ID Day, COPA has announced the next edition of this event on weekend of December 13 / 14. At July’s event, 26 scouts attended and watched talented players across the age groups. Players earned their invite by excelling in their COPA Score. From the event, multiple players have been invited on trial to professional clubs—both locally and across the nation—and others made a strong impression to be added to monitoring lists.
Top players looking to earn an invite to COPA Talent ID Day in December are encouraged to take their COPA Score by November 30. COPA Score spots fill quickly, so players are encouraged to register early.
Register for your COPA Score here: copastc.com/copascore
Contact
Barry McCabe
COPA STC – Director, Talent Identification & Science
assessments.wc@copastc.com