| Olympic Development Program |
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The Olympic Development Program is a
national process for identifying and developing the best youth soccer players.
The process promotes players to the U.S. National Teams, which represent the
United States in international competition, such as the Youth World Cup and the
Olympics.
The main ODP objective is to identify, evaluate and train
highly talented male and female youth soccer players. As part of this national
effort, the CYSAODP is dedicated to developing the highest level of youth
soccer. This objective must be achieved in an atmosphere of integrity, fairness
and impartiality. The player's physical and cognitive skills and attitude must
be the only criteria for the program. The procedure to achieve this objective
must be approved by the CYSA Board of Directors and must not conflict with any
US Youth Soccer or United States Soccer Federation (USSF) policies.
The
secondary objectives are to:
- Evaluate and select players in each ODP age group
for a State pool of players from which State players are selected.
- Advance the soccer skills of players in each ODP
age group.
- Provide competitions for State Teams in each ODP
age group.
While individual leagues or districts may have
additional objectives for their local programs, those objectives must not
adversely affect the success of the ODP. ODP participation does not mean that
players do not participate on their club team.
ODP participation,
whether at the District, State, Regional or National level, is concurrent with
club team participation. The advantages outweigh any conflicts this might pose
For More Information:
ODP Frequently Asked
Questions
Q1: What is ODP?
ODP
(Olympic Development Program) is ultimately a player identification program
that is designed to place the best players on the Youth National Teams. If you
are lucky enough to be selected for the District Pool after the tryouts (30
players), you then work towards making the next level of play, the State Pool.
The best players from the State Pool will tryout for the Regional Pool and the
best players from Regional Pool are invited to National Camp.
Q2: Does ODP develop players?
The primary goal for ODP is
to identify players. Identifying players and developing players isn't mutually
exclusive and any player who takes part in the ODP process will benefit from
the experience. Having the ability to play with and against different and often
a higher level of player will put the players in a situation they are not
comfortable with and will therefore make them a better player. The speed of
play at ODP is quicker than in regular District league games and the technical
ability of the players is far superior, again more factors that will influence
true player development.
Q3: Do we have to attend
every day of tryout?
In 2009 there was a mandate that players only
had to attend one tryout session to be eligible for Pool selection. Every coach
however has their own philosophies and there is not any real pressure put on
the coaches in this situation either way, the over riding message to District
Coaches is "find the best players" and send them to State level. Therefore do
you need to go to all sessions? No, but the more visibility you can give the
coach the more chance you have of selection and often if two players are very
equal, the player with the higher attendance will be perceived to be the more
committed. You have the opportunity to attend 3 days, 6 sessions, each for 2
hours. You have up to 12 hours to impress.
Q4: Are
cuts made after the 1st weekend?
Again there is no formal process for
this however it is an identification program and if there are too many players
in an age group trying out, the Coach may release a number of players early
that he knows would not make the National team in order to focus on the
remainder of the players. Coaches are encouraged not to make cuts early and
really allow the players to show you what they can do.
Q5: What are the commitments if we make the District
Pool?
Once you make the District Pool you will likely be sent a
practice schedule by the Head Coach of that Pool. You are likely to have 4 - 6
practices over the Summer and into the Fall so that the District Head Coach can
prepare the players for what they believe the State Staff will be looking for.
Not every player who makes the District Pool will be invited to the State
tryouts, it is the Coaches responsibility to identify the players who have the
ability to play that level.
Q6: Who are the ODP
Coaches?
It will vary year on year. The minimum qualification needed
to be a District Head Coach is a "C license" and the the minimum qualification
to be a State Head Coach is an "A license". Although you may see evaluators
walking around the field without a pocket full of experience or qualifications,
you can be sure that these people are just eyes and ears for the Head Coach,
ultimately the Head Coach is the person who makes the decision. Please
remember, all ODP Coaches volunteer their time for the development of these
players and Youth Soccer. All Head Coach assignments can be found out from
District or State ODP administrators.
Q7: What is the
cost of ODP?
At District level the cost is very affordable. Although
it varies each year your looking at $30 - $40 for tryouts, $30 - $40 for
uniform and possibly $30 further down the line for some other form of field,
admin related cost. Therefore at District level you are looking at $60 - $110.
At State Level costs are higher, if you are lucky enough to make the State
Traveling team, it will cost approximately $700 to play in the Nike Friendship
Cup in Portland and the same to go to Regional Camp. Scholarships are available
for players financially limited and CYSA will work to keep the best players in
the program.
Q8: How much travel is
involved?
At District level all travel is within the District, all
tryouts will be held at Morgan Hill and then Pool training will be based on
District Head Coaches availability. All sessions will be central to the Bay
Area. At State Level far more traveling is involved with Morgan Hill, Ripon
Soccer Complex and Cherry Island being the major facilities used.
Q9: Do you send your players to ODP?
YES. I encourage
every player to tryout and I re-arrange my game schedule for Spring league play
if I can not field a team. The experience of playing with and against
better/different players will be a fantastic learning opportunity for them and
they get to measure themselves against the best in the Area, if they make one
of the teams, great, if not they had a fun action packed, intense weekend
playing soccer with kids they wouldnt usually get to play with.
Link to ODP:
http://www.cysanorth.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=76&Itemid=94
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