ODP - worth it or not?

[Unregistered]

In my opinion, most are very good.

Also putting out there, sometimes players don't pan out despite how good the coach is. That is mostly a player that is uncoachable and/or parents that meddle. Or sometimes kids just max out in skill set/soccer iq. That's why the top 10-20% are just that.

True. My kid is getting into coaching and will not waste her time with a kid that doesn't want to learn. She has too many others that do. And she is also very well connected in the soccer world. Some coaches have asked her about some kids and she has said, this one will work hard, this one doesn't want to put in the work, this one is polite and a team player, this one isn't, etc. The coaches talk.

[Unregistered]

Agree with the prior post, mostly very good. And they are very well connected too.

Depends on the coach. We had a great one last year and not good this year

[Unregistered]

Depends on the coach. We had a great one last year and not good this year

We had similar experience. I’ve noticed most kids that try out will make it.

[Unregistered]

How is the regional summer camp?

[Unregistered]

Of course, ECNL and GDA are a higher level. They are teams.

ODP are pick up teams that get together periodically. If the same ODP team practiced as much as the GDA and ECNL teams do, they would be better too.

I've seen some ECNL teams and GDA teams that are not as good as some ODP teams. While it's not what it used to be, ODP, (as GDA kids can't do it and some ECNL top players don't anymore, but do in other regions) but with the price of GDA and ECNL, it is making a comeback. The coaches are dedicated, knowledgeable and are well connected. Don't overlook that tidbit. A good recommendation from one of their coaches could put you ahead of another player on the recruiting depth chart. They know everybody and vice-versa.

My kid's ECNL team has 2 Regional ODP players. They are not starters and get maybe 15-20 minutes of PT a game, which honestly is sufficient for their skill and stamina level. They are great kids though and having an extra line of recognition in the soccer resume will be helpful.

[Unregistered]

My kid's ECNL team has 2 Regional ODP players. They are not starters and get maybe 15-20 minutes of PT a game, which honestly is sufficient for their skill and stamina level. They are great kids though and having an extra line of recognition in the soccer resume will be helpful.

Cool. Maybe with the extra training and technical advise, they will become starters. I've seen kids that are late bloomers usurp others that were starters unless the starters were unicorns. And as we know, unicorns are very rare.

[Unregistered]

Depends on the coach. We had a great one last year and not good this year

Interesting. Just wondering. What is your background to judge? I know some parents say the coach wasn't good when their kid wasn't one of the darlings of the team. Sometimes, it's not the coach. Sometimes it is the kid who maxed out.

[Unregistered]

We had similar experience. I’ve noticed most kids that try out will make it.

Maybe in the younger sets where they have about 6-7 teams. so the kids can get the additional experience to progress. As you progress up the ladder with the older groups and not as many teams, not so much.

[Unregistered]

My kid's ECNL team has 2 Regional ODP players. They are not starters and get maybe 15-20 minutes of PT a game, which honestly is sufficient for their skill and stamina level. They are great kids though and having an extra line of recognition in the soccer resume will be helpful.

This guy ^^ Those 2 players play more than 15-20 minutes which you know since our daughters play on same ecnl team. And they do start. What a guy you are...Bashing the team/coaches on the other thread too. You are a class act.

[Unregistered]

This guy ^^ Those 2 players play more than 15-20 minutes which you know since our daughters play on same ecnl team. And they do start. What a guy you are...Bashing the team/coaches on the other thread too. You are a class act.

Some people want all the limelight on their kids. Good of you to defend others. Many want-a-bees that were complete flops as teenage athletes themselves living their best life through their kids. They probably are squeezing into their kids uniforms shirts while they are at school.

[Unregistered]

Some people want all the limelight on their kids. Good of you to defend others. Many want-a-bees that were complete flops as teenage athletes themselves living their best life through their kids. They probably are squeezing into their kids uniforms shirts while they are at school.

Yeah he’s upset his daughter didn’t make regionals but the other 2 did. It a shame he would stoop that low to lie and put them down like that on here.

[Unregistered]

Yeah he’s upset his daughter didn’t make regionals but the other 2 did. It a shame he would stoop that low to lie and put them down like that on here.

Maybe why kid didn't make it. The sour grapes theory....can't reach the grapes so they are probably sour and not worth it instead of encouraging kid to work harder and get them.

Probably going to be or has been on several teams already as well. It's always the coaches, the other players, etc. Shame.

[Unregistered]

Maybe why kid didn't make it. The sour grapes theory....can't reach the grapes so they are probably sour and not worth it instead of encouraging kid to work harder and get them.

Probably going to be or has been on several teams already as well. It's always the coaches, the other players, etc. Shame.

Very accurate. Sounds like you know this guy too.

[Unregistered]

Interesting. Just wondering. What is your background to judge? I know some parents say the coach wasn't good when their kid wasn't one of the darlings of the team. Sometimes, it's not the coach. Sometimes it is the kid who maxed out.

If you are on this forum you have seen enough soccer practices to be able to tell what a good practice looks like and what a not-good one looks like. In the case of 06 girls Philly team this year the coach was not good. He wasn’t there much at all, and then was no longer with the team as of half way through the year. The assistant coaches took over and ran mediocre at best practices. ODP is about more than making the regional team - or it should be. It should be about getting high quality coaching from great coaches and doing that at a higher, more intense
level than your team as theoretically the players should be amongst the best in the area

[Unregistered]

Before there was ECNL and DA, there was ODP. It dates back to the 70’s. The “O” stands for Olympic. ODP always was just a marketing gimmick shakedown of parents who were gullible enough to be wooed by the word “Olympic” in relation to their kids. As in “wow my kid made ODP and is good enough to play in the Olympics”. To a certain extent ECNL has used the same marketing gimmick and has preyed upon the same weakness in parents only instead of using Olympic as a hook, it is D1 college. There just meaningless letters and acronyms that have zero relationship with your kids soccer ability and everything to do with how gullible you are and willing you are to write a check.