Thoughts on ODP

[Unregistered]

Op here, thanks for stating this because its obvious I'm not going to gather much from this. There is to many agendas in youth soccer i guess. Is it this bad in lacrosse?

You have your feedback. Now go be an adult and make a big boy/girl decision.

P.S. Stop seeking advice on TS.

[Unregistered]

Another disgruntled customer...

Classic. I did not "disparage" any club. I just predicted that you would not disclose any club to the poster because I thought your original post was a bunch of crap

Hey, if you shelled out the $$ and your kid didn't make the cut, shame on you for dreaming of your little Mia winning a gold medal. But, If you have not been involved in Mass ODP, why do you care? If you were involved, then you are a typical delusional parent, who when reading of someone who actually benefited from the ODP experience has to yes, disparage the story and call it a bunch of crap, believe it or not, there are success stories in Mass ODP, obviously not one you and your kid enjoyed. Just save the sour grapes and move on, you are pathetic.

[Unregistered]

At the younger ages, consider ODP, and now DAP and ECNL tryouts, as a chance to measure how your kid stacks up against the best in the state. Don't make it a big deal. Bring a few soccer friends and make it a fun, yearly measuring stick. If you kid isn't selected, and soccer is important, they will know themselves that they had better work harder. You won't have to say anything. And if they are selected, and you choose to enroll them, they'll still have to apply themselves and work hard to improve to carve out playing time . All good life lessons. Don't stress or blow this out of perspective. It's soccer.

[Unregistered]

At the younger ages, consider ODP, and now DAP and ECNL tryouts, as a chance to measure how your kid stacks up against the best in the state. Don't make it a big deal. Bring a few soccer friends and make it a fun, yearly measuring stick. If you kid isn't selected, and soccer is important, they will know themselves that they had better work harder. You won't have to say anything. And if they are selected, and you choose to enroll them, they'll still have to apply themselves and work hard to improve to carve out playing time . All good life lessons. Don't stress or blow this out of perspective. It's soccer.

That was well said. A perfect way to end this thread.

[Unregistered]

At the younger ages, consider ODP, and now DAP and ECNL tryouts, as a chance to measure how your kid stacks up against the best in the state. Don't make it a big deal. Bring a few soccer friends and make it a fun, yearly measuring stick. If you kid isn't selected, and soccer is important, they will know themselves that they had better work harder. You won't have to say anything. And if they are selected, and you choose to enroll them, they'll still have to apply themselves and work hard to improve to carve out playing time . All good life lessons. Don't stress or blow this out of perspective. It's soccer.

ODP is not a measuring stick because the majority of the state's best players do not tryout.

[Unregistered]

Attending ODP, DAP, and or ECNL tryouts is a decent measuring stick for most players I know.... If your kid dominates ODP tryouts head to Revs or Stars for a challenge.

[Unregistered]

Attending ODP, DAP, and or ECNL tryouts is a decent measuring stick for most players I know.... If your kid dominates ODP tryouts head to Revs or Stars for a challenge.

ODP only if u have no place else to go. Stars ECNL and Revs are light years above ODP and everyone knows that.

[Unregistered]

ODP only if u have no place else to go. Stars ECNL and Revs are light years above ODP and everyone knows that.

Really? How many players do they have that are recognized as high level recruits then? Please be specific and go team by team and give a number how many players you think the Stars have that are capable of playing of playing for a top 100 D1 program that have not already been identified by ODP? That is where making a regional pool typically slots players.

[Unregistered]

The problem with that request is other avenues to identification are still relatively newas a result almost all of the top players were ID early on before they stopped doing ODP.
The next few years will tell with kids not doing ODP at younger ages as much.

[Unregistered]

The problem with that request is other avenues to identification are still relatively newas a result almost all of the top players were ID early on before they stopped doing ODP.
The next few years will tell with kids not doing ODP at younger ages as much.

You highlight precisely why the whole anti-ODP attack doesn't make sense. You are aware of course that all of the other ID programs usually start at U14 where as ODP starts at U12 and many players have been known to start even earlier. Getting ID'ed early is a big big benefit. It gives the identified players a huge leg up on the players who choose not to participate because their ODP status is ALWAYS going to get them the first look by the other programs. Way too many people think the other programs are pulling in players that no one knows about. That is just not the case. Most of the players are well known before the other programs pick them. The issue of players dropping out is not really because the program doesn't work as you are suggesting but rather because once it becomes evident the player has reached the highest level they are going to reach there is no sense in participating any longer. That's when it makes sense to get another program on the resume if you can.

[Unregistered]

You highlight precisely why the whole anti-ODP attack doesn't make sense. You are aware of course that all of the other ID programs usually start at U14 where as ODP starts at U12 and many players have been known to start even earlier. Getting ID'ed early is a big big benefit. It gives the identified players a huge leg up on the players who choose not to participate because their ODP status is ALWAYS going to get them the first look by the other programs. Way too many people think the other programs are pulling in players that no one knows about. That is just not the case. Most of the players are well known before the other programs pick them. The issue of players dropping out is not really because the program doesn't work as you are suggesting but rather because once it becomes evident the player has reached the highest level they are going to reach there is no sense in participating any longer. That's when it makes sense to get another program on the resume if you can.

This is absolutely true in most cases- kids that get recruited to top academy or national Id program are usually well known in the soccer community before that- and often in the regional pool at odp before then if they participated in odp- in those cases the kids may stop doing odp not cause it was a bad program, but only cause they now are prohibited by academy rules, or they have enough of a reputation (odp and elsewhere )that they don't feel the need for odp stays/exposure anymore--many other good players in odp choose to continue with it if not prohibited by academy rules etc- fact is odp is one way of many for exposure (if you are truly good it will serve this purpose at regional level or beyond) along with a lot of other avenues such as academy, top club team, college camp or whatever- point is you can be discovered whether you do odp or not if you are truly skilled- odp is one way of many ( and can be particularly useful if not at academy) - no need to do odp if you don't want, but don't see anything wrong with it if makes sense for you.

[Unregistered]

This is absolutely true in most cases- kids that get recruited to top academy or national Id program are usually well known in the soccer community before that- and often in the regional pool at odp before then if they participated in odp- in those cases the kids may stop doing odp not cause it was a bad program, but only cause they now are prohibited by academy rules, or they have enough of a reputation (odp and elsewhere )that they don't feel the need for odp stays/exposure anymore--many other good players in odp choose to continue with it if not prohibited by academy rules etc- fact is odp is one way of many for exposure (if you are truly good it will serve this purpose at regional level or beyond) along with a lot of other avenues such as academy, top club team, college camp or whatever- point is you can be discovered whether you do odp or not if you are truly skilled- odp is one way of many ( and can be particularly useful if not at academy) - no need to do odp if you don't want, but don't see anything wrong with it if makes sense for you.

U.S. is the only country on the planet in which players' parent pay (over $1000 more than many people earn in a year) to be ID'ed in soccer. ODP is a joke. If you child is good enough he/she will be identified and you won't pay an extra penny.

[Unregistered]

U.S. is the only country on the planet in which players' parent pay (over $1000 more than many people earn in a year) to be ID'ed in soccer. ODP is a joke. If you child is good enough he/she will be identified and you won't pay an extra penny.

What makes you the authority on what is good or not for every kid in every circumstance. You are the real joke.

[Unregistered]

What makes you the authority on what is good or not for every kid in every circumstance. You are the real joke.

ODP only exists because it can exploit sucker parents like you who think they can "buy" being identified. That pool is small and dwindling. If you child is good enough, have him/her try out for the Revs or Stars at u14. ID problem solved and you can use that $1500 you would have wasted on ODP to go on a nice family vacation. Your kid will thank you for it.

[Unregistered]

U.S. is the only country on the planet in which players' parent pay (over $1000 more than many people earn in a year) to be ID'ed in soccer. ODP is a joke. If you child is good enough he/she will be identified and you won't pay an extra penny.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on who you are) this is not the case.

As a former college assistant coach who is still in touch with several college coaches, ODP still has cache. It can only help you and never hurt you from a soccer standpoint. It shows a player is willing to work hard and do something extra to make him/her better. It also shows the player (and family) is willing to invest the time and money into soccer. In spite of all the "free rides" I see on this website, almost all college soccer players will be paying money to attend and play in college. If the player (family) is paying to play in middle and high school, they will probable be willing to pay in college.

Even if you only play ODP for a season or two, in order to put in on your "resume", it is worth it