ODP phase 2 tryouts

[Unregistered]

Wow so many conspiracy theories. You should wait until you hear back from odp. For all you know you have one person spreading rumors so that other people get discouraged and they have better odds.

This is the stupidest response... get discouraged about what? What better odds are you talking about? We are all in the same boat, waiting to hear. Does us a favor and back to coloring in your note book, let the adults worry about this stuff....

[Unregistered]

Wow so many conspiracy theories. You should wait until you hear back from odp. For all you know you have one person spreading rumors so that other people get discouraged and they have better odds.

What the hell are you talking about??

[Unregistered]

Wow so many conspiracy theories. You should wait until you hear back from odp. For all you know you have one person spreading rumors so that other people get discouraged and they have better odds.

"one person spreading rumors so that other people get discouraged and they have better odds."

You're just spreading another conspiracy theory.

[Unregistered]

"one person spreading rumors so that other people get discouraged and they have better odds."

You're just spreading another conspiracy theory.

There is no theory... the tryouts have already happened. There is no more. How is the poster getting other people discouraged to get better odds? It makes no sense what so ever.

[Unregistered]

People who are angry here are likely parents and players who participate ODP tryout for the first time and/or have no connections in the "elite" inner circle of youth soccer. Showing up in tryout is the only way to get noticed. We can call them suckers or losers.

People who are defending this in the name of "talent" are likely those who were in the program and/or within "elite" inner circle through their clubs, DOCs, or personal, didn't bother to go to the tryout and don't have to because they're the "chosen" ones. We can call them winners and they'll always win.

This happens every day and every minute in youth soccer and everywhere in this country. It's all about who you know, how and where you were born with.

So suck it up parents because you probably are dealing with the same drama daily at work. If you can suck it up there, why not youth soccer? Get used to it. Blame your not-too-talented DNA and blame your not-too-rich parents. Not ODP. It is sacred and can't be challenged.

[Unregistered]

Great post. I agree if the player didn’t get some type of recommendation from elsewhere they’re likely not making the team. The “evaluators” probably do not have the ability or skill needed to truly evaluate and players, so the rely on others. The tryout process appears to be largely a charade.

People who are angry here are likely parents and players who participate ODP tryout for the first time and/or have no connections in the "elite" inner circle of youth soccer. Showing up in tryout is the only way to get noticed. We can call them suckers or losers.

People who are defending this in the name of "talent" are likely those who were in the program and/or within "elite" inner circle through their clubs, DOCs, or personal, didn't bother to go to the tryout and don't have to because they're the "chosen" ones. We can call them winners and they'll always win.

This happens every day and every minute in youth soccer and everywhere in this country. It's all about who you know, how and where you were born with.

So suck it up parents because you probably are dealing with the same drama daily at work. If you can suck it up there, why not youth soccer? Get used to it. Blame your not-too-talented DNA and blame your not-too-rich parents. Not ODP. It is sacred and can't be challenged.

[Unregistered]

People who are angry here are likely parents and players who participate ODP tryout for the first time and/or have no connections in the "elite" inner circle of youth soccer. Showing up in tryout is the only way to get noticed. We can call them suckers or losers.

People who are defending this in the name of "talent" are likely those who were in the program and/or within "elite" inner circle through their clubs, DOCs, or personal, didn't bother to go to the tryout and don't have to because they're the "chosen" ones. We can call them winners and they'll always win.

This happens every day and every minute in youth soccer and everywhere in this country. It's all about who you know, how and where you were born with.

So suck it up parents because you probably are dealing with the same drama daily at work. If you can suck it up there, why not youth soccer? Get used to it. Blame your not-too-talented DNA and blame your not-too-rich parents. Not ODP. It is sacred and can't be challenged.

What's going to be funny is when callbacks happen and your kid (your DNA) are told no.

While I disagree with your attitude, the premise of your post has merit. It's pretty obvious ODP rushed through tryouts, didn't get the response they hoped for, and are trying to plug holes by calling kids in who didn't go. Whether people like it or not, there will always be stuff like this. I've heard from many people that the talent level at multiple age groups on the girls side was equivalent to lower travel level with a sprinkling of better kids. The ODP evaluators probably saw this and decided to try and fill rosters the way described above. I agree it sucks if your kid showed up to every tryout date (including phase 2) and got passed over for a kid that showed up for none of the dates. Passing over kids in this way is a tough call, and I think ODP is wrong to have put themselves in this position by forcing through a quick tryout schedule. On the other hand, trying not to make it sound jerky, maybe your kid isn't as good as you thought. Just because they are a better player on their team doesn't mean they slot in as one of the best kids in the state. Lastly, just sit back and wait. Official emails haven't gone out yet. Your kid might be in anyway, so no need to come in here and complain about a process you have no insight into.

[Unregistered]

What's going to be funny is when callbacks happen and your kid (your DNA) are told no.

While I disagree with your attitude, the premise of your post has merit. It's pretty obvious ODP rushed through tryouts, didn't get the response they hoped for, and are trying to plug holes by calling kids in who didn't go. Whether people like it or not, there will always be stuff like this. I've heard from many people that the talent level at multiple age groups on the girls side was equivalent to lower travel level with a sprinkling of better kids. The ODP evaluators probably saw this and decided to try and fill rosters the way described above. I agree it sucks if your kid showed up to every tryout date (including phase 2) and got passed over for a kid that showed up for none of the dates. Passing over kids in this way is a tough call, and I think ODP is wrong to have put themselves in this position by forcing through a quick tryout schedule. On the other hand, trying not to make it sound jerky, maybe your kid isn't as good as you thought. Just because they are a better player on their team doesn't mean they slot in as one of the best kids in the state. Lastly, just sit back and wait. Official emails haven't gone out yet. Your kid might be in anyway, so no need to come in here and complain about a process you have no insight into.

Problem are:
1. It looks bad for ODP in general. If they can't do it right then just don't do it or find people that can.

2. Money is paid so this falls under consumer fraud, which is illegal. I'm sure the last thing NJ ODP wants is to be called out in the national media for having people pay then taking people who didn't even try out.

[Unregistered]

Disagree. There shouldn’t be a hidden process. Also, just FYI ODP hasn’t been best kids in state in many years.

What's going to be funny is when callbacks happen and your kid (your DNA) are told no.

While I disagree with your attitude, the premise of your post has merit. It's pretty obvious ODP rushed through tryouts, didn't get the response they hoped for, and are trying to plug holes by calling kids in who didn't go. Whether people like it or not, there will always be stuff like this. I've heard from many people that the talent level at multiple age groups on the girls side was equivalent to lower travel level with a sprinkling of better kids. The ODP evaluators probably saw this and decided to try and fill rosters the way described above. I agree it sucks if your kid showed up to every tryout date (including phase 2) and got passed over for a kid that showed up for none of the dates. Passing over kids in this way is a tough call, and I think ODP is wrong to have put themselves in this position by forcing through a quick tryout schedule. On the other hand, trying not to make it sound jerky, maybe your kid isn't as good as you thought. Just because they are a better player on their team doesn't mean they slot in as one of the best kids in the state. Lastly, just sit back and wait. Official emails haven't gone out yet. Your kid might be in anyway, so no need to come in here and complain about a process you have no insight into.

[Unregistered]

Problem are:
1. It looks bad for ODP in general. If they can't do it right then just don't do it or find people that can.

2. Money is paid so this falls under consumer fraud, which is illegal. I'm sure the last thing NJ ODP wants is to be called out in the national media for having people pay then taking people who didn't even try out.

Great point on the money. Yeah - for those who paid and showed up, what does this even mean? It IS a fraud if the tryout is just BS.

[Unregistered]

Isn't it interesting that this weekend is a big weekend for all the leagues to begin their fall season, with tons of games happening during the next two days, and how convenient they decied to wait till next Tueaday to send out invites? Most likely they will be scouting kids during the nest two days, then meeting on Monday to discuss their findings and then devlope rosters. Again, the kids who actually went to tryouts will only get a few very limited spots left.

[Unregistered]

I don't think there should be a shadow selection process, but you all need to be honest with yourselves, there was never going to be a public process for you to follow. The evaluators took their notes with them and then they select from there. There would be no way for you to know why your kid didn't make it or if someone who didn't try out took a spot or three. Additionally, they already told everyone there might be a secondary selection event in one of their emails. Lastly, there is no fraud. You paid money for a tryout for a chance at selection. ODP changed the not legally binding rules of the selection process and is maybe taking other kids.

I'm with all of you that it's BS, but I also thought the rushed tryout process was dumb. There clearly were a ton of kids who couldn't make any of the tryout dates for tournaments or other reasons, but they insisted on pushing through. I'm not surprised the talent was poor overall nor am I surprised they are considering outside sources.

[Unregistered]

I don't think there should be a shadow selection process, but you all need to be honest with yourselves, there was never going to be a public process for you to follow. The evaluators took their notes with them and then they select from there. There would be no way for you to know why your kid didn't make it or if someone who didn't try out took a spot or three. Additionally, they already told everyone there might be a secondary selection event in one of their emails. Lastly, there is no fraud. You paid money for a tryout for a chance at selection. ODP changed the not legally binding rules of the selection process and is maybe taking other kids.

I'm with all of you that it's BS, but I also thought the rushed tryout process was dumb. There clearly were a ton of kids who couldn't make any of the tryout dates for tournaments or other reasons, but they insisted on pushing through. I'm not surprised the talent was poor overall nor am I surprised they are considering outside sources.

This is the first reasonable post on this thread.

[Unregistered]

There would be no way for you to know why your kid didn't make it or if someone who didn't try out took a spot or three.

Sure there is, a lot of parents and players know players on other teams. In my Ds age group we know over a dozen players. 1 was on the ODP team last year and I know that the team had 6 players at tryouts that made it to stage 2 but didn't show up. So not very hard now days.

Additionally, they already told everyone there might be a secondary selection event in one of their emails.

What email are you referring to? I don't have any of that verbiage in any emails I received. I have seen different emails from parents who complained about stage 2 time issues with tournaments but those didn't go out to everyone who made stage 2.

Lastly, there is no fraud. You paid money for a tryout for a chance at selection. ODP changed the not legally binding rules of the selection process and is maybe taking other kids.

Any lawyer can tell you that accepting money (the tryout fee) for goods promised (specified dates for tryouts for selection onto ODP team) constitutes a binding contract and absolutely constitutes fraud if they bypass the selection process for those that did not attend and even more so for those that had not paid. Fun thing about digital payments, they are time stamped.


With all that - The best way they could handle this is a final callback of all stage 2 players. The talent might not have looked as good as players who did show up may have also played in multiple games already and traveled from location to tryout as well as those not pushing 100% due to having multiple matches later on. You can't brush these players aside for ones who didn't even come as you cannot compare the 2 subjectively. Galanis wouldn't need to pay for a field as he has plenty of space with Medford Strikers and Universal Soccer.

[Unregistered]

I wonder why "the quality of the talent" is such an issue for ODP to take so long to form the team. Don't most states have the same issues? Why not work with whoever you've got and moved along. Next year would be another round of evaluation and ODP can drop players they have this year if they're not good enough.

Not sure what a big deal it is unless they just don't know how to develop but recruit.