How does ODP Alabama Camp Work?

[Unregistered]

I can’t speak for the boys, but citing ODP experiences for girls from more than 2 years ago is irrelevant due to GDA! Big drop off this year!

From what I’ve heard you are right. Used to be a ton of top girls from GA on it- most quit and only do DA or ECNL now. Heard FL went down hill fast this year. It’s really to bad as it can and should be strong. US Soccer is really trying to kill it off. Sad.......

[Unregistered]

From what I’ve heard you are right. Used to be a ton of top girls from GA on it- most quit and only do DA or ECNL now. Heard FL went down hill fast this year. It’s really to bad as it can and should be strong. US Soccer is really trying to kill it off. Sad.......

"US Soccer is really trying to kill it off."

This is the part I don't understand. I thought every well-intentioned youth soccer organization was dedicated to "growing the game." I have never understood why US Soccer (which is the theoretically the governing body) would want to "shrink the game" by eliminating avenues like H.S. soccer and ODP that have provided so much joy to so many players? ODP has served so many so well, why work hard to eliminate it? What is US Soccer going to replace it with?

It seems like US Soccer would want to support all the avenues for additional play?

[Unregistered]

"US Soccer is really trying to kill it off."

This is the part I don't understand. I thought every well-intentioned youth soccer organization was dedicated to "growing the game." I have never understood why US Soccer (which is the theoretically the governing body) would want to "shrink the game" by eliminating avenues like H.S. soccer and ODP that have provided so much joy to so many players? ODP has served so many so well, why work hard to eliminate it? What is US Soccer going to replace it with?

It seems like US Soccer would want to support all the avenues for additional play?

$$$ is why. They don’t care about growing the game and life experiences. They care about money and control!

[Unregistered]

From what I’ve heard you are right. Used to be a ton of top girls from GA on it- most quit and only do DA or ECNL now. Heard FL went down hill fast this year. It’s really to bad as it can and should be strong. US Soccer is really trying to kill it off. Sad.......

ODP offers kids exposure to many things having had a kid participate for 4 years
There will be negativity with everything but having your child experience playing with others and having exposure to college and national coaches is a great experience
This is another way that the door I see opened for future opportunities for your kids.
Many have gotten noticed by college coaches here and it's led to college offers

[Unregistered]

From what I’ve heard you are right. Used to be a ton of top girls from GA on it- most quit and only do DA or ECNL now. Heard FL went down hill fast this year. It’s really to bad as it can and should be strong. US Soccer is really trying to kill it off. Sad.......

It is only sad because it ultimately the fault of Strickler and those helping run it. When you have girls who are committed to top tier D1 colleges not making the Regional teams in favor of girls far less talented, the good 'ole boy system becomes too much to bear. Better yet, kids who show up for only 1 day get picked because their coach made a call.

[Unregistered]

It is only sad because it ultimately the fault of Strickler and those helping run it. When you have girls who are committed to top tier D1 colleges not making the Regional teams in favor of girls far less talented, the good 'ole boy system becomes too much to bear. Better yet, kids who show up for only 1 day get picked because their coach made a call.

Hard to disagree with you. My daughter participated with another state. He was only Florida and the other states all have had most of the good girls drop ODP as well- not just Florida. He hasn’t done the stage any favors though with his selections over the years.

[Unregistered]

Hard to disagree with you. My daughter participated with another state. He was only Florida and the other states all have had most of the good girls drop ODP as well- not just Florida. He hasn’t done the stage any favors though with his selections over the years.

On the girls side, ODP has not been relevant for years. Five years ago, a girl on my daughter's team, who rarely got in many minutes playing ECNL, made the ODP region team. She could run for days, but she was just not a good player on the ball, or off. Thinking the ODP deal would give her confidence when she returned from the Region ODP camp, she actually came back the exact same way as before ODP. The level of play during ECNL and the GDA is just at a much more physical, faster pace of play than ODP, or more importantly, than the USYS soccer leagues. Players today have to be fast, play fast, and know the physicality of the game before heading to the college level of soccer. Both ECNL and the GDA do this for their players. They both also recognize the top talent in their leagues. With ECNL, their id program took over the top national spot for recognizing youth talent. Now with GDA, there is another premiere youth league of players to choose from for national team scouts and colleges. Unfortunately for ODP and the USYS system, the talent level of their players drops another notch.

[Unregistered]

It is only sad because it ultimately the fault of Strickler and those helping run it. When you have girls who are committed to top tier D1 colleges not making the Regional teams in favor of girls far less talented, the good 'ole boy system becomes too much to bear. Better yet, kids who show up for only 1 day get picked because their coach made a call.

This is spot on! It’s evident this year with the training and selections HE has made. Parents writing checks as “donations” while there kid is selected

[Unregistered]

This is spot on! It’s evident this year with the training and selections HE has made. Parents writing checks as “donations” while there kid is selected

"HE" (Mike Strickland) isn't really all that involved in ODP anymore. Siggi is much more hands on. There is a round robin of coaches (from colleges, other clubs, etc.) that contribute to the evaluations. No single coach makes selections it is a group decision. I understand it is difficult if your child is not selected - try and use it as a teaching moment.

[Unregistered]

"HE" (Mike Strickland) isn't really all that involved in ODP anymore. Siggi is much more hands on. There is a round robin of coaches (from colleges, other clubs, etc.) that contribute to the evaluations. No single coach makes selections it is a group decision. I understand it is difficult if your child is not selected - try and use it as a teaching moment.

Mike is the director , so yes, he has final say! And you are correct with round Robbin of coaches! BUT ,this also leads to selective picking! You have coaches and DOCs that represent a specific club who are biased with selection of there kids..
Siggi is great but handles admin stuff. He is not hands on with players...wish he was ,

[Unregistered]

"HE" (Mike Strickland) isn't really all that involved in ODP anymore. Siggi is much more hands on. There is a round robin of coaches (from colleges, other clubs, etc.) that contribute to the evaluations. No single coach makes selections it is a group decision. I understand it is difficult if your child is not selected - try and use it as a teaching moment.

That is the fallback for those who think everything is just fine. Truth is there, girls FAR superior get passed over. I am not talking negligible differences and Im not talking about my kid. My kid actually got invited after she stopped because GDA and did not come to one camp. Go figure that one. Laughed our butts off when the email came.

[Unregistered]

That is the fallback for those who think everything is just fine. Truth is there, girls FAR superior get passed over. I am not talking negligible differences and Im not talking about my kid. My kid actually got invited after she stopped because GDA and did not come to one camp. Go figure that one. Laughed our butts off when the email came.

YEP. Plenty of girls who never showed up once mysteriously put on 1st team? Hmmmmm,, thank god no Alabama for us

[Unregistered]

YEP. Plenty of girls who never showed up once mysteriously put on 1st team? Hmmmmm,, thank god no Alabama for us

Sometimes there is a reason for that. My daughter got 1st team and never attended an event. But she’s been on first team for 4 years and on R3. Conflicts kept her from attending such as R3, college trips or club.

[Unregistered]

Sometimes there is a reason for that. My daughter got 1st team and never attended an event. But she’s been on first team for 4 years and on R3. Conflicts kept her from attending such as R3, college trips or club.

Yep- there are girls who make Region team that don’t go to camp too.

[Unregistered]

Yep- there are girls who make Region team that don’t go to camp too.

It's a reason to start ODP at the earliest ages. If you show up for the first time when you're kid is 15 or 16 years old you have to accept the fact that there are kid's who have been there for a couple of years ahead of you and it can be tricky to break in.