I'm contemplating participating in the ODP process, however I've been told by past participants that in general, the regional team is almost always selected even before the pool players step foot on the field. The only reason to attend is to recieve advances training. I would like to know if there is any truth to this before I pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
-
-
At the state level ODP there will be some girls picked that will make you scratch your head. But overall how can you turn down the oportunity to train & play against players that overall are at a higher level than your club team. To become the best or to get the experience of playing at a higher level you need to play against the best. -
-
-
anybody care to post their experience? I'm all signed up...I'll post as soon as all is said and done! I posted the original thread. I pray this is not a scam...my folks paid quite a bit for me to participate...Comment
-
ODP is far from a scam.It has been around for years and is a very legit program.However it is designed to weed out the best from the rest and it is very difficult to make a regional pool.If you end up being a standout on your state team you may have a shot.It may seem like a scam to some especially if your son/daughter never gets chosen for a regional pool.Fact is they are just not good enough .Comment
-
I beg to differ. Knowing first hand and being involved with the goalkeepers which are a smaller group and easier to judge at tryouts, it is a scam. The reality is the team is picked in advance. ODP coaches are not elite of elite. They are just the ones that met the RFP. The reality is that youth soccer is a business. As such the soccer association in your region has X amount of dollars to spend on ODP. Whatever "A" licensed coaches that can do X amount of training for X amount of dollars gets the title of "ODP coach". Typically (not in all cases) these coaches are mercenary coaches. Unfortunately, coaching youth soccer in the US is not a high paying field. It is a cut throat business and these guys work at multiple places. They are not JUST "ODP coach". They have their own business. You have to promote yourself at every chance. So when Brand G4K says, "hey, I can do that training for $X-$100 dollars" You take that opportunity to promote "Brand G4K players" So the marketing dollars are paying for the -$100 they did the training for less money. So when 600 kids try out at $35 each, they are just funding the 150 kids that are already "Brand G4K players". Obviously there are many excellent "Brand G4K players" and they legitimately deserve to play. When there are 60 kids, it's impossible to say this player is definitely better than that player. There may only be 50 G4K kids and there are openings...so there is a chance to legitimately make it.
In our case at goalkeeper, 7 kids can be compared mano a mano. And when THE top kid does not make it because he's Brand YSC...geez something's not right there. So it all comes down to money. It makes the world go round after all. Youth soccer is a "business". It comes down to who you know, who you trained with the last 3 years...who you paid thousands of dollars in training for the last 3 years.
Luckily there are other avenues for the cream of the crop to rise to the top.
My suggestion is to keep trying out, but find out who the ODP coaches are. They may need to see you more to know just how good you are. Train with them...(yes, play the game...most of them are still good coaches and have something to offer your child). Look into a U.S. Development Academy team, an MLS Youth Team, or another Premiere team in your area. Check the standings of the Middle of the Pack Teams in the most competitive division in your area and see if you can tryout for that team. Those are the teams looking for help. Get more exposure by playing for these competitive teams in tournaments.
Making ODP is not the be all, end all. For some players, being surrounded by other great players is not the best thing for them. They tend to sit back and not be "the guy". They lack the fire to carry a team, to be a spark. For others, they have to carry a team. To be "the man" and come up big with the whole team depending on you. All that pressure turns that piece of coal into a diamond in the rough. That's what makes a superstar.
Good Luck in your search to get to the top. Make sure they get the best training you can find. ODP is not the only show in town.Comment
-
Can anyone tell me how much does it cost to tryout for odp ?Comment
Comment