OPL ODP vs OYSA ODP

[Unregistered]

Can anyone please provide some facts. No, it will not be free. The same issues will continue to come up. OPL non-ODP players will be subsidizing tourneys for OPL ODP players? How long do you think that will be acceptable to the non-participants. The program is not even in existence yet and there's a reason for that.

Why the instant negativity to a new idea? I have no problem if some of the OPL profit goes towards funding this program and at this point I doubt my child would be able to make the team. Part of the club fees I pay go towards scholarships for our club and again I have no problem with that. Are we on scholarship? No, but I don't mind helping others. I doubt every penny you pay to your club goes directly towards your childs team.

I believe all kids should get a chance to play at a higher level without having to worry about their income status. If this pans out the way that people seem to think it will then I see it as a great thing. Since when is allowing more kids the opportunity to play a bad thing?

[Unregistered]

Why the instant negativity to a new idea? I have no problem if some of the OPL profit goes towards funding this program and at this point I doubt my child would be able to make the team. Part of the club fees I pay go towards scholarships for our club and again I have no problem with that. Are we on scholarship? No, but I don't mind helping others. I doubt every penny you pay to your club goes directly towards your childs team.

I believe all kids should get a chance to play at a higher level without having to worry about their income status. If this pans out the way that people seem to think it will then I see it as a great thing. Since when is allowing more kids the opportunity to play a bad thing?

I don't disagree with you. However, I didn't get the impression from the prior posts that it was simply a "new idea." I had not heard any real developments about this "OPL ODP" program, which is why I asked for some real facts instead of blanket statements that the program is free. If the program has developed past the idea stage, with actual club approval, then great. If not, then I simply would request that posters point that out.

[Unregistered]

ODP Cost

As previously pointed out... nothing is really free.

My daughter is young, but will probably play on an ODP team.

I don't see how subsidizing her ODP fees would benefit the non ODP players. I agree that a small subsidy makes sense because these players represent OPL, but to make it free would be unfair to the players not able to compete in ODP.

Not every player that try out for ODP will make ODP. In some cases the cut players may actually deserve to make ODP, but the process is not perfect. Not every player who want to play ODP will be able to afford to play on ODP. There should be fundraising options for these players, but the burden of the cost should not be on everyone in the system.

On a side note, I don't buy the argument about making soccer accessible to everyone by making ODP free. The reality is the money spent on a free ODP program can be spent on another program targeted to a larger group of players and benefit more people.

[Unregistered]

The OPL ODP program will be free, uniforms are free, training is free. Truely the best of the best should be out there with nothing holding them back.

Really, where did you read that ?

Are you speaking on behalf of the OPL, if so, where can i reach you and whom should I ask for ?

[Unregistered]

Instead of everyone asking questions on here, why not talk to your DOC or contact the OPL?

I heard this from our DOC at WSM. They are going to try to run the program more similar to how it is done in California.

[Soca lova]

Clarification please?

Hopefully there is someone who can clarify some questions. These questions are asked here because I suspect they are on many peoples minds, and if we can get them clearly answered once it is simpler for everyone.

At one point the "ODP" option OPL was discussing was ID2, is that the same program referenced above?

If this whole program is free, who is funding it? Sponsors, OPL, there must be someone behind it

If this is a small elite program, what happens to the rest of the high, but maybe not elite players?

The last question,and maybe no-one can answer this but,
One of the realities that makes California's model work is there much higher population density. I would suspect there are more players in Los Angeles than in all of Oregon. In that model if you miss a few who live on the other side of the state it isn't a huge impact. Looking at my son's age level 15% of the ODP team is from geographies the OPL currently refuses to travel to. A Portland only option will soon lose the interest of anyone who might make this program recognized. So I guess the question is two-fold. For players outside Portland how do they participate? If they have to travel is that free? And if the answer is it is up to them to get there, isn't that contrary to the whole intent?

[Unregistered]

For players outside Portland how do they participate? If they have to travel is that free? And if the answer is it is up to them to get there, isn't that contrary to the whole intent?

So now you want the OPL to give out gas money for people to travel to Portland? OYSA doesn't do that. You shoot yourself in the foot at every opportunity just to hate on the OPL. Let's just say the cost of participation in whatever program the OPL creates is free...but you still want them to reimburse for gas money because participation is supposed to be "free?"

[Unregistered]

So now you want the OPL to give out gas money for people to travel to Portland? OYSA doesn't do that. You shoot yourself in the foot at every opportunity just to hate on the OPL. Let's just say the cost of participation in whatever program the OPL creates is free...but you still want them to reimburse for gas money because participation is supposed to be "free?"

Soca Lova asked lots of valid questions and this is all you can come up with? Can anyone who is actually familiar with a thing called "OPL ODP" actually describe what it is. All this forum seems to provide when asked are lots of personal attacks, hemming and hawing, and "um, well, I don't know anything about it but ...it's free and OYSA sucks!!" Pretty please.

[Unregistered]

The sad thing is that the talent pool will be diluted even further. The reason Oregon ODP has been successful is they are able to pool all the top players that tryout and they compete well. Now you are going to have an OPL ODP program that has only OPL players which on my daughters age group ODP team would exclude about 7 of the top players. These are the starters. So, will the OPL ODP team even be able to compete well? I guess they will at least be able to destroy OYSA's ODP program if that is the intent. The real losers in all of this will be the competetive athlete.

[Unregistered]

So am I one of only a few that support all the clubs/leagues and try to understand all perspectives? Hopefully this will be a transition year and will improve for all of Oregon in the near future, but these issues do need to be brought up and discussed with your clubs and the leagues. I think we can all agree that for an ODP/ID2 or whatever you want to call it program to succeed than Oregon will have to work together. Not just OPL/metro area. I think this forum brings out different ideas and perspective, gives people a chance to discuss and think about it and hopefully look for some suggestions and solutions.

[Unregistered]

Call your DOC. I did and found out that the OPL ODP type program is only a dream at this time.

[Unregistered]

Call your DOC. I did and found out that the OPL ODP type program is only a dream at this time.

I did as well and found out it is something they are actively persuing and are aiming to have it up and running by the end of this year. (though that might be a bit optimistic I was told. Next year might be more realistic for all age groups)

[Unregistered]

odp elite

The sad thing is that the talent pool will be diluted even further. The reason Oregon ODP has been successful is they are able to pool all the top players that tryout and they compete well. Now you are going to have an OPL ODP program that has only OPL players which on my daughters age group ODP team would exclude about 7 of the top players. These are the starters. So, will the OPL ODP team even be able to compete well? I guess they will at least be able to destroy OYSA's ODP program if that is the intent. The real losers in all of this will be the competetive athlete.

The word elite has been used on this forum to describe all the players on an ODP team. But from my experience that is not the case. Only a handful of ODP players at any age level are truly elite athletes. The players who aren't elite, the competitive or "high level" players, make up the bulk of the ODP pool and the traveling teams and are just not as rare as everyone wants to believe. My daughter is one of those players and here's what I've learned; while they're not a dime a dozen, there's a surprising number of non-ODP players in any age group who could fill that "competitive player" space just as effectively. Oregon has plenty of these second tier "high level" players to fill both OYS-ODP and OPL-ODP teams, especially if "free of charge" gives opportunities to the deserving players who up to this point have been side-lined. With two ODP opportunities, 90% of the two pools would be comprised of very similar-level players. The biggest issue would be where the truly elite 1-5 players end up. My guess is OPL.

[Unregistered]

The word elite has been used on this forum to describe all the players on an ODP team. But from my experience that is not the case. Only a handful of ODP players at any age level are truly elite athletes. The players who aren't elite, the competitive or "high level" players, make up the bulk of the ODP pool and the traveling teams and are just not as rare as everyone wants to believe. My daughter is one of those players and here's what I've learned; while they're not a dime a dozen, there's a surprising number of non-ODP players in any age group who could fill that "competitive player" space just as effectively. Oregon has plenty of these second tier "high level" players to fill both OYS-ODP and OPL-ODP teams, especially if "free of charge" gives opportunities to the deserving players who up to this point have been side-lined. With two ODP opportunities, 90% of the two pools would be comprised of very similar-level players. The biggest issue would be where the truly elite 1-5 players end up. My guess is OPL.

I am guessing Washington because Oregon will be too diluted to make it worth their while. What you are describing is the top team in each age group which if it does not make up the entire OPL ODP team will likely be the bulk. Sounds like options are getting fewer. At that point just go play for that team.

[Unregistered]

With two ODP opportunities, 90% of the two pools would be comprised of very similar-level players. The biggest issue would be where the truly elite 1-5 players end up. My guess is OPL.

Not to sound sarcastic or rude, but why do you think they would end up in the OPL program ? Because the majority of them play on teams that belong to OPL clubs ? This is probably why the OYSA ODP program is as strong as it is right now. There are those that dont like the OPL and wouldnt go there even if offered for free (cause they know it's not). They play on teams for clubs that choose to play in the OPL competitive leagues. Who would these OPL Select teams play ?

With so many college players having played in the USYS ODP program, unless US Club Soccer promotes this, it will be a very small regional league at best and since most of the best players in the Western 13 states hail from California, Arizona, Colorado and Washington, those States would have to have a similar program as well and draw the same percentage in order for it to have any real value to college recruiters and coaches. This is a very long term goal.

It would be a great value to those players that choose not to play OYSA ODP or are not accepted in that program, but for the two programs to run head to head it will be a disaster in the short term. Even if they draw some of the players from OYSA, they wont get them all. There will once again be a division in the talent pool making both groups weaker. The best thing the OPL can do is to chip away at the ODP program, build their alliances with neighboring states and start with a certain group of ages first, then add more as they go.

Not saying that it couldn't happen, nor should/will it happen. In my opinion, those of us with players at the HS age will never see this materialize in our players time here turn into something that that is worthy of leaving OYSA. Our best beat will be that the Timbers add the girls side to their ODP lineup. They have immediate clout, an established league and other training centers doing the same thing in which have a desire to compete against. Not to mention they have money, sponsors and personnel paid to promote just this type of activity.