Is ODP Worth it?

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Original Question - Is ODP Worth It

Yes, it's worth it.

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I sincerely doubt that this happened. First, college coaches do not, as a habit, talk to parents or anyone else at these events. Check NCAA rules to find out why. Second, the FC Showcase is better than nothing, but just slightly better. Typically the colleges that your player is interested in are usually not there. But let's assume that the coaches you "talked to" actually said this. Try to come up with a reason any sane college coach would say this. What's in it for them? Third, ODP is not for player development. Few practices and little time to develop players. Please understand that it is for playing with higher caliber players and playing against some of the best players in Region IV. Fourth, many, many colleges coaches assume that some of the very best players will be at the Regional Championships and/or Regional Camp. Several college coaches mentioned to my player that they would see her at Regional Championships as they developed their offers assuming she would be there.

I love it when folks think they know everything just be reading post from a blog. First, my DD was not even playing at the Showcase event. Second, the reason one of the coaches was talking to me was because he is a personal friend and the other 2 coaches just happen to be right by him during the conversation. BTW one of the coaches (assistant) was at still coaching during the Final Four so not too shabby credentials

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Not sure where u get your facts... The crossfire u18 ecnl team has 9 girls committed to D1 schools. Wpfc has 7 committed to D1 schools. Some of them just don't bother with contacting top drawer or other publications just so they can see their kid's names in print. The misinformation spued on this thread is nuts. Ecnl costs, a vs b division in ecnl... Here's a news flash, there is not an a and b division this year. And placement into the b division for wpfc the past two years was not due to performance, it's where the ecnl powers allocated them when they joined the league.

Actually try 5 from crossfire. Put them up against FC Portland 94s and you'll find its a bit better in non ecnl favor. Go figure

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Do you enjoy NOT knowing what you are talking about?

Actually 15-25 average at Vegas with a better variety of coaches...and more in surf so not sure what you are saying. I should also point out that with your kid on a ecnl roster of 25...I'm sure she is getting 1/3 of the time of the field??? I'm really sorry you a drunk on the cool aid sir

I guess you think you know what it's like at an ECNL Showcase or tournament because....becasue.....oh right you have been there! Well as for difference the coaches don't flit in to look at the few players that contacted the stay for 10-15 minutes, no they STAY for prolonged periods looking at the entire team..but of course you are going to tell me that is what happens at surf too.

As for variety the variety of coaches in attendance, I seriously doubt that again you know what you are talking about as in FL this past showcase the colleges ranged from Ivy League to Texas schools to the big four plus U of O and U of Wa. I don't know why you are intent on making yourself look foolish when the ONLY tournament that rivals the exposure is Summer Surf and again the competition for eye ball time is much more intense.

Now as for you ASSUMING what the playing time will be, again and again and again you don't know what the hell you are talking about. First most of the rosters are not 25 and even if they are not all of the players are healthy or able to attend every show case therefore you are generally looking at a team of 18 field players and the playing time is EARNED. If your DD is not getting on the pitch then she needs to work harder or as you imply without ANY first hand knowledge she shouldn't have committed to this higher level of play without also be willing to make a higher level of commitment to work on her game and fitness you see because the WA ECNL team practice four times a week.

The only person who is drunk in this conversation is YOU who is constantly making ASSUMPTIONS about this or that aspect of ECNL that you have no F'n idea about and it's about time that you admit you don't and work on getting a local ECNL franchise so you can say that you did something POSITIVE for Oregon soccer other than bash the Girls that are pushing themselves beyond the local offering.

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The only person who is drunk in this conversation is YOU who is constantly making ASSUMPTIONS about this or that aspect of ECNL that you have no F'n idea about and it's about time that you admit you don't and work on getting a local ECNL franchise so you can say that you did something POSITIVE for Oregon soccer other than bash the Girls that are pushing themselves beyond the local offering.

Don't get mad because everyone is starting to find out how crazy you are....or maybe you just are finding that out.........Its so funny to think about the FC Portland kid who is going to UW for school and stayed local with her other D1 teammates and your crazy ass seems to think your kid needs to drive 25 hours a week to play on a team that wouldn't beat a team 20 minutes away.....

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intent on making yourself look foolish when the ONLY tournament that rivals the exposure is Summer Surf and again the competition for eye ball time is much more intense.

Now as for you ASSUMING what the playing time will be, again and again and again you don't know what the hell you are talking about. First most of the rosters are not 25 and even if they are not all of the players are healthy or able to attend every show case therefore you are generally looking at a team of 18 field players and the playing time is EARNED. If your DD is not getting on the pitch then she needs to work harder or as you imply without ANY first hand knowledge she shouldn't have committed to this higher level of play without also be willing to make a higher level of commitment to work on her game and fitness you see because the WA ECNL team practice four times a week.

The only person who is drunk in this conversation is YOU who is constantly making ASSUMPTIONS about this or that aspect of ECNL that you have no F'n idea about and it's about time that you admit you don't and work on getting a local ECNL franchise so you can say that you did something POSITIVE for Oregon soccer other than bash the Girls that are pushing themselves beyond the local offering.

Wow you are really a gullible. Those Crossfire Coaches must really like you. Did you also believe your kid would be a national team play too?

Your first challenge about tournaments....Vegas is the number one most attended showcase by college coaches...Surf is number 2.....your not only are wrong but also an idiot. Vegas and Surf > ECNL Combined.

How does it feel to be wrong and justify it by lying?

And your eyeball idea is again showing your lack of intelligence. Coaches don't go looking for players randomly. They are on their radar already or they go looking for players who contact them.

Another ECNL parent who seems to think that they are going to trick a coach into thinking their kid is a good player because they are on an ok team with ECNL on it?

The above poster pointed something out which is laughable. How many FC and Ireland players are going D1 while Crossfire ECNL team can't get more than a handful verbals...

But they didn't travel to ECNL????? They must have got in on their good looks?

Eyeball time doesn't work for you....they only need 15 seconds to realize its not going to work out.

I don't think convincing others to join your overloaded roster to in a few years wonder why you even started....if your kid was good enough you wouldn't think you would need a magic bullet.

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Wow you are really a gullible. Those Crossfire Coaches must really like you. Did you also believe your kid would be a national team play too?

Your first challenge about tournaments....Vegas is the number one most attended showcase by college coaches...Surf is number 2.....your not only are wrong but also an idiot. Vegas and Surf > ECNL Combined.

How does it feel to be wrong and justify it by lying?

And your eyeball idea is again showing your lack of intelligence. Coaches don't go looking for players randomly. They are on their radar already or they go looking for players who contact them.

Another ECNL parent who seems to think that they are going to trick a coach into thinking their kid is a good player because they are on an ok team with ECNL on it?

The above poster pointed something out which is laughable. How many FC and Ireland players are going D1 while Crossfire ECNL team can't get more than a handful verbals...

But they didn't travel to ECNL????? They must have got in on their good looks?

Eyeball time doesn't work for you....they only need 15 seconds to realize its not going to work out.

I don't think convincing others to join your overloaded roster to in a few years wonder why you even started....if your kid was good enough you wouldn't think you would need a magic bullet.

Welcome to the Proving Ground! Disney Soccer Showcase is the ultimate place for top clubs to be seen by hundreds of college coaches looking for great soccer talent. Rated #1 youth soccer tournament in the U.S. in a Soccer America survey, Disney Soccer Showcase club gives athletes a chance to shine on one of the biggest stages set for youth soccer in this country.

Doesn't help ECNL's case anymore than it does yours. You both are wrong

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Wow you are really a gullible. Those Crossfire Coaches must really like you. Did you also believe your kid would be a national team play too?

Your first challenge about tournaments....Vegas is the number one most attended showcase by college coaches...Surf is number 2.....your not only are wrong but also an idiot. Vegas and Surf > ECNL Combined.

How does it feel to be wrong and justify it by lying?

And your eyeball idea is again showing your lack of intelligence. Coaches don't go looking for players randomly. They are on their radar already or they go looking for players who contact them.

Another ECNL parent who seems to think that they are going to trick a coach into thinking their kid is a good player because they are on an ok team with ECNL on it?

The above poster pointed something out which is laughable. How many FC and Ireland players are going D1 while Crossfire ECNL team can't get more than a handful verbals...

But they didn't travel to ECNL????? They must have got in on their good looks?

Eyeball time doesn't work for you....they only need 15 seconds to realize its not going to work out.

I don't think convincing others to join your overloaded roster to in a few years wonder why you even started....if your kid was good enough you wouldn't think you would need a magic bullet.

They call it "Discovery" but your DD got Discovered because you contacted the club

[Unregistered]

That buzzing sound...

Welcome to the Proving Ground! Disney Soccer Showcase is the ultimate place for top clubs to be seen by hundreds of college coaches looking for great soccer talent. Rated #1 youth soccer tournament in the U.S. in a Soccer America survey, Disney Soccer Showcase club gives athletes a chance to shine on one of the biggest stages set for youth soccer in this country.

Doesn't help ECNL's case anymore than it does yours. You both are wrong

You both have missed da POINT. First lets agree with a "numbers" thing. Yes Vegas and Surf and Disney are attended by more coaches.

Now lets go back and see if you can "get" what the difference is between a big showcase and an ECNL showcase. First and foremost there are not as many games so the coach gets to spend MORE time at each game.

Second while they may have certain players on their "radar" but when they go to an ECNL showcase or tournament they know that they are seeing top quality players and tend to look for other "players" that the teams successful.

Third because the competition tends to be more equal they don't have to figure out if the girls playing in the Silver division are able to compete in the Gold division.

Lastly look who goes to Vegas, Surf & Disney? Wadaya know there are an awful lot of ECNL teams. Now how do you suppose they get there? Hmmmmm may be they earned the invite by CONSTANTLY playing the best teams.

Now lets contrast that with the few teams for Oregon that get invited and see what division they play in? Well you already know the answers. Very Few and ALWAYS the silver division.

Bottom line an Xfire or WP player ECNL player will be seen by many more coaches on many more occasions than even players on teams like Neon, Ireland and yes even Onyx.

So that brings us back to the original question: Is ODP worth it. The answer is yes if your DD's team is not Onyx. However, if they are ODP quality then the question becomes would becoming a discovery player for an ECNL team where they will get better training/coaching and exposure be worth the extra time and money.

For some yes for others no but the option is there.

[Unregistered]

I guess you think you know what it's like at an ECNL Showcase or tournament because....becasue.....oh right you have been there! Well as for difference the coaches don't flit in to look at the few players that contacted the stay for 10-15 minutes, no they STAY for prolonged periods looking at the entire team..but of course you are going to tell me that is what happens at surf too.

As for variety the variety of coaches in attendance, I seriously doubt that again you know what you are talking about as in FL this past showcase the colleges ranged from Ivy League to Texas schools to the big four plus U of O and U of Wa. I don't know why you are intent on making yourself look foolish when the ONLY tournament that rivals the exposure is Summer Surf and again the competition for eye ball time is much more intense.

Now as for you ASSUMING what the playing time will be, again and again and again you don't know what the hell you are talking about. First most of the rosters are not 25 and even if they are not all of the players are healthy or able to attend every show case therefore you are generally looking at a team of 18 field players and the playing time is EARNED. If your DD is not getting on the pitch then she needs to work harder or as you imply without ANY first hand knowledge she shouldn't have committed to this higher level of play without also be willing to make a higher level of commitment to work on her game and fitness you see because the WA ECNL team practice four times a week.

The only person who is drunk in this conversation is YOU who is constantly making ASSUMPTIONS about this or that aspect of ECNL that you have no F'n idea about and it's about time that you admit you don't and work on getting a local ECNL franchise so you can say that you did something POSITIVE for Oregon soccer other than bash the Girls that are pushing themselves beyond the local offering.

I have a feeling we are all arguing with one ECNL troll. First the troll claimed that the club fee is $5,000 and then there are thousands in travel costs on top of that. False. Then the troll claimed that OR discovery players playing for WA ECNL teams have to travel to Puyallup or Redmond 4 times a week for practice. False. Then the troll claimed that non-ECNL teams have better exposure to college coaches. False. I suspect the troll's little Mia Hamm tried out to be a discovery player on a WA ECNL team and was turned down, so now the troll feels the need to lash out against ECNL on an anonymous message board. Sad, really.

[Unregistered]

I have a feeling we are all arguing with one ECNL troll. First the troll claimed that the club fee is $5,000 and then there are thousands in travel costs on top of that. False. Then the troll claimed that OR discovery players playing for WA ECNL teams have to travel to Puyallup or Redmond 4 times a week for practice. False. Then the troll claimed that non-ECNL teams have better exposure to college coaches. False. I suspect the troll's little Mia Hamm tried out to be a discovery player on a WA ECNL team and was turned down, so now the troll feels the need to lash out against ECNL on an anonymous message board. Sad, really.

I think its more likely we are arguing with one ECNL troll (YOU) who's kid isn't good enough to make the best local team but is gullible enough to think that driving 25 hours a week will get your kid a scholarship.

So now they are making up things to get others on the island with them.

You keep on crazy, we are all laughing at you.

1. Crossfire's Dues 5k + travel costs + gas + food = you being an idiot. 10k a year.

2. Discovery player = not your kid so why are you traveling to be number 21 on a 25 person roster?

3. Vegas/Surf/Disney > ECNL Showcases = Your an idiot who is also a moron for not being able to look it up.

4. Intelligence > Naive = Too bad you haven't realized this yet.


Here hold on to this bag, the crossfire coach will be back to get it....................

[Unregistered]

You both have missed da POINT. First lets agree with a "numbers" thing. Yes Vegas and Surf and Disney are attended by more coaches.

Now lets go back and see if you can "get" what the difference is between a big showcase and an ECNL showcase. First and foremost there are not as many games so the coach gets to spend MORE time at each game.

Second while they may have certain players on their "radar" but when they go to an ECNL showcase or tournament they know that they are seeing top quality players and tend to look for other "players" that the teams successful.

Third because the competition tends to be more equal they don't have to figure out if the girls playing in the Silver division are able to compete in the Gold division.

Lastly look who goes to Vegas, Surf & Disney? Wadaya know there are an awful lot of ECNL teams. Now how do you suppose they get there? Hmmmmm may be they earned the invite by CONSTANTLY playing the best teams.

Now lets contrast that with the few teams for Oregon that get invited and see what division they play in? Well you already know the answers. Very Few and ALWAYS the silver division.

Bottom line an Xfire or WP player ECNL player will be seen by many more coaches on many more occasions than even players on teams like Neon, Ireland and yes even Onyx.

So that brings us back to the original question: Is ODP worth it. The answer is yes if your DD's team is not Onyx. However, if they are ODP quality then the question becomes would becoming a discovery player for an ECNL team where they will get better training/coaching and exposure be worth the extra time and money.

For some yes for others no but the option is there.

HAHAHAHAHAH

Your response is so skewed it magical.

So not only are these ECNL teams paying and traveling out through the nose....they are also going to the same tournaments Onyx is...

You just spent time talk about how un-ideal those tournaments are (which you have no idea what you are talking about) then pumped them up when you found out ECNL teams are going.

What you don't realize that when it comes down to it. A college coach watching Onyx beat Crossfire ECNL at Surf...................yeah they are going to find the best players and unfortunately your kid doesn't get the nod because she is sitting the bench on an ECNL team.

Your ODP idea shows even more how much of an idiot you are.

If you are an ODP regional hold over or better, going ECNL is the stupidest thing you can do. Not only is it the most specific way to get ID'd by the top schools in the country but it completely negates the ECNL process.

Discovery players don't TRAIN with the team....are you stupid? How would you say they get better training when they don't train.....And they are discovery for a reason...so one would point out that their training is better.

FC Portland's graduating class is putting o more players to the college level than Crossfire's 94's.....what does that tell you. Not only are a good portion D1 but there are few if any left in general while Crossfire's team has only a handful?

Lastly,

The kids who started at U-14 usually get bumped by U-18 from local players......pretty much shows the actual point that the training and extra time and money is crap.

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HAHAHAHAHAH

Your response is so skewed it magical.

So not only are these ECNL teams paying and traveling out through the nose....they are also going to the same tournaments Onyx is...

You just spent time talk about how un-ideal those tournaments are (which you have no idea what you are talking about) then pumped them up when you found out ECNL teams are going.

What you don't realize that when it comes down to it. A college coach watching Onyx beat Crossfire ECNL at Surf...................yeah they are going to find the best players and unfortunately your kid doesn't get the nod because she is sitting the bench on an ECNL team.

Your ODP idea shows even more how much of an idiot you are.

If you are an ODP regional hold over or better, going ECNL is the stupidest thing you can do. Not only is it the most specific way to get ID'd by the top schools in the country but it completely negates the ECNL process.

Discovery players don't TRAIN with the team....are you stupid? How would you say they get better training when they don't train.....And they are discovery for a reason...so one would point out that their training is better.

FC Portland's graduating class is putting o more players to the college level than Crossfire's 94's.....what does that tell you. Not only are a good portion D1 but there are few if any left in general while Crossfire's team has only a handful?

Lastly,

The kids who started at U-14 usually get bumped by U-18 from local players......pretty much shows the actual point that the training and extra time and money is crap.

I have to agree at some points.

ECNL crazy parents having to go to extra cost and time Surf's and Vegas while they are promoting their ECNL tournaments are the only thing worthy is ridiculous.

Reality is that there will be a good portion of kids on a crossfire ECNL team that are not as good as a local team here. Parents seem to think the team you are associated with will make coaches put money into them before actually finding out if they are a good player.

Shows when a good number of THUSC, FC's, Timbers, Eugene and a few Eastside kids go to top schools while in a comparison............NW Nationals, Eastside, and Pac NW will have more kids go to top schools than both the ECNL teams combined.

I would even put out that FC has more kids going to school than Crossfire this year or THUSC Eugene and Timbers have twice the number Crossfire has this year......

Those kids got to stay local, not drive 2-6 hours round trip, fly everywhere in league play ON TOP of going to Surf and Vegas and didn't have to put up with cool aid facts.


There is no magic bullet and as much as someone wants to sell you on it.....and trying to say ECNL gets better training is completely ridiculous shown by the above fact. There is no substitute for being a good player regardless of the team you are on.

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I have to agree at some points.

ECNL crazy parents having to go to extra cost and time Surf's and Vegas while they are promoting their ECNL tournaments are the only thing worthy is ridiculous.

Reality is that there will be a good portion of kids on a crossfire ECNL team that are not as good as a local team here. Parents seem to think the team you are associated with will make coaches put money into them before actually finding out if they are a good player.

Shows when a good number of THUSC, FC's, Timbers, Eugene and a few Eastside kids go to top schools while in a comparison............NW Nationals, Eastside, and Pac NW will have more kids go to top schools than both the ECNL teams combined.

I would even put out that FC has more kids going to school than Crossfire this year or THUSC Eugene and Timbers have twice the number Crossfire has this year......

Those kids got to stay local, not drive 2-6 hours round trip, fly everywhere in league play ON TOP of going to Surf and Vegas and didn't have to put up with cool aid facts.


There is no magic bullet and as much as someone wants to sell you on it.....and trying to say ECNL gets better training is completely ridiculous shown by the above fact. There is no substitute for being a good player regardless of the team you are on.

Totally agree no magic bullet, but a lot of times college scholarships are given to the kids that pound the pavement and get their 'resume' in front of potential colleges. A kid who has a resume that lists ODP Regional holdover for 2 straight years might perk up some attention. A kid that played ECNL might also perk up some attention. A kid that played on a club team that finished strong in Surf Cup 3 straight years may also do the same thing. Awards received (Club Premier player of the year), good grades, a submitted highlight reel may all do just enough to get noticed. Of course, some kids are just so great that they do not need to pound the pavement - it lands in their lap. But really, for the rest, a partial or full ride scholarship all the components could be that deciding factor. So yes, no magic bullet. It all plays a part.

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Former ODP parent, current last year club parent here...

DD did the ODP for 5 years, Regional Team camp, Regional tournament and of course is in the last year of club.

DD was offered DII scholarship at the end of HS season Jr year. Verballed to the school and then started to really think about her future.

Long story short... DD de-committed last December and will attend DI school on a larger academic scholarship.

They change their minds. Hold on some of you may be in a for a bumpy ride if you think soccer will pay the college bill. Soccer will not....Grades will.