ODP soccer??

[Anonymous]

My child has been recommended to try out for the ODP soccer program. It's a big committment and expense. Worth it? Child is very, very excited.

[Anonymous]

Worth it if you think child may want a career (prof or college) in soccer. My experience is very outdated (20 years) but it was pretty political back then so unless your child has important coaches, it may be hard to get past the district stage.

[Anonymous]

I am not going to say you should or should not do it.

How old is your child? boy or girl?

It is the most expensive program you can join. It was not worth it for us but we are on a budget. If you have the money I don't see the harm.

There is no reason to NOT go to the tryout.

Instead we decided to have out son join a team that plays in Region 1 and EDP (and CCL) ... they change this stuff every year.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is 12- she'd play U13. We don't have a lot of money.

[Anonymous]

last eyar 653 girls tried out for 24 spots, pretty tough to make but if she does well done, manage their expectations.

[Anonymous]

Part of the issue, that a previous poster allude to, is that they do recruit in good players, but that is really to showcase the top players in the area, of which there are 4-5 every year in any given age group. If money/time is tight and she is getting good training with her current club, then it might not be worth it. If her current team is not meeting her needs as far as training goes, then like 10:00 says, go find a club that does. If she's a top level player then loads of clubs will take her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is 12- she'd play U13. We don't have a lot of money.

She needs to find a good club team. You may want to research good club teams for girls in your area. Go to the tryout anyway and see where she stands in the tryouts.

ODP is supplemental.

[Anonymous]

This is my kids 3rd year with ODP. He has gone to state level each year, but never made regionals.

It's a PITA and it's expensive but I let him do it because because he loves it. He would play soccer every single day if he could.

I agree with the poster who said ODP is supplemental. My kid plays on a travel team, high school team, and does ODP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is 12- she'd play U13. We don't have a lot of money.

She needs to find a good club team. You may want to research good club teams for girls in your area. Go to the tryout anyway and see where she stands in the tryouts.

ODP is supplemental.

I agree with this response. Go to the tryout - at the minimum, your daughter will meet some new players and get a good workout for just the $12 tryout fee, and you’ll see how she stacks up. Whether you want to pay for the training is another question. For us, we always had my child do additional training so ODP serves that purpose. It’s a little more expensive than what s/he’s done before but at the same time, the quality of all of the participants is higher. If you think your child is getting enough training and is already being challenged, then don’t do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is 12- she'd play U13. We don't have a lot of money.

She needs to find a good club team. You may want to research good club teams for girls in your area. Go to the tryout anyway and see where she stands in the tryouts.

ODP is supplemental.

I agree with this response. Go to the tryout - at the minimum, your daughter will meet some new players and get a good workout for just the $12 tryout fee, and you’ll see how she stacks up. Whether you want to pay for the training is another question. For us, we always had my child do additional training so ODP serves that purpose. It’s a little more expensive than what s/he’s done before but at the same time, the quality of all of the participants is higher. If you think your child is getting enough training and is already being challenged, then don’t do it.

I assumed she was already on a good club team. Is she, OP? If not, make that a priority. Then her coaches can give her excellent advice on whether or not to try out. But even then, only do it if she's objectively a very, very promising player. It could end up paying for itself in the form of a scholarship, but that's not a safe bet.

[Anonymous]

Many kids who do it really enjoy it.

I personally wouldn't unless I could spend that money without thinking twice. I'd never stop my kid from trying out as long as I was clear that trying out doesn't mean I say yes to participating.... but I'd be very clear.

Know that making ODP means she's good, but it doesn't mean she's great and on the way to a scholarship or anything.

Know that this will involve some crazy driving, especially if she makes it at the state level.

[Anonymous]

Find someone to carpool with if possible. Especially if you get to state level.

[Anonymous]

ODP has become much much less relevant and also now includes players that are not particularly athletic or skilled, particularly after the first year or two, because the boys who are really topnotch and are passionate about soccer move to the Academy programs, or pre-Academy teams, and for the girls, ECNL clubs/teams. Talent is becoming much more concentrated on these club teams/programs, and much less need for ODP to supplement what used to be much much dilute WAGS/NCSL travel soccer teams. The ODP/State soccer federation hierarchy hasn't admitted to this, and because they need to cover their salaries, and want to give their coach friends more jobs, the ODP programs continue at the same level, collecting lots of money for in most cases not much. National team players are coming up through ODP programs much more infrequently now. So find a good club/team/program and in the end might be cheaper and better instructions/experience than a mediocre club team and ODP

[Anonymous]

Do the tryout. Worry about the next step if she is selected. Experience in trying out or auditioning for stuff is always important to get and the kids like the Tshirts which have very high numbers on them. If she makes it then look at the cost and time requirements and see if it is workable. ODP can open doors and yes it is still relevant.

As an aside - get used to parents telling you that you need to do X or play for Y team if you want your kid to get a scholarship. There is always someone talking about scholarships etc. etc. . A suggestion -- lots of clubs offer short college recruitment seminars to their older age teams -- usually a college coach or two will come in and talk with parents and kids about how the process works (a bit different for girls than boys), time lines etc. . . Ask your kid's coach if they have such a program or if he knows about one and stick your nose in. Of course it is too soon to worry about it with your kid, but go for the education. What goes on in "real life" can be vastly different than what is talked about on the sidelines of a u13 game or on the internet.

One big thing you will learn -- and it is great for motivating kids -- is that grades matter a great deal.

Good luck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the tryout. Worry about the next step if she is selected. Experience in trying out or auditioning for stuff is always important to get and the kids like the Tshirts which have very high numbers on them. If she makes it then look at the cost and time requirements and see if it is workable. ODP can open doors and yes it is still relevant.

As an aside - get used to parents telling you that you need to do X or play for Y team if you want your kid to get a scholarship. There is always someone talking about scholarships etc. etc. . A suggestion -- lots of clubs offer short college recruitment seminars to their older age teams -- usually a college coach or two will come in and talk with parents and kids about how the process works (a bit different for girls than boys), time lines etc. . . Ask your kid's coach if they have such a program or if he knows about one and stick your nose in. Of course it is too soon to worry about it with your kid, but go for the education. What goes on in "real life" can be vastly different than what is talked about on the sidelines of a u13 game or on the internet.

One big thing you will learn -- and it is great for motivating kids -- is that grades matter a great deal.

Good luck

PP, can you elaborate a bit on what doors you think ODP can open? My sense from talking to others is that Virginia's ODP program is pretty well structured, but I can't tell if there is any real reason (other than the T-shirts) to do ODP in Maryland, where we live.