VA MD DC Girls soccer - thoughts, opinions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD recently went through summer league Super Y tryouts. It almost seemed reflexive with no real discussion of why she was doing this yet again with teammates. It got me thinking about ODP, which I know has tryouts this summer.

If your DD is one of those that wants soccer training 24-7-365, then I get ODP as some supplement to satiate that desire.

But if you are like most, trying to find a balance and picking and choosing among options based on value of dollars/time spent, then what is the current (not past) relevance of girls ODP in the DMV area for an elite player? . . . and I am not talking about the "casual," A team, bread & butter player who repeatedly can make district pool but does not otherwise advance . . .

ODP is expensive, and I am told that if you make it past the relatively costly district plus state pools, then the cost really grows.

So, with this discussion of ECNL vs. US Girls DA, is all the cost and driving time of ODP something elite players are still choosing to do, year after year?

Or is ODP something that U13 girls in the DMV usually try (if they do not make or decide to do ECNL or Girls DA) simply because they do not know better? I meet many families who have no idea what ODP really is.

Wondering about current experiences of girls doing ECNL or DA. Not interested in what ODP used to be back in the day when mom or dad played college ball in this area . . .

So question for anyone: do elite players do ODP anymore in the DMV, which we know from PPs discussions is not some rural area without options?

Here is a good overview from last year, but not from the DMV area:
https://www.collegecommitted.com/free-resources/odp-should-i-do-it/

I think many elite players will at least dip their toes in ODP at U13. ECNL for the most part relegated it as pretty unnecessary and difficult to do for the "top" players on a ECNL squad. DA does not allow participation in outside soccer like ODP or HS so without hesitation those kids are absolutely not participating in ODP.

It stands to reason that ODP has taken a big talent hit but that doesn't mean there are not kids out there who are really good players who slip through the cracks for whatever reason. If you make a State ODP team you are a pretty good soccer player. If you make the Regional ODP team you most certainly are a really good soccer player.

U13 is probably the best age group to get a good idea of the players out there but certainly pool shrinks at U14 and older due to the above mentioned leagues. CCL clubs still really push ODP as a college pathway and that is true IF you make it to the Regional Pool.

[Anonymous]

^ this! agree on the last statement - they push it

every parent thinks their 1st teamer is slipping through cracks
- bottom of this page shows how few make reg. pool in VA
http://www.vysa.com/odp/index_E.html

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of solid players who do ODP eventhough ECNL strongly discourages it and DA forbids it. ODP gives your player the opportunity to play with different players, in different positions and for different coaches. My favorite part of ODP is the Region 1 camp held every summer for players who made their state team. It is run by current college coaches and players and gives the players a "serious" soccer camp experience. If you want to check out the level of play of the current state teams, the ODP friendlies are coming up this month. The Region 1 teams usually enter as well and play an age group up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD recently went through summer league Super Y tryouts. It almost seemed reflexive with no real discussion of why she was doing this yet again with teammates. It got me thinking about ODP, which I know has tryouts this summer.

If your DD is one of those that wants soccer training 24-7-365, then I get ODP as some supplement to satiate that desire.

But if you are like most, trying to find a balance and picking and choosing among options based on value of dollars/time spent, then what is the current (not past) relevance of girls ODP in the DMV area for an elite player? . . . and I am not talking about the "casual," A team, bread & butter player who repeatedly can make district pool but does not otherwise advance . . .

ODP is expensive, and I am told that if you make it past the relatively costly district plus state pools, then the cost really grows.

So, with this discussion of ECNL vs. US Girls DA, is all the cost and driving time of ODP something elite players are still choosing to do, year after year?

Or is ODP something that U13 girls in the DMV usually try (if they do not make or decide to do ECNL or Girls DA) simply because they do not know better? I meet many families who have no idea what ODP really is.

Wondering about current experiences of girls doing ECNL or DA. Not interested in what ODP used to be back in the day when mom or dad played college ball in this area . . .

So question for anyone: do elite players do ODP anymore in the DMV, which we know from PPs discussions is not some rural area without options?

Here is a good overview from last year, but not from the DMV area:
https://www.collegecommitted.com/free-resources/odp-should-i-do-it/

I think many elite players will at least dip their toes in ODP at U13. ECNL for the most part relegated it as pretty unnecessary and difficult to do for the "top" players on a ECNL squad. DA does not allow participation in outside soccer like ODP or HS so without hesitation those kids are absolutely not participating in ODP.

It stands to reason that ODP has taken a big talent hit but that doesn't mean there are not kids out there who are really good players who slip through the cracks for whatever reason. If you make a State ODP team you are a pretty good soccer player. If you make the Regional ODP team you most certainly are a really good soccer player.

U13 is probably the best age group to get a good idea of the players out there but certainly pool shrinks at U14 and older due to the above mentioned leagues. CCL clubs still really push ODP as a college pathway and that is true IF you make it to the Regional Pool.

Thanks. I agree that the toe dip, as you say, seems to have made sense for elite players in the U13 year in the past. Now that ECNL added the U13 age group last year, and now that the Girls DA is expanding in the DMV to add the U13 Pilot age group this Fall, do you think elite U13 players in the DMV are still going to bother going to ODP tryouts this summer to dip their toe in for a year of ODP just to see if they can make it to the Regional Pool? From the quality of the players that have made the past pool lists at least in VYSA, I agree that the district and state pools are not elite college pathways.

All of the Girls DAs are having ID sessions now for 2006s, so those girls will be committed to the U13 Pilot and ineligible for ODP by summer. The ECNL clubs with the added U13 ECNL age group will have their tryouts in early Spring for U13, so those girls that make the cut will be gearing up for that and probably not looking at a summer ODP tryout with the prospect of adding Fall ODP district training on top of what will be 4 days of Fall training a week with their ECNL teams.

So, who is left at U13 given the talent hit you cite? Won't ODP for the most part just be composed of the next tier of above average, rural, or possibly a few overlooked players who didn't make the ECNL/DA cut? Won't the U13 toe dip idea for elite players be a relic of the past in the DMV?

ODP is pay to play at every step of the way (every camp, friendly, international trip), and that would be an expensive cost to add onto pricey ECNL. And as you say, the DA girls can't even participate.

So, going forward, doesn't ODP fall even farther to the wayside in the DMV? Do it for extra training, or do it if your rural/CCL club has no other option, but otherwise it is one you can ignore for the most part for a player on the elite path . . . or so the thought goes.

Thanks for your perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD recently went through summer league Super Y tryouts. It almost seemed reflexive with no real discussion of why she was doing this yet again with teammates. It got me thinking about ODP, which I know has tryouts this summer.

If your DD is one of those that wants soccer training 24-7-365, then I get ODP as some supplement to satiate that desire.

But if you are like most, trying to find a balance and picking and choosing among options based on value of dollars/time spent, then what is the current (not past) relevance of girls ODP in the DMV area for an elite player? . . . and I am not talking about the "casual," A team, bread & butter player who repeatedly can make district pool but does not otherwise advance . . .

ODP is expensive, and I am told that if you make it past the relatively costly district plus state pools, then the cost really grows.

So, with this discussion of ECNL vs. US Girls DA, is all the cost and driving time of ODP something elite players are still choosing to do, year after year?

Or is ODP something that U13 girls in the DMV usually try (if they do not make or decide to do ECNL or Girls DA) simply because they do not know better? I meet many families who have no idea what ODP really is.

Wondering about current experiences of girls doing ECNL or DA. Not interested in what ODP used to be back in the day when mom or dad played college ball in this area . . .

So question for anyone: do elite players do ODP anymore in the DMV, which we know from PPs discussions is not some rural area without options?

Here is a good overview from last year, but not from the DMV area:
https://www.collegecommitted.com/free-resources/odp-should-i-do-it/

I think many elite players will at least dip their toes in ODP at U13. ECNL for the most part relegated it as pretty unnecessary and difficult to do for the "top" players on a ECNL squad. DA does not allow participation in outside soccer like ODP or HS so without hesitation those kids are absolutely not participating in ODP.

It stands to reason that ODP has taken a big talent hit but that doesn't mean there are not kids out there who are really good players who slip through the cracks for whatever reason. If you make a State ODP team you are a pretty good soccer player. If you make the Regional ODP team you most certainly are a really good soccer player.

U13 is probably the best age group to get a good idea of the players out there but certainly pool shrinks at U14 and older due to the above mentioned leagues. CCL clubs still really push ODP as a college pathway and that is true IF you make it to the Regional Pool.

Thanks. I agree that the toe dip, as you say, seems to have made sense for elite players in the U13 year in the past. Now that ECNL added the U13 age group last year, and now that the Girls DA is expanding in the DMV to add the U13 Pilot age group this Fall, do you think elite U13 players in the DMV are still going to bother going to ODP tryouts this summer to dip their toe in for a year of ODP just to see if they can make it to the Regional Pool? From the quality of the players that have made the past pool lists at least in VYSA, I agree that the district and state pools are not elite college pathways.

All of the Girls DAs are having ID sessions now for 2006s, so those girls will be committed to the U13 Pilot and ineligible for ODP by summer. The ECNL clubs with the added U13 ECNL age group will have their tryouts in early Spring for U13, so those girls that make the cut will be gearing up for that and probably not looking at a summer ODP tryout with the prospect of adding Fall ODP district training on top of what will be 4 days of Fall training a week with their ECNL teams.

So, who is left at U13 given the talent hit you cite? Won't ODP for the most part just be composed of the next tier of above average, rural, or possibly a few overlooked players who didn't make the ECNL/DA cut? Won't the U13 toe dip idea for elite players be a relic of the past in the DMV?

ODP is pay to play at every step of the way (every camp, friendly, international trip), and that would be an expensive cost to add onto pricey ECNL. And as you say, the DA girls can't even participate.

So, going forward, doesn't ODP fall even farther to the wayside in the DMV? Do it for extra training, or do it if your rural/CCL club has no other option, but otherwise it is one you can ignore for the most part for a player on the elite path . . . or so the thought goes.

Thanks for your perspective.

Agreed. Seems like a very expensive resume builder for girls who might want to play in college but don't make a DA / ECNL team for whatever reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD recently went through summer league Super Y tryouts. It almost seemed reflexive with no real discussion of why she was doing this yet again with teammates. It got me thinking about ODP, which I know has tryouts this summer.

If your DD is one of those that wants soccer training 24-7-365, then I get ODP as some supplement to satiate that desire.

But if you are like most, trying to find a balance and picking and choosing among options based on value of dollars/time spent, then what is the current (not past) relevance of girls ODP in the DMV area for an elite player? . . . and I am not talking about the "casual," A team, bread & butter player who repeatedly can make district pool but does not otherwise advance . . .

ODP is expensive, and I am told that if you make it past the relatively costly district plus state pools, then the cost really grows.

So, with this discussion of ECNL vs. US Girls DA, is all the cost and driving time of ODP something elite players are still choosing to do, year after year?

Or is ODP something that U13 girls in the DMV usually try (if they do not make or decide to do ECNL or Girls DA) simply because they do not know better? I meet many families who have no idea what ODP really is.

Wondering about current experiences of girls doing ECNL or DA. Not interested in what ODP used to be back in the day when mom or dad played college ball in this area . . .

So question for anyone: do elite players do ODP anymore in the DMV, which we know from PPs discussions is not some rural area without options?

Here is a good overview from last year, but not from the DMV area:
https://www.collegecommitted.com/free-resources/odp-should-i-do-it/

I think many elite players will at least dip their toes in ODP at U13. ECNL for the most part relegated it as pretty unnecessary and difficult to do for the "top" players on a ECNL squad. DA does not allow participation in outside soccer like ODP or HS so without hesitation those kids are absolutely not participating in ODP.

It stands to reason that ODP has taken a big talent hit but that doesn't mean there are not kids out there who are really good players who slip through the cracks for whatever reason. If you make a State ODP team you are a pretty good soccer player. If you make the Regional ODP team you most certainly are a really good soccer player.

U13 is probably the best age group to get a good idea of the players out there but certainly pool shrinks at U14 and older due to the above mentioned leagues. CCL clubs still really push ODP as a college pathway and that is true IF you make it to the Regional Pool.

Thanks. I agree that the toe dip, as you say, seems to have made sense for elite players in the U13 year in the past. Now that ECNL added the U13 age group last year, and now that the Girls DA is expanding in the DMV to add the U13 Pilot age group this Fall, do you think elite U13 players in the DMV are still going to bother going to ODP tryouts this summer to dip their toe in for a year of ODP just to see if they can make it to the Regional Pool? From the quality of the players that have made the past pool lists at least in VYSA, I agree that the district and state pools are not elite college pathways.

All of the Girls DAs are having ID sessions now for 2006s, so those girls will be committed to the U13 Pilot and ineligible for ODP by summer. The ECNL clubs with the added U13 ECNL age group will have their tryouts in early Spring for U13, so those girls that make the cut will be gearing up for that and probably not looking at a summer ODP tryout with the prospect of adding Fall ODP district training on top of what will be 4 days of Fall training a week with their ECNL teams.

So, who is left at U13 given the talent hit you cite? Won't ODP for the most part just be composed of the next tier of above average, rural, or possibly a few overlooked players who didn't make the ECNL/DA cut? Won't the U13 toe dip idea for elite players be a relic of the past in the DMV?

ODP is pay to play at every step of the way (every camp, friendly, international trip), and that would be an expensive cost to add onto pricey ECNL. And as you say, the DA girls can't even participate.

So, going forward, doesn't ODP fall even farther to the wayside in the DMV? Do it for extra training, or do it if your rural/CCL club has no other option, but otherwise it is one you can ignore for the most part for a player on the elite path . . . or so the thought goes.

Thanks for your perspective.

I think your take is pretty much hitting the nail on the head overall. ODP in and of itself is pushing younger to U10-U12 age groups with a little bit more organization in reaction to the writing on the wall. But the benefits are diminished at these younger ages, like sending a U11 to a Regional 5 day camp for example.

That said, I am hesitant to write ODPs obituary if only because ECNL can play a role in maintaining ODPs relevance. Historically ECNL coaches have discouraged ODP participation but the saving grace for ECNL's future is possibly the ability to allow more outside activities after recognizing that it is a draw with some kids. Also, keeping in mind the DA combined age groups there is a lot of talent left out due to DA roster restrictions by combining age groups. Those "cut" kids will have to play somewhere and ECNL can still be a viable alternative. If ECNL and their coaches play their cards right, allowing kids to do ODP AND HS can be very attractive to many kids. ODP in particular, because many of those cut DA kids could make legitimate runs at Regional ODP Pools which can provide more exposure.

[Anonymous]

how much are people shelling out to make this "run at regionals", but then who do not make reg. pool?

E.g., dstrict fees + state pool fees + the couple friendlies+ the region 1 camps that decide who make the reg. 1 pool? 1k? 1.5K? 2K? assume your player did/made everything but got cut at the regional pool point

[Anonymous]

2K easily.

[Anonymous]

When are ODP tryouts? Did they already take place?

[Anonymous]

They are in August

[Anonymous]

. . . so ODP is going to survive because U13 ECNL players already spending $5K+ a year are going to spend another $2K to get to and possibly make the Region I team?

[Anonymous]

When are the offers made for the girls DA? Now that February is here does anyone know if offers can be made?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:. . . so ODP is going to survive because U13 ECNL players already spending $5K+ a year are going to spend another $2K to get to and possibly make the Region I team?

No, older age groups of ODP might continue to be a decent option if DA keeps combined age groups. Kids that bounce out of DA may go to ECNL or some other league which would put ODP back in play for those kids.

ODP will stick around, like State Cup.

[Anonymous]

Question from a European who watched high school soccer here. Is club and travel soccer much higher level than high school soccer? In general?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question from a European who watched high school soccer here. Is club and travel soccer much higher level than high school soccer? In general?

In general yes, but not “much higher” in all cases.