Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wanted my son to be part of the VYSA ODP Academy last year, but couldn't make it to tryouts. I emailed them, and after not being able to find a time for him to tryout, they accepted him anyway. He was U9 so it's fine if they're accepting everybody, I just don't like the way it's billed a "ELITE" "CHAMPIONS" "TOP" "COMMITTED" "ACADEMY" for "SUPER SERIOUS" players. It's just more training for your kid, and if your kid is already good they'll offer him exclusive training for more money. Nothing wrong with this, as long as they were to say only kids that are already really good move on but we'll train your kid anyway. I do have to say I expected more from my state's soccer association.

I would recommend to any parent with 5-6 year olds to seek really good training, or train the kid themselves. You never know what you're going to get once they're travel ready and join clubs with coaches looking towards their next "JR. YOUTH SOCCER DIRECTOR!!!" position.

There are few things that are wrong with your post.

1. "ODP Academy" (now called D-ODP) starts at U10 and goes through U12.
2. ODP is NOT ODP. ODP Academy will accept everyone as long as there are slots. It is only slightly competitive to get into and that is because it is NOT ODP. Consider it "Pre ODP" like your clubs "Pre-Travel" program that might be somewhat selective
3. True selective ODP starts at U13.

For information about D-ODP which REPLACED VYSA Academy,:
http://www.vysa.com/programs/DistrictAcademy/919218.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wanted my son to be part of the VYSA ODP Academy last year, but couldn't make it to tryouts. I emailed them, and after not being able to find a time for him to tryout, they accepted him anyway. He was U9 so it's fine if they're accepting everybody, I just don't like the way it's billed a "ELITE" "CHAMPIONS" "TOP" "COMMITTED" "ACADEMY" for "SUPER SERIOUS" players. It's just more training for your kid, and if your kid is already good they'll offer him exclusive training for more money. Nothing wrong with this, as long as they were to say only kids that are already really good move on but we'll train your kid anyway. I do have to say I expected more from my state's soccer association.

I would recommend to any parent with 5-6 year olds to seek really good training, or train the kid themselves. You never know what you're going to get once they're travel ready and join clubs with coaches looking towards their next "JR. YOUTH SOCCER DIRECTOR!!!" position.

There are few things that are wrong with your post.

1. "ODP Academy" (now called D-ODP) starts at U10 and goes through U12.
2. ODP is NOT ODP. ODP Academy will accept everyone as long as there are slots. It is only slightly competitive to get into and that is because it is NOT ODP. Consider it "Pre ODP" like your clubs "Pre-Travel" program that might be somewhat selective
3. True selective ODP starts at U13.

Right, "true selective ODP" starts at U13, which also happens to be when the DA/ECNL typically starts. That is why "true selective ODP" no longer exists. It is only "selective" after you remove all the DA/ECNL kids. IOW, ODP is only "selecting" players after every kid who has any hope of playing high-level soccer has been removed from the pool.

ODP academy for U10-U12 is open to everyone and not even remotely competitive, no matter how VYSA brands it. In our club, most of the kids who are just ok, but who have parents who like to brag on FB and Twitter about their kids playing "ODP," are the only ones who do it. Frankly, we all laugh at them, but whatevs.

If that is what you are looking for, go for it. They will gladly take your money.

[Anonymous]

Here's the deal: You do you.
You and your kid need to determine what he/she wants to do with soccer -- what level of play, what they want to achieve now and later down the road-- and come up with a plan that fits those goals, and choose which ever programs are best for you to achieve those goals, and there are MANY from which to choose in this area. The harsh reality is that you will have to pay for whatever you choose to do (why some people are so bitter about this fact of life I don't know, so just ignore it). There are always fans and haters and experts for every team/club/league/development program, from your 5 yr olds tiny-tots REC team all the way to apparently the USMNT, so everyone just simmer down and participate in what suits you. If it doesn't suit you, find something else. Participating in and getting different experiences with other players/trainers/teams is never a bad thing. Best to not live in a delusional soccer-bubble.

[Anonymous]

Here's the deal: You do you.
You and your kid need to determine what he/she wants to do with soccer -- what level of play, what they want to achieve now and later down the road-- and come up with a plan that fits those goals, and choose which ever programs are best for you to achieve those goals, and there are MANY from which to choose in this area. The harsh reality is that you will have to pay for whatever you choose to do (why some people are so bitter about this fact of life I don't know, so just ignore it). There are always fans and haters and experts for every team/club/league/development program, from your 5 yr olds tiny-tots REC team all the way to apparently the USMNT, so everyone just simmer down and participate in what suits you. If it doesn't suit you, find something else. Participating in and getting different experiences with other players/trainers/teams is never a bad thing. Best to not live in a delusional soccer-bubble.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wanted my son to be part of the VYSA ODP Academy last year, but couldn't make it to tryouts. I emailed them, and after not being able to find a time for him to tryout, they accepted him anyway. He was U9 so it's fine if they're accepting everybody, I just don't like the way it's billed a "ELITE" "CHAMPIONS" "TOP" "COMMITTED" "ACADEMY" for "SUPER SERIOUS" players. It's just more training for your kid, and if your kid is already good they'll offer him exclusive training for more money. Nothing wrong with this, as long as they were to say only kids that are already really good move on but we'll train your kid anyway. I do have to say I expected more from my state's soccer association.

I would recommend to any parent with 5-6 year olds to seek really good training, or train the kid themselves. You never know what you're going to get once they're travel ready and join clubs with coaches looking towards their next "JR. YOUTH SOCCER DIRECTOR!!!" position.

There are few things that are wrong with your post.

1. "ODP Academy" (now called D-ODP) starts at U10 and goes through U12.
2. ODP is NOT ODP. ODP Academy will accept everyone as long as there are slots. It is only slightly competitive to get into and that is because it is NOT ODP. Consider it "Pre ODP" like your clubs "Pre-Travel" program that might be somewhat selective
3. True selective ODP starts at U13.

Right, "true selective ODP" starts at U13, which also happens to be when the DA/ECNL typically starts. That is why "true selective ODP" no longer exists. It is only "selective" after you remove all the DA/ECNL kids. IOW, ODP is only "selecting" players after every kid who has any hope of playing high-level soccer has been removed from the pool.

ODP academy for U10-U12 is open to everyone and not even remotely competitive, no matter how VYSA brands it. In our club, most of the kids who are just ok, but who have parents who like to brag on FB and Twitter about their kids playing "ODP," are the only ones who do it. Frankly, we all laugh at them, but whatevs.

If that is what you are looking for, go for it. They will gladly take your money.

+1,000,000

But do it and suck up. This area thrives on paying for your spot vs talent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's the deal: You do you.
You and your kid need to determine what he/she wants to do with soccer -- what level of play, what they want to achieve now and later down the road-- and come up with a plan that fits those goals, and choose which ever programs are best for you to achieve those goals, and there are MANY from which to choose in this area. The harsh reality is that you will have to pay for whatever you choose to do (why some people are so bitter about this fact of life I don't know, so just ignore it). There are always fans and haters and experts for every team/club/league/development program, from your 5 yr olds tiny-tots REC team all the way to apparently the USMNT, so everyone just simmer down and participate in what suits you. If it doesn't suit you, find something else. Participating in and getting different experiences with other players/trainers/teams is never a bad thing. Best to not live in a delusional soccer-bubble.

Mic drop. This is awesome.

I'll never understand why people on an anonymous message board feel the need to puff themselves up by griping that soccer isn't excluding enough people. I've known kids who hated their local clubs but loved ODP. I've known people who are getting everything they want from their local clubs, and they have no interest in ODP.

You could always do some other supplemental program. Maybe you can make a Super-Y team. Maybe you can pay for private coaching. They'll all "take your money," too. In some cases, it's worthwhile.

Ideally, we'd have more free or cheap programs run by pro soccer clubs or funded by sponsors. But then what would parents brag about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the deal: You do you.
You and your kid need to determine what he/she wants to do with soccer -- what level of play, what they want to achieve now and later down the road-- and come up with a plan that fits those goals, and choose which ever programs are best for you to achieve those goals, and there are MANY from which to choose in this area. The harsh reality is that you will have to pay for whatever you choose to do (why some people are so bitter about this fact of life I don't know, so just ignore it). There are always fans and haters and experts for every team/club/league/development program, from your 5 yr olds tiny-tots REC team all the way to apparently the USMNT, so everyone just simmer down and participate in what suits you. If it doesn't suit you, find something else. Participating in and getting different experiences with other players/trainers/teams is never a bad thing. Best to not live in a delusional soccer-bubble.

Mic drop. This is awesome.

I'll never understand why people on an anonymous message board feel the need to puff themselves up by griping that soccer isn't excluding enough people. I've known kids who hated their local clubs but loved ODP. I've known people who are getting everything they want from their local clubs, and they have no interest in ODP.

You could always do some other supplemental program. Maybe you can make a Super-Y team. Maybe you can pay for private coaching. They'll all "take your money," too. In some cases, it's worthwhile.

Ideally, we'd have more free or cheap programs run by pro soccer clubs or funded by sponsors. But then what would parents brag about?

+1000. Whether or not ODP is worth doing depends entirely on YOUR KID'S individual situation and goals. If your kid is already playing on a team that play in 6 national-level showcase tournaments a year with hundreds of college coaches in attendance, then incremental value of playing ODP may be minimal.

On the other hand, if your kid is a very good player on a mediocre team that gets little exposure to high level play or college coaches, then ODP may be a great addition to his/her development and a way to gain exposure to some college coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: On the other hand, if your kid is a very good player on a mediocre team that gets little exposure to high level play or college coaches, then ODP may be a great addition to his/her development and a way to gain exposure to some college coaches

I support very good players on mediocre teams getting exposure, but you are delusional if you think playing ODP will get you any exposure to college coaches. That's just what the state association sells you people on. Anyone who has done ODP knows that is not true. And the ODP pre-academies or whatever they call them now, my goodness gracias. Don't even get me started child.

There is a reason why US soccer is trying to kill the state associations.

But keep paying. It's your money, not that of the people on here who are trying to warn you.

[Anonymous]

So let's look at the D-ODP. There are no conflicts with DAs. Are people saying that talented kids will not attend and the coaching will be terrible, so it's not worth the money? What makes you think that? I thought this would be a nice supplemental program for my son if the training location is reasonable in Fairfax County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: On the other hand, if your kid is a very good player on a mediocre team that gets little exposure to high level play or college coaches, then ODP may be a great addition to his/her development and a way to gain exposure to some college coaches

I support very good players on mediocre teams getting exposure, but you are delusional if you think playing ODP will get you any exposure to college coaches. That's just what the state association sells you people on. Anyone who has done ODP knows that is not true. And the ODP pre-academies or whatever they call them now, my goodness gracias. Don't even get me started child.

There is a reason why US soccer is trying to kill the state associations.

But keep paying. It's your money, not that of the people on here who are trying to warn you.

I'm not at all delusional about ODP as we decided that ODP was not worth the time and cost, given the high quality of my kid's team and the training she receives. However, I know several players on mediocre club teams in this area who do ODP and it appears to give them some level of credibility that their non-ODP teammates don't have when they try to change club teams and when reaching out to college coaches (who will never come to their mediocre team's games).

[Anonymous]

Novice question here: (I think there is a VYSA rep who might be able to answer)

Is the ODP program a legitimate pathway to being on the US Men's Olympic team?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: On the other hand, if your kid is a very good player on a mediocre team that gets little exposure to high level play or college coaches, then ODP may be a great addition to his/her development and a way to gain exposure to some college coaches

I support very good players on mediocre teams getting exposure, but you are delusional if you think playing ODP will get you any exposure to college coaches. That's just what the state association sells you people on. Anyone who has done ODP knows that is not true. And the ODP pre-academies or whatever they call them now, my goodness gracias. Don't even get me started child.

There is a reason why US soccer is trying to kill the state associations.

But keep paying. It's your money, not that of the people on here who are trying to warn you.

I'm not at all delusional about ODP as we decided that ODP was not worth the time and cost, given the high quality of my kid's team and the training she receives. However, I know several players on mediocre club teams in this area who do ODP and it appears to give them some level of credibility that their non-ODP teammates don't have when they try to change club teams and when reaching out to college coaches (who will never come to their mediocre team's games).

+10000
Sorry bitter nay-sayers, at this point in time, ODP still matters to college coaches and looks great on a resume, it is one of the things that sticks out to them when they see it.......so saith the college coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Novice question here: (I think there is a VYSA rep who might be able to answer)

Is the ODP program a legitimate pathway to being on the US Men's Olympic team?

being an extraordinary player is a legitimate pathway to being on the U.S. Men's Olympic team -- whether you come up through the DA or ODP or a really good and visible club team is beside the point.

[Anonymous]

My DD is at a high-level club and her team plays in the top leagues/showcases. She continues to do ODP. Her club training is certainly better most days, but the experiences she's had through ODP have been invaluable and I'm glad that she's had the opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Novice question here: (I think there is a VYSA rep who might be able to answer)

Is the ODP program a legitimate pathway to being on the US Men's Olympic team?

NO VYSA reps, some of us are just well-seasoned veteran soccer parents.