| Is ODP still a thing |
At least there is no shortage of arrogance in American youth soccer! I know plenty of girls that didn’t make an ECNL roster but after making ODP regional team the next year they make ECNL and do well. so clearly you aren’t speaking for every ECNL coach in the country. |
| A lot of odp achievements in the bios of the new D1 recruits, seems to be a disconnect with this board |
Difference between boys and girls. For boys it's much more clear: either DA or not. ECNL/OFP/EDP , ... none of it really matters on the boys side. You're either good enough to make the DA, or you're not. |
Yeah. Similarly, either you are good enough to be playing in Europe or Mexico by U15 or you are wasting a lot of time and money on something that should be a hobby. Like wealth, talent is all relative. |
Yes, and if someone had suggested kids should do ODP to increase their chances of playing in Europe or Mexico, that would be a good point. Since no one made that suggestion though, your comment has absolutely nothing to do with this conversation. |
Right. I am sure your comments were really directed towards providing helpful guidance for DA aspirants. My point was to provide similarly instructive guidance for would-be professional players. Thank you for pointing out the errors of our collective ways. Just as the DA has done so well for our national soccer development. I am sure we will all see how this insular arrogance pays off for you and others. Yutz. |
The number of roster spots in division 1 colleges far exceeds the number of roster spots in DA. You don't have to go to DA if you want to play in college even for a high level program. |
| Was someone serious by trying to put Mexican soccer on the same level as Europe. Mexico is a dump re: soccer. Argentina and Brazil is where serious players are. |
Mexico, Argentina and Brazil are all better than MLS, but Europe is the place where all top players go. |
There is a huge difference between pre-2017 and post-2017 landscape, because 2017 was the first Girls DA season. Before that, a (smaller) ECNL was the only high-level league. Girls who didn't make ECNL teams played ODP to get some exposure, and if they made it to Region, that really meant something. After 2017, though, ECNL grew to compete with GDA, neither league was a fan of sending girls to ODP, and ODP has become a catch-all for "the best of the rest." So to really gauge what ODP means to D1 recruiting today won't become clear until the 2004 and 2005 age groups are being recruited. |
| you can always play in the garage Pro League |
It used to be "the best of the rest", now it's only for those willing to pay for additional training similar to what your kid is getting at their current club. Many of the best players/parents not in ECNL/DA don't see the added value of paying for Sunday night training after they had games all weekend. And those that can't afford just don't do it. It used to have its value but now not so much other than putting in your resume that you participated. |