ODP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So completely worthless in VA?

I just got the try out email and figure it was either a waste of time money grab or something my kid isn’t actually good enough for.

Our U13 DD’s team isn’t looking great next for next year so I’m looking for something to supplement for the year.

Not completely worthless in VA. DD had great experience at u13 and better understood where she stacked up against other players. There are some great players and some average, the experience got better as selections kept getting made.

This is for VA

It's not worthless. There is value in playing with different players and getting different coaching perspectives.

Worth it? $500 for district training--10 weeks x 1.5 hrs on Sunday nights maybe near you. Fall 2017 the training was in Leesburg. 2018 it was in Fairfax.

$500 for state pool training. 10 Saturdays or Sundays x 1.5 or 2 hrs in Fredericksburg. And wait until you carefully plan your weekend around ODP and then get an email on Friday night that they've switched to the "inclement weather" schedule, meaning that now your plans are all messed up.

$500 for each weekend event, in which your DC will participate in 3 games. Usually 3 weekend events.
If you're keeping count, we're up to $2500 now, which is about the cost of a year of travel soccer.

Camp is another $500, and the big Europe trip is around $3k.

Every family needs to decide whether it's worth it.

This looks like a big 'ol money grab - which isn't anything new except this time it is actually the state governing body that is profiting from it, which is kind of sickening to me.

If VYSA was serious about offering an alternative pathway for the top (non-DA) players in the state (which would be awesome IMO), ODP would be free. At the very least, they would be liberally granting scholarships and advertising that fact very prominently in their emails and on their web site (they don't). They would also be sending emails in Spanish as well as English (nada).

Instead, you get a program that is only for players who can afford to pay an additional $2500 per year, on top of what they are already paying in fees for their regular club team.

If you are considering signing your kid up and wondering about the level of player, let that sink in for a bit. They are only selecting from a pool of players who can afford to be spending $4000-$5000 a year on soccer. They aren't getting the best players. They're getting the best rich players.

Dig a little deeper and look at the math. They are charging $50 per 90 minute session. They have the same costs as your kid's club team - field rentals and paying the coaches. How much does your kid's club team charge per 90 minute session? Let's say your team practices 3x/week and takes one month off in the winter, 2 months off in the summer. So that's about 40 weeks x 3 sessions/week = 120. Figure at least an additional 25 games between fall and spring leagues, a couple/few tournaments, and some friendlies. So as a ball-park, you're getting about 145 sessions a year. Even if your club charges $3000 a year, that works out to a little more than $20 a session.

To get to the $50 a session that ODP charges, a club would have to charge $6000 a year and only offer 120 sessions in total.

Further comparision - even HP Elite is under $35 a session, and they are paying for indoor space. No one charges $50 for group training sessions.

Bottom line - instead of subsidizing ODP to offset the expense and keep costs down for eligible players, VYSA is doing the exact opposite. It is a cash grab and a total rip-off.

We should expect and demand more.

Except it isn't a training program it is an identification program. At each stage 50% of the kids are cut until the Regional pool. At each stage you are free to opt out if your child is selected. Not every age group goes to Europe.

So because it's an identification program not a training program that justifies jacking up the price so much?

I didn't include the cost of the Europe trip. It costs $2500 just for state pool if you include the 3 weekend events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So completely worthless in VA?

I just got the try out email and figure it was either a waste of time money grab or something my kid isn’t actually good enough for.

Our U13 DD’s team isn’t looking great next for next year so I’m looking for something to supplement for the year.

Not completely worthless in VA. DD had great experience at u13 and better understood where she stacked up against other players. There are some great players and some average, the experience got better as selections kept getting made.

This is for VA

It's not worthless. There is value in playing with different players and getting different coaching perspectives.

Worth it? $500 for district training--10 weeks x 1.5 hrs on Sunday nights maybe near you. Fall 2017 the training was in Leesburg. 2018 it was in Fairfax.

$500 for state pool training. 10 Saturdays or Sundays x 1.5 or 2 hrs in Fredericksburg. And wait until you carefully plan your weekend around ODP and then get an email on Friday night that they've switched to the "inclement weather" schedule, meaning that now your plans are all messed up.

$500 for each weekend event, in which your DC will participate in 3 games. Usually 3 weekend events.
If you're keeping count, we're up to $2500 now, which is about the cost of a year of travel soccer.

Camp is another $500, and the big Europe trip is around $3k.

Every family needs to decide whether it's worth it.

This looks like a big 'ol money grab - which isn't anything new except this time it is actually the state governing body that is profiting from it, which is kind of sickening to me.

If VYSA was serious about offering an alternative pathway for the top (non-DA) players in the state (which would be awesome IMO), ODP would be free. At the very least, they would be liberally granting scholarships and advertising that fact very prominently in their emails and on their web site (they don't). They would also be sending emails in Spanish as well as English (nada).

Instead, you get a program that is only for players who can afford to pay an additional $2500 per year, on top of what they are already paying in fees for their regular club team.

If you are considering signing your kid up and wondering about the level of player, let that sink in for a bit. They are only selecting from a pool of players who can afford to be spending $4000-$5000 a year on soccer. They aren't getting the best players. They're getting the best rich players.

Dig a little deeper and look at the math. They are charging $50 per 90 minute session. They have the same costs as your kid's club team - field rentals and paying the coaches. How much does your kid's club team charge per 90 minute session? Let's say your team practices 3x/week and takes one month off in the winter, 2 months off in the summer. So that's about 40 weeks x 3 sessions/week = 120. Figure at least an additional 25 games between fall and spring leagues, a couple/few tournaments, and some friendlies. So as a ball-park, you're getting about 145 sessions a year. Even if your club charges $3000 a year, that works out to a little more than $20 a session.

To get to the $50 a session that ODP charges, a club would have to charge $6000 a year and only offer 120 sessions in total.

Further comparision - even HP Elite is under $35 a session, and they are paying for indoor space. No one charges $50 for group training sessions.

Bottom line - instead of subsidizing ODP to offset the expense and keep costs down for eligible players, VYSA is doing the exact opposite. It is a cash grab and a total rip-off.

We should expect and demand more.

Except it isn't a training program it is an identification program. At each stage 50% of the kids are cut until the Regional pool. At each stage you are free to opt out if your child is selected. Not every age group goes to Europe.

So because it's an identification program not a training program that justifies jacking up the price so much?

I didn't include the cost of the Europe trip. It costs $2500 just for state pool if you include the 3 weekend events.

It isn't a training program it is a identification selection program. Let that nuance marinate for a while.

Over the course of the program it is actively reducing the number of participants by 50% at each stage in the process. Let that fact marinate for a while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So completely worthless in VA?

I just got the try out email and figure it was either a waste of time money grab or something my kid isn’t actually good enough for.

Our U13 DD’s team isn’t looking great next for next year so I’m looking for something to supplement for the year.

Not completely worthless in VA. DD had great experience at u13 and better understood where she stacked up against other players. There are some great players and some average, the experience got better as selections kept getting made.

This is for VA

It's not worthless. There is value in playing with different players and getting different coaching perspectives.

Worth it? $500 for district training--10 weeks x 1.5 hrs on Sunday nights maybe near you. Fall 2017 the training was in Leesburg. 2018 it was in Fairfax.

$500 for state pool training. 10 Saturdays or Sundays x 1.5 or 2 hrs in Fredericksburg. And wait until you carefully plan your weekend around ODP and then get an email on Friday night that they've switched to the "inclement weather" schedule, meaning that now your plans are all messed up.

$500 for each weekend event, in which your DC will participate in 3 games. Usually 3 weekend events.
If you're keeping count, we're up to $2500 now, which is about the cost of a year of travel soccer.

Camp is another $500, and the big Europe trip is around $3k.

Every family needs to decide whether it's worth it.

This looks like a big 'ol money grab - which isn't anything new except this time it is actually the state governing body that is profiting from it, which is kind of sickening to me.

If VYSA was serious about offering an alternative pathway for the top (non-DA) players in the state (which would be awesome IMO), ODP would be free. At the very least, they would be liberally granting scholarships and advertising that fact very prominently in their emails and on their web site (they don't). They would also be sending emails in Spanish as well as English (nada).

Instead, you get a program that is only for players who can afford to pay an additional $2500 per year, on top of what they are already paying in fees for their regular club team.

If you are considering signing your kid up and wondering about the level of player, let that sink in for a bit. They are only selecting from a pool of players who can afford to be spending $4000-$5000 a year on soccer. They aren't getting the best players. They're getting the best rich players.

Dig a little deeper and look at the math. They are charging $50 per 90 minute session. They have the same costs as your kid's club team - field rentals and paying the coaches. How much does your kid's club team charge per 90 minute session? Let's say your team practices 3x/week and takes one month off in the winter, 2 months off in the summer. So that's about 40 weeks x 3 sessions/week = 120. Figure at least an additional 25 games between fall and spring leagues, a couple/few tournaments, and some friendlies. So as a ball-park, you're getting about 145 sessions a year. Even if your club charges $3000 a year, that works out to a little more than $20 a session.

To get to the $50 a session that ODP charges, a club would have to charge $6000 a year and only offer 120 sessions in total.

Further comparision - even HP Elite is under $35 a session, and they are paying for indoor space. No one charges $50 for group training sessions.

Bottom line - instead of subsidizing ODP to offset the expense and keep costs down for eligible players, VYSA is doing the exact opposite. It is a cash grab and a total rip-off.

We should expect and demand more.

I agree the numbers are insane. You didn’t even mention the tournament fees, how the hell are they changing $400 per person for a mediocre tournament ? That’s $7200 for a team of 18! To put that in perspective the Jeff cup girls showcase is $1350 per team.

[Anonymous]

Training program or ID Selection program, who cares what you call it. My kid just went it through it for the past year and we opted not to send her to the Regional Camp. The tournaments were basic friendly tournaments that I choked having to pay the $400 or so to travel to NC the the same amount roughly to go to Williamsburg. Thankfully that got cancelled and I saved the money. I wont be sending my kid to ODP again. I dont hate the program, I just dont get it for the cost.
She got good training as she does at her club. She was "selected" at every level up until I said no more.
Not some upset parent just one that doesnt see the value in what you shell out. One and done for us. Good luck if you choose to do so.

[Anonymous]

Worth it? $500 for district training--10 weeks x 1.5 hrs on Sunday nights maybe near you. Fall 2017 the training was in Leesburg. 2018 it was in Fairfax.

$500 for state pool training. 10 Saturdays or Sundays x 1.5 or 2 hrs in Fredericksburg. And wait until you carefully plan your weekend around ODP and then get an email on Friday night that they've switched to the "inclement weather" schedule, meaning that now your plans are all messed up.

Only half of each district kids make the State Pool.

$500 for each weekend event, in which your DC will participate in 3 games. Usually 3 weekend events.
If you're keeping count, we're up to $2500 now, which is about the cost of a year of travel soccer.

Only State Pool players play in these events. They are not mandatory.

Camp is another $500, and the big Europe trip is around $3k.

Less than half of the State Pool are selected for the Regional Camp. Of those who attend only a handful of kids from the state make the regional Pool. Half of the total Regional pool encompassing Virginia through the North East, make the Regional pool.

The over seas trip is optional and only offered to two age groups per gender.

All events are chaperoned events that cover transportation, food and board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So completely worthless in VA?

I just got the try out email and figure it was either a waste of time money grab or something my kid isn’t actually good enough for.

Our U13 DD’s team isn’t looking great next for next year so I’m looking for something to supplement for the year.

Not completely worthless in VA. DD had great experience at u13 and better understood where she stacked up against other players. There are some great players and some average, the experience got better as selections kept getting made.

This is for VA

It's not worthless. There is value in playing with different players and getting different coaching perspectives.

Worth it? $500 for district training--10 weeks x 1.5 hrs on Sunday nights maybe near you. Fall 2017 the training was in Leesburg. 2018 it was in Fairfax.

$500 for state pool training. 10 Saturdays or Sundays x 1.5 or 2 hrs in Fredericksburg. And wait until you carefully plan your weekend around ODP and then get an email on Friday night that they've switched to the "inclement weather" schedule, meaning that now your plans are all messed up.

$500 for each weekend event, in which your DC will participate in 3 games. Usually 3 weekend events.
If you're keeping count, we're up to $2500 now, which is about the cost of a year of travel soccer.

Camp is another $500, and the big Europe trip is around $3k.

Every family needs to decide whether it's worth it.

This looks like a big 'ol money grab - which isn't anything new except this time it is actually the state governing body that is profiting from it, which is kind of sickening to me.

If VYSA was serious about offering an alternative pathway for the top (non-DA) players in the state (which would be awesome IMO), ODP would be free. At the very least, they would be liberally granting scholarships and advertising that fact very prominently in their emails and on their web site (they don't). They would also be sending emails in Spanish as well as English (nada).

Instead, you get a program that is only for players who can afford to pay an additional $2500 per year, on top of what they are already paying in fees for their regular club team.

If you are considering signing your kid up and wondering about the level of player, let that sink in for a bit. They are only selecting from a pool of players who can afford to be spending $4000-$5000 a year on soccer. They aren't getting the best players. They're getting the best rich players.

Dig a little deeper and look at the math. They are charging $50 per 90 minute session. They have the same costs as your kid's club team - field rentals and paying the coaches. How much does your kid's club team charge per 90 minute session? Let's say your team practices 3x/week and takes one month off in the winter, 2 months off in the summer. So that's about 40 weeks x 3 sessions/week = 120. Figure at least an additional 25 games between fall and spring leagues, a couple/few tournaments, and some friendlies. So as a ball-park, you're getting about 145 sessions a year. Even if your club charges $3000 a year, that works out to a little more than $20 a session.

To get to the $50 a session that ODP charges, a club would have to charge $6000 a year and only offer 120 sessions in total.

Further comparision - even HP Elite is under $35 a session, and they are paying for indoor space. No one charges $50 for group training sessions.

Bottom line - instead of subsidizing ODP to offset the expense and keep costs down for eligible players, VYSA is doing the exact opposite. It is a cash grab and a total rip-off.

We should expect and demand more.

Except it isn't a training program it is an identification program. At each stage 50% of the kids are cut until the Regional pool. At each stage you are free to opt out if your child is selected. Not every age group goes to Europe.

So because it's an identification program not a training program that justifies jacking up the price so much?

I didn't include the cost of the Europe trip. It costs $2500 just for state pool if you include the 3 weekend events.

It isn't a training program it is a identification selection program. Let that nuance marinate for a while.

Over the course of the program it is actively reducing the number of participants by 50% at each stage in the process. Let that fact marinate for a while.

Yes, we're all aware of how it works. What's your point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So completely worthless in VA?

I just got the try out email and figure it was either a waste of time money grab or something my kid isn’t actually good enough for.

Our U13 DD’s team isn’t looking great next for next year so I’m looking for something to supplement for the year.

Not completely worthless in VA. DD had great experience at u13 and better understood where she stacked up against other players. There are some great players and some average, the experience got better as selections kept getting made.

This is for VA

It's not worthless. There is value in playing with different players and getting different coaching perspectives.

Worth it? $500 for district training--10 weeks x 1.5 hrs on Sunday nights maybe near you. Fall 2017 the training was in Leesburg. 2018 it was in Fairfax.

$500 for state pool training. 10 Saturdays or Sundays x 1.5 or 2 hrs in Fredericksburg. And wait until you carefully plan your weekend around ODP and then get an email on Friday night that they've switched to the "inclement weather" schedule, meaning that now your plans are all messed up.

$500 for each weekend event, in which your DC will participate in 3 games. Usually 3 weekend events.
If you're keeping count, we're up to $2500 now, which is about the cost of a year of travel soccer.

Camp is another $500, and the big Europe trip is around $3k.

Every family needs to decide whether it's worth it.

This looks like a big 'ol money grab - which isn't anything new except this time it is actually the state governing body that is profiting from it, which is kind of sickening to me.

If VYSA was serious about offering an alternative pathway for the top (non-DA) players in the state (which would be awesome IMO), ODP would be free. At the very least, they would be liberally granting scholarships and advertising that fact very prominently in their emails and on their web site (they don't). They would also be sending emails in Spanish as well as English (nada).

Instead, you get a program that is only for players who can afford to pay an additional $2500 per year, on top of what they are already paying in fees for their regular club team.

If you are considering signing your kid up and wondering about the level of player, let that sink in for a bit. They are only selecting from a pool of players who can afford to be spending $4000-$5000 a year on soccer. They aren't getting the best players. They're getting the best rich players.

Dig a little deeper and look at the math. They are charging $50 per 90 minute session. They have the same costs as your kid's club team - field rentals and paying the coaches. How much does your kid's club team charge per 90 minute session? Let's say your team practices 3x/week and takes one month off in the winter, 2 months off in the summer. So that's about 40 weeks x 3 sessions/week = 120. Figure at least an additional 25 games between fall and spring leagues, a couple/few tournaments, and some friendlies. So as a ball-park, you're getting about 145 sessions a year. Even if your club charges $3000 a year, that works out to a little more than $20 a session.

To get to the $50 a session that ODP charges, a club would have to charge $6000 a year and only offer 120 sessions in total.

Further comparision - even HP Elite is under $35 a session, and they are paying for indoor space. No one charges $50 for group training sessions.

Bottom line - instead of subsidizing ODP to offset the expense and keep costs down for eligible players, VYSA is doing the exact opposite. It is a cash grab and a total rip-off.

We should expect and demand more.

Except it isn't a training program it is an identification program. At each stage 50% of the kids are cut until the Regional pool. At each stage you are free to opt out if your child is selected. Not every age group goes to Europe.

So because it's an identification program not a training program that justifies jacking up the price so much?

I didn't include the cost of the Europe trip. It costs $2500 just for state pool if you include the 3 weekend events.

It does if what you try to identify is how much gullible or clueless parents will pay through the nose for subpar training.

[Anonymous]

The point is if you are going to ODP for the training or hoping ODP is going to make your kid better you’re doing it for the wrong reason. And to those people, don’t do it.

For most kids it tops out at $500 and District. Participation in all the events is not required either.

At each stage you can choose to continue or drop out of the program if you are selected. If you not near a DA or ECNL environment it is a avenue for exposure. If you can make the Regional Pool that will more than stand out on a soccer resume. For many kids reaching the State teams is a excellent addition to the soccer resume.

Going through ODP at least once to see how far you can go is worth it Soccer wise. It is only worth repeating if you just missed the Regional pool or State Pool and you are not in a DA or ECNL club.

If college soccer isn’t in the plans ODP can be avoided all together.

But to put top end costs on something just assuming selection and advancement at every level is a bit arrogant and absurd especially when half of all kids that make District ODP don’t get the option to pay more than the $500 in the fall.

It isn’t cheap to go all the way but then again that is not a bill most of you will never have to worry about anyway.

[Anonymous]

This I don’t understand. Only the C team level and below do it from our Club so I can’t see how the talent pool is so great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This I don’t understand. Only the C team level and below do it from our Club so I can’t see how the talent pool is so great.

No such claim was made. In fact it was stated that making the Regional pool would be the level that would demonstrate that a player is quite talented.

But, making District is certainly achievable by B and C team players. Getting out of District to the State level is likely not happening for many C team players.

The talent pool isn't great considering DA players may not participate and many ECNL players no longer do either.

But, for those kids that are not near a DA or ECNL club it is an option. It is also an option for players who can't afford 4-6 years of DA or ECNL but can manage a year of ODP for the resume.

ODP is not what it used to be but that doesn't mean that it is not of some value. As stated earlier, do not go into it believing it is a training environment. This is an important disconnect that people have when they post their disappointment regarding the "poor quality of training". Well, that is because the sessions are run to evaluate the players, not to train them. It is an important distinction to come to terms with and ODP can be an important process for kids to go through who hope to play in college and plan on attending college ID camps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This I don’t understand. Only the C team level and below do it from our Club so I can’t see how the talent pool is so great.

No such claim was made. In fact it was stated that making the Regional pool would be the level that would demonstrate that a player is quite talented.

But, making District is certainly achievable by B and C team players. Getting out of District to the State level is likely not happening for many C team players.

The talent pool isn't great considering DA players may not participate and many ECNL players no longer do either.

But, for those kids that are not near a DA or ECNL club it is an option. It is also an option for players who can't afford 4-6 years of DA or ECNL but can manage a year of ODP for the resume.

ODP is not what it used to be but that doesn't mean that it is not of some value. As stated earlier, do not go into it believing it is a training environment. This is an important disconnect that people have when they post their disappointment regarding the "poor quality of training". Well, that is because the sessions are run to evaluate the players, not to train them. It is an important distinction to come to terms with and ODP can be an important process for kids to go through who hope to play in college and plan on attending college ID camps.

If only do it for one year, which age group will be the most beneficial one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This I don’t understand. Only the C team level and below do it from our Club so I can’t see how the talent pool is so great.

No such claim was made. In fact it was stated that making the Regional pool would be the level that would demonstrate that a player is quite talented.

But, making District is certainly achievable by B and C team players. Getting out of District to the State level is likely not happening for many C team players.

The talent pool isn't great considering DA players may not participate and many ECNL players no longer do either.

But, for those kids that are not near a DA or ECNL club it is an option. It is also an option for players who can't afford 4-6 years of DA or ECNL but can manage a year of ODP for the resume.

ODP is not what it used to be but that doesn't mean that it is not of some value. As stated earlier, do not go into it believing it is a training environment. This is an important disconnect that people have when they post their disappointment regarding the "poor quality of training". Well, that is because the sessions are run to evaluate the players, not to train them. It is an important distinction to come to terms with and ODP can be an important process for kids to go through who hope to play in college and plan on attending college ID camps.

If only do it for one year, which age group will be the most beneficial one?

If you're not on a DA or ECNL team I'd think U15-U16. You want something on the resume before College ID camps or showcases to help stand out. Also, at the Regional Pool level college coaches often run many of the sessions so some contacts can be made there ahead of time too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This I don’t understand. Only the C team level and below do it from our Club so I can’t see how the talent pool is so great.

No such claim was made. In fact it was stated that making the Regional pool would be the level that would demonstrate that a player is quite talented.

But, making District is certainly achievable by B and C team players. Getting out of District to the State level is likely not happening for many C team players.

The talent pool isn't great considering DA players may not participate and many ECNL players no longer do either.

But, for those kids that are not near a DA or ECNL club it is an option. It is also an option for players who can't afford 4-6 years of DA or ECNL but can manage a year of ODP for the resume.

ODP is not what it used to be but that doesn't mean that it is not of some value. As stated earlier, do not go into it believing it is a training environment. This is an important disconnect that people have when they post their disappointment regarding the "poor quality of training". Well, that is because the sessions are run to evaluate the players, not to train them. It is an important distinction to come to terms with and ODP can be an important process for kids to go through who hope to play in college and plan on attending college ID camps.

If only do it for one year, which age group will be the most beneficial one?

If you're not on a DA or ECNL team I'd think U15-U16. You want something on the resume before College ID camps or showcases to help stand out. Also, at the Regional Pool level college coaches often run many of the sessions so some contacts can be made there ahead of time too.

I was the one who posted earlier about what a huge rip-off it is, but this is good advice. If you're not DA / ECNL and still want to play in college, you'll need something else on the resume and U15-16 is probably the best time to do that.

Still doesn't change the fact that VYSA shouldn't be making a profit from ODP. That's just wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Worth it? $500 for district training--10 weeks x 1.5 hrs on Sunday nights maybe near you. Fall 2017 the training was in Leesburg. 2018 it was in Fairfax.

$500 for state pool training. 10 Saturdays or Sundays x 1.5 or 2 hrs in Fredericksburg. And wait until you carefully plan your weekend around ODP and then get an email on Friday night that they've switched to the "inclement weather" schedule, meaning that now your plans are all messed up.

Only half of each district kids make the State Pool.

$500 for each weekend event, in which your DC will participate in 3 games. Usually 3 weekend events.
If you're keeping count, we're up to $2500 now, which is about the cost of a year of travel soccer.

Only State Pool players play in these events. They are not mandatory.

Camp is another $500, and the big Europe trip is around $3k.

Less than half of the State Pool are selected for the Regional Camp. Of those who attend only a handful of kids from the state make the regional Pool. Half of the total Regional pool encompassing Virginia through the North East, make the Regional pool.

The over seas trip is optional and only offered to two age groups per gender.

All events are chaperoned events that cover transportation, food and board.

Hi, I'm the PP who is quoted above. I'll start with what's correct:
First, you're right that the weekend events are not mandatory, and include room, most food, transportation, and chaperones. It is not necessary to spend the $1500 in order to participate in the program.

Second, the Europe trip is optional, of course.

The parts I bolded are not true. I don't know the exact numbers statewide, but I do know that many more than 50% of the north district made the state pool. Closer to 90%.

As far as the camp, I'll just copy and paste from the email:

The East Region ODP Camp is an optional event (meaning it’s not by coach selection) and open to the entire state pool.

Don't know where you got the 50% number, other than to think that you have no clue what you're talking about and are just pulling numbers out of your backside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Worth it? $500 for district training--10 weeks x 1.5 hrs on Sunday nights maybe near you. Fall 2017 the training was in Leesburg. 2018 it was in Fairfax.

$500 for state pool training. 10 Saturdays or Sundays x 1.5 or 2 hrs in Fredericksburg. And wait until you carefully plan your weekend around ODP and then get an email on Friday night that they've switched to the "inclement weather" schedule, meaning that now your plans are all messed up.

Only half of each district kids make the State Pool.

$500 for each weekend event, in which your DC will participate in 3 games. Usually 3 weekend events.
If you're keeping count, we're up to $2500 now, which is about the cost of a year of travel soccer.

Only State Pool players play in these events. They are not mandatory.

Camp is another $500, and the big Europe trip is around $3k.

Less than half of the State Pool are selected for the Regional Camp. Of those who attend only a handful of kids from the state make the regional Pool. Half of the total Regional pool encompassing Virginia through the North East, make the Regional pool.

The over seas trip is optional and only offered to two age groups per gender.

All events are chaperoned events that cover transportation, food and board.

Hi, I'm the PP who is quoted above. I'll start with what's correct:
First, you're right that the weekend events are not mandatory, and include room, most food, transportation, and chaperones. It is not necessary to spend the $1500 in order to participate in the program.

Second, the Europe trip is optional, of course.

The parts I bolded are not true. I don't know the exact numbers statewide, but I do know that many more than 50% of the north district made the state pool. Closer to 90%.

As far as the camp, I'll just copy and paste from the email:

The East Region ODP Camp is an optional event (meaning it’s not by coach selection) and open to the entire state pool.

Don't know where you got the 50% number, other than to think that you have no clue what you're talking about and are just pulling numbers out of your backside.

My kids went through the program and the total district pool is cut in half. That the northern district is over represented doesn’t change that.