ODP in VA cost

[Anonymous]

I know I know ODP is a thing of the past but some kids still do it. My question is if your DD or DS gets selected to go to Europe or wherever, whats the cost involved in that? Why do people still do ODP has anyone ever got selected to Nationals from being in ODP?

[Anonymous]

All info for virginia is on vysa.org

[Anonymous]

https://www.vysa.com/Default.aspx?tabid=2519873

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All info for virginia is on vysa.org

Yeah? The costs, too? Care to provide a link? I haven’t seen any cost information on the website (it comes out in emails), and certainly not in a convenient-to-find format.

My son did ODP for the first time this year. The costs were somewhat laid out at a parents’ orientation during the state trials. Here’s what you got:

District training. 7-8 district sessions, 90 min, hopefully reasonably close to your house. Fall 2018 they were at Woodson HS. Fall 2017 at Evergreen (!).
Cost: ~$400

State Training. 9-10 sessions, 90-120 min (depending on whether it’s a normally scheduled session or a weather-truncated session.
Cost: ~$400 + ~ $50 for uniform items

Friendlies. There were two tournament-like “Friendlies” on the schedule this year, one in NC and one in Williamsburg. Originally scheduled for 3 games each. NC included food, hotel, and transport. Williamsburg would have not included transport (it was eventually cancelled at the last minute due to weather).
Cost for NC: $395 + incidentals for your kid.
Cost for Williamsburg: $375

Europe trip. We declined to participate, but the cost is around $3100.

There are a couple more ODP events this spring (listed on the website), and I anticipate the cost will again be around $400 apiece. The summer camp in July will be about $700.

So, if you go “all-in” on ODP, it could be up to $6200 over the course of the year:
400 at districts
400 for state
400 per event x 4
3100 for overseas trip
700 for camp

I’ve tried to post just the data without editorializing on the value. I definitely have some thoughts on that, too...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All info for virginia is on vysa.org

Yeah? The costs, too? Care to provide a link? I haven’t seen any cost information on the website (it comes out in emails), and certainly not in a convenient-to-find format.

My son did ODP for the first time this year. The costs were somewhat laid out at a parents’ orientation during the state trials. Here’s what you got:

District training. 7-8 district sessions, 90 min, hopefully reasonably close to your house. Fall 2018 they were at Woodson HS. Fall 2017 at Evergreen (!).
Cost: ~$400

State Training. 9-10 sessions, 90-120 min (depending on whether it’s a normally scheduled session or a weather-truncated session.
Cost: ~$400 + ~ $50 for uniform items

Friendlies. There were two tournament-like “Friendlies” on the schedule this year, one in NC and one in Williamsburg. Originally scheduled for 3 games each. NC included food, hotel, and transport. Williamsburg would have not included transport (it was eventually cancelled at the last minute due to weather).
Cost for NC: $395 + incidentals for your kid.
Cost for Williamsburg: $375

Europe trip. We declined to participate, but the cost is around $3100.

There are a couple more ODP events this spring (listed on the website), and I anticipate the cost will again be around $400 apiece. The summer camp in July will be about $700.

So, if you go “all-in” on ODP, it could be up to $6200 over the course of the year:
400 at districts
400 for state
400 per event x 4
3100 for overseas trip
700 for camp

I’ve tried to post just the data without editorializing on the value. I definitely have some thoughts on that, too...

Thank you for providing this information. What are your thoughts on the value?

[Anonymous]

PP here.

Here’s a link to the presentation that they give to new parents. Yes, it’s from the VYSA website:

https://bsbproduction.s3.amazonaws.com/portals/27433/docs/odp/vysa%20parent%20presentation%202018-compressed.pdf

The estimated costs are buried in the middle—a common pattern for VYSA.

Don’t have time now to discuss value, but can further discuss later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All info for virginia is on vysa.org

Yeah? The costs, too? Care to provide a link? I haven’t seen any cost information on the website (it comes out in emails), and certainly not in a convenient-to-find format.

My son did ODP for the first time this year. The costs were somewhat laid out at a parents’ orientation during the state trials. Here’s what you got:

District training. 7-8 district sessions, 90 min, hopefully reasonably close to your house. Fall 2018 they were at Woodson HS. Fall 2017 at Evergreen (!).
Cost: ~$400

State Training. 9-10 sessions, 90-120 min (depending on whether it’s a normally scheduled session or a weather-truncated session.
Cost: ~$400 + ~ $50 for uniform items

Friendlies. There were two tournament-like “Friendlies” on the schedule this year, one in NC and one in Williamsburg. Originally scheduled for 3 games each. NC included food, hotel, and transport. Williamsburg would have not included transport (it was eventually cancelled at the last minute due to weather).
Cost for NC: $395 + incidentals for your kid.
Cost for Williamsburg: $375

Europe trip. We declined to participate, but the cost is around $3100.

There are a couple more ODP events this spring (listed on the website), and I anticipate the cost will again be around $400 apiece. The summer camp in July will be about $700.

So, if you go “all-in” on ODP, it could be up to $6200 over the course of the year:
400 at districts
400 for state
400 per event x 4
3100 for overseas trip
700 for camp

I’ve tried to post just the data without editorializing on the value. I definitely have some thoughts on that, too...

Thank you for providing this information. What are your thoughts on the value?

The value is different for everyone. If you are not near a ECNL or DA club then it can be a good experience. If you are in ECNL it can offer some more exposure assuming your player reaches the regional level.

It is expensive the further you go but like anything in life you get out of it what you put into it.

It is expensive, it is expensive, let me repeat, it is expensive. If you are prone to getting mad about soccer being a money grab then look elsewhere. You've been warned and nobody wants to hear you complain about it later.

[Anonymous]

As a comparison, how much is a ECNL team a year typically?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a comparison, how much is a ECNL team a year typically?

Before travel 2-3k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The value is different for everyone. No kidding, Sherlock If you are not near a ECNL or DA club then it can be a good experience Has nothing to do with where you live or what clubs are nearby, although obviously if your DC is in the DA, they cannot do ODP. If you are in ECNL it can offer some more exposure assuming your player reaches the regional level.

It is expensive the further you go but like anything in life you get out of it what you put into it. hah, this is asinine. ODP is very good at relieving people of the burden of unwanted cash. putting more cash in absolutely does not assure a better outcome

It is expensive, it is expensive, let me repeat, it is expensive. If you are prone to getting mad about soccer being a money grab then look elsewhere. You've been warned and nobody wants to hear you complain about it later. I'd people would rather hear the complaints than your condescending tone policing

Ok, some thoughts on value. Caveat is that I can only speak to the boys' side of things.

What ODP is good for:
1) Social value. It's great for the boys to meet some of the other players around the area and make friends with kids who are normally your opponents. Makes it easier to switch clubs later, if you're looking to do that.
2) Diversity. There's a lot of value in hearing perspectives from other coaches and practicing with/against different players. It's also a chance for players to play at different positions.
3) Social value II. The overnight trips are good experiences. Bonding, making memories, etc. Particularly true for the Europe trip, I would guess.
4) Something to do in the winter. The state pool training is great for this.
5) Higher level of competition. Forget the DA and ECNL (although lots of Boys ECNL players at ODP). If you're not getting the level of competition you need at your own club's training sessions, ODP training is a good option.

What ODP is not good for (These answers are longer because I want to be clear, not because I think the bads outweigh the goods):
1) Player development. Sorry, the training is too sporadic and random for real development. Maybe the coaches take turns planning and running training? Having a week or two between sessions doesn't really help. Lots of scrimmaging at the training with apparently no cohesive philosophy. They're not bad training sessions--far from it--but they're just that: extra training sessions.
2) Social development. Going out on a limb here, but VYSA makes a big deal about how they're teaching the players how to act. Just had a twitter post today about "you put that crest on, you're representing Virginia, blah blah blah." What this means is that coaches bully players off the field. I've seen it. It's ridiculous, but the coaches have total control. Not all coaches are like this, of course, but I've seen the ones that are. Honestly, for me this isn't a dealbreaker--but don't think that they're helping your son grow into a fine young man.
3) Player selection/identification/validation. Again, going out on a limb, but the lists that come out are kind of funny. 2nd team players selected into events and pools ahead of 1st team players at better clubs, stuff like that. Part of this may be because the ODP coaches are looking for specific traits or abilities. Maybe they see potential that club coaches don't see. Maybe they've seen a kid have some great practices but haven't seen a kid enough to notice glaring weaknesses. Maybe a great player had an off day when they were picking the team for X. Whatever. Point is, I don't know anyone who hasn't raised an eyebrow at some ODP list or another.

Bottom line is that my order of ODP value is State Training, District Training, Friendlies/Events, Europe Trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The value is different for everyone. No kidding, Sherlock If you are not near a ECNL or DA club then it can be a good experience Has nothing to do with where you live or what clubs are nearby, although obviously if your DC is in the DA, they cannot do ODP. If you are in ECNL it can offer some more exposure assuming your player reaches the regional level.

It is expensive the further you go but like anything in life you get out of it what you put into it. hah, this is asinine. ODP is very good at relieving people of the burden of unwanted cash. putting more cash in absolutely does not assure a better outcome

It is expensive, it is expensive, let me repeat, it is expensive. If you are prone to getting mad about soccer being a money grab then look elsewhere. You've been warned and nobody wants to hear you complain about it later. I'd people would rather hear the complaints than your condescending tone policing

Ok, some thoughts on value. Caveat is that I can only speak to the boys' side of things.

What ODP is good for:
1) Social value. It's great for the boys to meet some of the other players around the area and make friends with kids who are normally your opponents. Makes it easier to switch clubs later, if you're looking to do that.
2) Diversity. There's a lot of value in hearing perspectives from other coaches and practicing with/against different players. It's also a chance for players to play at different positions.
3) Social value II. The overnight trips are good experiences. Bonding, making memories, etc. Particularly true for the Europe trip, I would guess.
4) Something to do in the winter. The state pool training is great for this.
5) Higher level of competition. Forget the DA and ECNL (although lots of Boys ECNL players at ODP). If you're not getting the level of competition you need at your own club's training sessions, ODP training is a good option.

What ODP is not good for (These answers are longer because I want to be clear, not because I think the bads outweigh the goods):
1) Player development. Sorry, the training is too sporadic and random for real development. Maybe the coaches take turns planning and running training? Having a week or two between sessions doesn't really help. Lots of scrimmaging at the training with apparently no cohesive philosophy. They're not bad training sessions--far from it--but they're just that: extra training sessions.
2) Social development. Going out on a limb here, but VYSA makes a big deal about how they're teaching the players how to act. Just had a twitter post today about "you put that crest on, you're representing Virginia, blah blah blah." What this means is that coaches bully players off the field. I've seen it. It's ridiculous, but the coaches have total control. Not all coaches are like this, of course, but I've seen the ones that are. Honestly, for me this isn't a dealbreaker--but don't think that they're helping your son grow into a fine young man.
3) Player selection/identification/validation. Again, going out on a limb, but the lists that come out are kind of funny. 2nd team players selected into events and pools ahead of 1st team players at better clubs, stuff like that. Part of this may be because the ODP coaches are looking for specific traits or abilities. Maybe they see potential that club coaches don't see. Maybe they've seen a kid have some great practices but haven't seen a kid enough to notice glaring weaknesses. Maybe a great player had an off day when they were picking the team for X. Whatever. Point is, I don't know anyone who hasn't raised an eyebrow at some ODP list or another.

Bottom line is that my order of ODP value is State Training, District Training, Friendlies/Events, Europe Trip.

Just to comment on the bolded, it's pretty likely that the 1st team player at a better club didn't make themselves available to be selected for an event, not that the 2nd team player was selected over the 1st team player. And the coaches probably did everything they could to get the 1st team player to change their plans to be available before they had to set rosters. I was an age group admin for years, and that's been my experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The value is different for everyone. No kidding, Sherlock If you are not near a ECNL or DA club then it can be a good experience Has nothing to do with where you live or what clubs are nearby, although obviously if your DC is in the DA, they cannot do ODP. If you are in ECNL it can offer some more exposure assuming your player reaches the regional level.

It is expensive the further you go but like anything in life you get out of it what you put into it. hah, this is asinine. ODP is very good at relieving people of the burden of unwanted cash. putting more cash in absolutely does not assure a better outcome

It is expensive, it is expensive, let me repeat, it is expensive. If you are prone to getting mad about soccer being a money grab then look elsewhere. You've been warned and nobody wants to hear you complain about it later. I'd people would rather hear the complaints than your condescending tone policing

If you are told something is expensive and you sign up for it anyways do not complain about it being expensive. You are being “tone policed” you are simply being stubborn and dumb.

If you are prone to hating the money grab parts of youth soccer then you will NOT find value in ODP you clown.

[Anonymous]

To the age group administrator: completely agree. Just wanted to point out that the lists reflect availability first and foremost and may not necessarily be indicative of relative ability.

To the Condescending Tone Police: people can say whatever they want. Also, if no one complains about the cost even after signing up, those costs will rise until people do complain while also weakening the talent pool with kids like yours—the children of folks who don’t complain about cost

[Anonymous]

The best players no longer play in the ODP. Even when you leave aside DA and ECNL, the best of the rest are not on ODP roster. In the last couple of years, McLean 2001 and Arlington 2002 won the US Youth soccer national championships. Not a single player from these title winning teams is in on ODP roster for their age groups in 2018. Arlington has a couple of players the ODP roster for that age group, but they were not rostered with the team that went to the national championships.

[Anonymous]

On the boys’ side, the best players are either in the DA or trying to be in the DA. ODP doesn’t do anything for you, other than the extra training. ECNL teams are well represented in the younger age groups of ODP, and aren’t better than players out of non-ECNL teams.