Anonymous
Post 11/02/2024 00:10     Subject: Age/Level Target for ODP in this area?
Anonymous wrote:Is there really a difference between a being at a small club and being 2nd team in a large club? Either way it's a path to get more training, experience, and exposure that currently isn't happening.


We were at a small club and now were 2nd team big club. There has been a big difference for us. The 2nd team on huge club has been better for a few reasons. 1.) The kids are lot better. My kid is getting better just practicing and working with lots of better kids on the team. Drills work better, the kids are more motivated to work harder. 2.) The coaching was poor at our small club. It seemed any coach who was really good ended up leaving our small club. There is an old says that goes, 'Talent recognizes Talent.' So when talented coaches do not recognize talented leadership in a small club, they leave. We left too and the coaching talent on the 2nd team at the bigger club has been a lot better. Our small club was trying to grow coaches and pluck Dad-Coaches out of Rec and place them in travel. We encountered parent coaching issues at our small club, that do not exist out the bigger club because parents coaching their own kids is not allowed. Its unprofessional in travel and it causes a biased approach too coaching.

At our small club we had to seek outside training, such as ODP, just to get better. The kids at our old small club are not really progressing at all. The ECNL RL stats don't lie. The improvement and opportunity , even on the 2nd team at our new club is significant. I wish our small club was great, but it wasn't that much better. I am glad D-ODP helped. But we travel to do other clinics and training as well... we had to to get better as the club had not capacity (or very little capacity) to improve the players at all.
Anonymous
Post 11/01/2024 10:26     Subject: Age/Level Target for ODP in this area?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is there really a difference between a being at a small club and being 2nd team in a large club? Either way it's a path to get more training, experience, and exposure that currently isn't happening.


Big difference. You have much less investment in your son or daughter on the second team at a big club. The big clubs really just have second, third, fourth teams to make money. That's it. So if you're on a second team, you might not get the same level of training and attention. At a small club, you're getting all the attention and because there are less kids you have better chances of individualized attention even in the team environment. Small club may not have the platform of a big one and that could matter as the kids get older but at the early ages, small clubs have a lot of value over bigger machines. The better question is where is the best training environment of the two choices, which has the higher overall level, and who has the better coach.


I agree with this for the most part. I will share though that at at least 2 MLSNext clubs, the coaches have told us that they do regularly communicate with the 2nd team coach to see who can be moved up. While I still do believe that it’s very difficult generally, I think this happens more at clubs that have a very specific way of playing that is implemented at all age groups.


Yeah it's a legitimate point.
Anonymous
Post 11/01/2024 08:32     Subject: Age/Level Target for ODP in this area?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is there really a difference between a being at a small club and being 2nd team in a large club? Either way it's a path to get more training, experience, and exposure that currently isn't happening.


Big difference. You have much less investment in your son or daughter on the second team at a big club. The big clubs really just have second, third, fourth teams to make money. That's it. So if you're on a second team, you might not get the same level of training and attention. At a small club, you're getting all the attention and because there are less kids you have better chances of individualized attention even in the team environment. Small club may not have the platform of a big one and that could matter as the kids get older but at the early ages, small clubs have a lot of value over bigger machines. The better question is where is the best training environment of the two choices, which has the higher overall level, and who has the better coach.


I agree with this for the most part. I will share though that at at least 2 MLSNext clubs, the coaches have told us that they do regularly communicate with the 2nd team coach to see who can be moved up. While I still do believe that it’s very difficult generally, I think this happens more at clubs that have a very specific way of playing that is implemented at all age groups.
Anonymous
Post 11/01/2024 03:40     Subject: Age/Level Target for ODP in this area?
Anonymous wrote:Is there really a difference between a being at a small club and being 2nd team in a large club? Either way it's a path to get more training, experience, and exposure that currently isn't happening.


Big difference. You have much less investment in your son or daughter on the second team at a big club. The big clubs really just have second, third, fourth teams to make money. That's it. So if you're on a second team, you might not get the same level of training and attention. At a small club, you're getting all the attention and because there are less kids you have better chances of individualized attention even in the team environment. Small club may not have the platform of a big one and that could matter as the kids get older but at the early ages, small clubs have a lot of value over bigger machines. The better question is where is the best training environment of the two choices, which has the higher overall level, and who has the better coach.
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2024 07:37     Subject: Age/Level Target for ODP in this area?
Anonymous wrote:Is there really a difference between a being at a small club and being 2nd team in a large club? Either way it's a path to get more training, experience, and exposure that currently isn't happening.


We did it last year. EVERYONE who 'tryout' makes it and they take EVERYONE to the out-of-town scrimmage.

Big money grab
Anonymous
Post 10/31/2024 07:35     Subject: Age/Level Target for ODP in this area?
Is there really a difference between a being at a small club and being 2nd team in a large club? Either way it's a path to get more training, experience, and exposure that currently isn't happening.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2024 09:15     Subject: Age/Level Target for ODP in this area?
ODP would be for those higher than rec level. Please do not try to compare it to MLS Next, ECNL or even NCSL.

Competition is low. Training is weak.

If your player plays for MLS Next they cannot play for ODP. However, if you play for ECNL you can. Therefore, you will see a lot of ECNL players show up to ODP, they look good and will often advance to regionals and even make it to nationals.
Anonymous
Post 10/30/2024 06:11     Subject: Age/Level Target for ODP in this area?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can correct me if I am wrong, but is a good general assessment of ODP in this area, inclusive of both MD and VA, a program for small club kids only, particularly over U12? Is there a general difference between the two programs the levels of play at each age and gender? I assume the majority of the leveling of quality is that ECNL/MLSN/GA kids do not have the time to make the commitment?


This thread knocks ODP pretty hard. In a soccer saturated market, ODP offers different things to different players; there are higher level trainings and programs available for a lot of kids who have full schedules.

For us, it has been a good experience. We were at a small club and I wanted my kid to play against better kids and get better training at the U9-u11 level. We easily could make the Developmental-ODP training sessions and the cost was not high compared to a lot of other training programs. In our experience, our kid had very good coaches working on a lot of 'field skills' in a big field. A lot of longer crossing, trapping the ball out of the air, shooting on a big goal with scrimmaging. This was better and/ or different training than our small club provided. We enjoyed it and my kid got to play against and meet other good kids.

The Commitment is tough to make. We couldn't make all the Sunday sessions due to games on Sunday.

My general feeling is that making ODP state regional (with in the state) is fairly easy. Making the State is not too bad either, but the commitment for the practices and games becomes almost impossible without sacrificing some games with your home club. Making the NE regional team become exceeding difficult and typically only 2-4 Virginia & Maryland players will make it. This is where ODP get some hate on this forum. People will say ECNL, MLS and GA are far superior and why wast our time with ODP? Undoubtably, kids that do make the NE team would miss more games with their home teams, which potentially means missing games with their club.

However, kids that do make the NE Regional ODP team and National ODP teams get some excellent exposure. As far as I could tell, every kid who makes the ODP National Team is headed off to a D1 School, US YNT, or even the Pro leagues. But making that level is extremely difficult.

So in summary:
-ODP State Level and Below = Easier to do/ medium quality =Waste of Time Attitude from ECNL, MLS, GA Families
-ODP NE Regional and Above = Exceedingly Difficult to do/ High to Elite Quality =Suspicion/ Nepotism & Unfair Bias Attitude from ECNL, MLS & GA Families

But for us, it's been fun and what we made of it. Glad it helped my kid see what else is out there beside our small club playing in NCSL.


I agree with this poster. Pretty good analysis. Every player doesn't take the same path and ODP might be useful for some players. I think most of the ODP hate comes from what it was in the 90s to what it is now. It was THE vehicle by which the ussf identified players for the national team back in the 90s. You made an ODP regional or National team back then and you were one of the best in the country. Now it is more of a money grab that leverages the reputation of old and parents that dont know that the caliber of ODP has dropped significantly over the years and scouts aren't looking in ODP for talent. Doesn't mean there isn't some talent in ODP, there is. It's just that ODP is a much harder pathway to top level soccer in our country and the cost is really high for what you get. Again I agree that it can be useful for some players. But, ODP is just not where the most high level players go. That is just a fact.
Anonymous
Post 10/29/2024 19:01     Subject: Age/Level Target for ODP in this area?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Just type OPD in the search bar, I'm begging you



Or even better, ODP


Or best, OPP!
Anonymous
Post 10/29/2024 12:47     Subject: Age/Level Target for ODP in this area?
Anonymous wrote:Can correct me if I am wrong, but is a good general assessment of ODP in this area, inclusive of both MD and VA, a program for small club kids only, particularly over U12? Is there a general difference between the two programs the levels of play at each age and gender? I assume the majority of the leveling of quality is that ECNL/MLSN/GA kids do not have the time to make the commitment?


This thread knocks ODP pretty hard. In a soccer saturated market, ODP offers different things to different players; there are higher level trainings and programs available for a lot of kids who have full schedules.

For us, it has been a good experience. We were at a small club and I wanted my kid to play against better kids and get better training at the U9-u11 level. We easily could make the Developmental-ODP training sessions and the cost was not high compared to a lot of other training programs. In our experience, our kid had very good coaches working on a lot of 'field skills' in a big field. A lot of longer crossing, trapping the ball out of the air, shooting on a big goal with scrimmaging. This was better and/ or different training than our small club provided. We enjoyed it and my kid got to play against and meet other good kids.

The Commitment is tough to make. We couldn't make all the Sunday sessions due to games on Sunday.

My general feeling is that making ODP state regional (with in the state) is fairly easy. Making the State is not too bad either, but the commitment for the practices and games becomes almost impossible without sacrificing some games with your home club. Making the NE regional team become exceeding difficult and typically only 2-4 Virginia & Maryland players will make it. This is where ODP get some hate on this forum. People will say ECNL, MLS and GA are far superior and why wast our time with ODP? Undoubtably, kids that do make the NE team would miss more games with their home teams, which potentially means missing games with their club.

However, kids that do make the NE Regional ODP team and National ODP teams get some excellent exposure. As far as I could tell, every kid who makes the ODP National Team is headed off to a D1 School, US YNT, or even the Pro leagues. But making that level is extremely difficult.

So in summary:
-ODP State Level and Below = Easier to do/ medium quality =Waste of Time Attitude from ECNL, MLS, GA Families
-ODP NE Regional and Above = Exceedingly Difficult to do/ High to Elite Quality =Suspicion/ Nepotism & Unfair Bias Attitude from ECNL, MLS & GA Families

But for us, it's been fun and what we made of it. Glad it helped my kid see what else is out there beside our small club playing in NCSL.
Anonymous
Post 10/29/2024 06:03     Subject: Age/Level Target for ODP in this area?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can correct me if I am wrong, but is a good general assessment of ODP in this area, inclusive of both MD and VA, a program for small club kids only, particularly over U12? Is there a general difference between the two programs the levels of play at each age and gender? I assume the majority of the leveling of quality is that ECNL/MLSN/GA kids do not have the time to make the commitment?


what? what do you mean “over” U12? You were asking about small kids so do you mean U12 and LOWER?


Small clubs, not small kids
Anonymous
Post 10/29/2024 00:43     Subject: Age/Level Target for ODP in this area?
Anonymous wrote:Just type OPD in the search bar, I'm begging you


Or even better, ODP
Anonymous
Post 10/29/2024 00:42     Subject: Age/Level Target for ODP in this area?
Just type OPD in the search bar, I'm begging you
Anonymous
Post 10/29/2024 00:41     Subject: Age/Level Target for ODP in this area?
Anonymous wrote:Can correct me if I am wrong, but is a good general assessment of ODP in this area, inclusive of both MD and VA, a program for small club kids only, particularly over U12? Is there a general difference between the two programs the levels of play at each age and gender? I assume the majority of the leveling of quality is that ECNL/MLSN/GA kids do not have the time to make the commitment?


what? what do you mean “over” U12? You were asking about small kids so do you mean U12 and LOWER?
Anonymous
Post 10/29/2024 00:00     Subject: Age/Level Target for ODP in this area?
Can correct me if I am wrong, but is a good general assessment of ODP in this area, inclusive of both MD and VA, a program for small club kids only, particularly over U12? Is there a general difference between the two programs the levels of play at each age and gender? I assume the majority of the leveling of quality is that ECNL/MLSN/GA kids do not have the time to make the commitment?