Would agree with PP on that one. It’s not easy to make the national team- you have like a less than 1% chance. You have to be the best out of 30,000 players. Those national players are top tier talent who also happen to be doing ODP as a supplement.

Anonymous wrote:If you decide to decipher through any of the original threads on this topic, you will learn that ODP was once the method of identifying high level talent. It is no longer that.

We did the Development ODP for 2014 and younger this year with VA and my son learned things he did not learn in club from a different coaching perspective. It was a low commitment level as the practices were in Springfield but it was a good experience for my child.

We will probably try out for the official team this upcoming year with the goal to make the state team, regional and national teams in the next few years. We would like to use it for networking, guesting opportunities, etc and we know that a bulk of the MLS Next Tier 1 community will not be there after about two years. Please don't post to IG you made nationals because that is where you will get clowned by the tier 1 MLS Next/ECNL crowd.

The biggest mistake American players make it playing is playing in the same controlled environments all of the time. I will see what the numbers look like officially but there have not been any fees so far in two years of club that have scared me away and I think I am an average DCUMer.

I know some ODP national pool players in the older 2009-2011 age groups and they are ECNL-RL and MLS Next 2 level players. Most of the national team players go D2 and D3. As long as you understand this and okay with the cost, it is a great supplemental program to give your child more learning versus hanging with the cone-drill crew.

Keep telling yourself that. There are no National Level ODP players from the DMV for those age groups. Those small, very select rosters, are not filled with ECNL-RL players. That is a wishful comment, making the claim that low level players can make the ODP national team.... lol

If your kid makes region or higher level team it’s actually quite good from an experience and development perspective . They get coached almost exclusively by college coaches at D1 schools who normally they would not be able to interact with.

They also have pro scouts showing up and several identified from those events got opportunities and got signed on the heels of the regional sessions. The higher up you qualify the better it gets.

The thing is you have to suffer through the district stuff to get there. But if you have a good player who can make it that far there is a platform for them. The girls at the highest level (region +) all seem to be ECNL (or equivalent)

Anonymous wrote:I know some ODP national pool players in the older 2009-2011 age groups and they are ECNL-RL and MLS Next 2 level players. Most of the national team players go D2 and D3. As long as you understand this and okay with the cost, it is a great supplemental program to give your child more learning versus hanging with the cone-drill crew.

This is a very accurate description of my son's ODP experience. U12 and U13 were good when he was at a smaller club. At U14, after a move to a higher level club, it was less useful. He views it as extra training work on time he would be doing something on his own anyway. Plus, after three years with mostly the same players there is some good camaraderie going on amongst the players.

If you decide to decipher through any of the original threads on this topic, you will learn that ODP was once the method of identifying high level talent. It is no longer that.

We did the Development ODP for 2014 and younger this year with VA and my son learned things he did not learn in club from a different coaching perspective. It was a low commitment level as the practices were in Springfield but it was a good experience for my child.

We will probably try out for the official team this upcoming year with the goal to make the state team, regional and national teams in the next few years. We would like to use it for networking, guesting opportunities, etc and we know that a bulk of the MLS Next Tier 1 community will not be there after about two years. Please don't post to IG you made nationals because that is where you will get clowned by the tier 1 MLS Next/ECNL crowd.

The biggest mistake American players make it playing is playing in the same controlled environments all of the time. I will see what the numbers look like officially but there have not been any fees so far in two years of club that have scared me away and I think I am an average DCUMer.

I know some ODP national pool players in the older 2009-2011 age groups and they are ECNL-RL and MLS Next 2 level players. Most of the national team players go D2 and D3. As long as you understand this and okay with the cost, it is a great supplemental program to give your child more learning versus hanging with the cone-drill crew.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's pretty clear everyone is outting their kid's level in these threads. It works for some and not for others. Up to you to make that $$$/reward choice.

That's ok. OP wanted feedback and that's what they are getting. Everyone can only speak to their own point of view.

Fully agree, just don't go in thinking it's some super high level program because of "olympic".

Anonymous wrote:It's pretty clear everyone is outting their kid's level in these threads. It works for some and not for others. Up to you to make that $$$/reward choice.

That's ok. OP wanted feedback and that's what they are getting. Everyone can only speak to their own point of view.

It's pretty clear everyone is outting their kid's level in these threads. It works for some and not for others. Up to you to make that $$$/reward choice.

Very low low level.

My kid has used it to get used to playing with other players and understanding the social part of playing with new teammates and breaking away from the comfort of known teammates.

From what I have heard, its great to have extra practice and to have input from different coaches. If you look at it that way, it can be a good experience.

Districts are in Loudoun. State is in Fredericksburg.
Everyone makes districts. State is harder, but very doable for 2nd team players. We are at a big club and a small number of 3rd team kids have made it over the years, but that is rare.
People hate it on this site, but my kid has always loved it so we make it work. Likes the coaches and likes the kids and likes the tournaments.
Tournaments have the kids travel and stay together usually so good experience to be on their own.
It's expensive for what you get- have to buy gear, pay extra for the tournaments, etc.

Mostly 2nd/3rd tier team players so it is not hard to be selected. A few top team players trying to get extra minutes they are not able to get otherwise. It is an extra paid practice with some tournament like events during the season. Sunday night practice in Fredericksburg. It is ok if you don't mind the drive to Fredericksburg and the extra cost to the season.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1076669.page

give me all the good/bad/ugly on ODP
is the drive to fburg worth it?
where do boys/girls usually practice?
what are the tryouts like? are they very competitive?