Anonymous
Post 08/08/2025 16:51     Subject: ODP Maryland Tryouts

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I use the search featuring did some research before posting.

Can anyone speak to the current ODP Maryland system? My son is U14 or 2012 and on he will be in an ECNL team this fall. Is ODP worth the tryout? Will it conflict with his current commitments to his club? Is the program in Maryland any good and worth the time and potential scheduling conflicts.

Also after the two days of tryouts what is the level of commitment if selected. I see there is a training schedule He won't be able to make many of those in the spring.


ECNL is a dumpster fire.


How is that? This will be our first season with ECNL. He played in high level EDP League before this club. We are new to ECNL. Because you say it's a dumpster fire would you recommend ODP? Should he be in MLS N? What's the best path in your opinion?


Troll. Ignore. My only issue with ECNL is I wish VDA, NVA and Arlington would fold into MLS Next I and we would have a really solid local competition. I would feel the same if it were MLS Next on the other side. Most of our kids are not good enough to need to travel as far and much as the ECNL boys travel. When they are, they will get picked up by DCU, Philly, etc.


My son wants MLS Next. Four kids left our old club and one is MLS next at Baltimore Armor. Now that's his new goal after ECNL. We are new to the ECNL system and learning as we go. Taking advantage of every opportunity!
Anonymous
Post 08/08/2025 16:48     Subject: Re:ODP Maryland Tryouts

Anonymous wrote:

Off topic, what club is he doing futsal with? I am looking for more futsal training for my kid.


We have been playing with his trainer who puts the same team for many seasons at Benfield. We are moving going to be doing Sporting Maryland Futsal Club. I want to introduce more futsal into his regiment.
Anonymous
Post 08/08/2025 16:42     Subject: Re:ODP Maryland Tryouts

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Its good if you make the regional and national teams. Its very minor committment level--and there will certainly be conflicts. If you will be annoyed at paying the registration fee and potentially missing stuff it may not be worth it. It becomes most worth it when you move beyond the state--but the committment level also rises at that point too. It's possible to do both ECNL and ODP. but there may be conflicts..


This is accurate. There are academy scouts at the regional level.

All depends if you have a better plan for your Sunday evenings or not.


That's my biggest worry is the conflicts. He works with a trainer plays futsal at a competitive level and ECNL. I'm worried about burning him out.


Thanks for the context. I would say don’t do it overall because you have the training load covered. This is the situation where you have the project the kid from himself. I have one like that.

However, there may be a way to get creative. Tryout. If he balls out and they want him, act dumb on the training schedule and act like he won’t be able to train but can attend the events.

If he balled out, they may take him and possibly offer a reduced price. Like a Future player in MLS Next or Discovery player in ECNL. Worth a try. All that is lost is $75 bucks and two Sunday evenings in September.

Off topic, what club is he doing futsal with? I am looking for more futsal training for my kid.


Appreciate that perspective.
Anonymous
Post 08/07/2025 20:25     Subject: ODP Maryland Tryouts

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I use the search featuring did some research before posting.

Can anyone speak to the current ODP Maryland system? My son is U14 or 2012 and on he will be in an ECNL team this fall. Is ODP worth the tryout? Will it conflict with his current commitments to his club? Is the program in Maryland any good and worth the time and potential scheduling conflicts.

Also after the two days of tryouts what is the level of commitment if selected. I see there is a training schedule He won't be able to make many of those in the spring.


ECNL is a dumpster fire.


How is that? This will be our first season with ECNL. He played in high level EDP League before this club. We are new to ECNL. Because you say it's a dumpster fire would you recommend ODP? Should he be in MLS N? What's the best path in your opinion?


Troll. Ignore. My only issue with ECNL is I wish VDA, NVA and Arlington would fold into MLS Next I and we would have a really solid local competition. I would feel the same if it were MLS Next on the other side. Most of our kids are not good enough to need to travel as far and much as the ECNL boys travel. When they are, they will get picked up by DCU, Philly, etc.


And I wish Alexandria, SYC and Achilles would go ECNL so that my kid could continue to play HS ball which he loves, and not travel to NC. But neither of us is getting our wish and unlikely it will change anytime soon. These clubs are locked down where they are. ECNL is highly competitive in VA --not every boy wants to go pro and go to online school at philly union or DCU. That's why there are so many D1 college recruits from the VA ECNL teams. And if you don't believe just check the current commit list from 2025 from the VA clubs.