Olympic Development Program

What is the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program?
http://www.oysan.org/ODP/odpnews.htm

Dr. Tom Turner
OYSAN Director of Coaching and Player Development July 2008

US Soccer
The United States Soccer Federation (US Soccer) was founded in 1913 and is the national governing body of soccer in the United States. US Soccer is directly affiliated to FIFA, the world governing body for soccer. For more information on US Soccer, link to USSoccer.com.

US Youth Soccer
US Youth Soccer, founded in 1974, is the largest affiliate of US Soccer and is the largest youth sports organization in the world, with over 3.6 million registered players. For more information on US Youth Soccer, link to USYouthSoccer.org.

Ohio Youth Soccer Association North
Ohio Youth Soccer Association North (OYSAN or Ohio North) was founded in 1976 and is one of 55 state associations that comprise the membership of US Youth Soccer. For more information on OYSAN, link to OYSAN.org.

US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program Mission
The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP) was established in 1977 as a nationwide process dedicated to the identification and training of players for state, regional and national teams.

The United States is divided into four ODP regions and Ohio North is part of Region II.

Region II is comprised of the 14 state associations in the Midwest, which stretches from Ohio to Iowa and from Minnesota to Missouri. Region II has a population base of over 70 million people and approximately 850,000 soccer players! Regional teams are selected for U14, U15, U16, and U17 boys and girls, and U18/19 girls.

While the primary mission of the Olympic Development Program is the identification of United States National Team prospects, broadbased player development is considered integral to the broader, longterm mission of the Olympic Development Program at the state and regional levels.

The “Representative” Soccer Pyramid

For the vast majority of players, the path to the US National Youth Team’s program begins by being selected to “represent” a home state association; in our case, Ohio North. This process starts in September for non high school players (November for high school players) and concludes in June when the final state teams are named.

Once named to a state team, the selection process to represent Region II (North) takes place during the regional camps held each July in Illinois. This is the endpoint of the state association ODP process.

The primary identification opportunity for the US Soccer National Youth Teams (NYT) takes place each fall at the US Youth Soccer ODP interregional events.

The goal of the NYT selection process is to monitor known talent and discover new players. The NYT selection process is therefore ongoing and players who are identified at any event in any location during the year can be steered towards a state or regional program or invited into a NYT training camp, as schedule and ability dictates.





Age Groups
International competition, and therefore ODP selection, is based on a January 1st to December st calendar year. ODP age groups (birth years) for 200809 are as follows:

1997’s (Attend July 2009 Regional Camp in the U12 Developmental Program)
1996’s (Attend July 2009 Regional Camp in the U13 Developmental Program)
1995’s (Attend July 2009 Regional Camp as U14’s)
1994’s (Attend July 2009 Regional Camp as U15’s)
1993’s (Attend July 2009 Regional Camp as U16’s)
1992’s (Attend July 2009 Regional Camp as U17’s)

ODP participation for U18 and U19 girls (1991 and 1990 birth years) is by invitation only and based on previous national and regional achievement. U18/19 girls can also be invited into regional camp upon the recommendation of a college coach, a US Soccer National Staff coach, or by the State Association Director of Coaching.

****State Level Programming: Fall Season****
(September / October)

District Training Philosophy
In Ohio North, ODP for non high school players is a yearround process starting at the district (local) level.

District coaches, many of whom serve as state team head or assistant coaches, conduct the fall training sessions with the goal of improving the individual and collective decisionmaking of players within an organized playing structure.

Technical development, once considered the primary responsibility of the individual players and their respective clubs, also assumes a higher training profile following the expansion of the fall training program to both weekend and weeknight sessions.

ODP Coaches’ Certification
District head coaches hold at minimum of a United States Soccer Federation (US Soccer) “C” license and the vast majority of the OYSAN staff have earned more advanced certification. Ohio North can lay claim to the most qualified coaching staff of any state association in the United States, with over 50 “A” and “B” licensed coaches and a significant number of college and Region II ODP Staff coaches. In addition, over 25 OYSAN staff coaches have earned the US Soccer National Youth License.

Fall Training and Selection Program
Registration for the 2008/09 OYSAN Olympic Development Program opens at the end of July and the training and selection process for the 2009 state teams begins on Sunday, September 7.

For non high school players, the traditional fall ODP training sessions take place on Sunday mornings.

The six 2008 fall season dates are:
Sunday, September 7
Sunday, September 14
Sunday, September 21
Sunday, September 28
Sunday, October 5
Sunday, October 12

All Sunday sessions run from 9 am 11 am.

ODP also offers a midweek training session in all six districts from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm. The rationale for this expansion can be found at the following link:

http://www.oysan.org/ODPLandscape2007.pdf

The ODP district sites and their respective midweek training dates are listed below.

Youngstown Area
Sundays @ Austintown JSL: September 7, 14, 21 & 28. Wednesdays @ Austintown JSL: September 10, 17, 24. Sundays @ Boardman SA: October 5 & 12. Wednesdays @ Boardman SA: October 1, 8, & 15

Akron Area:
Sundays @ The Copley Road Soccer Complex. Tuesdays @ The Copley Road Soccer Complex: September 9, 16, 23, 30; October 7. Tuesday @ TBA: October 14th

Cleveland East
Sundays @ Parkview Fields in Mayfield Village. Thursdays @ Krueger Park in Mentor: September 11, 18, 25; October 2, 9, 16

Cleveland West
Sundays @ Hamilton Rd Fields in Oberlin Tuesdays @ Hamilton Rd Fields in Oberlin (tentative): September 9, 16, 23, 30; October 7 & 14

Mansfield Area
Sundays @ Ontario Fields in Ontario Wednesdays @ Ontario Fields in Ontario: September 10, 17, 24; October 1, 8, 15

Toledo Area
Sundays @ Rivercrest Fields in Perrysburg Mondays @ Blue Creek Soccer Complex in Whitehouse: September 8, 15, 22, 29; October 6, 13

U13 International Trip
OYSAN has established the practice of taking the U13 age group on an international trip each March.

The 2009 trip to Argentina (subject to change) for boys and girls born in 1996 is tentatively planned for March 2029 and includes training sessions, games, attendance at professional matches, and sightseeing in and around the Argentinean capital, Buenos Aires.

The selection and invitation process for the international teams (18 players each) will begin during the fall season, with the final squads named by December. The teams will hold at least five additional training sessions prior to departure.

Initial U13/14 Boy’s and Girl’s State Pools
The initial U13 and U14 boy’s and girl’s state team pools are selected during the fall season. Players assessed to be capable of competing for one of the 36 state team places will be invited to enroll for the winter program.

Players selected to advance to the next stage of the process will be posted on the OYSAN website.

Participation in the U13 (1996) and U14 (1995) age groups during the remainder of the selection process is by invitation only.

Online Player Evaluation
Each ODP participant who attends a minimum of three training sessions (Sunday or midweek) will receive an electronic evaluation via email.

Cost
The registration fee for the six Sunday sessions or the six weeknight sessions is $100. For players who wish to take advantage of the additional training opportunities and register for all 12 sessions, the cost is $175. There is a $25 late fee for registrations received after Friday, August st and the training fees are not prorated.

Registration
The online registration link is https://ssl.hammerhead.net/ohionorthodp/odpregistration.asp.

****State Level Programming: Winter Season****
(November through March)

New players in the Developmental (1997) and high school age groups can register at any time for the winter ODP sessions, held between November and March. The state team selection process begins in earnest during the winter months when players from all corners of the state compete for places.

Training is conducted at the field houses of Bowling Green State University, Cleveland State University, Kent State University, Brad Friedel’s Premier Soccer Academy, and the University of Akron; facilities which provide for both smallsided and expandednumber training activities that replicate the demands of the outdoor game. Where facility availability allows, each age group will hold two sessions in the eastern half of the state and two in the western half.

During the winter months, each age group is scheduled for five training / selection sessions, which may include scrimmages against club teams and other state association ODP teams.

In situations where an age group has large numbers, players may be divided into abilitybased training groups at the end of the third session. Conversely, where pool numbers are lower, the entire squad may be retained throughout the winter session.

The final state pools of approximately 24 players per team are named at the conclusion of the winter program in March.

Goalkeeper Training
In addition to training with their respective age groups, ODP goalkeepers can attend an additional four GK specific training sessions over the winter months at no additional charge. Four sessions are scheduled in both the eastern and western halves of the state.

Online Player Evaluation
Each ODP participant who attends a minimum of three training sessions will receive an electronic evaluation via email.

Final State Pool Roster
Approximately 24 players per 18player team will be invited to continue into the spring season to compete for places on the final state team. The final state pool will be posted on the OYSAN website.

Cost
The registration fee for the winter indoor training sessions is $150. Only players selected to the state pool will advance to the spring sessions and there is no open enrollment for the spring season alone. There is a $25 late fee for registrations received after Friday, October 31st and the winter/spring training fees are not prorated.

Registration
The online registration link is https://ssl.hammerhead.net/ohionorthodp/odpregistration.asp.

****State Level Programming: Spring Season****
(May through June)

The final state pools of approximately 24 players per team begin regional camp preparation after the final round of the OYSAN State Cup, which is contested over the weekend following the Memorial Day holiday.

During the spring season, any new additions to the state pools must receive an invitation from the age group head coach or the state Director of Coaching.

Five training sessions will be held on Tuesdays (Boys) and Thursdays (Girls) beginning in June, with the final state team of 18 players plus alternates named on Friday, June 19.

The list of possible ODP training dates for spring 2009 is listed below. Five teamspecific dates will be posted in early April, based on the respective regional camp dates.

Boy’s Schedule Tuesday, June 2nd  Tuesday, June 9th  Tuesday, June 16th  Tuesday, June 23rd Tuesday, June 30th Tuesday, July 7th Tuesday, July 14th

Girl’sSchedule Thursday, June 4th Thursday, June 11th Thursday, June 18th Thursday, June 25th Thursday, July 2nd  Thursday, July 9th Thursday, July 16th

Final State Team Composition
The fundamental purpose of the Olympic Development Program is to filter talented soccer players from the state level to the regional and national teams programs. Therefore, the identification and selection process for the OYSAN state teams will remain open until the final state teams are named in June.

OYSAN always reserves the right to select the best players available to a state team. That being said, every effort will be made to assimilate regional or national caliber players identified in late May and early June directly into the regional programs.

 

Cost
There is no open enrollment for the spring season and players can only register by invitation. The training fee for the five spring training sessions is $45 and this fee is not prorated.

****Regional Level Olympic Development Programming****
(July and Beyond)

The following table presents an overview of the 200809 Regional ODP process by age. For more information on the Region II Olympic Development Program, link to http://www.region2.com/odp.html

Birth Year & Program Highlights	Age	Boys	Girls
1997	U12	Subregional Development Camp	Subregional Development Camp
		(Maximum of 50 players)	(Maximum of 50 players)
1996	U13	2 State Teams divided 1st 6 Months	2 State Teams divided 1st 6 Months
*US Soccer U14		(JanJun) / 2nd 6 Months (JulDec)	(JanJun) / 2nd 6 Months (JulDec)
National Camps		(36 players)	(36 players)
*OYSAN Internat.			(Formation of State Teams to be confirmed)
1995	U14	2 State Teams divided 1st 6 Months	2 State Teams divided by 1st 6 Months
*Interregionals		(JanJun) / 2nd 6 Months (JulDec)	(JanJun) / 2nd 6 Months (JulDec)
*Regional Events		(36 players)	(36 players)
1994	U15	2 State Teams (A/B) for Regional Camp	2 State Teams (A/B) for Regional Camp
*Interregionals		(36 players)	(36 players)
*Regional Events
*ODP Nat. Champ.		(Addition of 2nd team to be confirmed)
1993	U16	1 State Team for Regional Tournament	1 State Team for Regional Tournament
*Interregionals		(18 players)	(18 players)
*Regional Events
*ODP Nat. Champ.
1992	U17	1 State Team for Regional Tournament	1 State Team for Regional Tournament
*Interregions		(18 players)	(18 players)
*Regional events
1991 & 1990	U18/19	No ODP Programming	Invitation Only

Regional Programming: NonHigh School Players

1997 Birth Year: U12’s
Regional programming for the U12 boys and girls is developmentally based, with no regional teams formed. A maximum of 50 U12 players per gender are invited from each state association to attend the subregional camps in July.

1996 Birth Year: U13’s
Up to 36 U13 players per gender are invited to attend regional camp in Illinois and 25 boys are selected to attend the US Soccer U14 National Camp in August.

The two state teams are divided along birth months (January – June and July – December) to reduce the “age effect” bias that favors players born in the first half of the year.

1995 Birth Year: U14’s
At the U14 age, two teams (36 boys and 36 girls) are selected to represent OYSAN at the regional camp in July.

The two state teams are divided along birth months (January – June and July – December) to reduce the “age effect” bias that favors players born in the first half of the year.

Regional teams are named to compete at the national trials in November and the U14 regional teams begin to travel both internationally and domestically during the following year.

Regional Programming: High School Players

1994 Birth Year: U15’s
At the U15 level, two teams (36 boys and 36 girls) are again selected to represent OYSAN at the regional camp in July. By this stage, the most talented and committed players are beginning to emerge and competition for state team places is often very intense. These state teams are selected by ability: A team / B team.

These regional teams will continue to compete at the fall interregional event (NYT trials) and also travel internationally and domestically.

1992 &1991 Birth Years: U16’s & U17’s
At the U16 and U17 ages, single state teams of 18 players compete in a 3day regional tournament from which a regional pool is selected. These regional teams will continue to compete at the fall interregional events (NYT trials) and also travel internationally and domestically.

ODP National Championships
Boys and girls in the U15 (1994) and U16 (1993) age groups will compete during the regional camp to represent Region II at the Adidas National ODP Championships, held in March at Pizza Hut Park in Dallas, TX.

1990 Birth Year: U18 Girls
Region II holds invitational camp for U18/19 girls. Invitees must have previous regional team or pool status; or be recommended by their state director of coaching, college coach, or US Soccer National Staff Coach.

The U18/19 girls attend an interregional event in January to conclude their ODP experience.

Regional Pools
A regional pool of approximately 36 players is named at the end of regional camp in the U13 through U17 boys and U14 through U18 girl’s age groups.

Players named to a regional pool are eligible to attend the interregional event and also the international and domestic events.

HoldOver Camps
The 36 players named to the regional pool are invited to remain in Illinois for an additional three day’s training with their respective regional coaches.

OYSAN players named to the holdover pool return home on the bus with the next OYSAN group (state team) attending regional camp. There is no additional cost to players selected to the holdover camp.

Online Player Evaluation
Each ODP participant who attends the regional camp will receive an electronic evaluation via email.

Cost
Regional camp fees vary by camp length, and include bus transportation to and from Illinois, all meals, lodging, coaching, and uniforms. The 2009 regional camp fees will be established in October, 2008. Based on summer 2008 costs, the estimate costs for summer 2009 are shown in the following table.

Age (Year)	Girl's Camp Cost	Girl's Camp Format	Boy's Camp Cost	Boy's Camp Format
U12 (97's)	$625	4Day Camp	$625	4Day Camp
U13 (96's)	$625	4Day Camp	$775	5Day Camp
Holdover Fees ($225)	N/A	N/A	Paid by OYSAN	3Day Camp
U14 (95's)	$775	5Day Camp	$775	5Day Camp
Holdover Fees ($225)	Paid by OYSAN	3Day Camp	Paid by OYSAN	3Day Camp
U15 (94's)	$775	5Day Camp	$775	5Day Camp
Holdover Fees ($225)	Paid by OYSAN	3Day Camp	Paid by OYSAN	3Day Camp
U16 (93's)	$550	3Day Tournament	$550	3Day Tournament
Holdover Fees ($225)	Paid by OYSAN	3Day Event	Paid by OYSAN	3Day Camp
U17 (92's)	$550	3Day Tournament	$550	3Day Tournament
Holdover Fees ($225)	Paid by OYSAN	3Day Camp	Paid by OYSAN	3Day Camp
U18 (91's)	$231	3Day Camp	N/A	N/A

US Soccer Developmental Academy Restrictions
The US Soccer Developmental Academy (DA) program encompasses the U16 and U18 age groups and is for boys only. Rosters for the DA teams are named in August and the 18 players listed are precluded from participation in outside club soccer, including the Olympic Development Program. Players who are not listed on the 18man roster, but who train with a DA team or participate on a limited game basis are eligible to participate in ODP at all levels.

Registration
The online registration link for invited players is https://ssl.hammerhead.net/ohionorthodp/odpregistration.asp.

ODP Scholarships
The purpose of the Olympic Development Program is to filter talented players to the regional and national teams’ programs. Where necessary, OYSAN will provide financial assistant to players capable of advancing beyond the state level.

Applications for scholarship will be assessed on a casebycase basis. Families must demonstrated financial need and players must be deemed capable of competing on the regional or national level. Scholarships are not available to U12 Developmental Players.

ODP Payment Plan
When necessary, families may arrange for regional camp fees to be paid over an extended period. Please contact Bernie Telmanik in the OYSAN office for more information.

Why should talented players compete for places on US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program teams?

1. The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program has been in existence for over 30 years and has established a track record for quality and commitment in elevating the best players to the national teams programs. On the women’s side in particular, ODP is the most widely recognized pipeline to the national teams. For example, every member of the current USA World Cup squad was a member of a state ODP team at one point in their careers.
   
2. With over 30 years of experience, US Youth Soccer is the most organized youth soccer organization in the world. This experience means top quality programming, top quality administration, and top quality professional coaches working closely with national team coaches to make the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program the best vehicle American soccer has to offer for player advancement.
   
3. Bringing players together for national trials is not inexpensive in a country the size of the United States. At the regional level, the cost for regional camp is considerably less than most large college camps and, given the level of players and coaches, infinitely higher in quality. At the national level, the cost for interregional play (generally airfare) is heavily subsidized by each region, making the final hurdle prior to national team selection a relatively inexpensive outlay.

Why should OYSAN players attempt the ODP process if it is obvious that they are not national team caliber?

Two Reasons: Training and College Exposure.

1. The OYSAN Olympic Development Staff is not under pressure to win games and therefore better positioned to teach the “international” game. Too often at the club level, where winning is deemed important to imply success or maintain a cash flow, direct play becomes a coaching mantra. Because the ODP process is geared towards finding or developing future national team players, training the international style is vital. This approach includes teaching players to understand how to control and change the games’ rhythms: by opening or constricting space; by dribbling or circulating the ball at speed; and by combining in small groups. This style of play brings inherent risks that often result in loss of possession and loss of goals, but players who aspire to higher levels must understand and apply this knowledge or pay the price of eventual exclusion. ODP teams do not play “kick ball” and they do not “bunker and counter” to manufacture results. If players are to learn and advance, they must appreciate how to play in control and under pressure and the ODP process is one of the very few vehicles willing and able to create this environment for young players.
   
2. The second main benefit of ODP participation is exposure to college coaches. The regional camps are amongst the most important dates on the recruiting calendar and the identification process begins as early as the freshman year for the major schools who now receive verbal commitments from sophomores! Typically around 100 college coaches, including all the major schools in the Midwest, attend the region II camps in July to ID players. Recent OYSAN matriculations include:
   
   

   Recent Girls Blades, Jackie: Northwestern Cinalli, Amanda: Notre Dame Kotynski, Kristy: Indiana Lynn, Kristen: Toledo Maxwell, Paige: Ohio State Moran, Emily: Iowa Morant, Taylor: Ohio State Othen, Shana: Toledo Rosen, Courtney: Notre Dame Rostedt, Jessica: Virginia Simon, Marissa: Ohio State

   Recent Boys Blades, Mark; Northwestern Dagilis, Matt: Akron DiFranco, Marco: Cleveland State Green, Michael: New Mexico Lunka, Ben: Elon Moreira, Pablo; Akron Nanchoff, Michael: Akron Speas, Ben: Akron Tsipis, Nick: Duke Walker, Kenny: Louisville Zemanski, Ben: Akron

   
   
3. Many smaller schools (the socalled Midmajors) also attend regional camp looking for second and thirdtier state team players because they cannot attract or afford the elite performers who often commit to a university in their sophomore year of high school!
   
4. Given the sheer volume of players in the United States, having “ODP” on a resume is almost as vital as having a solid SAT or ACT score! Simply, the ODP acts as a national filter system and “ODP state team” players have established a status and credibility that college coaches recognize and appreciate as being superior for the more competitive states: Ohio North and Ohio South routinely combine to place approximately 20% of all regional pool players in both boy’s and girl’s programs.

ODP is not for everyone, but is an excellent opportunity to train under top quality coaches, train with and against some of the best players in the country, and to experience the exciting and rewarding challenges of representative soccer.