US Youth Soccer ODP, designed to identify and develop a pool of players from which U.S. National Teams may be selected, is the original ODP program. US Youth Soccer ODP is the only elite player development program that can claim members of Major League Soccer and the former Women's United Soccer Association, as well as a majority of current and past national and youth team members, as alumni. And, with programs in all 55 State Associations as well as regional and national championships and participation in international tournaments, US Youth Soccer ODP continues to lead the way in elite player identification and development.
Selection to the Kansas State Team is a first step in this process. Kansas State Select Teams attend Region II ODP camps. At Regional Camps (there are 4 Regions in the U.S.), a Regional pool of players is named in each age group (except Developmental Ages). From these Regional pools, the National pools and teams are formed. Selection at each level (state, regional, national) is generally based on the 4 components that make up a soccer player: Technique; Tactics; Fitness and athletic ability; and, Psychological component (attitude).
This program is the place for talented players who are actively working toward furthering their young adult careers in soccer. It can be especially important to gifted players from small high schools or less successful teams as it provides invaluable exposure to coaches, trainers and athletic directors from around the nation. State Teams will be chosen for each age group and those teams will attend regional camp with the opportunity to advance to a regional team.
Attendance is all-important in the ODP Program. The more that a coach sees a player, the better the coach's ability to make player selections. Players who miss more than 50% of scheduled practices may be placing their potential for selection to the state pool in jeopardy. Attendance will be taken at every scheduled state training session and event.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Kansas residents, competitive and recreational, are eligible to participate in this program/camp as long as they are within the age limits and adhere to the rules and guidelines of the program.
PROGRAM AGE GROUPS: The program age groups have a January 1 cutoff date instead of the August 1 cutoff date used for club teams. Therefore, we refer to teams by year of birth year rather than as Under 13, for example. All of the age groups included in our Olympic Development Program (ODP) will be included in the Region II Olympic Development Program.
WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF ODP?
1. To identify a pool of players in each program age group from which a U.S. National Team will be selected for national and international competition.
2. To provide high-level training to benefit and enhance the development of players at all levels
3. Through the use of carefully selected licensed coaches, develop a mechanism for the enhancement of ideas and curriculum to improve all levels of coaching.
STATE COACHING STAFF
Our coaching staff consists of nationally licensed coaches, area high school and college coaches and coaches with college and/or professional playing experience.
You will be trained in an active, game-oriented challenging manner to improve your technical skills and tactical knowledge of the game.
WHY A DAY CAMP FORMAT?
Our KSYSA Player Development Camp, offered for select age groups, stresses development and will be the beginning of the ODP selection process. We feel that we are able to offer our players (both recreational and competitive) the opportunity to obtain the type and level of training that the State Team receives at the Region II camp. Players should come to camp in shape, to work and to learn and benefit from the initial ODP identification process.
MONTHLY TRAINING SESSIONS will be held for each age group. (High school players will not train during their high school season). First Phase Training sessions are for all players who attended camp and for those who send in the registration and fees two weeks prior to the monthly training session they will be attending.
December 1 is the deadline for players, girls and boys (except oldest age groups), to sign up for the ODP program and still be eligible to attend regional camp. A Calendar of training sessions (subject to change) will be available online at the KSYSA website.
ODP EVENTS: Occasionally, throughout the year, select ODP pools will participate in events, in addition to the monthly training sessions. These events may be in-state tournaments, scrimmages or out-of-state tournaments, etc. These events carry an additional per-player fee.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ODP?
- Development as a player. The opportunity to train and
play with the best players in one's age group.
- Quality instruction from nationally licensed coaches.
- Quality competition.
- Exposure to regional, national, college team coaches.
- The opportunity to represent one's state, region or
country in competition.
HOW ARE PLAYERS SELECTED FOR THE STATE TEAM?
Players will be evaluated both on and off the field during state day camp and during monthly training sessions. The five components of the evaluation are: 1) technique, 2) tactics, 3) fitness and ability, 4) psychological component (attitude) and 5) attendance. The State Teams will be announced in the spring and attend the Region II ODP camp during the summer (usually July).
CONTACT: KANSAS STATE YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION
(913) 782-6434
KSYSA ODP Information/HOTLINE:
For the most current information about ODP practices, schedules and events, call 913-782-8609. If you are calling from outside the Greater KC Metro area, you can dial 1-866-ODP-NEWS
