What is the Olympic Development Program?

The Olympic Development Program (ODP) is a national program to identify and develop youth players to represent their state, region, and country in soccer competitions.

ODP teams are formed with each of the 55 US Youth Soccer State Associations and four regions, made up of the best players in each eligible age group. At the state association level, pools of players are identified in each eligible age group and brought together as a team to develop their skill through training and competition. From the state pools and subsequent teams, players are identified for regional and national pools and teams.

Kentucky Youth Soccer Association is in Region 2 (www.region2.com).

What is the Player Development Program?

The exclusive purpose of the Player Development Program is to promote player development through training and playing opportunities. The priority of the program is to keep more players involved at an elite level by giving them an insight into the state Olympic Development Program.

The PDP is strictly for players born in the 1997 birth year with all the activities taking place in the state of Kentucky.

What are the benefits of my child participating in these programs?

Olympic Development soccer is very important to the U.S. national teams for obvious reasons. The programs are primarily set up for players to work their way through the system and obtain a position in the US National Teams. 80% of the current Men’s and Women’s National Teams from U14 through to the senior squads have been selected through a state program.

It is also important to all players for different reasons. Players get an opportunity to train under high level coaches and take that experience back to their club, team, high school, or wherever they play.  The chance to expand their skills and refine their game is very important to them.

The hidden advantage of the Olympic Development Program is in the area of exposure to college and university coaches and scouts.  Not only do ODP players receive training from college and university coaches at state, regional and national camps, many other coaches and scouts also attend the camps and look at the players.

There are many good reasons to at least give ODP a try. Even if you aren’t successful the first time out, the experience itself will make you a better soccer player. You can only get better by playing against those at your level and above. The ODP program is designed to find out how he or she really is compares to the best players in the state

Who is Eligible to participate?

Any soccer player is eligible for consideration in the ODP provided that he or she meets the age requirements for the established age group. Both programs go by the calendar year of the child’s birth, not the age group they play for club

A player may try out in a state in which he or she is eligible to be registered.

A player may not try out for the ODP in more than one state.

How are players selected?

Players are selected on the basis of open tryouts. These tryouts are conducted by Kentucky Youth Soccer Staff coaches who are recognized for their ability to identify and train players with superior skills.

Beginning in August the younger age groups are selected (40–50 players) through the open tryouts for each gender. The older age groups (30-34 players) are identified through open tryouts generally held following the High School season.

These events take place over two designated weekends; players must attend one of the two scheduled open tryouts to be eligible for selection to a State ODP Pool. Players who attend both of the try-outs have a better opportunity of being selected.

Player selection process at open tryouts will proceed as follows:

Ø       Each player who pre-registers for open tryouts will be pre-assigned a scrimmage vest coded by color and number.

Ø       Upon arrival, each evaluator/coach will be given a list of vest colors and numbers that correspond with their respective age group.

Ø       All players who register on-site will be assigned a vest and number, and at that time will be deemed eligible for evaluation.

Ø       Coaches will not be aware of players’ names, and will only identify players by vest color and number.

Ø       At the conclusion of the tryouts, coaches will submit the list of their initial player pools to the Director of Coach and Player Development / State Coach. 

A player may also be identified and asked to join at anytime during the year. It is the KYSA State Coaches responsibility to provide the best 18 or 36 players in their respective age groups. They will scout games throughout the year looking for player talent. Any player that is scouted will still have to be official invited in by the state Director of Coaching.

What is the State Pool?

Following the official open try-outs the pool will be named; the pool is an initial group of players who are under consideration for selection to a final state team. After the final tryout there will be 5 state pool events; during these sessions the players will practice and work with the state staff.

No player selected to an initial player pool will be released before the final state team is selected.

What is the State Team?

For the two youngest Olympic Development age groups in each gender, two final state teams of 18 players (including 2 Goalkeepers) will be selected for each age group.  The teams will be split by birth month, not by talent, and the state Director of Coach & Player Development may move players up or down depending on the number of players available.

For all other age groups in each gender, one final state team of 18 (including 2 Goalkeepers) players will be chosen.

Final State teams will be posted in March on the Kentucky Youth Soccer Association website (Do NOT call the State Office). These players will be expected to attend two more state events and represent Kentucky Youth Soccer Association at the Region II events, as announced by US Youth Soccer and the Region II ODP Program.

Once the state team has been named it is final, and no changes will be made unless an injury occurs to a player and an alternate needs to be placed on the official roster.

The alternate list is for a player who was not selected to a final state team, but has been designated as a possible replacement for a state team member who incurs an injury or illness that would prevent them from attending a state team function (this includes regional events).  All players named as alternates should attend and participate in all State Team events.  This would enable alternates to be well informed should they be utilized as a replacement.

What are Regional Camps?

US Youth Soccer is divided into four regions, each of which offers a regional camp for state association ODP teams in each eligible age group. Kentucky Youth Soccer is located in US Youth Soccer Region 2, along with Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio-North, Ohio-South, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota. The camps are designed to provide the best quality of competition and training for participating players. During this training and competition, players who are capable of performing at or above the regional level of play are identified for possible national camp, or pool or team participation.

There is no regional camp for the Player Development Program; all of the players that are involved in the program are invited to attend an in-state Residential Summer Camp during July.

If my child makes the state team, what chances does he/she have of making the Regional Pool/Team?

People that look upon the ODP experience solely as a chance to have a shot at making the regional or national team, or who see it as a vehicle in which a college scholarship is to be obtained are rarely rewarded for their efforts.  In fact, these individuals frequently are so disappointed that they drop out of the program after only one or two years.

Therefore, it is critical that the players and parents look upon this opportunity as a tremendous challenge.  They should see what can be learned, put themselves in an environment that demands that they reach beyond their comfort level, strive to be the best that they can be, and improve as players and as people.

There are five primary levels in elite soccer:

Level 1: is making a travel/select team

Level 2: is making the Kentucky Youth Soccer Association State Pool

Level 3: is making the Kentucky Youth Soccer Association State Team

Level 4: is making the Region II ODP Team

Level 5: is making the Nation Team, professional team, college team depending on how far your ability, standard of education, attitude personality and desire can take you.

Each player who participates in the ODP process contributes to the success of the US National Team Program by pushing players to perform to their maximum potential.

What happens if your child has a conflict with their club and an ODP or PDP event?

Special Thanks are extended to the club coaches who encourage their players to participate in the ODP process. Through their efforts these coaches are participants in the ODP process and the development of their players. These coaches have the best interest of their players in mind and have enough confidence in their own ability to allow their players to be trained by other coaches to reach their potential. In turn the ODP players bring honor to their coaches and clubs.

Although we expect ODP & PDP to take precedence, the program tries not to conflict with regularly scheduled outdoor league play, high school soccer season, State Cup games, Snickers U.S. Youth Soccer regional and national games, US Youth Soccer and US Soccer regional and national ODP events.

We respect that the clubs may have to schedule tournaments during our events, but due to the short amount of time that the state coaches are allocated to work with these players it is preferred that they attend the ODP/PDP event. The player is expected to make the decision on whether they attend the event with their club or with the ODP/PDP. Their decision will be respected and in return we expect every final decision made by the Kentucky Youth Soccer Association State Staff to be respected as well.

The child that attends all of the scheduled events has a better opportunity of being selected for the final team; an attendance record will be kept.

If your child is not attending the ODP/PDP event you must contact your Age Group Administrator.

How much does it cost to participate in the programs?

The Olympic Development and Player Development Programs are not a profit generating program.  Some of the costs associated with them are: field rental and maintenance; medical trainers and supplies; coaches' stipends and associated travel expenses; hotel/university accommodations, meals, ice; administrative costs; vehicle rental; university administrative costs; regional camp fees.

If your child goes through the whole Olympic Development Program for a season please budget approximately $750 - $1000 for the entire annual Kentucky Youth Soccer Association ODP process. The cost varies with the number of events.

The major cost is associated with the regional tournament/camps but remains below other camps, none of which have the distinction associated with the Olympic Development Program.

There are scholarships plans available for those individuals who need financial aid to be able to participate in the program. Those in need of financial support may apply to the Director of Coach & Player Development by completing the following required steps for application:

Ø       Submit a letter of request to the Director of Coach and Player Development / State Coach, stating the circumstances that may render this player eligible to receive financial aid.  This letter also must include the amount that the family in case can afford

Ø       Submit a letter from the player’s affiliated soccer club verifying that similar alternate arrangements have been made on this player’s behalf at the club level due to family financial constraints.

Fees for events are non-refundable unless the player is unable to compete due to an injury documented by appropriate medical professionals administering treatment to the player.