US Youth Soccer ODP Mission
To identify players of the highest caliber on a continuing and consistent basis, which will lead to increased success for the US National Teams in the international arena.

US Youth Soccer ODP Purpose
The Olympic Development Program has been in existence since 1977. The program was introduced to help identify potential national team youth players through an organized series of trials, which begin at the state level, progress through the regional and finally to the national level. The program also serves as a means of development, as the players identified are brought together for training, and are prepared for interstate, interregional, and international competition. Training and playing with those of equal or greater ability is a tremendous teaching tool. The program is open to any youth player.

US Soccer ODP Goals

1. To identify a pool of players in each age group from which a United States National Team will be selected for 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.

Missouri Youth Soccer Association’s ODP Mission
To identify and develop the top players registered within the State of Missouri, to promote development through quality coaching , and to help these players gain recognition on the Regional and National levels.

Missouri Youth Soccer Association’s ODP Philosophy
The development of players in Missouri is primarily the direct responsibility of our affiliate clubs and ODP should not interfere with that development. It is the responsibility of MYSA to supplement that development by identifying and allowing the best players in the state to play along side each other and against other select teams domestically and internationally. The success of Missouri ODP is a direct result of the quality of players, coaches, and competition within Missouri.

Benefits of Participating

• 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. Games against Region 2 ODP teams.

• Exposure to collegiate, professional, regional and national team coaches.

• The opportunity to represent one’s state, region, or country in com

Eligibility
Any soccer player registered in Missouri Youth Soccer Association is eligible for consideration in the ODP provided he or she meets the age requirement for the established age group. A player may try out in a state which he or she is registered, subject to permission from his/her resident state. A player may not try out for ODP in more than one state.

Age Groups
The Olympic Development Program follows different age requirements than Club Soccer. The age groups for ODP are determined by the year of birth. That is, players are put together if they were born between January 1st and December 31st. For the 2006-2007 seasonal year, the age groups involved are (for both boys and girls): 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994. In the girls program, 1994 and 1995 are considered ‘Developmental’ groups. In the boys program, 1995 is considered a ‘Developmental’ group.

Process
The ODP seasonal year begins September 1st of each year. Missouri is a member of US Soccer Youth Soccer Association’s Region 2. Region 2 currently hosts ODP camps in July of each seasonal year, where each state sends a team or representatives. At this camp, there is both development and identification. Players compete against other State ODP teams or players from those teams, and they also receive training from high-quality Region 2 Staff coaches. At the end of the week (except for developmental groups), a Regional Pool is chosen and those players are considered members of the Regional team. The players who represent Missouri at these camps are chosen by Missouri ODP staff through a series of tryouts. In order for a player to be involved in the ODP program, he/she must be registered online through the MYSA website. Players can begin doing this in August just prior to the new seasonal year. If you have problems with the online registration, contact the MYSA office.

Tryouts
MYSA tryouts begin in the fall of each year. The girls and the younger boys – those that are not yet in high school – begin in September or sometimes even August. The older boys – those in high school – begin after the Missouri High School season is completed in the fall. Check the ODP calendar on the MYSA website. MYSA will hold a district “District Level Tryout” in each district : Western, Eastern, Central and Southern. If you are registered online, attend the District tryout closest to you. Each player is allowed and encouraged to attend three sessions, usually over a weekend. From these sessions the best players would be invited to attend the State Level Tryouts – usually in November, December and (if necessary) January The State teams would be chosen from these, and a coach and assistant coach assigned to each team. If you have additional questions or have problems with online registration, contact the MYSA office at (636) 936-3676 or by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Selection

Selection of the top players in not an easy task. Players are evaluated on four components that make up a soccer player:

1. Technique

2. Tactical sense or decision making ability

3. Fitness and athletic ability

4. Attitude

Registration and Costs
Registration is available online. Please take advantage of our early registration beginning August 1st at the cost of $115.00. After September 30th the cost is $150.00. This tryout fee covers all the District tryouts, as well as the State tryouts.

Participation
Upon selection, a Missouri ODP player is expected to participate in all activities of their pool and team. These activities may include training sessions, exhibition matches, invitational tournaments, and regional camps. If players are not available for a specific event, another player from their pool or team may replace them.
Players are expected to take their participation in the program seriously, and should be committed to improving their individual skills as well as improving as a team player. Players are subject to the ODP Code of Conduct upon entry into the program.

Competitions and Training Sessions
Once the State team is chosen, there will be an effort to allow the team to participate – as a state ODP team - in a competition against either other ODP teams, or very high quality Club teams. We would expect one of these per team. The cost for this – again to cover actual costs such as entry fees, officials, etc – would be split among the team. Transportation to such as competition would be up to the players and their parents. In the recent past, such competitions have been held in Belleville, IL, Kansas City, and St. Louis. An effort will be made to include quality competition, while avoiding conflicts with the players Club teams and the State Cup. In addition, the coaches of each ODP team will try to schedule a couple of training sessions prior to going to Region Camp.

Regional Camp
The camps are designed to provide a high level of competition and training for participating players. During the Regional Camp, players who are capable of performing at a higher level of play are identified for possible national camp, pool, or team participation. The Region 2 Camps/Tournaments are held in Rockford, ILL for boys and DeKalb, ILL for girls. The Developmental groups usually go about four days and they compete on and against teams with players from the other Region 2 teams mixed. The older groups – 1990 and 1991 for boys and 1990 for girls – compete in a three-day tournament, against the other Region 2 ODP teams, but without the Camp training. The other groups have a 5-day camp that includes competition against other Region 2 ODP teams as well as Camp training on a daily basis. The girls also mix the players onto teams to compete against other mixed teams. At the end of the camp or tournament, except in the Developmental groups, Region 2 identifies a Regional team (‘pool’) consisting of about 30 players from throughout the region.  There is an additional fee associated with the various camps.