My daughter has been on the state ODP team for a year and went to Regional camp in Alabama this summer ($500) and the Region select camp (Wilmington) at Addidas' expense. Over the Thanksgiving break she'll be in Boca Raton, again all expenses covered by Addidas. There were several weekends of training around the state that weren't terribly expensive and we seemed to be able to car pool for transportation. (I did wind up having to pay my mother in law to drive to Alabama to pick up my daughter and two of her teammates when they made the select pool and missed the bus ride back to Charleston, but that's another story.) She says the best thing about ODP is the exposure to national level coaches and the opportunity to play on teams where all the players have outstanding ability. Addidas did give the girls a pile of promotional equipment in Wilmington also. My take on ODP is that it provides an avenue toward the next level in soccer (above classic). I don't think it's a prerequisite for playing college ball or getting noticed by college coaches -- the big tournaments by themselves can do this. I don't think the overall cost has been as high as $1200 but I don't write all the checks and could be mistaken.
LPAF...Congrats to your daughter on her high level of achievement! Thanks for your positive insight on ODP. As a "youngster" to the ODP scene...it is good to hear. Sometimes I wonder if all this negative talk is coming from those whose players are good...but aren't quite the type to make Regional or even State Pool. We all want to think our kids deserve to be there. Enjoy your daughter's success!!
i don't know anything about ODP but what if a player is really good but doesn't have to money to go through all that, does that mean he/she can't play??????????????
i have a question, Why did they add a practice before the second tryout for odp? Is it another time for the coaches to get a look at the players or what?
![[Eek!]](images/icons/shocked.gif){kind=icon}