Look at the people running the programs, such as ODP. Many of them are incapable of COMPLIANCE with basic standards, much less creative thought and revision.
To say that $$$ is the key completely ignores the concept of value. Would you send your child to a subpar training/camp environment because it costs a few bucks less? Answer: No.
It totally ignores the fact that Academy, while arguably more expensive, offers a more competitive training environment. I say "arguably" because my annual club and ODP expenses for one child were actually quite similar to my total Academy bill.
ODP has been, and shall remain, a cash cow for SCYSA, and in fairness, many state associations. Otherwise, we wouldn't take thousands of dollars from parents to send their kids to phony state, sub-regional and regional identification camps when we already know who will be held over BEFORE Tuscaloosa.
Heaven forbid you question the process as a parent -- MAKE POSITIVE SUGGESTIONS -- and you're accused of sour grapes.
Now, lest we say I'm being Pollyannish about Academy, let me simply say this: In our state, we have a handful of parallel soccer universes. These include SCYSA/ODP, Academy, high school and (dirty secret) hundreds of capable, athletic kids who, for whatever reasons (often money), don't participate.
