SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Club Soccer & ODP State Cup

Here we go again with the ODP mess.
If there is anyone out there that honestly believes that the best SC players AS A WHOLE participate in ODP, they are fooling themselves. I would love to see a match with either CESA U16G or MPSC U16G vs. the 89's.
Sure, there are some talented players that participate in ODP but, in my humble opinion, the most talented do not. They are, for the most part (as I have stated before) either playing in tournaments, playing league games or getting ready for Regionals. I believe our team MAY have had one or two try out this past year.
No need to continue the "argument" here. It is a simple fact. Things are what they are.

By my count at least 6 members of CESA 87 Premier were members of the 88 ODP team. Remember that some members of CESA 87 were born prior to Jan 1,1988 and therefore inelgible to be on this team. To the best of my knowledge all the players currently committed to D-1 schools from SC had ODP experience except Schuyler Reardon . Zach, Jamal, Andrew,Nick Schuerman, and Branson Hyatt all played at least 1 year in ODP.Say what you will about ODP , but many more players from SC go on to play in D-II and lower divisions. Many, many, of these players are exposed through ODP to the coaches working the program and those who scout at Region Camp.Is ODP a flawless system? No, the cost is very high.But, I believe if a promising kid tries out such as the kids from McClellanville a few years ago, Money for assistance is available.Though it is time consuming and expensive I believe ODP is still worthwhile.

Here is a description of the Super Y process for selecting its ODP players. It is a much more involved and extensive observation of the players:
http://supery.uslsoccer.com/home/109200.html
and scouting process:
http://supery.uslsoccer.com/SYLODP/Staff/97289.html
I do not mean to totally discount SCODP. I am sure that a lot of other states have similar tryout and training processes to select their players. I just think for the money (thats just how I think, cause I don't have a lot of it), that SCODP needs to be more intense in its evaluation processes before selecting a team. Like Super Y, there should be a more detailed observation of the players throughout the season leading up to tryouts. Currently, those involved with SCODP cannot say truthfully that they get a significant return for their dollar.

Striker, I agree that it does cost a lot of money, and again, there are probably ways to go about offsetting the costs. But, I have hard time with putting a whole lot more into the selection process. If a kid can play, she/he can play. Now, obviously, it gets more complicated and subjective when selecting the bottom 4 players on the roster. But, there is very little poitics involved when coaches are selecting the players. I would better understand someone's argument to put more time into the training of the odp teams, not the selection. There are, I believe, 3-4 tryout dates. Why look at kids at their club matches? They need to be seen against other odp kids and not other club players who are not quality players. Again, come up with ways to resolve the financial issues, train more often, and hire the best coaches possible would be my only suggestions for the odp program. I don't really even recognize super y.

2004,
Super Y is a bigger mess than ODP. I know how the system is supposed to work where coaches identify players and this is passed on for player identification. This does not work. I have never heard any coach ask about Super Y experience. Maybe your dealing has had a positive effect, but I have not seen it.

I'm tired of all this talk about political connections. At the end of the day you have to be able to play. Danny Cates tried out this year and from nowhere was named to the Region team. Did it work for him. Yes. Is it flawed. Yes. Does and has US Soccer looked at alternatives. Yes.

The shot at Van was toilet too. He selects coaches and is on the Region staff, which is a positive for SC. How he runs his college team is his own damn business.

Nino, I took no shot at Van Taylor's college team.
Those were Shearer's comments. You again have blamed the wrong poster, as with the Homer cartoon.

Prettyricky and Nino, I am in agreement with you.The flaw in the ODP process is lack of training opportunities and the cost, especially at Region Camp.One game a day is not enough for the money paid to go to Region Camp.

As for the politics issue. The last few years I obseved the 88 coaches going the extra mile to give every player as many looks as posssible before selecting the final 18 for Region Camp.There are practices in Nov. and Dec. Then a series of games in Jan against Ga/NC. Then more practices. The roster will usually then be cut to 24 which would be the 18 plus alternates. The final 18 is sometimes not finalized until the weeks just prior to going to Region Camp. In my opinion the coaches have gone out of there way to avoid "politics" and select the best players possible. As always the last 1 or 2 cut are very difficult. Hard to tell number 18 from number 19.

From the 87 ODP team. Robert Hunter, Eric Baffour,Dane Whitman, Spencer Lewis, David Newton, Bryan Pryzybala, all D-1's. From reading this board last high school season, everybody was talking about Cates and Jugal. ODP players , both. Also, remember this name. Also a young man by the name of Enzo from Rock Hill is a budding big time star with a real chance to make the region team and beyond.My point is not all of the top players choose ODP, but for the ones that do , it seems to be a positve experience.

2004,
I know that you did not make the comment about Taylor. I addressed you specifically with regards to Y League. Now that you have enumerated my difficlty in addressing fellow posters, of which I am gretly indebted, would you care to address the content of my post.

I said it and I stand by it. Just my opinion.

Oh no it can't be.....I have to agree w/ 2004 sucker on this one.

Shearer, if your son got cut and Lundy's kid made it, then sorry, but that was not politics. Lundy's kid is a good player. Put the politics card back into your pocket. Bdad has pretty much summed it up along with the landlord of our block, nino. I just don't see how van taylor selects his collegiate team has anything to do with the odp program. Since you are 2004 are now on the same page, perhaps he can help you articulate the relationship there.