Comparison
1. Olympic Development Program:
Description:
91's have met about four-five times this year for a 1.5 hour practice each, they attend 3 games in January and a camp w/ 4 games in Summer. The entire process costs about $1,100 not including the regional playoff in January 2008 and the National Tournament when and wherever that is.
Problems:
NO development occurs. ODP is exposure plain and simple.
The selection process is flawed, players that have been seen at regional tournaments and premier play are basically pre-selected, the attitude that the hidden player can be found through ODP is a joke.
Cost so far $1100 and claims that the cost prohibits the poor from participating, If you can’t pay to play for the top clubs at premier, what makes you think the kid can afford ODP too?
ODP offers no organized scholarship except that costs are passed on to the ODP team parents (this drives the cost up for a select few). SCYSA ODP does not solicit organized donations for the purpose of subsidizing ODP.
Boy’s Regional Camp held at Mississippi State: Mississippi State doesn’t even offer a Men’s Soccer program so why send my son there when he won’t even consider it for a college? DUH!
Players are seen by just a few coaches within the region. Not a lot of “exposure”.
2. Premier League or (Challenge / Classic)
Description:
11 games in 6 weekends over a period of 21 weeks, cost about $500-$600 for coaching fees plus travel, if you’re at CESA or DSC then 7 of 11 games are played in the upstate of SC and travel is minimal.
Issues:
Exposure is limited to SC, GA, and NC and basically anyone interested in coming to SC to see you play. Only if you make the regional by winning a state championship or winning Premier League will you make the cut to go to the regional. High risk of not being seen when you’ve already fronted the money.
Costs continue to rise for additional tournaments such as Disney and Region Tournament.
Limited to Fall play only with a possible summer regional event.
3. US Federation Development Academy
Description:
- Teams compete in three different types of game weekends: individual conference games, travel partner weekends and showcase weekends to provide them with the optimum balance of playing rhythm, economy of travel and exposure to scouts.
-30 games in 20 weekends over 31 weeks, cost $975 for coaching fees plus travel
- 8 conference winners receive all expenses paid trip to LA, CA for National Championships at the Home Depot Center
- Program Costs: $975 plus travel to games. Bridge FA has sponsorships to assist with costs associated with travel.
Guarantees: Training 3 days per week, Every player must start 30% of the games, Each game is limited to 7 substitutions with no re-entry.
Team Bridge FA, Conference Atlantic
Date Description Venue
6-Oct Fall Showcase CA
7-Oct Fall Showcase CA
13-Oct Richmond Kickers SC
20-Oct Richmond Strikers SC
3-Nov at Richmond Strikers VA
10-Nov Virginia Rush SC
17-Nov at Richmond Kickers VA
15-Dec at Virginia Rush VA
22-Dec CASL SC
5-Jan at Greensboro SC NC
6-Jan at CASL NC
12-Jan North Meck SC SC
19-Jan at South Charlotte NC
20-Jan at North Meck SC NC
26-Jan Greensboro SC SC
2-Feb Carmel United SC
9-Feb Michigan Wolves SC
23-Feb Empire FC SC
24-May Spring Showcase TX
25-May Spring Showcase TX
26-May Spring Showcase TX
31-May South Charlotte SC
7-Jun at Columbus Crew OH
8-Jun at Ohio Elite SA OH
14-Jun at Internationals OH
15-Jun at CASA OH
21-Jun VardarStars SC
28-Jun Summer Showcase tbd
29-Jun Summer Showcase tbd
30-Jun Summer Showcase tbd
12-Jul Finals CA
13-Jul Finals CA
19-Jul Finals CA
Issues:
Cost of travel, Club is good source to solicit donations to cover travel expenses, Club has already obtained donations to cover the first showcase event in Los Angeles, CA in October.
Fees are higher because of the extended season.
Exposure to SC, NC and VA for region play, OH, NY and MI for interregional play and CA & TX for showcase events. Opportunity for a coach to see you play from any where in the country. No risk because the schedule is set up front.
Fall and Winter play, season is suspended for Spring HS season, Academy season resumes in late Spring and Summer, offers year round exposure and maintains rhythm of play.
