Florida ODP
Florida Youth Soccer Association
Olympic Development Program
2011-2012 ODP Calendar - click here!
The main goal of the Florida Youth Soccer Association is to identify players for our men’s and women’s Youth National Teams. The selection process takes place through state, regional and national trials.
The primary benefit to the player is to be able to try out, train, and play against the best players in their age group. This allows the best players to be with the best in order to further their development as soccer players.
Our State Staff is comprised of professional, college, high school, and club coaches. All of these coaches are nationally licensed by US Soccer. It is the goal of our staff to conduct these trials in a far and impartial manner.
Florida Youth Soccer Association encourages all players to try out through our program. We continue to strive to make this program the finest in the country.
Background
The United States Soccer Federation (US Soccer) is responsible for the development of US National teams that compete in international events throughout the world. US Soccer currently fields National teams at the Under 14, Under 15, Under 17, Under 18, Under 20, Under 23 (Olympic), and World Cup levels for men and Under 14, Under 16, Under 17, U20, U21 Olympic, and World Cup levels for women. 85% of the players for these National teams are identified and developed via the Olympic Development Program (ODP). We currently have 54 players playing with Full or Youth National teams that have participated with our program. Age group teams are also identified at the Region III level for additional training and participation in national and international events.
It is recognized that developing a national caliber player is a long process, and that most players cannot advance from the club level to the National Team in just one step. Also with size of the United States does not allow the national coaches to scout and work with every promising player. The process of identifying and nurturing those players with potential starts at the under 12/13 level via the Olympic Development Program. There is also in place a scouting program to identify those players not a part of the Olympic Development Program and bring them into the program.
Purpose of FYSA Olympic Development Program
To identify and develop outstanding soccer players within the state of Florida for selection to State Teams and for advancement to the Region III Olympic Development Program and to the National Youth Teams.
Objectives
1. Identification
2. Selection
3. Development
4. Training
5. Competition
6. Evaluation
Overview
The Florida Youth Soccer Association will provide its players the opportunity to try out, train and compete with players in their respective age groups in order to find out where they stand with other players from around the state. The players will initially be selected through two-day trials at the regional level, which will be held in the four regions around the state (A, B, C, and D). Players may also be identified through a scouting program. Scouted players may only be brought in by National Staff Coaches or by the FYSA Director of Coaching. These players will be brought into the next level of the process once they have been identified. The players are then brought into either a sub state or state trial weekend where a state pool is identified. State teams are then formed and usually have two training events before the Region III ODP event. This process continues on to the regional and national level.
ODP Age Groups (pure age) January 1-December 31
Boys Girls
1999 1999
1998 1998
1997 1997
1996 1996
1995 1995
1993/94 (Region III invitation only)
As players grow older and mature, selection becomes an integral part to the process throughout the system. In the younger age groups, the focus is more on development and larger numbers selected since the ability level and capacity of these players change more rapidly. For players of all ages the most important factor is continued development.
Any player who plays soccer in the state of Florida is eligible to participate in the Olympic Development Program. In order to participate in FYSA ODP you must become a registered player. This can be accomplished through the FYSA office. A player’s status as a US citizen, non US citizen, or in the citizenship process may effect their selection as the ultimate goal of the program is to place players on a US National team where a player must be a US citizen. Citizenship is less of an issue at the state and region III level unless teams are making international trips.
All boys and girls wishing to try out at the Florida ODP regional trials must pre-register by completing and submitting an application with the tryout fee to the Florida Youth Soccer Association. Players may try out once at a regional trials and may do so at any of the published trials for their age group. Registration forms can be found in the Touchline, on line at www.fysa.com or requested through the FYSA state office. THERE WILL BE NO WALK ON PARTICIPANTS AT THESE TRIALS.
A returning FYSA ODP player who is identified as a Region III or National pool player is exempt from the regional trials. Those players will be invited directly into the state trial/supercenter level. A returning FYSA ODP player who is identified to a National pool in the 1995-1997 age group may bypass the state event. These players will be invited in to the state pool training events. In both cases if a player wishes to attend the regional or state trial event they may do so. Also in both cases a player must register for ODP so we may track the player and make sure they receive the appropriate information.
Benefits
1. Development as a player. The opportunity to train and play with the best players in one’s age group.
2. Quality instruction from nationally licensed coaches.
3. Quality competition against other states’ ODP teams.
4. Exposure to regional and national staff coaches.
5. The opportunity to represent one’s state, region, or country in competition.
6. Exposure to college coaches.
Staff
Our state staff is comprised of some of the finest coaches in the state. The coaches volunteer their time for the trials. All of our coaches are nationally licensed through US Soccer. The coaches come from the professional, college, high school, and club ranks. We endeavor to keep this process fair and impartial. Coaches are not to make selections in the age groups in which they coach a club team. Coaches may not make decisions on players that they know at the club level. These decisions are deferred to the other coaches within the group selecting.
Age Group Trial Process
1998 and 1999 Age Groups Boys and Girls
Regional Trials
The Olympic Development Program process will begin at the regional level in the fall in each of the four regions. A player is eligible to try out once at any of the announced sites and dates. These participates will go through a two day trial. Their tryouts are held during the fall.
The typical times of the trials will be unless the site requires different times (confirmation letter will have exact information): Registration will be from 9:30AM-10:00AM on Saturday followed by trials from 10:00AM-noon with the afternoon trials running from 2:00PM-4:00PM. On Sunday the trials will run from 9:00AM-11:30AM.
Confirmation letters will be sent to the participants prior to the trials with specific information.
Training Centers
The training centers will be held on a one-day basis through the months of November and December in each of the four regions. Typically they will be held on Sundays for 2-3 hours. This schedule will allow for training and games.
All players who were registered for the fall trials will be eligible to attend this training. The primary purpose of these centers is for training. If a player who was not selected is identified at the trials may be moved up into the selected group and invited into state trials. The FYSA Director of Coaching is the only one who may do this movement.
Scouting
US Soccer National Staff coaches as well as the FYSA Director of Coaching may bring players in who are identified through the scouting process. They will be registered to ODP and brought in to the process at the time they are identified.
SuperCenters and beyond
There are regional identifications for the 1998 and 1999 boys and girls so in these age groups we will be selecting three state teams. The Supercenters will be for those players selected at the region trials, training centers or through the scouting process. These will be held in a North and a South location to allow for a less amount of travel.
We will hold two camps for the players who are identified to the supercenters. Logistically we cannot take the entire group to the camps in Alabama but we wish to provide additional trainings through either the Region III camp or the FYSA Developmental Camp. A description of the two camps is below.
We will identify a pool of players who will comprise our state pool. This state pool through two training events will then be divided into three teams. On the boys side we do select an A team, an older and a younger team. The older group will primarily be made up of players born January 1 to July 15 and the younger age group July 15 to December 31. We do not do this on the girl’s side as we do not have the same physical differences instead we will form an A team and two equal B teams. Some 1999 girl players may be moved up into the 1998 age group based upon the regional and supercenter trial.
We hold summer developmental camps for all of the 1999 players who are identified for the Supercenters. If you have not been identified for the Region III Camp we encourage them to attend these developmental camps. Information for these camps will be sent to the eligible players.
Region III Camp
The region III camp is held during July for the boys and girls. The 1995-1999 boys and girls will travel as state teams to the Region III camp. The Region III Camp is where players are identified to Region III pools and teams. Region III is comprised of the 12 state associations in the southeast that include Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina. The camp consists of training, presentations, and games versus other states.
.Costs
Region Trials $65
Training centers $25
Supercenter $90
Team Training events $65-100
Developmental Camp $250-350 includes room and board
Region III Camp $600-700 includes room and board
Financial Aid
FYSA does have financial aid available once a player is selected to a state pool. This aid is given based on need. Information in regards to financial aid will be given to the players and parents once they are named to a state pool.
