Through our Olympic Development Program (ODP), we identify elite players from across the state with the intention of developing those players with supplemental training in a competitive environment, while also exposing them to opportunities for success at higher levels of competition.
Through regional ODP ID Camps, staff select players within each age group to form ODP training pools. Pools provide the opportunity for players to continue to be monitored as their skills develop. Region staff later select the top 18 players from within each age group to attend inter-regional events. Inter-regional events provide the opportunity for players to be selected for the USYS National Training Camp (NTC).
The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program was formed in 1977 to identify a pool of players in each age group from which a National Team could be selected for international competition.
In most states, players are selected on the basis of open tryouts conducted by state association coaches who are recognized for their ability to identify and train players with superior skills. Players are evaluated on the four components that make up a soccer player:
US Youth Soccer is divided into four regions, each of which offers a regional camp for state association ODP teams in each eligible age group. STX is in the Southern Region. The camps are designed to provide high-level training and competition for participating players. During training and competition, players who are capable of performing at a higher level of play are identified for possible national team camp, pool or team participation.
National Camps and Inter-regional events are held throughout the year at various locations in the United States. The National Team Coach or a National Staff Coach is present at these events to observe, train and identify players for placement in the national pool or on a national team.