ODP Q&A

Frequently Asked Questions About ODP

What is the ODP process?

How are ODP age groups determined?

What are State Teams?

What are Regional Camps?

What is a National Camp?

What are the ODP Hotline Numbers and when should I use them?

What are the fees associated with ODP?

What if I cannot attend an ODP session?

What if I am injured during a step of the process (ie Fall districts, Spring districts, etc) and can attend none of the training during that period?

Do I receive an evaluation?

I reside in a state other than Ohio. Can I attend ODP in Ohio South?

I am a 1999 player. Can I participate in ODP?

I am a player who plays up, but I am younger than the 1999 birth year. Can I still participate in the ODP Program?

I cannot attend the session for my age group. Can I train with another age group?

Should my daughter or son get involved?

What will my player get out of ODP?

How are players selected?

How do coaches get involved?

Where do the coaches come from?

Will ODP help my child get a scholarship?

Do college coaches know about ODP?

What is the ODP process?

ODP is a training and selection process that runs from November through July. Players register in the fall for that seasonal year of ODP. Fall district training sessions are held for two weekends in November in the Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus areas.

After the fall sessions, players are either selected to continue into the spring or released from that year’s process. 
* (See section below for 1997 - 1999 birth years)

Players who are selected into the spring district sessions will attend training for another two weekends in March in Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus. After the spring sessions, players are either selected to continue to the State ID weekend in April or are released from that year’s process.
* (See section below for 1997 - 1999 birth years)

Players who are selected to the State ID weekend in April, will attend up to 4 sessions over one weekend held at one central location (usually in Dayton or Wilmington) with all of the other players from Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus. After the State ID weekend, players are either selected to continue into the State Pool or are released from that year’s process.
* (See section below for 1997 - 1999 birth years)

The State Pool sessions are held once per week from April through July at one central location (usually Dayton or Wilmington). During April - May time frame, further selection processes occur until the state team and alternates are determined. The alternates are the players who will attend regional camp if a player from the State Team becomes injured or unable to attend. These teams will continue further training until July.

1997 - 1999 birth years*
*Players from the three youngest birth years are automatically selected from the Fall to the Spring district training sessions. There is not a selection process for the three youngest age groups at this stage. Also, players from the three youngest age groups do not attend the State Trial weekend.

• If players from the 1997 - 1998 age groups are selected after the spring sessions, they will automatically be advanced to State Pool training.
  
• The 1999 age group does not form a State Pool or State Team - developmental training only.  Back to top

How are the ODP age groups determined?

ODP age groups are determined by birth year. They are different than those used for your club team. Therefore, all 1994 birth year players will be grouped together, all 1996 birth year players will be grouped together, etc. If there are two teams that will be attending Regional camp for a birth year, some age groups will be split up as the first 6 months of the year, and the second six months of the year. This sometimes happens in the younger age groups.  Back to top

Cincinnati Hotline number is 513-333-5730

Dayton Hotline number is 937-285-0008

Columbus Hotline number is 614-470-3949

Please note that you should always call your local hotline. Once the State ID weekend and State Pool sessions begin, and everyone is in one central location, you may still call your local hotline. We will update all hotline numbers so that a player/family does not have to call long distance. You should always call the hotline before traveling to ODP even if the weather is not bad. Changes or cancellations can be made at any time for acancelationson and will save you some frustration if you get to a site and find out there is no training that day. Please note the hotline is only a recording. If there is not current information on the recording, it means that there have not been any changes to the schedule. back to top

What are the fees associated with ODP?

The early registration fee for ODP is $55.00. After October 13th, the standard registration fee is $75.00. The early spring district fee is $55.00. After February 12th, the standard spring district fee is $75.00. There is no fee for the State Trial weekend. It is included in your spring district fee. The State Pool fee is $55.00 and goes up to $75.00 after May 7th. If a player is selected to Regional Camp, the camp fee is estimated to be anywhere from $550-$650. This includes Regional Camp fees, bus transportation to and from camp, and meals. back to top

What if I cannot attend an ODP session?

If you cannot attend an ODP session, you must fill out the notification of absence form on the ODP page of the Ohio South website. Players will be evaluated based on the sessions that they do attend. If a player makes one of the four district sessions, then they will be evaluated based on how they perform during that one session. The more sessions that a player attends, the better chance the staff will have to see and evaluate that player. back to top

What if I am injured during a step of the process (ie Fall districts, spring districts, etc) and can attend none of the training during that period?

Players who are injured need to call or email the Ohio South office directly at 513-576-9555 or office@osysa.com. We will need a doctor’s note mailed or faxed to our office before the training begins. We can then make arrangements to get you a second look or carry you over into the next training round. For example, a player is injured for the November sessions and cannot attend any training. They should contact the office and send us a doctor’s note prior to those November sessions. We will then make a note that the player is injured and advance them into the spring sessions. If a player makes it through all Fall and Spring selections and then gets injured before the State ID weekend, we will not automatically advance them, but will arrange for a one time relook. Therefore, depending on where we are in the ODPre-lookss, will determine how we handle the injury. back to top

Do I receive an evaluation?

There are no evaluations for fall/spring District Tryouts and State Trial weekend. Players will receive an evaluation if they are selected for the State Team Pool but are not selected to advance further. If a player voluntarily quits the program or does not show for required training sessions, he/she will not receive an evaluation. back to top

I reside in a state other than Ohio. Can I attend ODP in Ohio South?

Players who reside in a state other than Ohio South are welcome to attend ODP training with the permission of their home State Director of Coaching and the Ohio South Director of Coaching - Gordon Henderson. However, they will not be selected to be a member of the Ohio South State Team or attend Regional Camp. If a player aspires to be on a State Team and attend Regional Camp, we encourage you to apply to your own state’s ODP program. back to top

I am a 1999 player. Can I participate in ODP?

Yes, this is a new age group at the state level only. Its purpose is to help prepare players for the ODP environment they will encounter the following year. This age group will not travel or attend Regional camp. back to top

I am a player who plays up but I am younger than the 1999 birth year. Can I still participate in the ODP Program?

No, we do not allow players younger than 1999 to participate this year under any circumstances. back to top

I cannot attend the session for my age group. Can I train with another age group?

No, we do not allow players to train with any other group under any circumstances.

Should my daughter or son get involved?

Yes, ODP is a great way for players to do a self evaluation as well as meet new players and learn from different coaches. back to top

What will my player get out of ODP?

ODP is an additional optional program to a soccer player’s current soccer team. ODP’s goals are to train and identify players in a non-competitive environment where players can experiment and fail without retribution. This environment will potentially help players gain confidence and help elevate their game to the next level. back to top

How are players selected?

Players are selected based on the following criteria:

Technique
Tactical Understanding of the Game
Fitness and Athletic Ability
Attitude

How do coaches get involved?

Coaches can get involved by going to the osysa.com website, then to the ODP coaches section from the ODP dropdown, where a form can be downloaded and faxed to the State Office. This form is Called “Coach and Evaluator Application”. back to top

Where do the ODP coaches come from?

Coaches come from within the State Association’s clubs and leagues, colleges and high schools.

Will ODP help my child get a scholarship?

There are NO GUARANTEES with anything in life and a sport is one of those. Being part of ODP and having it on your resume no matter how far you progress shows a college coach that you are willing to take chances and take yourself out of your comfort zone. College coaches see this as a MAJOR plus. back to top

Do college coaches know about ODP?

YES, YES, YES… College coaches are on Ohio South’s ODP Staff as well as make guest clinician appearances multiple times throughout the year.

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