OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
FAQs and Links
How Are Players Selected?
What Will Happen at Tryouts - Policies and Procedures
What are the Players Expectations?
What are the Parents Expectations?
Communication with Identification and Selection
What are the events and costs associated with ODP?
What happens if I miss a Training Session?
When is the Final Team(s) Selected?
What are Region III Trials?
What is a National Camp?
How Can I Learn More?
US Youth Soccer Region III ODP Website
How Are Players Selected? (back)
Players are selected in Louisiana on the basis of open tryouts conducted by the Louisiana Soccer Association, our State Coaches are experienced college and club coaches, selected by the LSA State Technical Director and approved by the LSA Executive Board. They have been recognized for their abilities to identify and train players with superior talents. Players are also invited into the Olympic Development Program if they are scouted and identified by our ODP staff and scouts.
Selection of Olympic Development Program players is not an easy task. Players are evaluated on the four components that make up a soccer player:
1. Technique
2. Tactics
3. Fitness and Athletic Ability
4. Psychological Component (attitude/desire for excellence)
What Will Happen at Tryouts - Policies and Procedures (back)
- Players must participate at tryouts on set dates.
- Players will receive one numbered T-shirt
- Coaches will receive a list with players designated numbers (no names)
- Players will be placed by age group, rotate, play games, etc.
- Players will be assessed and identified by the ODP staff. The staff will determine those players selected to the initial State Pool.
Communication with Identification and Selection (back)
- Any player may tryout but players not registered for the 2011 – 2012 season with an LSA Club must pay a $15 registration fee.
- Player status after tryouts/training sessions will be posted on the LSA website, by the posted dates.
- Players can be released from the State pool after any session.
- Players must pay for all training sessions whether in attendance or not; to stay in the ODP Program.
- Registration and Payment is required prior to the set dates. Registration must be completed online for each program or event (i.e., tryouts, training, STX Event, Minicamp). Payments can be made online or through the LSA Office. PLEASE DO NOT PAY AT THE FIELD.
- If withdrawing from the ODP program please notify Stacie Schneider, ODP Administrator, via email of your intentions at odp@lsa-soccer.org Players must notify the LSA ODP Administrator to formally withdraw from the program or they will be responsible for all training fees.
What are Region III Trials? (back)
US Youth Soccer is divided into four Regions, we are in Region III. Each offers a Regional Camp or “Trials” for ODP participants in each eligible age group. The camps are designed to develop these elite players through high-level competition and training. During this training and competition, players who are capable of performing at the highest level of play are identified for possible Regional pool, Regional team and National team camp participation. The specifics, as well as the cost, of these Regional camps will be published by Louisiana Soccer Association to all invited players.
What is a National Camp? (back)
National Camps and Interregional 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.
How Can I Learn More? (back)
The Louisiana Soccer Association is committed to providing the highest quality Olympic Development Program at the lowest possible cost and with fully informed parents and players. Additional information can be obtained from the US Youth Soccer Region III website and by contacting Mark Godwin, Technical Director of Coaching Education & Player Development and/or Stacie Schneider, ODP Administrator, as well as members of the LSA staff at (225) 766-0577 or MarkGodwinDOC@lsa-soccer.org or odp@lsa-soccer.org.
What are the Players Expectations? (back)
The Louisiana Soccer Association is rapidly becoming a leader in ODP within our Region largely due to the quality coaching staff available. The Louisiana Soccer Association provides several avenues for the players to improve, but it is their own enthusiasm, and commitment to excellence, as well as the support from their club coaches, that promotes them to the State, Regional and National Teams.
The Olympic Development Program expects a lot from its players:
- Commitment to Excellence
- Work Hard – Play Smart!
- Personal responsibility – each player must sign the Code of Conduct. Violation of this contract will be dealt with fairly and firmly.
- Attendance – players are expected to attend all training/competitive events, and any absences must be documented as well as approved by the Louisiana Soccer Association ODP Administrator.
- All ODP events are scheduled very carefully therefore players are not expected to miss events.
What happens if I miss a Training Session? (back)
Be aware that players are always being evaluated at every training session and players can be released from the program at anytime. If you are going to miss a training session please email us at odp@lsa-soccer.org and MarkGodwinDOC@lsa-soccer.org so that we can pass that information onto the coaches that will be affected.
Approved excuses are medical, school and death in the family. Medical excuses must be on legitimate stationery from a Doctor (who is not related to the player.) Other excuses must be documented in writing. Always include your child's name, birth year and gender when corresponding with the LSA office.
When is the Final Team(s) Selected? (back)
Coaches are always evaluating the players so that they can select the best players to represent LSA ODP. The final team selection for the Region III Trials in June/July will be selected in Mid May after your respective events/training sessions have concluded.
What are the Parents Expectations? (back)
The Louisiana Soccer Association appreciates the time and commitment parents make on the behalf of their sons and daughters. The information on the website and in the information packet are effort to educate both parents and players of the ODP process. Please utilize this information pack as a tool to answer most of your questions as well as giving you an insight into our Olympic Development Program.
- It is the parent’s responsibility to check e-mails and our website prior to all training dates/events. Fields can be closed unexpectedly for reasons other than weather.
- Please pay particular attention to all deadlines and instructions for various activities. Adherence to these dates is the key to reducing hassles and costs.
- It is the families’ responsibility to respond to correspondence from the state office. Not doing so in a timely fashion will jeopardize the players’ opportunity to participate in an event.
