If you’re a young soccer player with big dreams of playing at the collegiate level, representing your country, or even going pro—you’ve probably heard of the Olympic Development Program or ODP.
It’s one of the most prestigious youth soccer programs in the United States, designed to identify and develop the best young talent in the country.
Making it into ODP is not easy. It’s a great challenge.
So, just how hard is it to make ODP soccer? And what does it take to get there? Is it worth the stress?
Let me break it all down into easy details.
What Is ODP Soccer?
ODP stands for Olympic Development Program, and it’s a nationwide program from U.S. Soccer.
The purpose of the program is to identify the top players throughout the country and ensure those players receive the training, competition, and exposure that will allow them to reach their full potential as a player.
See it as a pipeline that brings the brightest talent into college stars, professionals, and even national team members.
ODP is divided into age groups and regions, meaning that there are competitions at the state, regional, and national levels.
If you make the national pool, you are essentially in the running to represent the United States in international competitions.
Getting there is a grueling process that requires talent, hard work, and a whole lot of determination.
How Does the ODP Pathway Work?
Before getting into how competitive it is to make ODP, let’s take a quick look at how the program works. Understanding the pathway will give you a clearer picture of what you’re up against.
- State Tryouts: It all begins at the state level. Players attend open tryouts where they are evaluated by coaches and scouts. If you impress, you’ll be selected for the state team.
- State Team Training: When you get selected onto the state team, you start training, play friendlies, and participate in tournaments. This is also where you will begin to make your mark among the other top players in your state.
- Regional Pool: The cream of players from the various state teams are invited to regional camps. You go against players from several states, and if you impress, then you may get picked into the regional team.
These then come together for the cream of the crop in national training camps. The places one can have in the national pool are used to decide among the best.
The competition gets grimmer and grimmer at every step as the margin of error gets increasingly minute.
Alright, on to the big question: how hard is it to make it through this gauntlet?
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How Hard Is It to Make ODP Soccer?
Let me not sugarcoat it for you: making ODP soccer is hard. Really hard. But why is it so challenging? Let’s break it down.
The Competition Is Fierce
The whole idea behind ODP is finding the best in the country, so you will be competing with the best.
You’ll show up at the tryouts, and there are kids around who are faster, stronger, and more technical than any player you ever played against.
Competition only gets tougher as you go on to regional and national levels. You are no longer competing against that rival town over the hill but against the best in the country.
The Standards Are High
ODP coaches are not out to look for good players, but great players.
They seek out those players who are considered elite in every aspect of the game, from technique to tactics, from physical conditioning to psychological considerations.
You cannot be one-dimensional; you have to be an all-rounded player. For example, you may be the best dribbler, but your passing or defending is very bad.
The Commitment Is Intense
Making ODP soccer is not just about showing up to tryouts. Should you make it, you could be looking at a rigorous commitment to training sessions, camps, and tournaments.
That means giving up free time, social events, and even other sports.
It is a huge commitment on your part and your family’s. Are you ready to put in those hours and make those sacrifices?
The Pressure Is Real
The higher you move up in the ODP pathway, the greater pressure you’ll have on yourself to perform. Each training session, each game, and each touch of the ball matters.
You may just have one bad day and find yourself off the team. That is overwhelming to younger players, especially.
Can you handle the stress and still perform at your best?
The Odds Are Stacked Against You
Now, some stats: A few thousand players go through ODP every year, of which only a handful make it to national pool status.
Of course, the chances of going through to the final selection are slim and even if you do that does not mean you’re going to have the most brilliant future.
Plenty of ODP players go on to play collegiate soccer, but only an infinitesimal proportion make it to professional or national team status.
Are you prepared for those odds?
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What Does It Take to Make ODP Soccer?
Now that we have discussed the challenges, let’s discuss what it takes to overcome them. Here are the key qualities and habits ODP coaches look for in players:
- Exceptional Technical Skills: You must possess a high level of technical skill-ball control, passing, shooting, and dribbling. You should be comfortable with the ball at your feet, even under pressure.
- Tactical Awareness: Soccer is not just about physical ability—it’s also a mental game. ODP coaches want players who understand the game, make smart decisions, and can adapt to different situations on the field.
- Physical Fitness: Soccer is a demanding sport, and ODP players need to be in top physical condition. This means speed, strength, endurance, and agility. You’ll need to work hard both on and off the field to stay fit.
- Mental Toughness: The road to ODP soccer is lined with various obstacles that will try your mental toughness. That means being focused, poised under pressure, and resilient in the face of setbacks.
- A Strong Work Ethic: You are not going to get onto ODP soccer just because you’re a talented player. You need to be willing to put in the work-both at team training and on your own. The best players are always trying to find ways to get better.
- A Positive Attitude: ODP coaches seek players who are coachable, team-oriented, and positive. They are looking for players who will work hard, support their teammates, and represent the program well.
What Are the Benefits of ODP?
Despite the challenges, being part of ODP can be extremely rewarding.
- Development as a Player: You will be training with some of the best coaches and players in the country, which will help you improve your skills and understanding of the game.
- Exposure to Higher Competition: ODP offers you a chance to play against top-tier competition that will elevate your game.
- Quality Instruction: You will be learning from nationally licensed coaches who have experience in developing elite players.
- Exposure to College Coaches: Many college recruiters attend ODP events, so doing well can increase your chances of getting noticed.
- The Chance to Represent Your State, Region, or Country: If you make it to the higher levels of ODP, you could have the opportunity to represent your state, region, or even the United States in international competitions.
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What Do ODP Scouts Look For?
If you want to go ODP, you need to understand what the scouts are looking for.
- Touch on the Ball: How comfortable are you with the ball at your feet?
- Balance and Agility: How well can you quickly change direction without losing control?
- Technical Speed: How quickly do you perform your skills, and how effectively?
- Coachability: Are you willing to learn and improve?
- Work Rate: Do you give 100% on the field?
- Awareness: Are you aware of the game, making good choices?
- Reaction to Failure: If you make a mistake, do you recover well and move forward?
- Leadership Qualities: Is communication one of your strengths? Do you lead by example?
- Physical Speed and Strength: If other players are physically dominating, how do you compare?
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Is ODP Worth It?
The answer is related to your objectives.
If you are serious about playing the beautiful game, then ODP could be your gateway to amazing skill development and a way into higher echelons of competition against the finest in the business.
However, go into the experience with expectations of reality: The journey will be hard and long, yet potentially worth your investment.
