Questions
My child did not make ODP this year. Is there any way you can provide an evaluation?
My child is part of the current ODP pool. How many players will be chosen for each team and age group?
What competitions will the teams participate in this year?
What if there are conflicts with my club team?
Are Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer players required to attend Regional Camp?
How much playing time will a player receive in competition?
Does Eastern Pennsylvania provide financial aid for ODP?
What do the players wear to training?
How do I reach the coach or coaches in my age group?
How do I know if training, a match or an event is cancelled or postponed?
Will there be a European trip for ODP teams this year?
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Answer's
My child did not make ODP this year. Is there any way you can provide an evaluation?
ODP try-outs are a selection process and should not be viewed as an evaluation. As ODP coaches are viewing players they are attempting to select the players that stand out from the other players based on the criteria that was sent to parents and is displayed on the ODP section of the web site. We make mistakes in identification, after all coaches are human. As parents please recognize that in a selective environment such as ODP, a child may experience their first setback or failure to make a team. Failures or setbacks should be seized as opportunities to improve, to prove their ability to coaches later and to realize this is part of life in other ventures too. We feel confident that if we do miss a player they will be recognized the next year. A full evaluation is provided to all players who make ODP.
My child is part of the current ODP pool. How many players will be chosen for each team and age group?
At U12 we currently have six teams in five different areas of the state. We will carry anywhere from 16 to 20 field players and two keepers in each area. We may attempt to have a clinic in Williamsport in December to assist us in restarting an Under 12 program in that part of the state. At U13 we currently have three geographic teams and will carry 18 up to 25 players in each region. The geographic teams at the earlier ages were created to provide more opportunities and less driving for parents. The U14’s carry two state wide teams and the older ages carry one team each. We have a total of 28 teams.
What competitions will the teams participate in this year?
The U 13’s to U 17’s will be competing in two major competitions this year. The Virginia Friendlies on February 17 to the 19th in Williamsburg Virginia and the Region One ODP Tournament scheduled for June 8 to the 10th in Mercer County New Jersey. In the Region One ODP tournament the U13’s and U14’s play a festival format but the U15’s through U17’s play for a Region One Championship. In addition, if the U16’s or U17’s were to win the regional championships, they would have the opportunity to compete in the National Championships in March.
We also schedule friendly state matches, age group friendlies among the state ODP teams, mixed gender competitions (e.g. U 17 Girls vs. U 14 Boys) and possible state vs. regional team competition at our workshop on March 3. The U12 program will have matches with the other regions in the state, a possible futsal tournament with the other regions in the state, friendly matches against Maryland and the Annual U12 ODP Tournament in Wilson, North Carolina on June 8 to the 10th.
What if there are conflicts with my club team?
Eastern Pennsylvania would like to see players follow the US Soccer guidelines of three practices per one match and one match per week but realize that very few clubs follow that practice. We do not want to see young athletes over train and contribute to overuse injuries or be a cause of any undue stress a player may feel due to extensive obligations . We normally only train on Sundays to alleviate conflicts for players, parents and coaches but in a few instances an ODP coach may call for a practice before a major game at the older age groups. All NCS, President Cup and Challenge Cup matches take precedent over ODP training.
Are Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer players required to attend Regional Camp?
Regional camp is both a developmental and identification camp. Coaches at the Region One camp are looking for players to represent the Region One Teams in National and International competition. When playing on Regional team players are also evaluated by National Staff for potential National Team play at various ages. We do not require players to attend either the boys or girls Region One Camps.
How much playing time will a player receive in competition?
Coaches are asked to attempt to play all players in matches that have no consequence for advancing in a tournament. In the Region One Tournament for U15’s through 17’s, the ODP teams have a chance to advance but coaches are still asked to attempt to play all players. We may have up to 25 players on a roster but only 18 players can play in a given match during Region One Competition.
Does Eastern Pennsylvania provide financial aid for ODP?
Financial aid is determined on a case by case basis upon receiving a completed financial aid form. The financial aid form can be found on the ODP section of the website under ODP FORMS AND RESOURCES. Application forms should be completed and sent to our office between November 15 and December 1.
What do the players wear to training?
Players will be provided two training shirts and should arrive at each session with both shirts.
How do I reach the coach or coaches in my age group?
Each team will be provided a web page. On the web page you will have the email addresses of all the coaches in your age group. Also, on that page will be an updated schedule of events or practices.
How do I know if training, a match or an event is cancelled or postponed?
You will receive an email notification and the information will be on the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer web site. We will attempt to notify players at least three hours before the activity.
Will there be a European trip for ODP teams this year?
Currently we are looking to take the U13 boys to Scotland, the U17 Boys to Spain and the U15 Girls to Holland, Germany or Denmark. Information will be coming after selections.