1.) Overall, ODP serves as the true and main link to our Regional and US Youth National Teams. It's sole purpose is to identify and select the best players around, train these players and showcase them to College and National Team Coaches. It is not a true development program. The environment created by being around better players and different coaching forces a player to develop in a higher setting. Now they have to be cleaner with the ball, smarter with the ball and overall better in the game. ODP serves as a training base program as kids are prepared for Regional and National Team Camps where they are away from home with no parents allowed. This is the biggest difference from club, No Parents. It is the same environment as college.
2.) Northern District ODP- Although we promote the higher level of play and understand the structure, we have combined the true nature of ODP and added what is needed in the North. We try to offer a structure that is training based with focus being on technical ability and 1v1 play. Through the training, we showcase our players to different College and National Coaches with events such as Playdays, Mini Camps and Cup Play. Tournaments may be included but not the main focus of ODP.
3.) In Northern ODP, we feel it is the players decision of training. We will not force nor demand that players attend training. It is encouraged so we can help improve your overall game but nothing in ODP is mandatory. Do know that the final result in ODP is what you have put into the program. Parents and players often expect more than what they put in and then blame the product when it is not produced. Maybe a player attends 6 sessions out of 15. You cannot develop being part time so it is not the fault of ODP.
4.) ODP is a competitive environment. Not every player travels nor plays. Anything you do in ODP is earned. You improve your ability to play, you have a better chance of being selected for events. The reality of ODP is, THERE ARE ALWAYS BETTER PLAYERS. We hope that when the year has concluded, you will go back to club as an impact player with a bigger picture of the game. The expirence of training with different players is the joy of the game.
5.) ODP is not for everyone. This program is for a High Level Player to come learn more and get prepared for what the game has to offer. ODP is all about the player and not so much the team. It is rare that you see 6 players from one team go to the same college. This is the reason we develop players not teams. A great coach once said, "You don't do ODP because your friends do it". Very true. You play ODP to develop a different aspect of your game that clubs cannot offer. We want serious players looking to move forward.
Not every player will make State, Regional, National Teams or get recruited for college. If you do ODP for this reason you play for the wrong reason. Those are features of the product. Yes, ODP produces more National Team and Professional Players than any program but it is because of the ability and environments the player demanded of themself. ODP is an experience that you do not get from Club just because of it's environment. If you expect the college scholorship it's the wrong reason to play. We prepare players! Remember, you are 1 player versus the country. It's bigger than our area!
