ODP FAQs

ODP for the 2023-2024 cycle has begun this past Spring with the scouting and evaluation opportunities. The initial age group tryouts will take place in August - September with the first training sessions starting in early October.

There will be Sub-Regional events planned throughout the year and an opportunity to attend the July 2024 Regional Camp.

This year, we are excited to provide ODP players even more benefits and value with the following resources and opportunities added as a part of the ODP curriculum:

• Speed, agility and coordination training (with and without the ball)
• Technical training sessions
• Access to the best and most accomplished online training program
• Assessment / Evaluation tool that aligns with the National and Regional teams
• Free US Soccer Grassroots Coaching License (minimum age; 16 years old)
• Free US Soccer Referee Certification (minimum age; 13 years old)
• ODP to support college bound student-athletes (beyond the ODP age groups)

If you have any questions, please contact Kostas Hatzikoutelis, Director of Coaching & Player Development.

Scouting and Player Evaluation questions should be directed to:  Scouting@GeorgiaSoccer.org._____________________________________________________________________________________________

Q: What is the Purpose of ODP?

A: Check out our What is ODP page for this information.

Q: Which age groups are eligible for ODP?

A: For the 2023/24 (cycle) seasonal year, the following age groups are eligible: '07s, '08s, '09s, '10s, '11s with the Pre-ODP '12 & 13s.  Additionally, this year, ODP will be introduced for the 2004 – 2006 age groups…

Q: What are the events for ODP in 2022-23?

A: Tentative calendar of events below; every player is not expected to attend all events:

Q: What are the costs associated with ODP?

A: The costs of Georgia's ODP program remains among the lowest in the country and will continue to be one of the best values for youth soccer players.

Scouting/Tryout Fees:  $45

Cycle Year/Training Fees: $295

Sub Regional Event Fees: TBD

US Youth Soccer has revamped the ODP nationwide, with a new pathway to the top that has been created. A scouting system and more events are added, including a National ODP Camp as well as International ODP opportunities.

The critical first step in the process starts with the selection of the Georgia ODP squad. 

State pools will be selected in all seven (7) boys age groups and the six (6) girls age groups and train with a highly qualified staff to ideally prepare each player for the best opportunity to be identified to perform and be selected for the next level.

Regional ODP players are identified through multiple Sub-Regional events and state training opportunities for the purpose of earning an invitation to attend the South Region Camp. 

National ODP/team players are selected in a similar format from the Regional Camp (noted above) and those identified here will compete against the other three (North, Midwest, West) regions. 

The year-round Sub-Regional events (participated by Georgia Soccer ODP teams) will provide multiple opportunities for identification and selection of players into Region Camp and potentially National Camp. 

Region ODP scouts will attend all the Sub-Regional events using these opportunities to identify players for the Region ID Camp which will take place in July each year. US Youth Soccer will invite the identified players to the Region ID Camp.

After the Region ID Camp, a region team (of players) will be selected for each age group and will represent the South Region at the Inter-Regional event in January. 

Out of the Inter-Regional event, a pool of 24 players will be selected and invited to attend a National ODP Camp and events as part of the US ODP National Team).

At the National ODP Camp, a team of 18 players for each age group (this year 2006 to 2011).  Players may also be selected for various domestic events and even an international trip but this does vary year to year. 

Q: Can players be added to the State Pool after tryouts are over?

A: Club coaches who feel strongly that the evaluators missed a quality player can contact the Scouting@GeorgiaSoccer.org as the first step in the process for re-evaluation. The player in question may be invited to an ODP practice for a second evaluation and/or a Scout staff coach may be sent to watch the player play in a club game or training session.  

Typical scenarios that might warrant a player added to the pool are: 

• Quality player moving into Georgia after the tryouts
• Quality player missing the tryouts due to injury
• Quality player identified by State, Regional, or National staff coach after the tryouts through the scouting network

Additional identification opportunities exist for players who excel at the Regional Identification Centers and may also be promoted/invited into the state pool.

The ODP at the state level has an obligation to identify the best players and put them in front of the regional staff as its critical mission for the program. 

Q: What is the tryout process like at the State Level?

A: Scouting is an integral process for player evaluation; the tryout process in Georgia also offers preliminary tryouts, followed immediately by the state tryouts (generally) in September or October and may be in conjunction with a scheduled training session.

Q: What is the tryout fee?

A: The state tryout fee is $45. When you register your child for ODP tryouts online, you will be prompted accordingly. 

Q: What is the Exempt List?

A: The list includes players that have pre-paid the tryout fee as well as a few players who excelled at the state’s Regional Identification Center (RIC) (since these players have already paid a tryout fee) and those identified via the pre-ODP scouting program.

Georgia Soccer currently supports Regional Identification Centers in North Georgia, Southeast Region, South Region, Central Region, and  Southwest Region. The RIC runs parallel and independent to the ODP, with its own selection process and weekly training sessions in the winter and spring. 

Players who excel at the RIC are promoted to the state ODP through a constant communication link between the RIC and ODP staff.

Information about the RIC is posted on the Regional Identification Center page and typically appears in mid-October with tryout details. 

Q: What is a region?

A: US Youth Soccer split the country into four regions for administrative and logistical purposes. The four regions are known as East Region, Midwest  Region, South Region, and West Region.

Each region is comprised of 12 to 14 states. We are in South Region with Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Texas, North Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

Q: What is the purpose of Region ID Camp?

A: The main purpose of Region ID Camp is to evaluate the players from all the states within our region and select a region pool of players in each age group for further evaluation and competition and held in July each year. 

Q: What is the player selection process at the Region Level?

A: At Region Camp, players are assigned to a team and are evaluated for selection into the region pool in each age group.  At the end of camp, a region pool of 40 to 60 players is selected with a final 16-18 identified to participate in national camps, inter-regional events, and/or international trips. 

Q: What is the role of the Region Staff?

A: The Region Lead Coach appoints Age Group Coaches and supports staff. Each age group has Lead Coach(es) and additional staff coaches. At Region Camp, each staff coach is assigned to work with one or two teams for the duration of the four to five-day event.

Q: How many players from Georgia typically make the region pools?

A: Historically, Georgia players have been well represented at the Regional level. Although there is no guarantee, and the numbers vary from year to year. On average, about 60 to 70 of the 200 or so Georgia boys and girls who attend region camp each year get selected to the region pools. 

From the numbers above, it would not be unusual to have 20 to 30 make the region teams and 6 to 10 make the national pools in their age groups. This makes Georgia one of the top states in the country for success at placing players at the next level.

Q: What benefits do players who are not selected to region pools get from Region ID Camp?

A: Region ID Camp has many other benefits for all the players. It is a chance for players to challenge themselves and gauge themselves against the best in the region. Good players thrive on playing against quality opponents and Region Camp provides a competition level that is rare.
 

Region Camp exposes players to top college and national staff coaches. College coaches regard ODP participation and attendance in region camp as an indication of the players’ ability and ambition.