top club team tryouts

[SergioRamos15]

This Saturday I am going to the tryouts for the ODP team. (Olympic Development Program) I guess you could say it's like a state team. ODP also has regional and national teams. I already play on a top club in the state, but I'm still a lil nervous. I've tried out for some top clubs, and made the teams with ease, but this just seems like its on a whole other level. I really want to make this team, so i can progress even more as a player.

I'll post about how it went after the tryouts.

But how have your previous tryouts for top clubs or teams go? How did you feel? Before?After?

[Yid_Army99]

don't worry about ODP man, it's really ********ed up and now all the focus is on academy teams. If you live near an academy try out for it. ODP is losing importance and won't do much for you compared to academy. If you make ODp and you're under 15 I'd do it for a season while seeing bout joining an academy team.

look http://ussoccer.com/teams/acad/index.jsp.html

And to ur questions i feel nervous at tryouts, i won't lie, but usually i juggle a lot before it starts so i'm comftorable on the ball.

[SergioRamos15]

thanks for the input bro. i know a couple of people that play on ODP and they say its not that bad. I already play on an academy team anyways.. Have you or do you play on an ODP team?

[Yid_Army99]

where you from?

[Antonio81]

I got chosen to go play with an Academy in London called Bashley FC when I was a sophmore in high school, there weren´t many Academies in America back then. It was difficult for me because I had to change my whole mentality around. I had to learn to respect the coach and the referree, not to showboat in a serious game, and not to lose my temper when defenders got physical with me(in England they are very physical.) I was never scared or intimidated but often I got too exited when I had the ball or if we were down a goal, and did something rash.

As long as you remain calm and focused on what you´ve learned, and on what you are doing, everything else should take care of itself. 50% of the game is mental.

[SergioRamos15]

thanks antonio. did you have a good experience as a player playing on that academy?//

[keeper1031]

are u sure you play for a true academy team? If you do your not allowed to do ODP or State cup so i doubt you play academy like you claim

[arsenalfc08]

ODP is crap (sorry) its way to political. State odp is nothing, it doesn't even get good unless your selected to tryout with the regional or nationl odp team. ODP has really taken a back seat to the development academy league (and mostly not in a good way). Go with teams in the us development academy league. Your more exposed to college coaches and maybe even some scouts. Here is a list of teams http://ussoccer.com/common/stContent.jsp_168-DevAcadTeams.html

Yeah I agree with keeper, are you sure you play on a us development academy team, or is it just one of those clubs with an academy program?

I'd say go for a us academy team or even look at some of the usl/pdl clubs, they usually have some type of youth set up.

[SergioRamos15]

its a club with an academy program. and arent all clubs political nowadays?
sorry im kinda new to this as i havent been playing club soccer at this high level for that long of a time:p

[arsenalfc08]

Yeah I guess most clubs are but I think you'll be better off with trying out for a us development academy team, all the good players are going there and leaving odp behind. Some pro's didn't even do odp, they just played on really good club teams.

[Lovefutball]

ODP is political like everyones saying. What region are you playing in? I know some are better than others.

[SergioRamos15]

mid atlantic

[Antonio81]

thanks antonio. did you have a good experience as a player playing on that academy?//Yeah, but it was tough. It made me a better and more disciplined player in the end.

[pushaa]

Yo dont sweat it bro . I played ODP for my state. You travel and what not to tournaments and the competition is pretty good..most of em are very physical and big but if you are technical you should have no problem...i personally think it was a waste of time

[emcfc2008]

EMCFC TRYOUTS... NYC COSMOPOLITAN LEAGUE!!!

Competitive and very organized... Tryouts start this Tuesday 8/12

Send me a message if you want more details.

[forzaac13]

No matter where you play you are going to run into some sort of politics. I played for DeAnza FC my entire life, but I was one of the older teams that started the club so I missed out on a lot of the college publicity that came along with it. ODP ranks right up there with high school soccer in my mind. It is simply useless. If you want to continue your soccer career into college you need to find a good club team that can get you exposure. Club coaches tend to be the ones who have friends in high places, mine definitely did.

When I graduated highschool, what seems like so long ago, If you played for my club team or a few other surounding club teams you were GUARENTEED to get seen by coaches, including Santa Clara's Cam Rast who came out and spoke with us at our coach's request.

The overall message I am trying to convey is that typically club teams give you better exposure. When we went to Dallas Cup I don't think I have ever received more recruiting letters. It was truly ridiculous. Like some others have said, ODP doesn't get serious til the regional and national levels and it is time consuming to get there. From going through both processes in the California area I would definitely advise the club route, not ODP.

[SergioRamos15]

well i made this thread for others to talk about their tryout experiences not so much about the ODP program :D

anyways, so far i have made call backs and im hoping to make the team and try and work towards the regional level

thanks for all the input so far nonetheless :D

[Yid_Army99]

You from Va?

[emcfc2008]

Anyone in NYC interested in playing in an adult league? Very competitive and fun... We have two teams in the Cosmopolitan league. Tryouts start this Tuesday on Roosevelt Island.

Contact me ASAP!!!:)