Sanctioned Tournaments
What Is ODP?
The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program, or ODP as it is more commonly known, is a National, Regional, State, and District Team Identification and Development program for high-level players. The program identifies and develops youth players throughout the country to represent their State, Region, and the United States in soccer competition. In addition, the program also serves as a recruiting hotbed for college coaches.
Virginia participates in the East Region for ODP.
Players are selected on the basis of open tryouts and invitations. These tryouts are conducted by coaches who are recognized for their ability to identify and train players with superior skills. Selection of these players is not an easy task. The state association Head Coach or State Coach will, in most cases, be assisted in the selection process by several other qualified coaches.
For U11-U9 players seeking participation in a high-level training program, click here to learn more about the Developmental-Olympic Development Program (D-ODP).
Players are evaluated on the four components that make up a soccer player.
- Technique
- Tactical Understanding of the Game
- Fitness and Athletic Ability
- Attitude
There are three phases in the Virginia ODP program:
At the district level, training is held in five districts throughout the state with a total of seven training sessions. Players are required to tryout in order to earn a spot in their respective District Training player pool. The last two training sessions are known as Inter-districts. Inter-Districts are held at the Publix Virginia Soccer Training Center in Fredericksburg, VA, on two separate weekends. Inter-districts consists primarily of scrimmages between the five districts. Players’ performances at these scrimmages, and during district training sessions, will determine where or not they are selected to the Virginia ODP State team.
At the state level, players participate in a minimum of 10 training sessions (weather permitting) with an experienced coaching staff. At this stage, players are selected to attend regional events against other State ODP teams in the East Region. Not all players are selected to attend each regional event. The events for state teams start in January with the North Carolina Friendlies. The Virginia Friendlies takes place at the end of February and the ODP International Trip is held in March or April for two age groups.
At the regional level, Virginia participates in the East Region along with Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Eastern New York, New York West, Eastern Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania West, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia. US Youth Soccer East Region covers the northeastern United States. To learn more about East Region ODP click here.
ODP Tryouts
To participate in the Virginia Olympic Development Program, players need to participate in District Tryouts prior to the start of the 2023-2024 season. Player must tryout and train in the same district regardless of schedule conflicts with tryout dates.
Age Groups: 17U-12U (2007-2012 birth years)
Tryout Fee: $40
Click on your district below to view tryout details including dates, times, and locations.
FAQs
When does registration open?
Registration for the 2023-2024 ODP season opens on June 1, 2023.
How do I register for tryouts?
To register for ODP Tryouts, click on the button above. All registration MUST be completed online prior to the tryout date.
What should I do if I am having trouble registering in the GotSport portal?
For assistance using the GotSport registration platform, contact GotSport customer service. Click here to learn more.
Check-in Guidelines for Tryouts
Upon arrival, players should follow the posted signage to the check-in table for their specific age group. A VYSA State Office staff member will be there to confirm player’s registration, name, and provide a tryout number to be worn during the duration of the tryout session.
What should I wear to tryouts?
Players are required to wear a plain, light-colored shirt, black shorts, and black socks. Do not wear an ODP training shirt from a previous year.
What do I do if I am going to miss my tryout?
Players expecting to miss their designated tryout date are still required to register online prior to tryouts. AFTER the tryout weekend is over, players will need to reach out to the District Age Group Head Coach to secure a new date for a makeup tryout. Makeup tryouts are normally held on the first night of training in the district.
How do I know what my training schedule will be if I am selected?
Click on the District Training Information above for your district to learn more about the program in general and specific training information.
Still have questions? Contact Jessica Cottet, Director of Technical Department Operations, at Jessica@vysa.com for assistance.
ODP Pathway
Players are selected on the basis of open tryouts and invitations. These tryouts are conducted by coaches who are recognized for their ability to identify and train players with superior skills. Selection of these players is not an easy task. The state association Head Coach or State Coach will, in most cases, be assisted in the selection process by several other qualified coaches.
For U11-U9 players seeking participation in a high-level training program, click here to learn more about the Developmental-Olympic Development Program (D-ODP).
Players are evaluated on the four components that make up a soccer player.
- Technique
- Tactical Understanding of the Game
- Fitness and Athletic Ability
- Attitude
There are three phases in the Virginia ODP program:
At the district level, training is held in five districts throughout the state with a total of seven training sessions. Players are required to tryout in order to earn a spot in their respective District Training player pool. The last two training sessions are known as Inter-districts. Inter-Districts are held at the Publix Virginia Soccer Training Center in Fredericksburg, VA, on two separate weekends. Inter-districts consists primarily of scrimmages between the five districts. Players’ performances at these scrimmages, and during district training sessions, will determine where or not they are selected to the Virginia ODP State team.
At the state level, players participate in a minimum of 10 training sessions (weather permitting) with an experienced coaching staff. At this stage, players are selected to attend regional events against other State ODP teams in the East Region. Not all players are selected to attend each regional event. The events for state teams start in January with the North Carolina Friendlies. The Virginia Friendlies takes place at the end of February and the ODP International Trip is held in March or April for two age groups.
At the regional level, Virginia participates in the East Region along with Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Eastern New York, New York West, Eastern Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania West, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia. US Youth Soccer East Region covers the northeastern United States. To learn more about East Region ODP click here.
Interdistrict Scrimmages
What are Interdistrict Scrimmages?
After the seven District ODP training sessions, (includes Nov & Dec dates) the State ODP pool will be selected and State ODP training will begin. If your player is not named to their State ODP age group pool, unfortunately, their ODP season has come to a close. The 2023 State ODP pools will be posted on the ODP website no later than December 6, 2023. If your player is listed as a Call Back, they should attend the first State ODP pool training session, unless alternate instructions were provided from their State ODP age group Head Coach, for an additional evaluation.
High level players that purposely bypass the District ODP training sessions in hopes of going straight into the State ODP training pool, exhibit characteristics that are not conducive to top flight soccer. We are looking for players to play for Virginia that exhibit the skill, character, and work ethic to train at all levels of the program.
Event Calendar
Explore the events and key dates during the 2023-2024 ODP season.
| Date(s) | Event Name | Level |
|---|---|---|
| July 21, 2023 | West District Tryouts | District |
| July 22, 2023 | Southeast District Tryouts | District |
| August 5, 2023 | North District Tryouts | District |
| August 6, 2023 | West Central District Tryouts | District |
| August 18, 2023 | Central District Tryouts I | District |
| September 8, 2023 | Central District Tryouts II | District |
| November 18, 2023 | Inter-District Scrimmage (Girls) | District |
| November 19, 2023 | Inter-District Scrimmage (Boys) | District |
| December 2, 2023 | Inter-District Scrimmage (Boys) | District |
| December 3, 2023 | Inter-District Scrimmage (Girls) | District |
| Dec. 10 – June 4, 2024 | State Training Sessions | State |
| January 5-7, 2024 | North Carolina Friendlies | Regional |
| February 23-25, 2024 | Virginia Friendlies | Regional |
| June 7-9, 2024 | East Region ODP Tournament | Regional |
| July 2024 | East Region ODP ID Camp | Regional |
Virginia Friendlies
The Virginia Youth Soccer Association is entering its fourteenth year of hosting the Virginia Friendlies, one of the most respected elite tournaments on the East Coast with over 100 top-caliber teams from East and South Regions participating. This weekend-long event has been chosen as an Official US Youth Soccer Sub-Regional Event.
For 2024, the Virginia Friendlies will once again be hosted at the Warhill Sports Complex in Williamsburg, Virginia.
More information on the 2024 Virginia Friendlies will be made available in late 2023.
District Coaching Staff
Click on a district below to view the 2023-2024 Coaching Slate.
State Coaching Staff
View the carefully curated state coaching slate for the 2023-2024 season.
Benefits of participating in ODP
Explore the benefits of the Virginia Olympic Development Program:
- Exposure to Regional and National team coaches
- The opportunity to represent one’s District, State, Region, or Country in competition
- Exposure to college coaches
- Opportunity to participate in foreign tours
- Development as a player and the opportunity to train and play with the best players in one’s age group
- Quality instruction from licensed coaches
- Quality competition for those who are selected for the state team and compete in matches against other State Association ODP teams
ODP Fees
The Virginia Youth Soccer Association aims to provide players the opportunity to participate in the Olympic Development Program at the lowest cost possible to families. View fees associated with participating in Virginia ODP.
All events are priced separately and the budget is based on costs such as transportation, hotels, meals, coaches, etc. Event fees typically range from $195-$500 per event.
| Tryout Fee | $40 |
| District Training Fee* (7 Training Sessions) | $255 |
| State Training Fee* (9 or 10 Training Sessions) | $385 |
*Additional $22 for players not registered with US Youth Soccer for the 2023-2024 season.
The state association is committed to keeping the cost of the program as low as possible for participants. The VYSA offers financial assistance to families that may need assistance.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Tryouts & Training Sessions
For cancellation or withdrawals received five (5) or more business days prior to a tryout or start of the training sessions for which a fee has been paid, a full refund minus 10% for administrative fees will be issued to the registrant.
No refunds shall be provided for cancellations or withdrawals made within five (5) business days of a tryout or start of the training sessions. Participants will be invoiced the full cost.
Should VYSA need to cancel a training session, every attempt will be made to reschedule the session. If the session cannot be rescheduled, refunds will not be issued. If 50% or more of the training sessions have been completed and VYSA is not able to reschedule the remainder, no refunds will be issued.
Once committed to the program it is expressly understood by all players and their parents/guardians, they are responsible for all fees associated with the program. Payment is due upon completion of the player’s registration. VYSA reserves the right to suspend a player from their home club if payment is not received for any fees associated with the program.
ODP State Events
Once paid, an event fee cannot be refunded under any circumstances if a player is withdrawn from the event. Deposits are placed ahead of time based on the number of players invited and often, those deposits are nonrefundable.
If an event is canceled due to weather, the event fee will be refunded minus 10% for administrative fees.
Complete Cancellation
Should VYSA need to cancel a tryout, training season, and/or event due to unforeseen circumstances or causes beyond our control, participants will be notified as soon as possible and the aforementioned entity will issue refunds minus 10% for administrative fees to all participants registered for those programs within 10-14 business days*.
*Subject to change at the discretion of VYSA and its Board of Directors.
Financial Assistance
The Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA) is a non-profit, charitable corporation devoted to promoting youth soccer in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia. VYSA’s Olympic Development Program makes their selections without regard to a player’s ability to pay. VYSA provides financial assistance, for those who qualify, to players whose families cannot afford to pay the full cost of participation in the Olympic Development Program.
Those requesting financial assistance for ODP fees should submit an ODP Financial Assistance Application to the VYSA State Office. While financial aid funds are limited, the financial assistance program makes this opportunity available to those in need in our community.
*For 2023-2024 financial assistance recipients, ODP player financial responsibility will be at least 50% of an events required fees. Specific amounts will be sent with the selection/invitation process.