TO ATTEND THE CASPER EVALUATIONS OCT. 13 & 14
Due to some delay in getting out information and dates for the 2012/2013 ODP year the staff has decided to give players one more chance to register to attend!
2012/2013 Eligible Age-Groups
- Players born Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 of the years 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 and 1996 are eligible to participate in all aspects of the WYS ODP program.
- Players born Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2001 and 1995 can participate in WYS ODP training and can attend tournaments but are not eligible to attend Region IV ODP camp
Age Groups: US Youth Soccer ODP uses a birth year age group system – eligibility is based on the calendar year a player is born. This is different from the Aug 1 – July 31 year used to determine U-team age groups for club soccer. Please remember that US Youth Soccer ODP events determine age groups by birth year and non-ODP events determine age groups by the more common U-age.
2012/2013 WYS ODP Program Fees
$75 Evaluation Fee: includes initial evaluation session and *limited WYS player registration. Players may choose to attend all scheduled sessions, and the state-wide evaluation. The state-wide evaluation is mandatory and players will receive their WYS ODP t-shirt at that time.
*The limited WYS player registration allows a player to participate in the initial evaluation sessions with the full protections of a regular membership. This limited registration in only applicable for the July and August evaluation sessions, no proof of membership will be provided.
$350 Program Fee: includes all training sessions and friendly games and scrimmages. Players will receive two additional training shirts and a long-sleeved t-shirt.
Tournaments: Additional fees will be charged for any tournament a player attends. Uniforms are distributed by WYS ODP and collected immediately following each tournament. If not returned, the cost of the uniform will be billed to your player’s account and will not be allowed to participate further until the uniform is returned or the fee paid.
$575 Region IV ODP Camp Fee: Fee is subject to change; includes housing, meals, and training during the week long camp, additional training apparel and equipment as required by Region IV. Transportation is not included.
Mission Statement WYS ODP
The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) is a national program that is designed to identify and develop talented, committed youth soccer players to represent their state, region, and country in soccer competitions. It is also intended to aid in the preparing and showcasing of the players as student/athletes for exposure to collegiate soccer programs.
Objectives
Identify, evaluate, and train highly talented male and female youth soccer players. As part of this national effort, the Wyoming Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (WYS ODP) is dedicated to developing the highest level of youth soccer within the state. This must be achieved in an atmosphere of integrity, fairness, and impartiality. The player's physical and cognitive skills and attitude must be the only criteria for participation in the program. In addition WYS ODP will:
- Provide players the opportunity to train and compete at a high level
- Build teams that will participate in advanced competition
- Improve the soccer skills and knowledge of Wyoming’s players
Participation does not mean that players cannot participate with their club team. WYS ODP participation, whether at the state, regional, or national level, is concurrent with club team participation and provides additional training and playing opportunities. Club players should be allowed by their club coaches to attend all WYS ODP functions.
Evaluation Process: Age eligible players register to attend one or more of the tactical evaluations that are held across the state. These sessions generally consist of training and small-sided games where technique, decision making, speed, agility, attitude, and work ethic are evaluated. In the fall, players interested in being considered must attend the final state-wide evaluation session.
Players are evaluated by a staff of qualified coaches on the following components:
- Technique
- Tactics
- Fitness and Athletic Ability
- Psychological Component/General Attitude
Program Selection: Following the final evaluation session players will be chosen to commit to the WYS ODP season. The season consists of multiple training events, friendly games with other ODP teams and the prospect of participating in the US Youth Soccer Region IV ODP Championships and Training Camp. In addition, based on player interest and availability, participants may be asked to attend high level tournaments and college showcases. Additional fees will be charged for tournaments.
Benefits of Participating in WYS ODP
- Player Development - gives players the opportunity to train and play with the best, most dedicated players in Wyoming
- Quality instruction from top-level coaches
- Quality competition - participants play against other state’s ODP players and teams.
- The chance to participate in regional tournaments and college showcases
- Exposure to regional and national team coaches if attending Region IV ODP Championships and ODP Camp
- The opportunity to represent one’s state, region or nation in soccer competition
US Youth Soccer Region IV ODP Training Camp
Each summer, a series of week-long evaluation camps are held for each US Youth Soccer ODP age group. State ODP teams and players compete against each other during the week and are evaluated by regional and national coaches and evaluators.
During their stay, players/teams are housed in dormitories and eat their meals in a dining hall or cafeteria. The teams normally train in the morning, are provided with educational opportunities after lunch, and play a game against other ODP teams in the afternoon. Each evening, players are selected by the camp coaches to participate in showcase games, which the remaining campers get to watch and to learn.
At the end of each week of camp, the Region IV coaches select a pool of players to participate in a second week of training and games. This training takes place in August and the players, as members of the US Youth Soccer Region IV player pool, will train with the Region IV staff coaches.
US Youth Soccer Region IV consists of Alaska, Arizona, Cal-North, Cal-South, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The best US Youth Soccer ODP players from those states are selected to be members of the Region IV player pool for each age group. The Region IV team head coach will then select his/her Region IV team from that pool.
Region IV Team: the Region IV team will participate in competitions that can be scheduled at anytime during the year. Usually, there is a sports festival involving the other three Regional Teams over Thanksgiving.
Because these events take place during the school year, players need to obtain their high school principal's permission 30 days prior to departure. Although the US Youth Soccer Association sanctions these competitions and players are participating in US Youth Soccer ODP, they could still lose their high school eligibility if they do not obtain permission to compete during the school year. This permission must be obtained by filing a letter of intent 30 days prior to any ODP event. If your principal refuses, please contact the WYS ODP or Region IV administrator.
Though US Youth Soccer Region IV ODP Camp is one of the goals we encourage the players to strive for, it is not our primary focus. In early March, notice is sent to all participants with the WYS ODP staff’s recommendation on whether a player should or should not attend Region IV ODP Camp. Selections are based on a player’s ability to successfully compete at the highly competitive regional level, against players from each of the 14 RIV states. Final decisions for all players will be determined by the age group head coach and the WYS ODP Technical Director.
Tournaments provide an opportunity for players to test their skills and learn by playing against those whose skills and dedication matches, or exceeds, their own. During the WYS ODP season, administration will determine which tournaments can provide the best level of competition for the teams/players. Players will then be invited to participate with a team at these tournaments.
Whether a team attends a tournament is determined by whether the invited players can attend and if there are enough players in an age group(s) to build a competitive team. It is at the team coach’s sole discretion who to invite and, within the rules of the tournament, to decide what age groups to include on the team. The program fee does not include tournament fees; players will be responsible for paying all fees and expenses associated with attending a tournament.
Financial Assistance: WYS can assist in making WYS ODP participation achievable, regardless of the ability to pay. The program fee and the RIV ODP camp fee is setup to be paid in two installments. Players also have the following ways to help them raise the funds they need to fully participate.
Sponsorships: Players have been very successful in getting friends, family and local businesses to sponsor them. Sponsors can donate funds, in the name of a player, to the WYS ODP program. The funds are then used to pay registration fees and to reimburse players for expenses. WYS ODP has developed an information sheet and donation form to help with this process. And, since WYS ODP is a non-profit organization, the donations are tax deductible.
WYS ODP Scholarship Fund: this program is funded purely by donations and fund raising events specifically held to benefit the program. Scholarship applications must be submitted at least 2 weeks before any payments are due (see the schedule below). Please carefully read the program guidelines as there are specific qualification guidelines and requirements.
Payment Plans: Individual payment plans can be setup. Please contact the WYS office. We are happy to work with you to make payment as easy on your budget as possible. 307-742-2306
The sponsorship package and the scholarship application will be available at the parent meetings and on the website. Please contact the WYS ODP administrator for more details.