Coaches and evaluators at the district level
first select players, during a tryout period that is normally
conducted over several weekends. Players are selected to a
training pool that on average trains once a week. Traditionally,
training sessions have been held centrally in the greater
Sacramento area. At the end of the training period, district teams
are chosen. Those players selected to the district teams
participate in the first round of State tryouts known as
"play days" which is normally held in October. This
enables the state coaches and evaluators to assess the district
players skills and level of play.
Selected players are then invited to a second
round of State tryouts to compete for a position on the State team
along with any returning State players from the previous year and
any players that have been scouted and recommended to the state
coaches for evaluation on an individual basis. Eighteen players
are selected from the State pool for each team (some age groups
may have two teams). Those players will be invited to participate
in tournaments such as the adidas Cup, the Nike Cup, and the
Regional Camp.
The Regional Camp is normally held in Idaho for
the boys and Wyoming for the girls. No more than 18 players per
team may attend the regional camp. The Region consists of the 14
western regional states. Players will be evaluated on and off the
field during the first week of camp. At the end of the first week,
they will announce those players selected to the Regional pool
(normally 36-40 players), who will be invited to stay at the
Regional Camp for a second week for further evaluation. From the
pool, the Regional coach and staff will select up to 18 players
for the Regional team.
If you are selected to the regional team, you
will represent Region IV at the interregional play days held in
Cocoa Beach, Florida over the Thanksgiving week (dates may vary
depending on tournaments, etc). The interregional play days gives
National coaches and evaluators a chance to look at players who
have the potential to be successful at the highest levels of
competition. Players may be selected to participate in the
National pool and team which gives them the opportunity to train
and develop with some the best athletes in the United States and
abroad.
The higher up the ladder a player progresses,
the more intense the training and playing becomes. The regional
teams experience both interregional and international competitions
annually. Regional players have traveled to Florida, Las Vegas,
San Diego, France, England, Costa Rica, Germany, Denmark, Mexico
and the Netherlands.
While ODP is not the only method for
development and identification, used in conjunction with other
programs helps the players attain their ultimate potential. The
ODP does provide a systematic method that allows players the
opportunity to advance as far as their abilities allow. It serves
as a form of self-evaluation in a system that is recognized by
coaches at all levels.
Many of the top coaches in this country are
involved with the program beginning at the state level. The ODP
provides young players with a high level of competition and
outstanding coaching as well as exposing them to the leading
college coaches across the country.
