ODP for Rookies

This page is designed to give you insight into the process and goals of the US Youth Soccer Nebraska Olympic Development Program!

Along with a brief description of the program and its processes's, we have collected a series of questions commonly asked by players, parents and coaches.

Developmental Camp Information

Day one: Depart Tranquility Park at 6:15 am
Day four: Arrive Tranquility Park at 8:30 pm

Travel & Housing Information

Players will travel to and from camp by charter bus and from the dorms/hotel to the fields. Except for unusual circumstances that must be approved by the Nebraska Director of Coaching, players must travel with the team. Parents are not encouraged to attend camp unless they are chaperones traveling with the team. Parents are not permitted in the residence areas or dining halls and may not transport a player to and from the fields. All travel and meals, except in route to and from camp are included in the camp fee.

At the boys' camp, players are 3 to a room. We are staying in hotels in Rockford. All players will be on the same floor in the same hotel with coaches and chaperones on either side of the group. At the girls' camp, players are 2 to a room, 4 to a suite. Two rooms with a shared bathroom constitutes a suite. We will have our own section of a floor including coaches and chaperones. We will travel to and from all activities as a team.

Commonly Asked Questions

Can we get a list of players going to camp?
The list of players going to camp will be put on the web page on June 1. Because of the nature of this camp we do not know who will be going until camp fees are paid.

Is Nebraska sending a team or players to camp?
The developmental camp allows each state to send up to 50 players to camp. Even though we are traveling as a team, players will be placed in various training/playing groups while at camp with players from all fourteen states. These groups may change throughout the camp to provide players with the full ODP experience.

How are the players supervised?
We will send one adult for every six players that attend, including coaches, administrators and chaperones. Administrators and chaperones are parents of players selected by the ODP Director to attend. On top of supervision, they will have various administrative responsibilities, including washing uniforms, getting players to and from the various activities and maintaining medical release and insurance forms in case of accident.

Do many parents who are not included in the travel party attend?
Parents are not encouraged to attend camp unless they are a member of the traveling party. Players must travel with the team, except for unusual circumstances. Parents are not permitted in the dining or residential facilities at camp. Players are transport to the field within minutes of an activity and are transported back to the residences immediately following the sessions.

What is the uniform for players at camp?
Players are provided a training t-shirt to be worn at camp. Players should bring black shorts and white socks in addition to the Nebraska ODP shirt they were given during try-outs.

What if we or our child is not prepared to go to camp this summer?
Players who are not prepared to go to camp should not go, especially for players born in 1994. Players need to be ready to be away from home. Player are expected to follow the regional players code of conduct. Not doing so could result in the player being sent home. The summer training is available only for those players attending camp. Players are not penalized in subsequent years for not attending camp; however, historically, more than 2/3 of players selected at the first selection age group attended the developmental camp.

Can a 1995 or 1996 join ODP?
No, the US Youth Olympic Development Program begins at the 1994 age group.

Can a player tryout for an older age group?
For the U17-U15 age groups no, unless a member of the US Soccer National Teams coaching staff specifically requests a member of the National pool. Each state association does have some flexibility at the younger age groups, but we have adopted a policy which makes it difficult to move a player up an age group.

Why is ODP on the calendar year when club is August 1 to July 31?
US Youth ODP follows the FIFA guidelines in regards to fielding Youth National Teams (e.g. U17, U20). US Youth Soccer adopted the August 1 - July 31 dates for defining a team to allow more players in the same grade to play on the same club team.

How do you determine the age group for US Youth ODP?
The summer in which camp is held minus the birth year. This year the 1989's attend camp in 2006, 2006-1989 = 17 - the 1989's are referred to as U17's.

Have a question? Submit it to Matt Howe, Director of Coaching.