WELCOME TO THE MSYSA REGISTRATION PAGE
2008 MARYLAND GIRLS OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

• Players who register online for ODP tryouts will receive update emails on tryout schedules and possible changes due to weather. Tryouts will begin middle to late November once players, fields, and coaches are available get started.
• Be sure your email address is correctly entered in your application to receive updates from MSYSA. Tryout information will also be posted on the ODP pages of the MSYSA web site at www.msysa.org
• We encourage you to pay the $40 application fee online by credit card at the conclusion of your tryout registration to simplify your check-in at tryouts. Players whom elect to pay by check or cash must bring $45 to the first tryout they are scheduled to attend.
• SELECT THE "REGISTRATION" TAB ABOVE TO BEGIN

What is ODP?

The Olympic Development Program ("ODP") is a United States Soccer Federation ("USSF") program run by US Youth Soccer, established to help identify and develop the best youth soccer players in the United States. The process identifies players in each of the National State Associations ("NSA") and promotes qualified players to the respective regional teams and age-appropriate U.S. national teams, which represent the United States in such international competitions as the Youth World Cup and the Olympics.

The main objective of the ODP is to evaluate, identify and develop outstanding male and female youth soccer players. As a part of this national effort, the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association ("MSYSA") is the responsible NSA body for administering the ODP in Maryland.

At the national level, ODP is dedicated to developing the highest level of youth soccer. In fulfilling its role in the national program, the primary objectives of the Maryland ODP are to identify the best youth players in Maryland and to assist them in developing their talent to the highest level possible.

To be eligible to participate in the MSYSA ODP, a player must be registered and in good standing with MSYSA. The program is organized in age-specific teams (age groups). The age groups are based upon calendar year birth years (January 1–December 31) rather than the August 1–July 31 used by club teams. For year-to-year consistency purposes, the age groups are designated as U13, U14, U15, U16 and U17. With the exception of the youngest and oldest age groups, players cannot play “up” with an older age group and must try out in their birth-year age group. Players born later than the youngest ODP age group birth year may try out with the youngest age group.

Tryout locations shall, whenever possible, be scheduled at sites reasonably convenient to the majority of players trying out; however, the quality and number of fields available at potential sites shall be given priority to geographic convenience. Care shall be taken to schedule tryouts to minimize conflicts with players’ club team activities, including league and tournament play. Schedules shall be coordinated to provide players a minimum of two opportunities to be assessed. In selecting state ODP players, coaches look for many of the following attributes: physical speed, strength, endurance and agility; technical mastery of the ball in a variety of situations; good tactical decision-making; and proper attitude, reactions to adversity, good sportsmanship and concept for the game.

Once tryouts have concluded and the Maryland Girls ODP tryout pools have been selected, the players can look forward to:

• Maryland ODP international trip to Denmark/Sweeden for two age groups in late March.
• Training starting indoors in January on weeknight available and outdoors in March on Monday evenings, the day of the week MSYSA has asked its member clubs to set aside for the program, beginning early spring when fields become available.
• Region I ODP Tournament (Rider Cup), one of the two major ODP events in Region I where teams from the 13 states in the region come to compete in June.
• Region I ODP Camp traditionally five days for the two youngest age groups and four days for the oldest groups where regional and national coaches both instruct and identify players for selection to the Region I pools in each age group in July.

Best of luck and see you on the pitch!