The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program has been in existence since 1977. The program was introduced to help identify potential national team youth players through an organized series of trials which begins at the district level, progresses through the state, region and finally the national level. The program also serves as a means of development as the players identified are brought together for a training experience and prepared for interstate, interregional and international competitions. The development of the players is taking place rapidly as talented players are brought together for training and competition at all levels. Training and playing with those of equal or greater ability is a tremendous teaching tool. The program is open to any youth player.

The higher up the ladder a player progresses, the more intense the training and playing become. The regional teams experience both interregional and international competitions on an annual basis. A pool of players is selected for each age group with the rosters changing each year as players develop at different rates. Regional players have traveled to Florida, Arizona, San Diego, France, England, Costa Rica, Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

While the US Youth Soccer ODP experience is one vehicle for competition, development and identification, it is not the only method. All programs work together to help the players attain their ultimate potential. The US Youth Soccer ODP does provide a systematic method that allows players 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.

The development of players in South Dakota and North Dakota is primarily the responsibility of the affiliate clubs in both North Dakota and South Dakota and US Youth Soccer ODP should not interfere with that development. It is the responsibility of NDSA and SDYSA to supplement that development by identifying and allowing the best players in the state to play along side each other and against other select teams domestically and internationally. The success of US Youth Soccer ODP is a direct result of the quality of players, coaches and level of competition within both South Dakota and North Dakota.

Due to the US Development Academy and ECNL, the ’Elite Pathway’ for players in both South and North Dakota is lost. We don’t have the opportunities other states do for our players to be identified. ODP is the solution.

In order to provide the ‘Elite Pathway’ for our players things need to change with the current structure of Dakota ODP.