United States Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program Overview
The US Soccer Olympic Development program philosophy is to identify players of the highest caliber on a continuing basis for the purpose of increasing success of the U.S. national teams. The program was formed in 1977 to identify a pool of players in each age group from which a national team will be selected for international competition.
The East Region (West Virginia to Maine) holds an annual ODP tournament in early June (after state cup finals) to allow each state association’s ODP select team an opportunity to showcase its talent while competing against each other.
The East Region also hosts an invitation-only regional camp (formerly known as ID camp) in early July exclusively for ODP team participants. These camps are designed to provide high level competition and training for participating players. During this training and competition, players who are capable of performing at a higher level of play are identified for regional participation, and possible national team camp, pool, or team participation.
Benefits of participating in the US Youth Soccer ODP and East Region ODP Program include:
- Development as a player through experience. The opportunity to train and play with the best players in one’s age group (birth year.)
- Quality instruction from nationally licensed coaches.
- Quality competition. Games against other state association ODP teams.
- Exposure to regional and national team coaches.
- The opportunity to represent one’s state, region, or country in competition.
- Exposure to college coaches.
Soccer Maine ODP
For the 2025 season, the Soccer Maine ODP Program will have 11-12 teams from U-12 (birth year 2013) through U17 (birth year 2008).
ODP Questions should be referred to:
Maine ODP Director Andy Halligan
andy@socermaine.com