FYSA Olympic Development Program

The main goal of the Florida Youth Soccer Association ODP program is to identify players for our men’s and women’s Youth National Teams. The selection process takes place through state, regional and national trials.

The United States Soccer Federation (US Soccer) is responsible for the development of US National teams that compete in international events throughout the world. US Soccer currently fields National teams at the Under 14, Under 15, Under 17, Under 18, Under 20, Under 23 (Olympic), and World Cup levels for men and Under 14, Under 16, Under 17, U20, U21 Olympic, and World Cup levels for women. 85% of the players for these National teams are identified and developed via the Olympic Development Program (ODP). Florida currently has 32 players playing with Full or Youth National teams that have participated with the ODP program. Age group teams are also identified at the Region III level for additional training and participation in national and international events.

The Florida Youth Soccer Association will provide its players the opportunity to try out, train and compete with players in their respective age groups in order to find out where they stand with other players from around the state. The players will initially be selected through two-day trials at the regional level, which will be held in the four regions around the state (A, B, C, and D). Players may also be identified through a scouting program.

Scouted players may only be brought in by National Staff Coaches or by the FYSA Director of Coaching. These players will be brought into the next level of the process once they have been identified. The players are then brought into either a sub state or state trial weekend where a state pool is identified. State teams are then formed and usually have two training events before the Region III ODP event. This process continues on to the regional and national level.

The primary benefit to the player is to be able to try out, train, and play against the best players in their age group. This allows the best players to be with the best in order to further their development as soccer players.

The FYSA’s State Staff is comprised of professional, college, high school, and club coaches. All of these coaches are nationally licensed by US Soccer. It is the goal of the staff to conduct these trials in a far and impartial manner.

Florida Youth Soccer Association encourages all players to try out through the program.

Objectives

1. Identification
2. Selection
3. Development
4. Training
5. Competition
6. Evaluation

ODP Age Groups (pure age) January 1-December 31

Any player who plays soccer in the state of Florida is eligible to participate in the Olympic Development Program. In order to participate in FYSA ODP you must become a registered player. This can be accomplished through the FYSA office. A player’s status as a US citizen, non US citizen, or in the citizenship process may effect their selection as the ultimate goal of the program is to place players on a US National team where a player must be a US citizen. Citizenship is less of an issue at the state and region III level unless teams are making international trips.

All boys and girls wishing to try out at the Florida ODP regional trials must pre-register by completing and submitting an application with the tryout fee to the Florida Youth Soccer Association. Players may try out once at a regional trials and may do so at any of the published trials for their age group. Registration forms can be found in the

Touchline, on line at www.fysa.com or requested through the FYSA state office. THERE WILL BE NO WALK ON PARTICIPANTS AT THESE TRIALS.

A returning FYSA ODP player who is identified as a Region III pool player is exempt from the regional trials. Those players will be invited directly into the state trial/supercenter level. A returning FYSA ODP player who is identified to a National pool may bypass the state/supercenter event. These players will be invited in to the state pool training events. In both cases if a player wishes to attend the regional or state trial event they may do so. Also in both cases a player must register for ODP so we may track the player and make sure they receive the appropriate information.