North Texas Soccer Association: Articles

The North Texas Soccer ODP program operates in conjunction with the US Youth Soccer and US Soccer Olympic Development Program.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. How is player eligibility determined?

Eligibility for ODP is determined by the player’s birth date, not their soccer year. A child born in 1999 is not eligible to try out without a coach’s referral prior to tryouts. The referral should be emailed to the ODP State Coach, Gary Williamson at gary@ntxsoccer.org It is at Gary’s discretion whether or not a player will be invited to attend the open tryouts with the 1998 players. He only considers the most talented 1999’s for eligibility & may scout or have the player scouted by a coach of his choice to determine eligibility. Otherwise, open tryouts are for any soccer player of birth year 1998 interested in trying out. A release is not necessary from their Club team to participate in ODP.

2. What is the cost?

Cost for tryouts is a one-time fee of $60 and cost for Pool is $85 per season. Fees are subject to change from one year to the next. Cost for tryouts and Pool includes a t-shirt. Teams attend one camp in the summer. Pool fees must be paid in full in order to participate in ODP and to be eligible for selection to camp. There will be more information about the camps given after the final pool selection process.

3. Is there any type of financial aid or fundraising available?

There are a limited number of scholarships available through the Ross Stewart Scholarship Fund for camp fees only. Most are partial scholarships. Scholarships are given on a financial need only basis. Application forms are available through the North Texas Office.

4. My child cannot make it to one of the tryout dates. Is this okay?

We encourage players to attend all tryout sessions available if possible, but club takes priority over ODP. It is mandatory that players attend at least one of the tryout sessions. A third tryout session is being considered to be held in January, but it is not confirmed.

5. How many players will be selected?

There is not a specified number of players that will be accepted. Pool players will be selected based on evaluation of performance and ability, in addition to attitude and behavior. Players are evaluated by multiple coaches for ODP selection.
Players selected to be in ODP, will be in the Spring Pool. They will then continue to train with their gender/age group. We have a Sub-Regional Competition at the end of the Spring season (date to be determined) that, if selected, players will compete against teams from OK, LA, & MS.
Girls selected to the Sub-Regional Competition will be invited to attend Developmental Camp in Norman, OK. Currently, there is not a camp for the boys in this age group until their second year in ODP.

6. How will my child know if he/she was selected for ODP?

All participants of the 98 ODP Tryouts will receive a letter mailed to the address in their profile in GotSoccer.com. The date for the final Pool selection will be announced at the final tryout.

7. How often do we practice and where? Do we travel to tournaments?

Practices occur 5 times per season on Sundays at Carpenter Park, Old Shepherd’s Place Park, or Russell Creek. Selected teams will only travel when attending camp in the summer.

8. How do we know if a practice has been changed or cancelled?

Go to ntxsoccer.org and check the ODP Calendar or call the ODP Hotline at the North Texas Soccer office 972-323-1323 after hours (weekends and after 6:00 pm weekdays). When calling the Hotline, follow the prompts to the ODP menu and enter the appropriate extension: NTX ‘98 Boys & Girls: Ext. 7 and WTX ‘98 Boys & Girls: Ext. 17.
You are required to check the ODP Calendar or to call the ODP Hotline often for updates and new information regarding changes and/or cancellations. Cancellation make-ups are scheduled & dependent on field availability. This may cause the make-up trainings to carry over to the following season in some cases.

9. When is Camp?

Oklahoma Soccer Association hosts the Girls Developmental camp that is held on the campus of the University of Oklahoma in Norman. Selected players will travel by bus to and from camp. They will be housed in the university dormitories. Date: TBA (last year it was 6/15 – 6/19)
After their first year in ODP, selected pool players attend Region III Camp in Alabama. The boys attend in Tuscaloosa, the girls attend in Montevallo. Once they attend camp in Alabama, they are re-evaluated during camp in the same way our tryouts are conducted for selection to the Region III team. Then, ultimately they are evaluated again for selection to the National team.

10. What if my child is not selected to attend camp in the summer? Does he/she have to go through tryouts again?
Once a player makes the Pool, they will be invited to continue in the Fall & Spring of the following year. As long as players continue to participate in the Pools, they will continue to be invited back year after year.

11. Who do we contact at the State Office if we have questions?

Shawn Lemons is the ODP Administrator. You may reach her at 972-323-1323 Ext. 107, toll free 1-800-996-8772, or by e-mail at shawn@ntxsoccer.org. She handles the administrative/clerical portion of the program.