Miguel Webb and Brandon Gonzalez from the Chula Vista Pumas Premier F. C.

Youth Soccer Focus: Olympic Development Program New Players

Summer is the time for new experiences and the Olympic Development Program (ODP) provides an intense soccer training opportunity for selected young soccer players who are talented and devoted to the sport.

Hundreds of miles away from home and headed to Ojai, Califirnia to call it there home for the next four days, young soccer players are off to explore the Olympic Development Program's soccer camps and learn new skills.  

Miguel Webb and Brandon Gonzalez from the Chula Vista Pumas Premier F. C. feeling eager, excited and scared as they depart for this new experience.  The two young youth soccer players will participate in there first ODP camp (Olympic Development Program). 

Webb and Gonzalez will train for four days learning new techniques and skills while having fun!  As with many other young soccer players, this will be the first time away from home.  The players are looking forward to the training and they have told their teammates and parents that they are "working on there career".  

A lifetime experience the boys will hope to treasure as a memorable moment.

 

Olympic Development Program (ODP) is one of the most direct route to the U.S. Youth National Teams, according to Cal South.  The ODP Coaching and Scouting staff scour the Southern California youth soccer landscape annually to identify the top 32 players in each boys and girls age group from U14-U18. Upon identification, the aim of ODP is to place these players on U.S. Youth National Teams by competing at regional and national level competitions. Cal South ODP teams have won 17 out of 44 ODP National Championships since the year 2000 and regularly places over 30% of its players into the U.S. National Team player pools.

The Cal South ODP Soccer Camps Program enters its twelfth year of operation designed for all boys and girls ages 8 to 15 committed to reaching the highest-level open to them in the sport. They are "developmental" in their focus and the coaches are used to developing talent at the state, regional and national levels.  The camps build on and improve the technical and tactical skills that players have acquired during the soccer year. Players are encouraged to compete in and outside of their comfort zones, and will be given the knowledge and tools to improve.