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EnglishWhat Is the US Youth Soccer ODP and Who Can Participate?
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The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP) is the organization's identification and development pathway for advanced youth players, and participation generally begins with a tryout or selection process run through a state or member association rather than through open registration on the national site. The program appears on usyouthsoccer.org primarily through its events — the site's calendar lists ODP Girls and Boys Interregional events as all-day, multi-day entries tagged "ODP, US Youth Soccer" — so the website is best used to track the competition calendar and confirm which events exist, while the actual route into ODP runs through your local association.
What ODP is designed to do
ODP sits within US Youth Soccer's broader set of programs for boys and girls ages 5–19, alongside local leagues, competitive tournaments, and national championships. Its purpose is identification and development: spotting stronger players and giving them a higher level of training and competition than a standard local league provides.
The clearest evidence of how that works in practice is the Interregional event, where ODP players from different regions are brought together to compete. The site lists these as scheduled events rather than as something a family signs up for directly — for example, a 2027 ODP Girls Interregional and a 2027 ODP Boys Interregional appear on the upcoming events calendar, each shown as an all-day event.
How the levels fit together
| Element | What the site shows | What it means for a family |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | ODP (Olympic Development Program) | A development/identification track, not a recreational league |
| Event type | ODP Girls and Boys Interregionals | Regional players brought together to compete |
| Calendar format | All-day events with "ODP, US Youth Soccer" tags | Use the calendar to see when and what is scheduled |
| Entry point | Not stated on the homepage | Selection is handled below the national level |
Who can participate
The site's program description covers boys and girls ages 5–19 across US Youth Soccer overall, but it does not publish ODP eligibility rules, age-group cutoffs, or tryout dates on the page reviewed. What can be said with confidence:
- Gender: ODP events are listed separately for girls and boys, so both pathways exist.
- Age: ODP is organized by age group, consistent with the organization's 5–19 range, but the specific bands are not given on the homepage.
- Selection: Because ODP is an identification program, players are typically evaluated and selected rather than simply enrolled. The site does not describe an open application.
If you need the exact age brackets or the current tryout window for your area, that information has to come from your state association or local club — the national homepage will not answer it.
How to actually get involved
- Identify your state association or local member club. US Youth Soccer operates through member associations; ODP selection is run at that level. The site's "Member Resources" section is the starting point for finding the affiliated organization for your area.
- Ask the club about ODP tryouts. Coaches and club administrators are the people who typically know the tryout dates and whether players are nominated or attend open sessions.
- Check the national events calendar for the competition side. The "Upcoming Events" list on the homepage shows ODP Interregionals and other events with dates and tags. This tells you what the top of the pathway looks like and when it happens, even though it is not where you register.
- Confirm costs and travel directly with the association. The site provides no pricing information for ODP, and Interregional events involve travel — neither cost nor logistics should be assumed from the homepage.
Common sticking points
- Looking for a sign-up button. There isn't one on the national site for ODP. Expect to go through your association.
- Confusing ODP with the national championships. The site lists "2026 National Champions crowned in Tennessee and Utah" as separate news; ODP Interregionals and national championships are distinct events.
- Assuming the calendar is a registration list. Event entries show what is scheduled, not who may enter.
What else is changing around the program
The homepage carries a headline that U.S. Soccer and US Youth Soccer announced a historic integration to strengthen soccer in America, alongside news of a new US Youth Soccer CEO and a "Beyond 26" campaign. Because a structural integration can affect how development pathways are organized, anyone planning around ODP should verify the current structure with their association rather than relying on older descriptions of the program.
For general background on the organization itself, see what US Youth Soccer is; for the competitive side beyond ODP, see the competitive pathways and tournaments overview.