By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association

July 31, 2018-The Olympic Development Program (ODP) is considered the highest level of play in each state youth soccer association. The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) has a particularly good program as Eastern New York teams have won recent ODP national championships plus ODP alumnae Crystal Dunn and Allie Long are playing for the US Women’s National Team.

Because of the large geographic area of Eastern New York, ODP is divided into North and South. North is Westchester and all points north while South is New York City and Long Island. 

Tryouts start in August for all players with a birth year of 2004, 2005 and 2006 while the players born in 2001, 2002 and 2003 will start tryouts in late October and early November when the high school season is concluding.  

All players must register for tryouts using the ODP registration system. The fee is $45, onsite registration is $65. Non-ENYYSA members may try out for the same fees. However, if offered a position on the State ODP Team, non-members would not receive a registration discount, which could be upwards of $300. 

A player may register for more than one tryout. Additionally, a player may register for whatever tryout is convenient for them. However, if a player attends a tryout in the North and lives in the South, if selected, they will train in the North.   

The tryouts kick off during the next few weeks all over Eastern New York:

Saturday, August 11
Owl Hollow Fields, Staten Island 
9:00 to 10:30 am: Boys 2005, 2006, 2007 
10:30 am to noon: Girls 2005, 2006, 2007

Sunday, August 12
Flushing Meadows, Queens
9:00 to 10:30 am: Boys 2005, 2006, 2007 
10:30 am to noon: Girls 2005, 2006, 2007 

Saturday, August 18
Peter Collins Soccer Park, Plainview
9:00 to 10:30am: Boys and Girls 2007 
10:30 am to noon: Boys and Girls 2006 
Noon to 1:30 pm: Boys and Girls 2005 

Saturday, August 18
North Colonie Soccer Complex, Cohoes 
9:00 to 10:30 am: Boys 2005, 2006, 2007
10:30 am to noon: Girls 2005, 2006, 2007 

Sunday, August 19
HBC Soccer Park, Melville
9:00 to 10:30 am: Boys and Girls 2007 
10:30 am to Noon: Boys and Girls 2006 
Noon to 1:30 pm: Boys and Girls 2005

Sunday, August 19
Stringham Park, LaGrange
9:00 to 10:30 am: Girls 2005, 2006, 2007 
10:30 am to noon: Boys 2005, 2006, 2007 

To register, log on to http://enysoccerodp.sportssignup.com/site/

If you have any questions, please phone the ENYYSA office at 516-766-0849 and ask for ODP Chairperson Jim Volpe.

With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 11 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.