Will Scherer, NJ Youth Soccer
The New Jersey Olympic Development Program (ODP) recently participated in the Maryland ODP Friendlies, which were conducted for 2006-2011 Boys and Girls. The 2006-2010 teams competed at Liberty Sports Park in Upper Marlboro, while the 2011 players were featured at Covenant Park in Ellicott City.
"The MD Friendlies Tournament is incredibly important for NJODP, as it provides our teams with the opportunity to work on crucial development topics,” said James Galanis, NJYS Director of Technical Operations. “This year, we were able to focus on playing in the middle third of the field and progressively improving on tactical concepts we have worked on in previous tournaments. The weekend was a huge success for our teams as a whole, and for each individual player."
The state associations that participated in the Maryland Friendlies were New Jersey, Maryland, Eastern Pennsylvania and Western Pennsylvania. ODP Friendlies allow teams from various states to compete against one another, and they serve as an excellent way for teams to showcase their abilities against other state organizations.
“We are thrilled to have had another great weekend for the Maryland ODP Invitational this year,” said Gandalf French, Maryland ODP Technical Director. “Not only did the four States in attendance have competitive games across the weekend, but the officiating was as top notch as our new home facility, Liberty Sports Park.”
With this most recent edition of the Maryland ODP Friendlies now in the books, French already has his sights set on the 2024 tournament.
“We are always looking to further enhance our program,” he confirmed. “With that in mind, we are excited to be returning to Liberty Sports Park for our event again next year, and we are looking to bring additional States from outside of the Region as well.
New Jersey ODP would like to extend its appreciation to Gandalf French and Maryland ODP, who spent countless hours to ensure the event was successful for each of the ODP state associations that attended.
The Olympic Development Program is an identification system linked to the United States Soccer Federation and US Youth Soccer. The program offers its players a pathway that could lead to representing Regional and U.S. Youth National Teams. Originally established in 1977, ODP was the first program in the country designed to identify potential youth national team players. ODP players begin initially at the local sector before progressing to the state, regional and possibly national levels. By playing with like-talented athletes, ODP offers the opportunity for players to advance in their personal development and to be scouted by college coaches.
For more information about New Jersey ODP, please email [email protected]. Also, make sure to visit the program online and like the official New Jersey ODP Facebook Page.