ODP

In youth soccer, every player looks for that next step. They seek the chance to test themselves, to measure up against the best and to open the door to new opportunities. For ambitious athletes across Western New York, that step begins this fall with New York State West Youth Soccer Association’s 2025–26 Olympic Development Program (ODP) tryouts.

A Proven Pathway

The Olympic Development Program is more than just another training or playing opportunity. It is a nationally recognized pathway where players are evaluated, challenged and guided toward higher levels of the game. From state-level pools to regional showcases and even national team selection, ODP provides a stage for athletes to showcase their skills, compete with the best and gain exposure to elite coaches and scouts.

“The ODP program is designed to be a supplement to what players do with their club and school teams,” confirmed Dean Foti, NYSWYSA Technical Director. “Playing with and against other good players from around the state, along with exposure to high level coaching, will fast track every player’s development. Growth takes place naturally when players are placed in a competitive environment and slowly nudged outside their comfort zone. ODP tryouts are the first step along the pathway to becoming a more confident and more seasoned player.”

Who Can Participate?

• 12U–14U Players (2012, 2013, 2014 Birth Years): District tryouts will take place on Sunday, September 28th in Buffalo, Binghamton and Syracuse, and on Saturday, October 4th in Rochester. Selected players will advance to a call-back tryout on Sunday, October 5th in Rochester, where final indoor pools will be chosen.
• 15U–17U Players (2009, 2010, 2011 Birth Years): Tryouts will be held in Rochester on the weekends of December 13–14 (Boys) and December 20–21 (Girls).

Why Try Out?

For players serious about their development, ODP offers what club soccer alone cannot always provide, and that is direct exposure to nationally licensed coaches, the chance to compete against top talent from across the state and a clear pathway to regional and national identification. ODP is where ambition meets opportunity, and where players begin to discover how far they can go.

Registration Details

Full information, including site locations and session times, is available on the NYSWYSA ODP Tryouts Page. Spots are limited, so early registration is encouraged.

The Legacy of ODP

Established in 1977, the Olympic Development Program has served as the nation’s original pathway for identifying future national team talent. Under the umbrella of US Youth Soccer and the United States Soccer Federation, ODP helps players progress from local to national stages, gaining valuable exposure to collegiate scouts, high-level coaches and professional development resources along the way.

The mission of New York West ODP is threefold. The program aims to provide top-level training to elite players, support coaching development and identify talent for state, regional and national pools. From the early days of Pre-ODP to the high-stakes environment of regional showcases, every phase is built with purpose.

For all of the latest news and information from the New York State West Youth Soccer Association, make sure to follow us on social media!

In today’s youth soccer landscape, there is no shortage of games, but that can create problems when it comes to player development. With weekend tournaments and constant competition taking center stage, meaningful training opportunities are often left behind. To tackle this issue, New York State West Youth Soccer Association (NYSWYSA) created The Academy to bring development back to the forefront.

“Today’s youth soccer landscape is saturated with games, games and more games,” said Dean Foti, NYSWYSA Technical Director. “At a time when proper ‘training to game ratios’ are out of whack and essential learning opportunities are being squeezed out of player development protocols, the NYW Academy training regimen serves to balance that ratio and provide the opportunity to develop fundamentally sound players.”

A Strategic Approach to Player Development

The NYW Academy is a six-session training program focused on developing confident, technically sound and tactically aware players. Led by NYSWYSA’s nationally certified coaching staff, the program emphasizes ball skills and decision-making in a positive, high-quality learning environment. The Academy offers tools and coaching that emphasize player development, without the pressure of constant competition.

Who Can Participate?

The Academy is open to boys and girls born in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Originally developed for Olympic Development Program (ODP) players, The Academy opened its doors in 2015 to all eligible players across the region. No ODP affiliation is required, and the only requirement is a commitment to learning and a desire to grow.

When and Where?

Sessions take place on Sunday afternoons across six dates this fall: September 7, 14, 21 and October 12, 19, 26. To make the program more accessible, four convenient locations are available throughout Western New York, each led by a highly respected member of NYSWYSA’s coaching and ODP staff.

In Buffalo, sessions will be held at the Ken Dev Soccer Complex, directed by Dave Kreger, who serves as a Lead Educator for the NYSWYSA Coaching Education and ODP staff. Elmira’s sessions will take place at Eldridge Park under the guidance of Zach Sarno, a dedicated ODP coach with vast player development experience. Rochester participants will train at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Penfield, with NYW ODP coach Jim Gentile leading instruction. Finally, Syracuse sessions will be hosted at the CNY Family Sports Centre, led by Dean Foti, NYSWYSA’s Technical Director and Director of NYW ODP.

Registration Details

The standard fee for the Academy is $250, but an early bird rate of $225 is available for players who register by August 31. Spots are limited, and this program fills quickly every year. Take advantage of early bird pricing and secure your child’s spot today! Register now.

The NYW Academy is where growth happens. Give your child the chance to train with top-level coaches, build confidence with the ball and become a more assertive playmaker on the field.

For all of the latest news and information from the New York State West Youth Soccer Association, make sure to follow us on social media!

With the spring season in full stride, the New York State West Youth Soccer Association’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) is continuing to shape talent, build connections and lay the groundwork for the region’s next generation of elite players. From an energetic play day for 11U prospects to regional showcases for emerging and established ODP teams, the last few months have reflected the core mission of ODP to identify, develop and prepare top-tier youth players for the next level.

“As we now begin to compete with other state associations, our players begin to gain a better perspective as to where they stand against the backdrop of other players throughout the Northeast,” said Dean Foti, NYSWYSA Technical Director. “That perspective will be a confidence builder to some, and it will also serve notice to all, that there are higher levels that can be achieved. Both are critical elements that will provide the motivation that aspiring players need to push themselves to the next level.”

A First Taste of ODP: 11U Pre-ODP Play Day

On May 4th, Lakefront SC in Webster played host to the New York West 11U Pre-ODP Play Day, the culminating program event after a winter of indoor training for the youngest aspiring ODP athletes. Players from across the region came together for games in a 9v9 round-robin format, experiencing the excitement of competition in a setting that emphasized development, exposure and fun.

The 11U Pre-ODP Program is designed as an entry point into the broader ODP pipeline, providing players with age-appropriate, high-level training opportunities while helping coaches identify potential for future ODP inclusion. This stage stands as a crucial first step in a long journey, one that begins with skill-building and ends with the prospect of wearing an ODP East Region jersey (and potentially an ODP National Select Team kit).

Talent on Display: Northeast Sub-Regional Tournament in Colonie, New York

New York West ODP teams recently traveled to Colonie, New York, to compete in the Northeast ODP Sub-Regional Tournament. The event brought together state-level ODP teams from Eastern New York, New Jersey, and the New England region (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine), creating a dynamic and competitive environment under the eyes of East Region ODP Coaching Staff.

This event marked the beginning of the formal player identification process for the East Region ODP Camp, where top performers will be evaluated for regional roster spots. The Colonie showcase not only provided players with the chance to compete at a high level, but it also gave them their first taste of being scouted for advancement beyond the state level while also gaining exposure to college coaches.

Eyes on June: Outdoor Training and the Road to Regionals

Since April, New York West ODP teams have transitioned from indoor training to weekly outdoor sessions, preparing for the East Region ODP Tournament scheduled for June 6-9. Boys teams will travel to Tuckahoe Turf Farms in Hammonton, New Jersey, while girls teams will compete at PA Classics Park in Manheim, Pennsylvania. The tournament will feature elite competition between the 15 state associations that comprise the East Region and will be played on natural grass fields renowned as among the best in the Northeast.

For many players, this event is a defining moment where years of preparation meets opportunity. Regional coaches will be watching closely, as top performers from the tournament will earn invites to the prestigious East Region ODP Camp. From there, a select few will move on to compete in Inter-Regional events, battling other regional teams from across the country in hopes of earning a place on the US Youth Soccer ODP National Select Team roster.

A Legacy of Opportunity

Established in 1977, the Olympic Development Program has served as the nation’s original pathway for identifying future national team talent. Under the umbrella of US Youth Soccer and the United States Soccer Federation, ODP helps players progress from local to national stages, gaining valuable exposure to collegiate scouts, high-level coaches and professional development resources along the way.

The mission of New York West ODP is threefold. The program aims to provide top-level training to elite players, support coaching development and identify talent for state, regional and national pools. From the early days of Pre-ODP to the high-stakes environment of regional showcases, every phase is built with purpose.

For all of the latest news and information from the New York State West Youth Soccer Association, make sure to follow us on social media!