Got the letter in the mail today. Brad has been invited to attend winter conditioning with the Illinois ODP (olympic development soccer program)! It’s the first step in the run for the state team. We’re excited and think that with continued hard work, Brad can make it all the way. It’s a real honor to be chosen for the program and if he makes it to the state team level, he can pretty much have his pick of colleges. Most of the state ODP players will end up in top schools.
Brad is in a good spot as his age group’s team is just now being formed from 1993-born players from across the state. Ben had a much tougher challenge as the 1990 team had been formed many years ago. If we had gotten Ben involved at age 11, he would have had a much better chance of making the program. As it was, out of 400 players at last summer’s tryout, the 1990 team was looking for defensemen to fill four spots. Not making the program in any way diminishes Ben’s skills, though. He’s a tough player and will end up in a good college somewhere.
But we’re very excited for Brad and now must plan on selling off our assets to pay the program fees.
Because I am proud of my boys and wish to share their success. I also very much enjoy reading about you and your successes. I figure that’s what friends do.
Have fun driving him all over jabib, lol (thats a bigger jabib than before)
ODP is awesome, I dont htink I’ll ever get to be that good. Congrats to your son
i dont know how it works in your state, but we have like a, b, c, d, p (premier), and then maps. There are 2 teams in my town, which is rare at u15, and both of us are really good. My team is in A, and the other team has just moved up to maps. Most of the kids on maps are rated in the states top 50 or something, and their all crazy good. Some are on ODP, maybe like 8. the one main thing that seperated us (we used to be like one team) is that they take it really really seriously and dont have much fun. Were in A, which is awesome, and we have tons of fun. Basically, make sure your son still has fun, or eventually he might quit. Some maps kids are quitting because its getting to crazy. Some are coming to my team and like it a lot more.
On Saturday this past weekend, Brad finished up his winter Olympic Development Program (ODP) soccer sessions in Schaumburg, IL. The next ODP function will be a week of State camp this summer for $400 and we have to register by April 1. All the 1993 birth year kids at winter training are invited to attend. After State camp the second cuts happen and the following Regional camp ($600) a couple weeks later will be by invitation only. They will be selecting 36 boys out of 120. But I think we’ve decided that last Saturday was it for us. Some of the suburban clubs or bigger clubs throughout the state have lots of money and hire professional trainers for their kids and it really shows. Brad and I have seen some pretty amazing skills coming out of 12-year-old bodies at the ODP sessions throughout the winter. Although the State camp in the summer would be a very good training experience, I just don’t see paying the $400 to find out what we already know. Brad is a very good player but we are fairly certain that he will not be invited to the Regional camp. It’s not the end of the world. It was an honor for him to make it past the first cut and be a part of ODP.
I was watching a news spot on the income of various Americans. It mentioned that American snowboarder Shaun White raked in a cool million bucks in 2005. I guess you’d have to consider the Olympics and all that goes with it a business just like many other ventures.
When money starts to get involved they’re no longer competing on equal terms. Kids can learn alot of positive things from sports, but I think the more it is about dedication, training etc. the better.
Of course it is. That’s what I’ve tried to convey to all the kids I coach. But as you pointed out, there comes a time when skills and money collide as the corporate world looms into view. I never made it that far, football at a small college never saw that intersection. As far as I can tell, pro sports is only about the business. The players playing the game are just pawns.
Like you say, it starts very early in some areas. This ODP thing is a business first and foremost. Camps costing $400 and $600? And then more as the kids progress into the state, regional, and national levels? Families of selected ODP players can expect to pay $3000-$4000 a year for the opportunity to play at that level, and that does not include travel costs. The ODP soccer players and games unfortunately are the means to an end. I agree with you, it’s a shame that kids as young as 12 have to be exposed to it but that’s the way it is. And if someone wants to chase a dream and compete at that high a level, they need to be…or better yet, will be forced to learn about the business world, corporate finance, agencies, etc. at very early ages.
There are other dreams to chase and that’s where we are right now. It’s probably safe to predict that our boys will probably play soccer in college somewhere. Take Ben for instance. He will be off to college in just over two years. My dream is to see him play at some nearby college, gain an education and move on with his life. Nearby means I could attend his games. Even better, if he would attend Kishwaukee Community College ten miles down the road (the coach is interested in looking at him already) for the first two years, he could live at home and we’d still have our family intact. I don’t think I’m ready to let him go yet.
Honestly, I doubt that neither Ben or Brad will play at a pro level, we’re just not willing to make the commitment required to attain that goal. Instead, we have chosen to be a family and all that goes with it. We can let the boys be boys, grow up with their toys, go out with their friends, get involved with the neighborhood and community, take trips as a family, etc. From there, the boys can go on to college followed by a successful career, family and a normal happy American life. I don’t think I could ask for anything better for them.
