ABOUT ODP
Founded in 1977, the Olympic Development Program was the first program in the country designed to identify players with the potential to compete at the highest levels of the game, including Youth National Team pathways.
Players may progress from state identification opportunities to regional and national programming. ODP provides high-potential players with opportunities to train and compete alongside other talented athletes, receive additional evaluation and development, and gain exposure to regional, national, and collegiate soccer environments.
The Arkansas Soccer Association’s ODP Talent Identification Scout Program is designed to identify and promote promising players from communities throughout Arkansas.
ODP TALENT IDENTIFICATION PATHWAY
The Arkansas Soccer Association is transitioning its Olympic Development Program to a statewide, scout-based talent identification model.
The mission of the ASA ODP Talent Identification Scout Program is to identify high-potential players throughout Arkansas who demonstrate the key qualities associated with U.S. Soccer Youth National Team players and help create pathways toward regional and national opportunities.
Rather than relying primarily on traditional open tryouts, ASA scouts will observe players in their everyday soccer environments, including league games, tournaments, club events, and other competitive settings. This ongoing approach allows players to be evaluated throughout the seasonal year and expands opportunities for players from every area of the state to be seen.
Players may be identified through:
- ASA league and tournament competition
- Club games and events
- ASA-hosted identification opportunities
- Recommendations from approved coaches and scouts
- Ongoing evaluation by the ASA ODP scouting network
The player identification pool will remain fluid throughout the year. New players may be identified and invited into the program at any time, while previously identified players will continue to be evaluated within their club and ODP environments.
Following continued observation, training, and evaluation, selected players may be invited to represent Arkansas at regional or interregional ODP events. These opportunities allow players to compete alongside other high-level athletes and be evaluated for possible advancement into regional, national, and other elite identification pathways.
OBSERVE. EVALUATE. PROMOTE.
Through a broader statewide scouting network, ASA is committed to finding talented players wherever they play and promoting Arkansas talent to the highest level
