Observe. Evaluate. Promote.
Arkansas Soccer Association is introducing a new scouting-based model for the Olympic Development Program.
Rather than relying primarily on traditional open tryouts, the ASA ODP Talent Identification Scout Program will provide more opportunities for players to be observed in their regular club, league, tournament, and event environments throughout Arkansas.
The program is designed to identify high-potential soccer players who demonstrate the qualities needed to compete at the regional and national levels.
How the Scouting Model Works
Qualified ASA scouts and technical staff will observe players throughout the year at league games, tournaments, ASA events, identification opportunities, and other soccer environments across the state.
Players may be:
- Identified through direct observation by an ASA scout
- Recommended by a qualified club coach or director
- Invited to an ASA identification or training opportunity
- Selected for additional evaluation, programming, or regional events
Being observed or recommended does not guarantee selection. Players may be evaluated multiple times before receiving an invitation.
Who Is Eligible?
The ASA ODP Talent Identification Scout Program is intended for eligible youth players within the recognized US Youth Soccer ODP age groups.
Players selected to participate in official ODP programming or US Youth Soccer ODP events must meet all applicable registration, age, membership, and eligibility requirements.
Age groups, eligibility information, and participation details for the upcoming ODP cycle will be announced soon.
Player Registration and Recommendations
Player registration and coach recommendation forms will be completed through PlayMetrics.
Registration is not yet open.
Additional instructions, eligible age groups, program costs, and PlayMetrics registration links will be posted here when available.
Coming Soon:
- Player interest and registration form
- Club coach recommendation form
- Scout nomination process
- Eligible age groups
- Identification and training dates
- Program pricing
- Regional and national event information
What Do Scouts Evaluate?
Players may be evaluated in the following areas:
- Game understanding and decision-making
- Technical execution
- Responsibility and initiative
- Physical execution
- Growth mindset and winning mentality
- Learning ability
The evaluation process considers a player’s overall potential, performance within the game, ability to learn, and capacity to compete at increasingly higher levels.
Regional and National Team Pathway
Promoting Arkansas Talent to the Highest Level
Players identified through the ASA ODP Talent Identification Scout Program may be invited to participate in additional training, state-level programming, regional events, combines, camps, or other US Youth Soccer ODP opportunities.
Individual players may also be selected for:
- ODP South identification events
- Regional camps and combines
- Interregional events
- Regional player pools
- National identification opportunities
Invitations and advancement are based on player evaluation, event availability, eligibility requirements, and selection by the appropriate state, regional, or national technical staff.
Upcoming Dates
The schedule for the next ASA ODP cycle is currently being developed.
Identification opportunities, training dates, regional events, and other program information will be posted when confirmed.
Please check back soon for the upcoming ODP calendar and PlayMetrics registration information.
Benefits of ODP Participation
Players selected for ODP programming may receive:
- Opportunities to train and compete with other high-potential players
- Instruction and evaluation from qualified coaches and scouts
- Exposure to regional and national ODP staff
- Opportunities to represent Arkansas
- Access to regional and interregional events
- Exposure to college coaches and other advanced soccer environments
- Continued evaluation for higher-level opportunities
Questions?
For questions about the ASA ODP Talent Identification Scout Program, please contact ASA Technical Director Will Montgomery.
Registration links and additional program details will be added to this page soon.