DISTRICT 3 GIRLS ODP TRYOUTS

Don't get nervous, get pumped up! District 3 (Orange County-that means us) Tryouts were scheduled and took place throughout the month of November.

Each year our California Youth Soccer Association South, separated into districts from San Diego to Santa Barbara, begins the Olympic Development Program's (ODP) tryout process. It is a process one must usually endure in order to fulfill hopes of winning Olympic gold or making the US Women's National Team. Former CYSA-South ODP players who have gone on to the National Team include Joy Fawcett, Julie Foudy (Blues Adult Women), Jen Lalor (Blues Adult Women), and Shannon MacMillan.

This process began back in 1981-82 and one of our Blues staff coaches, Tad Bobak, was on the inaugural ODP coaching staff along with UC Irvine's Director of Soccer, Marine Cano.

First players must attend one of the district tryouts, this year players can attend tryouts in any of Southern California's districts but can not tryout in more than one district. If players are fortunate enough to be selected on one of the district teams, they must then tryout for the CYSA-South State Team. State tryouts are scheduled for February 8-9, 1997 at the Bakersfield Soccer Complex and will cost $45. If you are planning on making the district team in your area, Blues News suggests you book your hotel room in Bakersfield now.

If you are selected as a member of the CYSA-South State ODP Team, you will then compete against ODP teams from other state associations in our region (Region IV). At those competitions will be evaluators from the regional coaching staff and they will select a pool of players to represent Region IV at national competitions during which time the National Coaching Staff will make selections for our National Team Pool for the various age groups.