Chattanooga FC Academy is proud to partner with Tennessee State Soccer Association (TSSA) to provide a comprehensive player pathway through the Olympic Development Program (ODP).  

In ODP, it is TSSA's goal to select and train the most talented, promising, and committed players in our state to represent Tennessee in ODP events.  In ODP, we select a pool of players from each age group and gender (the 2004 through 2009 players in the 2020-2021 Season) and work with those players throughout the season.  This state pool will continually have players coming into and moving out of it as new players are identified and others are unavailable due to individual club commitments.

Tryouts (Trials) are the simplest and most direct path to ODP state pools.  Each year we offer open tryout opportunities for players who did not participate in or were not selected for ODP state pools during the previous year.

Returning state pool players from the previous seasonal year automatically return to the state pool the following year (no tryout required), however, continued participation (from year to year and during the season) is based on the player's performance and attitude.

After training with our state pools, the TN ODP Staff will offer state team spots to certain players in the state pools.  The State Teams will represent Tennessee at events including the Sub-Regional and Inter-Regional events in January and February. Individual players will be selected by South Region scouts for participation in the South Region ODP Camp (usually held in July of each year).

What is the US Youth Soccer ODP Selection Process?
Each State Association holds ODP tryouts on an annual basis. Age Groups and tryout dates may be different from state to state, based on seasonal and state considerations. Your first contact should be to your State Association for try-out information.

How are Players Selected? 
In Tennessee, players are selected on the basis of open tryouts during District Training. District Training is conducted by the state association coaches who are recognized for their ability to identify and train players with superior skills. Some state associations combine scouting techniques and invitations to certain players with the open tryouts. Selection of these players is not an easy task. The state association head coach or state coach will, in most cases, be assisted in the selection process by several other qualified coaches from the club or league level. Players are evaluated on the four components that make up a soccer player:

• Technique
• Tactics
• Fitness and Athletic Ability
• Psychological Component (attitude)

What are Regional Camps? 
US Youth Soccer is divided into four regions, each which offers a regional camp for state association ODP teams in each eligible age group. The camps are designed to provide high level competition and training for participating players. During this training and competition, players who are capable of performing at a higher level of play are identified for possible national team camp, pool, or team participation. Each region varies somewhat as to the specifics and the cost of their camps. Your state association or regional administrator should be contacted for more information.

What is a National Camp? 
National Camps and Interregional events are held throughout the year at various locations in the United States. The National Team Coach or a National Staff Coach is present at these events to observe, train, and indentify players for placement in the national pool or on a national team.

What are the Benefits of Participating in US Youth Soccer ODP?

• ​Development as a player. The opportunity to train and play with the best player's in one's age group.
• Quality instruction from nationally licensed coaches.
• Quality competition. Games against other state association ODP teams.
• Exposure to regional and national team coaches.
• The opportunity to represent one's state, region, or country in competition.
• Exposure to college coaches.