New Jersey Youth Soccer has opened registration for its Young Olympians Program, which is an introductory program for New Jersey ODP. Conducted in four regions of the state (south, shore, central and north), Young Olympians provides training in each area and concludes with a 4v4 and 9v9 tournament.
“This is a great opportunity for a young player to get a feel of the training environment we provide at ODP and give themselves a chance to play in front of our state staff,” said James Galanis, NJYS Director of Technical Operations.
The Young Olympians Program is designed specifically for players born in 2010 and 2011. The goal of the program is to facilitate a high-level training environment while offering participants an opportunity to compete with other aspiring players from around the state. Additionally, it allows players to become familiar with the ODP training curriculum as well as showcase their abilities in front of the ODP coaching staff. The cost of registration for Young Olympians is $150 per player.
Young Olympians does not conduct tryouts as part of its training program, and it is designed to supplement, not replace, the club experience. Each region is limited to 50 participants on a first come, first serve basis. This limited enrollment is implemented to ensure an optimal training environment. If demand exceeds capacity, NJ Youth Soccer will create a waiting list and seek solutions for those individuals who wish to participate in the program.
Young Olympians is divided into the following four regions:
- North (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic and Sussex)
- Central (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, Union and Warren)
- Shore (Monmouth and Ocean)
- South (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
New Jersey ODP recently announced a partnership with Techne Futbol that will serve as an additional bonus for players who participate in Young Olympians. Founded by former New Jersey ODP and U.S. Women’s National Team player Yael Averbuch, Techne Futbol serves as a resource for players in their individual training. The app is being provided at no cost to Young Olympians and New Jersey ODP players.
