Is ODP a Cash Grab?

I’ve been seeing a lot of chatter about the Olympic Development Program (ODP) being just a cash grab for youth soccer players and their families.

Here are some examples:

• https://www.reddit.com/r/youthsoccer/comments/1mqjsz5/odp_olympic_dev_program_worth_it_or_money_grab/
• https://talking-soccer.com/TS4/forum/soccer-by-region-state/region-1/new-jersey/4751442-pros-and-cons-of-odp

After speaking to some families (and knowing what I know), here’s what I have concluded…

The ODP has changed a lot from its glory days 20 years ago, and while it’s not the clear path to college soccer it once was, it can still offer value as extra training and playing time for kids who love the game.

What Parents Are Really Saying

Walk into any soccer complex and you’ll hear it. Parents talking in hushed tones about whether ODP is just another way to squeeze money from families.

Online forums are buzzing with the same question: “Is this program actually helping my kid or just helping someone’s bank account?”

The truth? It’s not that simple.

The Good Old Days vs. Today’s Reality

Twenty years ago, ODP was like finding a golden ticket. Getting selected meant college coaches would actually notice you. Kids who made state teams had real shots at scholarships. It was one of the best pathways.

Today’s soccer world looks totally different. Club teams have gotten way better. Showcase tournaments happen every month. College coaches can find talent in a 5-day national showcase. ODP isn’t the only game in town anymore.

The soccer landscape exploded with options, which means ODP lost its “special” status but didn’t necessarily lose all its value.

What ODP Actually Offers Now

Think of today’s ODP as really good supplemental training. Your kid gets to:

• Train with higher-level (but this can vary) coaches
• Play with and against good players from other clubs
• Learn new skills they might not get at their regular team
• Experience higher competition levels
• Experience some traveling that players might not otherwise be exposed to

Will college scouts be watching? Maybe. But don’t plan your kid’s future around it. Yes, there are more eyes on ODP players than kids sitting on their couch, but the recruiting magic isn’t what it used to be.

The real value shifted from “gateway to college soccer” to “skill development program.”

The Money Talk Nobody Wants to Have

Let’s be honest about costs. ODP isn’t cheap. You’re looking at:

• Program fees
• Travel costs for tournaments
• Hotels, meals, gas money
• Time off work for parents

For many families, we’re talking thousands of dollars. That’s real money that could go toward other things.

But here’s where it gets tricky. Parents call lots of things “cash grabs” when they don’t see immediate results. Sometimes that’s fair. Sometimes it’s not.

So Is It Worth It?

The answer depends on what you’re hoping to get out of it.

If you think ODP will guarantee your child a college scholarship, you’ll probably be disappointed. If your kid loves soccer and wants to play more while getting better training, it might be perfect.

The “worth it” question isn’t about the program itself – it’s about matching your family’s goals and budget with what ODP actually delivers.

Ask yourself:

• Does my kid really enjoy playing soccer?
• Can we handle the costs without stress?
• Are we doing this for the right reasons?

The Bottom Line

ODP isn’t the same powerhouse program it was decades ago. But it’s not automatically a scam either. It’s become what a lot of youth sports programs are: decent supplemental training that costs real money.

The key is going in with realistic expectations. Your kid will probably get better at soccer. They’ll meet new friends. They might even catch a scout’s eye at some point.

Just don’t expect it to change their life. Most of the time, the biggest benefit is simply that they get to play more soccer with good coaching. For families where that’s enough, ODP can be totally worth it.

For everyone else? Maybe that money is better spent on other soccer opportunities or saved for college.