A pair of Connecticut Olympic Development Program (ODP) players have been named to the rosters for US Youth Soccer ODP National Select Teams. Chosen for the 2006 Girls roster is Madelyn Walsh of Chelsea Piers Soccer Club, while Mason Yang of Windsor Soccer Club was chosen to represent the 2010 Boys.
“The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association is extremely proud of Mason and Madelyn in their being named to the US Youth Soccer ODP National Select Team,” said Josh Krusewski, CJSA Executive Director. “We wish them the best of luck at Dallas Cup and Las Vegas Cup, respectively, as they continue to represent their clubs and our ODP program.”
Madelyn Walsh and the 2006 US Youth Soccer ODP Girls will compete at Dallas Cup, which takes place this April in Texas. Dallas Cup was founded by the Texas Longhorns Soccer Club in 1980 after they returned home from a trip to Europe. Held every spring, the invitation-only tournament is comprised of nine age groups in the Boys category (12U to 19U) and four age divisions on the Girls side (16U to 19U). Dallas Cup consists of international, national and Dallas area teams that compete for the coveted Boot and Ball Trophy, which is awarded to champions in each age group.
Mason Yang and the 2010 US Youth Soccer ODP Boys will participate in the Las Vegas Mayor’s Cup, which will be held this February in Downtown Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Mayor's Cup is a competitive tournament where teams are presented with the opportunity to play in front of college coaches and recruiters that represent various programs throughout the country. The matches are played on top-notch fields that were constructed for soccer by the City of Las Vegas, and the tournament also utilizes soccer complexes built exclusively for soccer.
The Olympic Development Program is an identification system linked to the United States Soccer Federation and US Youth Soccer. The program offers its players a pathway that could lead to representing Regional and U.S. Youth National Teams. Originally established in 1977, ODP was the first program in the country designed to identify potential youth national team players. ODP players begin initially at the local sector before progressing to the state, regional and possibly national levels. By playing with like-talented athletes, ODP offers the opportunity for players to advance in their personal development and to be scouted by college coaches.
To contact the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, please call (860) 676-1161 or email [email protected]. Also make sure to follow us on social media!