Phoenix to Host 2014 US Youth Soccer ODP

The schedule and field of 16 teams are set for the 2014 US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) Championships, which will be played Feb. 28-March 2 at the Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix, Ariz. The US Youth Soccer ODP Championships will feature teams in the 1997 and 1998 age groups.

The 16 participating teams have qualified by winning their respective age group at the US Youth Soccer ODP Regional Championships. The US Youth Soccer ODP Region IV Championships, played Jan. 9-12 at the Reach 11 Sports Complex, saw all 10 California South teams claim titles, including the four squads that will represent the region at the US Youth Soccer ODP Championships. The 1998 boys and girls sides from Cal South will join the 1997 boys and girls teams that each claimed US Youth Soccer ODP Championships in 2013.

2014 US Youth Soccer ODP Championship Teams:

1997 Girls Teams: New Jersey, Illinois, Florida, California South

1997 Boys Teams: Eastern Pennsylvania, Iowa, North Carolina, California South

1998 Girls Teams: Virginia, Illinois, Georgia, California South

1998 Boys Teams: Maryland, Illinois, Florida, California South

*Rosters to be announced Feb. 21

The state-level US Youth Soccer ODP Boys and Girls teams will play semifinal matches on Friday, Feb. 28, beginning at 1 p.m., with championship and consolation matches to be played Sunday, March 2 beginning at 8 a.m.

Players try out for the high-level US Youth Soccer ODP through a series of trials at their US Youth Soccer State Association. Those selected are exposed to some of the nation's best coaches, trainers and facilities.

US Youth Soccer ODP is the original Olympic development program and the only elite player development program that can claim members of Major League Soccer and National Women’s Soccer League, as well as a majority of current and past national and youth national team members, as alumni. With programs in all 55 State Associations, as well as regional and national championships and participation in international tournaments, US Youth Soccer ODP continues to offer development and exposure opportunities to any player, regardless of hometown or club affiliation.

2014 US Youth Soccer ODP Championships Schedule:

About US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) - US Youth Soccer ODP, established in 1977, is the original Olympic development program in the United States. Formed to identify a pool of players in each age group from which a National Team could be selected for international competition, selected players are exposed to the nation's top coaches from collegiate institutions, U.S. Soccer and the professional leagues. Programs exist in each state and with competitions such as the US Youth Soccer ODP Championships, Interregional Training/Competition, Regional Camps and International play. US Youth Soccer ODP continues to lead the way in elite player identification and development. US Youth Soccer ODP is an approved program of the U.S. Soccer Federation. For more information, visit www.USYouthSoccer.org/Programs/OlympicDevelopmentProgram.

About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) – US Youth Soccer - "The Game for ALL Kids!” is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member State Associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit www.USYouthSoccer.org.