Illinois ODP

The Illinois Girls Olympic Development Program (ODP) is the state-level affiliate of the national U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program, which was established in 1977. Administered by the Illinois Youth Soccer Association (IYSA), the program was created to systematically identify and develop elite female soccer players across Illinois, providing a structured pathway to regional and national teams and, eventually, to collegiate and professional careers.
Program history and development
Origins
The national Olympic Development Program was founded in 1977 with the goal of identifying the most promising youth soccer players in the United States. Its mission was strengthened by the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, which formalized the role of national governing bodies in Olympic sports. The Illinois ODP girls' program emerged soon after, part of a national effort to extend high-level development opportunities to female athletes at a time when women’s sports were gaining momentum following the passage of Title IX in 1972.
The Illinois Girls ODP emerged within this national framework, building upon an existing local infrastructure for competitive youth soccer. The Illinois Youth Soccer Association itself was founded in 1975, the same year as the Northern Illinois Soccer League (NISL), which provided a competitive structure for both boys and girls. The Illinois Girls Soccer League, the first all-female league in the state, had been formed a year earlier in 1974. The establishment of girls-focused clubs like the Naperville Soccer Association in 1986—created specifically to address a lack of travel opportunities for girls’ teams—highlighted a significant, unmet demand for elite female soccer programming in the state.
This foundational period helped develop a pipeline of talent that would feed into NCAA programs and, eventually, the U.S. Women’s National Team, which was officially established in 1985.
1990s: Growth and increased competition
The 1990s saw exponential growth in the Illinois Girls ODP. The 1991 Women’s World Cup victory and the 1996 Olympic gold medal raised the profile of women’s soccer nationwide, boosting enrollment and attention for ODP programs across the country. In Illinois, the Girls ODP teams consistently qualified for regional tournaments and produced collegiate prospects.
Illinois ODP teams became consistent participants in regional tournaments and a key source of talent for NCAA Division I programs.
Achievements
2003 National Champions
An Illinois ODP team captured the U.S. Youth Soccer ODP National Championship in 2003, marking the state’s first national title in the girls’ program. The team featured a collection of players who would go on to compete at top collegiate programs across the country. The team had been selected following an intensive selection process starting in July 2002, with 1,500 top youth soccer players at district tryouts.
2010 Far West Regional Champions
The 1994 birth-year team (competing in the U16 age group) won the Far West ODP Regional Championship held in Mesa, Arizona. The team recorded four wins and one draw, scoring 17 goals and conceding only two, defeating Alaska in the final. The victory was notable as it was Illinois ODP’s first time attending the Far West Regional event, a strategic decision to expose players to different competition and West Coast college scouts.
Criticisms and challenges
Like other state ODPs, the Illinois program has faced criticisms regarding its cost, selection process, and evolving role in the youth soccer landscape.
Cost and accessibility
ODP is a self-funded program, and participation can be expensive. For the Illinois program, costs include a fee for the initial winter training sessions (approximately $495), with additional fees for invitation-only friendly events and the Midwest Regional Camp (ranging from $300 to $500).This cost structure has led to criticism that ODP can be a "money grab" and may not be accessible to all talented players due to financial constraints.
Selection process and development model
The ODP selection process has been criticized as being "political," with some parents and players believing that coaches may favor players they already know from club or other settings. Additionally, the "development" aspect of the program's name has been a point of contention. Critics argue that the primary development of a player occurs at their club, and ODP serves more as an identification program for national teams rather than a primary developmental environment for individuals. Due to the high volume of participants, the program is often unable to provide written evaluations for players who are not selected, which can be a source of frustration for families.
Competition from club-based leagues
The most significant challenge to ODP's traditional role has been the rise of elite, club-centric national leagues. The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), founded in 2009, and the Girls Academy (GA), formed in 2020, created alternative, year-round pathways for player development and college exposure. These leagues provide a high volume of competitive matches and national showcase events within a single club structure, which many players and families see as a more efficient model for development and recruitment compared to ODP's supplemental, "all-star" format. As a result, many top-tier players now commit fully to their ECNL or GA clubs, and ODP is no longer considered the sole or primary pathway to the highest levels of the sport. In response, the Illinois ODP has positioned itself as an inclusive, supplemental program open to players from any league, aiming to complement a player's club career.
Conflict with high school soccer
The scheduling demands of elite programs, including ODP, have contributed to the long-standing debate in Illinois over athletes participating on both school and non-school teams in the same season. The] (IHSA) has historically restricted this practice, forcing some athletes to choose between their high school and club or ODP commitments. In May 2025, a legislative compromise known as the "Right to Play Act" was reached, designed to make it easier for student-athletes to obtain waivers to participate in non-school events, such as college showcases, during their high school season.
Notable alumnae
The Illinois Girls ODP has produced numerous players who have competed in NCAA Division I programs, professionally in the] (NWSL) and overseas, and for the U.S. Women's National Team.
*Casey Krueger (née Short): Defender for the] and U.S. Women’s National Team. Olympic bronze medalist (2020) and gold medalist (2024). Former player for the] and].
*Vanessa DiBernardo: Midfielder for Kansas City Current. Former captain of the Chicago Red Stars. A member of the ODP Region II team from 2006-2009, she won the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup with the U.S. and was the 2010 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year.
*Megan Montefusco (née Oyster): Former NWSL defender for Orlando Pride and]. Was a member of the regional ODP for five years and an NCAA national champion with] in 2013.
*Sarah Gorden: Defender for Angel City FC and two-time NWSL Best XI selection. Former] standout and youth player for Eclipse Select.
*Zoey Goralski: Former Chicago Red Stars defender. Member of the Region II ODP team from 2009-12 and represented the U.S. at the U-17, U-20, and U-23 levels. Played collegiately at UCLA.
*Jackie Santacaterina: Played professionally for the Chicago Red Stars. Was a member of the Illinois ODP team from 2000-2005, helping the team to a national runner-up finish in 2005. Two-time All-Big Ten defender at the .

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