2005 US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program Girls Thanksgiving Interregional

1988-1991 Age Groups to Participate

Schedule Revised

FRISCO, TEXAS - (November 8, 2005) - The spotlight this November will be on the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (US Youth Soccer ODP) Girls Thanksgiving Interregional Event at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. The nation's top youth soccer players return this November against the nation's top talent as the event continues its tradition of elite play, competition, player identification and player development.

Teams will arrive on November 19th for two days of training with competition play beginning on the 21st. The US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Thanksgiving Interregional will represent US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Regional Teams in the 1988-91 age groups including the U.S. Soccer Under-16 National Team. For more information on the US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Thanksgiving Interregional, including schedules, visit www.USYouthSoccer.org. Player rosters will be announced shortly.

When asked about the importance of the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program, U.S. Under-17 Head Coach Erica Walsh said, "It's a great program that feeds into the U.S. National Program and as the Under-17 coach I have the opportunity to watch these four regional teams and I can rely on the coaching staff to bring in the top players from their states and regions and put them into one place for the National Staff to see the best players and talent in the country."

According to former head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team April Heinrichs, "It's the single best player identification system in the world." Heinrichs is a product of US Youth Soccer's Colorado State Youth Soccer Association.

"If you look at the success of our youth national teams you can credit US Youth Soccer ODP for helping find and develop those players."

Initially created in 1977 as the US Youth Soccer Select Team Program, US Youth Soccer ODP was formed to identify a pool of players in each age group from which a National Team could be selected for international competition. A girls program was added to US Youth Soccer in 1985.

The players must try out to qualify for the program's high-level training from carefully selected and licensed coaches through a series of trials at their local, State Association and then Regional levels. Those selected are exposed to 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 the former Women's United Soccer Association, as well as a majority of current and past national and youth team members, as alumni. And, 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 lead the way.

For more information regarding US Youth Soccer ODP visit usyouthsoccer.org.

Schedule of Events

2005 US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Thanksgiving Interregional

Florida Atlantic University - Boca Raton, FL

Teams Participating - US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Region I, II, III, IV Teams; US Youth Soccer ODP Girls 1988 Pool Team; U.S. Soccer U-16 National Team

Saturday, November 19, 2005