About Cal South ODP Camps
Cal South ODP Residential Youth Academy Camps
Entering its eighth year, our successful Cal South ODP Residential Youth Academy Camps are held at the historic Thacher School in Ojai Valley. Our program emphasizes proper camp philosophy, quality facilities, a progressive and well thought-out curriculum, organized administrators, and an experienced top-notch licensed coaching staff held to the highest standards. Our youth academy camps are open to players in the U10-U13 age brackets, and our hugely successful Finishing and Goalkeeping Academy is open to those playing in the U14-U17 age brackets.
Our ODP Youth Academy Residential Camps offer an intense and focused week of training for players determined to improve their game and learn what it takes to be the best. Our highly qualified staff conduct a training curriculum modeled after the US Youth National Teams, emphasizing technical training in individual and small group concepts as well as team play. Training consists of competitive, high energy sessions that put players under pressure to make good decisions, balanced with solo and cooperative activities.
The new Finishing and Goalkeeping academies run simultaneously, but as separate camps. The Finishing Academy focuses solely on the player's ability to score goals, preparing scorers for any situation. The camp's theme is "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take!" The Goalkeeping Academy focuses on one of the most demanding and mentally challenging positions on the field. This camp's specialized training develops a player's presence in the goal, tactical awareness, leadership, and consistency.
In addition to the on-field activities throughout the week, we will introduce mental concepts as well as educational sessions on fitness, nutrition, ODP, college and the National Team programs.
Residential Academy Schedule | Residential Academy Registration
Cal South ODP Day Camps
The Cal South ODP Day Camps are designed for boys and girls in the U8-U14 brackets committed to reaching the highest level open to them in the sport, and this year enter their thirteenth year of promoting excellence in youth soccer in Southern California. They are "developmental" in that our experienced camp staff, already used to dealing with and developing youth soccer talent at the state, regional and national levels, will build on and improve the technical and tactical skills that players have acquired during the soccer year. Our program creates a challenging environment where each player will learn about themselves and their strengths and weaknesses. Players are encouraged to compete both in and outside of their comfort zones, and will be given the knowledge and tools to improve.
We have scheduled seven different morning camps in strategic locations throughout Southern California this summer to provide every player in the U8-U14 age brackets an opportunity to attend. Each camp lasts three hours each day, and maximizes the quality of that time. Each group has a low coach-to-player ratio, which optimizes the individual development of each player. For goalkeepers, every session includes specific goalkeeping training with our Goalkeeping Academy staff coaches.
Monday through Friday, the coaches will emphasize tactics, speed of play, speed of thought, movement with and without the ball, and technical speed. Making good decisions under pressure will be the theme of the week, and players will have the opportunity to apply what has been taught each day under match conditions.
At the end of the week, each player receives a valuable personal evaluation from their coach, and will feel challenged and eager to take their game to the next level.
