What is ODP?

Olympic Development Program (ODP)

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The Olympic Development Program (ODP) is a training and selection program coordinated by USA Water Polo to foster growth and skill development among athletes. The aim is to identify and develop future USA Water Polo talent.

ODP is a rigorous process, but involvement in any part of it provides valuable growth opportunities for athletes, as well as the chance to build friendships across club boundaries. We recommend that athletes attend at least one ODP training camp per year to gain experience and learn from different coaches and to play with different athletes.

ODP Age Groups

ODP age groups are divided into three brackets:

• Development – 14 and under
• Cadet – 16 and under
• Youth – 18 and under

Age groups are based on the year in which the athlete was born.

Participation & Membership

All athletes registered with USA Water Polo may participate in the ODP program.

• A Silver Membership is sufficient for attendance at zone camps.
• A Gold Membership is required for participation in zone teams and the ODP National Championships.

The ODP Journey

1. Zone Camps
   Two ODP zone camps are held each year, between September and December. Texas is made up of two zones, Southwest Zone North and Southwest Zone South. Find out from your coach which zone you belong to. These camps are primarily for training and development of skills, but also provide an opportunity for athletes to be selected for one of two zone teams per age group. An athlete must attend at least one zone camp to be eligible for a zone team.
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2. Regional Championships
   Two teams per zone per age group compete at the Regional Championships, usually held in January. This event gives non-California zones an opportunity to compete against each other. The two teams per zone are not an A and B team, but rather a mix of ability to create an even competitive environment. The Regional Championships is an opportunity for athletes to be selected for a single zone team per age group which will advance.
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3. National Championships
   The single zone team will compete at the National Championships, typically held in March. All zone teams from around the country gather for a weekend of highly competitive water polo, with significant attendance by USA Water Polo officials and College Coaches. For athletes wanting to play water polo at college, this is a great opportunity to meet and speak to the coaches of many of the top water polo playing colleges in the country. The National Championships is an opportunity for athletes to be selected for the National Team Selection Camp (NTSC).
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4. National Team Selection Camp (NTSC)
   Approximately 50 to 60 athletes per age group are selected from the National Championships to attend the NTSC, usually held in April. This is a high level training camp that serves as the platform from which USA national teams are chosen.
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5. National Teams
   Depending on the year, and specifically which international tournaments are taking place in that year, USA Water Polo will select one or more national teams at the Cadet and Youth age group levels. These teams will generally have the opportunity to travel internationally to represent the USA in one or more tournaments or training camps.
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6. ODP Pipeline
   Athletes that have competed at the national team level, and have attended all ODP Zone camps, may be invited to attend ODP Pipeline camps in December and January. These are intense training camps for athletes that have been identified as talent for future national team consideration.

Learn More

Visit the USA Water Polo website for more detailed information.

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