Illinois ODP Newsletter 12/3/25

Issue Date 12/3/2025

ODP Players and Parents,

We hope everyone enjoyed their break. This weekend we have additional field space and time. We will be offering certain age groups an optional training opportunity. More details can be found below.

REMINDER: For all communications, please make sure to include player name and age group when emailing.

Visit ODP Homepage

ODP INDIANA FRIENDLY

The Indiana Friendly rosters have been published and were shared on Tuesday, December 2.The initial invites will have until December 7 to accept.

For those who do not see their name listed, there is the possibility of additional invites if players from the initial roster are unavailable. Additional players being invited will be emailed directly. Please do not email asking about the alternate list.

Please remember this is NOT the final State Team. There are still additional training sessions scheduled and more events ahead.

Click Here to View Rosters

FINAL UNIFORM ORDERS

If you need to order any individual items please do so before December 10. To order individual items, CLICK HERE

If you encountered any issues with your uniform, please email websupport@scoresports.com and copy odp@illinoisyouthsoccer.org

Click Here Uniform Ordering

ADDED ODP SESSION DECEMBER 6 & 7

This weekend we have additional field space in Rockford and we will be adding additional training for certain age groups. Please view the schedule for this weekend. If you are available, please register using the link below. Space will be limited.

All added training will be at Sportscore Two in Loves Park. This is the same place where normal training takes place.

AGE	DATE	TIME
2010 Boys	December 6	8am-10am
2012 Girls	December 6	10am-12pm
2011 Girls	December 6	12pm-2pm
2013 Girls	December 6	2pm-4pm
09/10 Girls	December 6	4pm-6pm

AGE	DATE	TIME
09/10 Boys	December 7	8am-10am
2015 Boys	December 7	10am-12pm
2014 Boys	December 7	12pm-2pm
2013 Boys	December 7	2pm-4pm
2012 Boys	December 7	4pm-6pm

UPCOMING TRAINING SCHEDULE

All trainings are done indoors on turf & cleats can be used at each facility

December 6

Rockford

Added Training - See above

Address

Mercyhealth Sportscore Two

8800 E. Riverside Blvd.

Loves Park, IL 61111

Schaumburg

2017 Girls - 5pm-6:30pm

2016 Girls - 6:30pm-8pm

Address

Schaumburg Sport Center

1141 W. Irving Park Rd.

Schaumburg, IL 60193

December 7

Rockford

Added Training - See above

Address

Mercyhealth Sportscore Two

8800 E. Riverside Blvd.

Loves Park, IL 61111

Schaumburg

2017 Boys - 11am-12:30pm

2016 Boys - 12:30pm-2pm

Address

Schaumburg Sport Center

1141 W. Irving Park Rd.

Schaumburg, IL 60193

CLICK HERE FOR WINTER SCHEDULE

MENTAL SKILLS CORNER

Think, Play, Win: Sports Psych Tips for IL ODP Players

WEEK 3 – Growth Mindset & Winning Mentality

IL ODP players — welcome to Week 3 of Think, Play, Win, your weekly boost of practical sports psychology tips designed to help players sharpen their mental game on AND off the field of play!

Powered by pep360 (Whole Player. Whole Person. Whole Potential.), this series gives players simple, actionable tools they can start using immediately to train an important part of performance: the brain!

This week we’re diving into another of U.S. Soccer’s “6 Key Qualities” — the traits scouts look for when identifying top players.

Our focus is Growth Mindset & Winning Mentality: your drive to improve, compete, and stay mentally strong in every environment.

Players with this quality:

● Give maximum effort and stay focused

● Challenge themselves and stay motivated

● Bounce back from mistakes and setbacks

● Stay composed under pressure

● Bring energy, confidence, and maturity to the team

In short: Your attitude and mentality can separate you from everyone else.

What Does This Mean for a Youth Player Looking to Take Their Game to the Next Level?

Reaching elite levels isn’t only about talent — it’s about how you respond when things get difficult. Scouts and coaches are always watching how you handle frustration, how hard you work when nobody’s watching, and how you behave when the game gets tough!

If you can…

● embrace challenges instead of avoiding them,

● stay confident even after mistakes,

● bring effort and intensity to every session, and

● show emotional control under pressure…

…you’re showing the exact qualities needed for higher-level play, and future opportunities in the pathway. These habits make you coachable, resilient, and trustworthy — three traits every elite environment values.

Some Practical Tips you can start TODAY:

Practical for Younger Player

“Try Again Straight Away”

Practical Tip for Older Players

“Mistake → Reset Breath → Next Action”

If you lose the ball or make a mistake, don’t freeze or get upset.

Sprint back, press, support a teammate, or show again for the ball.

This simple reaction shows effort, bravery, and a true growth mindset.

When something goes wrong in training or game:

Notice the mistake
Take one quick reset breath
Choose a purposeful next action (press, recover, find space, communicate)

This habit builds emotional control, resilience, and the “winning mentality” scouts value at the elite level.

**New Feature**- Parent Tip: How You Can Reinforce This at Home

Praise the effort, not just the outcome.

When your child trains, competes, or even talks about their sport, highlight the behaviors connected to growth mindset and winning mentality — things like effort, persistence, reacting well to mistakes, staying composed, and supporting teammates.

Next time, instead of saying:

● “Great goal!”

Try:

● “I loved how hard you worked to win the ball back.”

● “You stayed calm after that mistake — that’s real growth.”

● “I noticed how you kept trying even when it was tough.”

This type of reinforcement builds confidence, resilience, and the internal drive to improve- the exact qualities elite coaches look for and the ones that help young athletes thrive long-term.

Want More?

If you’re interested in pep360’s individual, small-group, or team mental-skills support, click the link below to complete an Interest Form. Let’s Think. Let’s Play. Let’s Win — together.

Learn More about Train Your Brain: https://linktr.ee/pep360