Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association has announced tryouts for its Olympic Development Program in August.

ODP is considered the highest level of play in each state youth soccer association.

Because of the large geographic area of Eastern New York, ODP is divided into North and South. North is Westchester and all points north while South is New York City and Long Island.

Tryouts will be held for players with a birth year of 2004, 2005 and 2006 while the players born in 2001, 2002 and 2003 will start tryouts in late October and early November when the high school season is concluding.

All players must register for tryouts using the ODP registration system. The fee is $45, onsite registration is $65. Non-ENYYSA members may try out for the same fees. However, if offered a position on the State ODP Team, non-members would not receive a registration discount, which could be upwards of $300.

A player can register for more than one tryout. A player also may register for whatever tryout is convenient for him or her. However, if a player attends a tryout in the North and lives in the South, if selected, they will train in the North.

The tryout dates:

Saturday, Aug. 11
Owl Hollow Fields, Staten Island

9 to 10:30 a.m.: Boys 2005, 2006, 2007
10:30 a.m. to noon: Girls 2005, 2006, 2007

Sunday, Aug. 12
Flushing Meadows, Queens

9 to 10:30 a.m.: Boys 2005, 2006, 2007
10:30 a.m. to noon: Girls 2005, 2006, 2007

Saturday, Aug. 18
Peter Collins Soccer Park, Plainview

9 to 10:30 a.m.: Boys and Girls 2007
10:30 a.m. to noon: Boys and Girls 2006
Noon to 1:30 pm: Boys and Girls 2005

Saturday, Aug. 18
North Colonie Soccer Complex, Cohoes

9 to 10:30 a.m.: Boys 2005, 2006, 2007
10:30 a.m. to noon: Girls 2005, 2006, 2007

Sunday, Aug. 19
HBC Soccer Park, Melville

9 to 10:30 a.m.: Boys and Girls 2007
10:30 a.m. to noon: Boys and Girls 2006
Noon to 1:30 p.m.: Boys and Girls 2005

Sunday, Aug. 19
Stringham Park, LaGrange

9 to 10:30 a.m.: Girls 2005, 2006, 2007
10:30 a.m/ to noon: Boys 2005, 2006, 2007

To register, log on to http://enysoccerodp.sportssignup.com/site/

If you have any questions, call the ENYYSA office at 516-766-0849 and ask for ODP chairperson Jim Volpe.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.