New Age Group Breakdowns?

[NoCalPoloDad]

I'm perplexed by the latest update in the OPD age group listings:

All Stars 2004 HS seniors and 2005 athletes - would register for the 2006/2007 Camps
Youth is 2006/2007
Cadet is 2008
Development is 2009, 2010, 2011
All ODP Camp Registration is completed by year of birth.

Cadet is only one birth year? 2007 lost their "up year" for Cadet age group? Four years of kids play in the Youth, so Youth really isn't 2006/2007? Seems a puzzlement. . ..

[wpolo93]

I assume this happens every other year. Basically youth and cadet teams are selected in mind with a specific intl tournaments with a specific age requirement. This year youth (2004-2005) and cadet (2006-2007) have played/ are playing at the world championships. Those championships take place every other year I assume.

[NoCalPoloDad]

Why wouldn't Youth be 2005-2006 and Cadet be 2007-2008? Seems that would be a logical progression from this year.

[wpolo93]

Why wouldn't Youth be 2005-2006 and Cadet be 2007-2008? Seems that would be a logical progression from this year.

If I understand correctly, the oldest age group team will compete at the 2006 and younger intl tournament next year. Thus, kids born in 2004 and 2005 will not be able to make that team. Maybe I am wrong but this is my understanding. It is exactly what I tried to explain in my first posting.

[NoCalPoloDad]

Thanks, didn't realize there was a 2006 and younger tournament next year. Makes sense then. What's the tournament? Can't seem to find it online.

[wpolo93]

Thanks, didn't realize there was a 2006 and younger tournament next year. Makes sense then. What's the tournament? Can't seem to find it online.

I honestly do not know.

I did not follow youth national team closely but my (uneducated) guess is that US Youth NT goes to the World Youth Championship and Pan American Championship during even years (such as 2022) and just to Pan American Championship during odd years (such as 2023). I further conjecture that the core of the 2006/2007 Youth team that will go to Pan American in 2023 will also go to the 2024 World Championship and 2024 Pan American Championship. Could it be the case that the 2006/2007 team will go to another tournament in 2023? Maybe but I have no clue. I heard some explanation along these lines some years ago...

[NoCalPoloDad]

Thanks wpolo93! Pretty new to polo and trying to figure it all out. Your insights help a lot; even if they are just educated conjecture, I surmise they're spot on.

FWIW, I can't say enough good things about ODP, well at least our region. Just a great experience, and especially great support for my kid this year.

[jhwp]

So now USA WP will gear age groups exclusively around international competitions, and effectively cement rosters for a full two years? That's what 2005 missing their Youth up year and 2007 missing their Cadet up year means.

If I have a kid born in an odd year, why would I even bother participating in ODP anymore? Rosters are 80%+ up year kids, and odd birth years no longer get up years.

Not a good change.

[wpolo93]

My interpretation could be very wrong. Again I heard something along these lines a few years ago (definitely before COVID) but I cannot guarantee that it was 100% correct. Perhaps more knowledgeable people could give a better explanation.

[sbdad]

looks like they just figured out that they screwed up and sent an email correcting the age brackets. back to normal.

[wpolo93]

looks like they just figured out that they screwed up and sent an email correcting the age brackets. back to normal.

Define normal :)

Here are age breakdowns for the last four ODP pre-COVID seasons

ODP 2018-2019 season:
******************************
Youth 2002-2003
Cadet 2004
Dev 2005-2006

ODP 2017-2018 season:
**************************
Youth 2001-2002
Cadet 2003
Dev 2004-2005

ODP 2016-2017 season:
******************************
Youth 1999-2001
Cadet 2002
Dev 2003-2004

ODP 2015-2016:
******************
Youth 1998-1999
Cadet 2000-2001
Dev 2002-2003