by Ian Torney - NH ODP State Director of Coaching (1/16/02)

A longstanding complaint regarding Olympic Development Programs is cost - many say it simply costs too much to participate. The NH ODP has worked very hard to rectify that problem in a number of ways, and in fact is now quite a bargain for the buck in terms of what one spends and what one gets in return!

If a player is selected to represent New Hampshire on one of the State Teams, they can expect to pay a maximum of under $900 in total fees; that cost represents a minimal increase in NH ODP fees over the past decade.

For that low fee, a NH ODP player gets an average of two training sessions and/or competitions a month in the Winter (from November through March), and one training session and/or competition a week in the spring and summer (from April through July), as well as the opportunity to participate in Region 1 Mini Camps, in a Region 1 ODP sub-regional tournament in the spring, in the Region 1 ODP Tournament in June, and in a Region 1 ODP Camp in July; a free try out tee-shirt and a full NH ODP uniform are also included in that fee.

Events included in the Winter NH ODP Indoor Schedule are: one Region 1 Mini Camp (where Region 1 Staff Coaches are brought in to train all teams); one Indoor Jamboree versus a New England ODP counterpart, and/or in the case of the U17’s and U19’s participation in a College Showcase Indoor Jamboree; and two U13 Districts Jamborees. NH ODP teams also train with Region 1 Staff Coaches, College Coaches or US Soccer National Staff Coaches at the NHSA AGM in March. In addition there are extra training sessions scheduled and devoted exclusively to goalkeeper training with the NH ODP Goalkeeping Staff Coaches, as well as additional sessions for the Boys and Girls U13 Selects.

Beginning in the 2003 season, the NH ODP will sponsor four Northern New England ODP Centers of Excellence, giving select NH ODP players the opportunity to be trained and evaluated by US Soccer National Staff coaches, as well as the chance to compete against the top players in New England. As the NH ODP does not name it’s final state team rosters until April 1st, the winter teams are considered open “pools” - costs for a player to participate in just the winter training (i.e. if they were not to make the final state team) include only a $25 Registration Fee and subsequent Training Fees (see NH ODP Fee Schedule).

Events included in the Spring and Summer NH ODP Outdoor Schedule are: once-a-week training sessions; two or three matches against other New England ODP teams at the NH ODP New England Sub-Regional Jamboree at Keene State College in April; a Region 1 Mini Camp (where Region 1 Coaches are brought in to train all teams) in May, which also includes a match versus another New England ODP team; at least three matches versus Region 1 ODP teams at the Region 1 Tournament in New Jersey in early June; and participation in a three-day or four-day Region 1 Camp in mid-July.

Traditional benefits from participation with the Olympic Development Program include:

• development as a player via the opportunity to train and play with the best players in one’s age group;
• quality instruction from state, regional and national team nationally licensed coaches;
• quality competition via games against other state association ODP teams; and the opportunity to represent one’s state, region or country in competition, as well as exposure to college coaches and the college recruiting process. In fact an ODP player will be exposed to the highest level of competition available - no high school or club soccer team can consistently duplicate that opportunity!

If a player were to participate in the full NH ODP schedule, for the total NH ODP fee they would receive a full uniform kit, a total of 20-plus training sessions, Region 1 Mini Camps with Regional Staff Coaches, five different competitions versus other state ODP teams (including at least 10 matches), and a full soccer camp with Region 1 Staff Coaches!

Additional benefits for older players include direct exposure to college coaches for recruiting purposes - via the NH ODP Staff (all of the NH ODP U17 and U19 Boys and Girls Head Coaches are all current college Head Coaches), via participation in college showcase jamborees, and via Region 1 competitions where most colleges scout to recruit players; the NH ODP also plans to sponsor a College Symposium.

For under $900, the New Hampshire Olympic Development Program is quite a bargain for top soccer training and competition!

In addition, the NH ODP does not want a lack of financial resources to preclude participation, and has several fundraising and financial aid opportunities available to help players. Over $6000 in Region 1 Financial Aid is granted each season. Many NH ODP players have offset costs and even covered the full cost of participation by selling advertisements for the NH ODP Yearbook. The NH ODP also solicits grants and sponsorships through the NHSA, and pursues many fundraising initiatives to help diminish overall costs.