NH OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM POLICIES AND GUIDELINES

ODP VERSUS CLUB TRAINING AND/OR MATCH DAYS POLICY
In 1998 the NHSA Executive Board established that in New Hampshire, ODP days are Monday evenings, Wednesday evenings, and Saturday mornings - leagues may schedule games on Saturdays, but shall not begin until 3:00pm. During the months of May and June ODP practices on Saturdays will only be on the third and fourth Saturdays, but all day. Sundays in July and until August 15th may be used for ODP activities. During the winter season (11/15 to 3/31) ODP teams may train on any day, and ODP teams may participate in Indoor League play, but a player's primary team will be the club team; however, club coaches may release players to play for their ODP team. For ODP out-of-state tournaments (only) clubs must release their ODP players to participate in these tournaments. Clubs are encouraged to practice on ODP days, but must release all ODP players to their ODP teams on ODP designated days. Excluding tournament play, ODP teams may train a maximum of once a week until April 15th, and a maximum of twice a week after April 15th. In general, clubs and the Olympic Development Program are strongly encouraged to communicate and work together when scheduling, and to work in the best interests of the individual players.

ODP PLAYER IDENTIFICATION POLICY
From the first registration/identification in November, and until March 1st, all age group pools are considered open pools, and a player may come and try out at anytime during that period – contact the Head Coach of the respective age-group pool to arrange a tryout; after March 1st a player may try out for an age group pool only by invitation from the head Coach of that pool. Final age group teams consisting of 18 players plus two-to-four alternates are named by May 1st, and final rosters are submitted to Region 1; players may be added to that final team after May 1st only by invitation of the NH ODP State Director of Coaching.

ODP COMPETING OUT-OF-STATE POLICY
For any games between clubs, ODP and/or International teams, the President or his designate must give written permission for any play out-of-state, out-of-country, or involving teams from either of the above. Referees must be assigned by the SRA. Any ODP teams must get permission from the ODP State Director of Coaching.

ODP RECRUITING POLICY NH ODP
Staff Coaches are prohibited from recruiting any players from the NH Olympic Development Program to their club. To diminish conflict of interest, a NH ODP Staff Coach may not also coach a club team of the same year or of a year younger or a year older and of the same gender (for example, the U16 Boys State Coach may not also coach a U15, U16 or U17 boys club team), both during the same year and for the following year.

ODP PLAY OUT-OF-STATE POLICY
No player may participate on a Olympic Development Program team of another state without prior written consent from both of the respective state-association Presidents; copies of both of those letters of consent must be presented at the time of registration, to be kept on file by that player's ODP team. See USYSA guidelines below:

Rule 4042. DOMICILE OF OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TEAM PLAYERS Section 1. Any player wishing to try out for the Olympic Development Program shall do so through the National State Association Member of the State in which the Player may be registered under Rule 4032. Section 2. A player released to play in another National State Association under Rule 4032, Section 3 (b) (1) may request, in writing, permission to try out for the Olympic Development Program in that National State Association. Written permission must be received from: (a) the State Association where they are registered; (b) the State Association where they wish to try out. Section 3. A player shall not be eligible to try out for the Olympic Development Program in more than one National State Association Member Territory. A player shall be responsible for all Olympic Development Program fees of the National State Association in which the try out occurs.

NHSA VIOLATIONS OF POLICY

1. Any coach that knowingly or intentionally violates these policies will have his/her license suspended for one year.
2. Subject to the findings of the NHSA Fact Finding Committee, the club may be fined a minimum of $500.00 and a maximum of $1500.00, to be decided upon by the New Hampshire Soccer Association's Executive Board.
3. If any NH ODP Coach knowingly or intentionally violates these policies, he/she will be relieved of his/her duties and will lose their total compensation for that contract year.

ODP "PLAY UP A YEAR" GUIDELINES
No NH ODP player may "play up" an age group year (for example, a U13 player training with and playing in the U14 pool) without prior written permission from the NH ODP State Director of Coaching. (Permission can only be obtained after the NH ODP State Director of Coaching sees the player in question actually train and/or play, and in their judgment should be an exception to the rule, and then only in consultation with and consent of the player's age-group coach and also that of the older age-group coach - i.e. in consideration of the impact that the decision might have on both pools.)

NH ODP COACHING STAFF QUALIFICATIONS GUIDELINES
All NH ODP Staff Coaches are appointed by the NH ODP State Director of Coaching, and are subject to the approval of the NHSA Executive Board. To be considered for a position as a NH ODP Staff Head Coach a candidate:

1. must first abide by and uphold the "NHSA Code of Ethics" and have a demonstrative history of such a standard of behavior;
2. must hold at minimum a USSF "C" License (a USSF "A" License is recommended), or an equivalent license and be actively working to attain USSF certification within two years (i.e. a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and/or a recognized FIFA equivalent);
3. must have soccer playing experience at a high level (at least collegiate and/or semi-professional recommended);
4. must have coaching experience; and
5. must come well recommended.

A State Assistant Coach, an Associate State Staff Coach, or a District Coach must posses all of the above qualifications, with the exception of licensing requirements, but must be actively working towards USSF certification (it is recommended that District Coaches possess at least a USSF "D" License and/or a National Youth License).

ODP COACHES LICENSING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP GUIDELINES
The NHSA and the NH ODP encourages NH ODP Coaching Staff to pursue further USSF licenses as well as continuing education opportunities such as Regional Coaching Symposiums, and supports those endeavors through tuition and fee reimbursement whenever possible. Specifically, NHSA:

1. will waive all fees for a NH ODP Coach to attend any NHSA-sponsored licensing-courses and clinics; and
2. with prior approval by the executive board and available funding, will reimburse an ODP Coach for all USSF National License fees in the form of additional compensation for that coach after the following year of service as a NH ODP Staff Coach. The NHSA ODP will also attempt to pay ODP Staff Coach's costs incurred to attend Regional Coaching Symposiums whenever possible. The NHSA Executive Board alone has the authority to review and award scholarships - requests for reimbursement should be made to the NHSA ODP State Director of Coaching, prior to the event and in writing; the ODP Director must approve that request, and will then bring that request forward to the NHSA President for consideration by the NHSA Executive Board.

ODP PLAYER SCHOLARSHIPS GUIDELINES
The NHSA Executive Board alone has the authority to review and award scholarships based on financial need. Any NH ODP player in need of aid should put his/her request in writing to the NHSA ODP State Director of Coaching; the ODP Director will then bring that request forward to the NHSA President for consideration by the NHSA Executive Board. Review of all requests will be kept strictly confidential. The NHSA ODP State Director of Coaching, NHSA President, and the NHSA Treasurer shall only know the player's name or any other Executive Board member that is NHSA President deems necessary to help with the decision process. Scholarships will be based 50% upon need and 50% upon past, present, and future volunteer work with the NH soccer community.