Fact is, the State Association makes zero money on the ODP program. The ODP program is actually ran out of it's own account code and that money is used entirely for the players. Mary tries her best to make sure that what money is generated by the tryouts and the sub-regionals is used to benefit the players during that year so that she has a zero account balance by the end of the ODP year. I don't remember the exact numbers but I do know that the regional camp is very expensive and causes Mary a lot of sleepless nights each year, because that cost is dictated by the national program and she is trying to keep the costs down for the parents for that event. I also know that up until Mary taking it over the ODP program was in shambles and the State Association was losing money left and right on it. So don't be too hard on her.
I understand your frustration with the practices, being my daughter did it every year she was eligible. But I do know Mary tried to dictate to the college coaches the schedule, I think they did it my daughters first year, and most of the college coaches quit because they wanted to have the say in the practices. So you have to make a choice, either have college coaches for the program and let them have control over the practices or pay club coaches and dictate to them the practices.
And Boy do I understand the location problem! Lucky for me I live in the middle of the state so the drives where not bad but I felt really bad for the Greenville parents because we had a Charleston coach that only practiced at his fields. But this runs into the problem again of using College Coaches for ODP. Some will ask for fields and the State Association will help to provide them or they won't because it is work or they are to shy to ask for help. The other problem is that all the fields in Columbia are ran by the clubs, not a bad thing, and it is not always easy to get the same clubs to give up their fields for ODP every weekend when they have games, rec and club, and practices going on the fields at the same time. I know the State Association wants to one day purchase some land for fields in Columbia so that they have complete control over their use, but we are probably a few more years off from that dream.
But I agree with you that it was a GREAT experience for my daughter and everyone should try and do it. HS and Club coaches need to be understanding of the schedule and help their players in it. Is it perfect, no, but little in life is.
