The Money Making Machine that is ODP

Just got off the phone with a friend who's daughter remains in youth soccer in CT. (Mine's out and I miss it!)

Have a question that I have wondered since my daughter played. Where does the money the families pay for ODP go? If I recall correctly, we used to pay nearly $1,000 for training twice a week at the rocky environs of Vinal Tech, the Rider Tournament, and the Camp at URI.

My friend says they only train once a month in the winter and not at all in the spring nowadays. Cost is in the neighborhood of $1100 now.

I have my calculator out. With a 27 player roster, that's $29,700 PER TEAM. 7 teams on the girls (two U13, two U14, U15, U16 and U17). 7 more on the boys.

That's $415,800 for the entire program! I have no idea what the current people get to run it, but I thought I remember JV getting around 10 grand and coaches much less than that.

If you figure $200 per player for food and housing at the camp, and $100 per player for the same at Rider, that's $75,600 for the entire boys and girls program (only 18 go to Rider and the camp). I don't think the state coaches got paid to work the camp. Maybe the Regional ones do. Let's go with $500 each for Regional Staff coaches. 30 or so coaches per week. 6 camps (boys and girls). That's $90,000. Divided by 13 states. Each state's share = $6,923.

Subtract $10,000 for State ODP Coaching Director. I'm going to go with $4,000 in coaching money per team. Another $56,000. Fields? Indoor is more expensive so I'll go with $15,000 for the year. I believe the uniforms are donated. I remember t-shirts and baggy shorts. One year grey t-shirts with white numbers! That was comical.

Here are the totals:

Fees
$1100 per player
$29,700 per team
14 teams (boys and girls)
TOTAL INCOME: $415,800

Expenses
$50,400 ($200 per player ID Camp)
$25,200 ($100 per player at Rider)
$7000 (regional staff at 6 camps)
$15,000 (fields for training in winter)
$10,000 (State Coaching Director)
$56,000 (State coaches--all teams)

TOTAL EXPENSES $163,600

$252,200 PROFIT for ODP program!

I always wanted to bring it up when my daughter was playing, but was afraid to. Whew! I feel much better now!

If anyone has different numbers, feel free to correct me. I'd like to believe a not for profit organization like CJSA wouldn't look to make a quarter of a million dollars on the ODP program.

I'm going to go with $4,000 in coaching money per team

More like $2500 in MA not sure about CT

I am not sure that this topic even warrants a reply except to say you make huge assumptions and don't consider all the costs

[reality]

I am not sure that this topic even warrants a reply except to say you make huge assumptions and don't consider all the costs

HUH, I think that a discussion about the use of ODP funds is appropriate. I agree that the original poster is making overly broad assumptions about revenues and expenditures. However, the question of whether the ODP proram is self-sufficient, a draw on state funds or a generator of excess revenues is worthwhile.

Ultimately Mass Youth is going to be revenue/expense nuetral. It is a non-profit, so the books need to be evened out each year. They can reserve considerable amounts for future programs and development (like Lancaster). But the AG, who has oversight in this instance, really frowns on charities that maintain inapropriately high reserves.

I believe that they publish their annual budget in the newsletter. Unfortunately I could not find my copy, but if someone has it you could see the line items for ODP. My recollection is that the ODP program is self sufficient. Meaning that costs are even to revenues. Some things that are not considered in the initial analysis are field rentals (even to themselves for Lancaster), scholarship offers and the assignment of administrative costs and processing. Even if ODP generates excess revenue. That revenue would go to offset Mass Youth Programs that are unable to generate similar revenues. Bad if you are an ODP participant, but good if you are involved in those other programs.