The OHSET rule regarding cooperative sponsorship of the activity of equestrian teams will conform with the rules as set forth by the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) section 60.

Currently, every team wishing to co-op must apply in writing on the proper form (OSAA) to the attention of the Board of Directors of the State Board of OHSET. This application is to be sent to the District Secretary and reviewed by the District. Once evaluated at the district level, it is sent to the State Board to be approved or disapproved by a majority vote of the State Board Directors. Every effort will be made by the District and State Boards to review each application at the next regular meeting following receipt of same.

Sponsoring teams having more than nine (9) student athletes will not be allowed to co-op teams. Applying teams with more than four (4) student athletes will not be allowed to co-op. Both of the co-op teams must submit an application stating who is the applying school and who is the cooperative school. The principal of the cooperative school must sign the application. The principal of the applying school must be informed of the application and if he denies cooperation, the board of directors (district level) will follow through to ascertain the reasons for this decision.

February 15th of the current competition year is the deadline for co-op approvals. Co-op’s will be approved for 1 year at a time.

Each application will be evaluated and voted upon based on individual merit. The intent of this rule is to make participation available for as many students and schools as possible. Recruitment of athletes is to be discouraged and any application present with that intent will be denied.

GUIDELINES & PROCEDURES FOR APPLICATION FOR COOPERATIVE SPONSORSHIP

Cooperative sponsorships should not be a matter of convenience but more a matter of necessity. OHSET is dedicated to the growth of our organization and believes that every athlete in the State should be given the opportunity to represent his/her school in the equestrian sport.

Before applying for a team to team co-op, a diligent effort must be made to create an independent entity representing each definition listed in our rule book under Cooperative Sponsorship. Steps to ensure that every effort has been exerted to create and independent entity include:

A. Contact with the school officials to test interest and assistance.

B. Canvassing of the school to create interest in our sport.

     1. Flyers

     2. Phone calls

     3. Lunch Meetings

     4. Radio announcements

     5. School announcements

C. Plan an evening meeting place and time and invite all interested athletes & parents.

     1. Show our OHSET promotional video to stimulate the desire

     2. Take sign up sheets

D. Ask for a spot on the next school board meeting

     1. Bring our Information/Registration Packet

     2. Bring the video

E. Remember what qualifies as a team:

     1. One rider minimum

     2. Advisor

     3. School approval as a high school varsity team or high school club If you have
     diligently exhausted all of the above options with little or no response and
     cannot secure the three necessary factors to create a school team, then and only
     then does the cooperative team become an option.

At this point please refer to the rule book, under Cooperative Sponsorship, for definition of team, district and state co-ops. Depending on your status, you may then apply to the nearest school, district or state that offers our program and meets the size conditions as a sponsoring entity.

OHSET recognizes that all situations will not be the same; but we want assurance that every possible effort has been made to follow the Cooperative Sponsorship Rules before requesting exceptions through your District and the State Board.

Application for Cooperative Sponsorship appears in the MISC section of our OHSET Rule Book. Please use this form, making sure fields are filled in before presenting to your District and State Board.

When applying for a Co-op between teams, the following procedure should be used:

     1. Document all steps taken to create an independent team
     (including those that did not work).

     2. Find out which team is the closest to your school and offers OHSET and
     qualifies as a sponsoring team. Contact the head coach and verify the number of
     riders on this team (9 or less riders makes this a qualified sponsoring team).

     3. Verify with the School District that this would be the closest school
     offering this sport.

     4. Prepare the application and endeavor to get the consent and signature
     of the Principal or Athletic Director of the applying school. If you cannot
     secure the approval then use the OHSET form letter to advise the applying
     school that there are students participating in OHSET at another school.

     5. Plan a meeting with the coach of the sponsoring team.

     6. Meet with the sponsoring school (with the head coach at your side) and
     request the approval of that school to accept the applying school as a co-op.

     7. Present the completed application to your District Board for approval.

     8. If approved at the District level then forward to the State Board immediately.
     Applications will be entertained at each meeting presented but all co-op
     applications must be approved no later than the Feb. State Board meeting.

Cooperative Sponsorships for Districts and States must be considered on individual applicant basis. Assistance from the State Board on each project should be requested. Issues such as economics, boundaries and growth will affect these applications. Please refer to the appropriate sections in our rule book under Cooperative Sponsorships.

Coop Application (PDF)