REGULAR MEETING - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

November 15, 2006

 

The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Youth Soccer Association, Inc., was called to order by

President Denise Edwards at the Sheraton Richmond West at 7:23 pm. Board members present were:

 

Board Members Matt Hinson and Paul O’Connell were excused. Also present were Julie Caramanica (VYSA Administrator), Gordon Miller (VYSA State Technical Director/ODP Chair), and Scott Meyer (State Referee Administrator).

 

Denise Edwards announced that Monica Hall is returning to North Carolina and has resigned from the Board of Directors. VSLI will recommend a replacement.        

 

A motion was made and seconded to approve the October 18, 2006, Board meeting minutes. The motion was approved.

Jim Bonfils distributed the Treasurer’s Reports for the end of the fiscal year (Attachment A) and October (Attachment B). Jim noted that the budget submitted to the membership for 2005-2006 showed a $110,500 deficit, but actuals showed $81,000 income over expense. Most committees and programs were either at or under budget. Region I Championships netted about $72,000. Prior years’ adjustments were made to correct registrations for DC Stoddert where Maryland players were paid to Virginia in error. Jim noted that accounts receivables were high in October due to recent billing for ODP.

The State Administrator’s Report (AttachmentC) was distributed. State Administrator Julie Caramanica noted the list of clubs that have still not submitted Fall registration fees, which were due on October 1^st. Fall registration data was due on Nov. 1^st; many clubs have not yet submitted their data.

 

Glenn “Mooch” Mynerick, assistant coach of the US Men’s National team for the past two World Cups, died in October. The USSF Soccer Foundation has established the Mooch Myernick Fund, at the request of the Myernick family, to help create and sustain soccer opportunities for local, underserved children. A motion was made and seconded to donate $1,000 to the USSF Soccer Foundation to the Mooch Myernick fund. The motion was approved.

 

Requests for donations were received from two players at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The Board agreed that due to the many players from VYSA that go on to play in college, donations will not be made for these requests.

 

US Club Soccer has announced fee increases for 2007. Their fees are now higher than VYSA’s registration fees; they also require that adult coaches and volunteers pay registration fees.

 

Amelia Independent Soccer Club asked a representative of VYSA to attend and participate in a local parade. The Rec Commissioner for that area has been notified.

 

Julie asked for ideas for celebrating VYSA’s 30^th Anniversary in 2007. A motion was made and seconded to invite all Club presidents to attend the Workshop at no cost. After discussion, it was decided to invite each club president or his/her designee. The Workshop budget will be adjusted to make the President’s Reception on Friday night a little more special. The motion was approved.

 

Julie asked for suggestions for Workshop sessions that would interest Board Members and their constituents. Volunteers are needed for the Workshop.

 

VYSA Headline News is now linked to about 30 websites.

Gordon Miller, VYSA Technical Director, announced that a few Coaching Education courses are scheduled for over the winter. Potential new staff members are being evaluated.

 

ODP interdistrict scrimmages are scheduled for this weekend in Richmond. The scrimmages are held over two weekends where State staff will evaluate the players. The first weekend, districts compete against one another. The second session, held after Thanksgiving, the district players are scrambled so that coaches can evaluate their performance with different players. State ODP training begins the second weekend of December. ODP teams will travel to North Carolina in January, to Virginia Beach in February, and to West Virginia in March. The 93, 92, and 91 girls and boys (a total of six teams) will travel to Germany from April 6^th -17^th. Previously only two age groups traveled to Europe. The third year has been added to help keep that age group interested in the program.

 

The VYSA Academy Program for the 95 boys and girls across the state has received positive feedback. All players who registered were accepted into the program. Most Academy training is spent on technical training. Parents and coaches are educated as well. The Academy Program may be continued in the spring, and a second age group may be added if facilities and staff are available. 

 

Gordon noted that, while the focus is to give more players quality training over longer periods of time, the programs are hampered by a lack of facilities.

 

The Technical Department has many goals for the coming year:

•                     to increase the number of Coaching Education courses and the number of staff 

•                     to increase the number of ODP teams which travel and to increase the number of staff

•                     to increase the number of age groups in the Academy

•                     to get more people into the clubs to help with Club Development

•                     to make the Rec and Coaching Committees more effective

One Board member noted that Maryland now requires travel coaches to have their E certificates. Implementing this requirement in Virginia would be difficult, as we have a much greater number of coaches. The demand on the State Association budget would be substantial because of the subsidization of courses. The possibility of charging higher fees for non-VA or DC residents who take a VYSA course was discussed. A proposal will be prepared for the January meeting.     

 

Gordon noted that he had just returned from the UEAFA symposium for European Technical Directors and that he will teach a USSF A license course in Florida in January.

 

Scott Meyer, State Referee Administrator, distributed an overview of the Metro DC-Virginia State Referee Program (Attachment D).   He explained the organization and structure of the State Referee Program, the State Referee Committee, and the State Staff. The SRC supports the Metropolitan DC-Virginia Adult Soccer Association, the VYSA, other USSF affiliates that are not a part of VYSA, and the professional leagues. He noted that the referee growth rate over the past several years has averaged 5%; the recertification rate is

65-70%. These figures are better than the national average, largely due to club mentoring programs. Approximately 90% of the referees are grade 8s and 90% are age 17 and under. Scott listed the major activities for 2006 and presented the 2007 budget.

 

The SRC’s goals for the coming year for the Referee Development Program are:

•                      identification and development of young referees

•                      identification and development of national candidates

•                      referee academies

•                      mentoring and developmental and guidance assessments at major tournaments

•                      referee events in all areas of the state

•                      grants to support local clubs, associations, and tournaments

•                      use of new technologies

•                      tracking of college referees

 

Ray Greenberg distributed (Attachment E) the Adjudication Committee Report. A player who was suspended last month for referee abuse has filed an appeal to USSF. Ray has drafted a response to the appeal.

 

Ray noted that he often receives reports alleging referee abuse. He noted in some cases the player or coach is abusive, but the action doesn’t meet the level of “referee abuse” as defined by USSF, which means that the referee had to have been threatened or felt threatened. In these instances, he refers the case back to the club or league to handle.

 

A new hearing concerning referee abuse is being scheduled.   

 

Bob Maynes reported that a concern has been raised by his club about placing players’ names on the backs of jerseys. He asked if the Risk Management Committee could develop a policy about this, using US Youth Soccer and/or Bollinger Insurance Company as resources. It was suggested that the Region I Risk Management chair be consulted. Julie noted that she would like to prepare a brochure that includes several Risk Management issues. It was decided that this matter will be turned over to the VYSA KidSafe Committee.

 

A request was made to have the KidSafe Committee check to see if background checks should be mandatory every year rather than every two years, and also if a reason exists for running a check on a specific person for a specific cause.

 

Bob Maynes reported that the Recreation Committee has had two meetings and has set these goals:

•                     working at the district level

•                     developing an email communication system for each recreation commissioner to contact specific officials and

                      representatives as needed

•                     holding a Recreation Summit at the VYSA Workshop

•                     meeting at the district level each year with club presidents

 

In answer to a question about the new Director of Coaching Education, it was noted that the position would be filled at the same time as the position of Marketing Director. 

The proposal for the new Recreation Coach of the Year award was discussed. After much discussion, a motion to amend the proposal to drop the licensing provision was made and seconded. The motion was approved. A motion to define “recreation coach” in accordance with the national definition of “recreational team” (Rule 101. Definitions, Section 3, item 16 of the US Youth Soccer Policy on Players and Playing Rules) was made and seconded. The motion was approved. 

Roger Underhill recommended that a coach with numerous charges of crimes against children be suspended from all VYSA activities. A motion was made and seconded to suspend Nathan Conwell based on Bylaw 252, pending outcome of litigation. The motion was approved.

 

Ray Greenberg reported that he had received two emails from individuals wondering why their teams received refunds of only $100 when tournaments to which they applied were cancelled. A letter will be sent stating that the rules of the tournaments indicated that there would be no refunds. An explanation of costs already borne by the tournament will be included in the letter. 

 

Denise Edwards reported that US Youth Soccer had been negotiating with another equipment supplier, but has signed a new contract with adidas. The VYSA contractwithadidas ends on December 31, 2006. Virginia should have a response this week about contract renewal. It was noted that adidas is sponsoring fewer states this year.

 

Retreat Committee Meetings will take place at the January 17, 2007, Board meeting. The Board meeting that night will begin at 6:00 pm and should end by 9:00 pm.

 

John Singleton reported on the missionary trip of a person from his area who went to the Sudan.   He took with him about 400 pounds of clothing and equipment donated by VYSA, Score, John, and others. A three-day camp was held with over 700 children, plus a large number of adult villagers who came to watch. On another day, a group of older players played a UN military team, and over 3,000 came people came to watch. An article and photo will be included in the next Touchline.