REGULAR MEETING - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
January 17, 2007
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 6:00 pm. Board members present were:
Denise Edwards President
Ray Greenberg Vice President
Roger Underhill Secretary
Jim Bonfils Treasurer
Bob Maynes North Recreational Commissioner #1
Steve Bender North Recreational Commissioner #2
Ron Bedwell Central Recreational Commissioner
Matt Hinson Southeast Recreational Commissioner
John Singleton West Recreational and #4 BRCL Commissioner
Lorelle Myer #1 VCCL Travel Commissioner
Anne Thompson #2 WAGS Travel Commissioner
Board Members Tom Gross and Debi Honaker were excused. Paul O’Connell arrived later after the meeting. Also present were Julie Caramanica (VYSA Administrator) and Gordon Miller (VYSA State Technical Director/ODP Chair).
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS BOARD MINUTES
A motion was made and seconded to approve the November 15, 2006, Board meeting minutes. The motion was approved. A motion was made and seconded to approve the December 2, 2006 Board meeting minutes. The motion was approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT
The Treasurer’s Report (Attachment A) was distributed. Ray Greenberg noted that the Finance Committee will be meeting in April to prepare next year’s budget.
STATE ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
The State Administrator’s Report (Attachment B) was distributed. State Administrator Julie Caramanica requested that Occoquan Soccer Club and Shenandoah Valley United Soccer Club be placed in bad standing for failure to pay Fall registration fees. A motion was made and seconded to place Occoquan Soccer Club and Shenandoah Valley United Soccer Club in bad standing. The motion was approved.
A list of clubs whose data has not been received was distributed. The State Office Staff will contact those clubs and the board will be asked to place any club still not having submitted data by next months meeting in bad standing at that meeting.
It has been recommended that a formal VYSA Privacy Policy be written. Denise suggested that someone familiar with internet law be asked to work on this policy.
The first VYSA E-Newsletter was sent this month to all members of VYSA. Feedback has been positive.
The VYSA Staff would like to purchase a t-shirt recognizing the 30th anniversary of VYSA to be given to every Workshop attendee. A motion was made and seconded to buy t-shirts commemorating the 30th anniversary, with the amount not to exceed $5,000. The motion was approved.
Two grand prizes, a 32" flat screen TV and a DVD recorder, will be given away to two lucky Workshop attendees. VYSA Board members and Staff are not eligible for this drawing.
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Gordon Miller, VYSA Technical Director, reported that the Coaching Education Staff has seven F courses, five E courses, and four D courses scheduled. Four new instructors will be apprenticing in the coming months.
The ODP teams will be participating in friendlies the following weekend in North Carolina, along with teams from neighboring states. Virginia will be hosting an ODP event February 24-25 in Virginia Beach.
Two Virginia ODP players in the 1989 age group, TJ Cyrus and Jimmy Simpson, have been invited to National Camp in January. It was noted that these players have been with the ODP for some time and with dedication and persistence have made tremendous progress so as to have been selected for the National Pool in their age group.
ADJUDICATION COMMITTEE REPORT
Adjudication Committee Chair Ray Greenberg distributed the Adjudication Committee Report (Attachment C). A coach who was found guilty of referee abuse last month was given a four-game suspension. He must also attend a Positive Coaching Alliance workshop before he will be allowed to return to coaching.
REQUEST FOR CHANGES TO REGISTRATION MANUAL
Vice President, Ray Greenberg reported that he had received a two-page request from Cugini Soccer Club asking three items:
- that VYSA grandfather the rule passed by the Board in 2005-2006 that financial obligations would not prevent movement of players so that the rule only apply to the 2006-2007 seasonal year and later.
- that VYSA establish a policy similar to what Cugini believes leagues now have, that clubs have the same authority as leagues in preventing teams from changing clubs if they have financial obligations to the club they are leaving. Cugini quoted NCSL and WAGS rules showing the requirement of notification to new clubs that a team is not in good standing because of financial obligations.
- that the VYSA Board review two sections of the VYSA Registration manual, sections 5-25 and 5-27, and make sure both sections are changed.
Ray noted that the second item is not valid because WAGS and NCSL rules only require notification if a team is not in good standing because of fees still owed. They do not prevent the team from transferring. In regard to the third item, he noted that both sections of the VYSA Registration Policy were changed, but that only one section has been posted.
A motion was made and seconded to deny the request to grandfather the policy change. The motion passed. The Board agreed that a letter be sent to Cugini Soccer Club notifying them that their request to grandfather the rule recently passed by the VYSA Board was denied and that Cugini should provide VYSA with specific language for requested changes regarding the remaining items.
COMPLAINT CONCERNING RECRUITING AT THE REC LEVEL
Ray Greenberg reported that VYSA received a complaint that Cugini Soccer Club was recruiting players from all-star teams in the Suburban Friendship League in Northern Virginia. Ray explained that this issue is not in VYSA’s jurisdiction. The Suburban Friendship League is not a direct member of VYSA and the matter needs to be handled through the clubs that make up the SFL.
REQUEST FOR DONATION
Ray Greenberg reported that VYSA received a request to support the Goals for Girls project. He noted that NCSL had received the same request. There was a discussion regarding many requests that come to VYSA from many worthwhile charities. It was suggested that a committee may be needed to prioritize and select how funds from members should be used. A motion was made and seconded to deny the request from Goals for Girls. The motion passed. It was noted that VYSA already contributes to the US Soccer Foundation.
BYLAW PROPOSAL
Ray Greenberg reported that a bylaw proposal was submitted for consideration at the semi-annual general meeting at the VYSA Workshop in February regarding the definition of a youth soccer team (Article II Section 2).
SECRETARY’S REPORT
Roger Underhill reported that he had received a membership request from Dynamo Soccer Club in Matoaca, VA. A motion was made and seconded to approve the Dynamo Soccer Club for VYSA membership. The motion was approved.
The Board went into Executive Session.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Denise Edwards reported that a National League will begin in the Fall. Jay Hoffman has been selected as Region I Boys ODP head coach and positive changes have been made to the Region I Boys ODP curriculum.
RECREATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
Nominations submitted for the Recreational Coach of the Year have been sent to Board members. A summary of each of those nominated will be sent to each Board member for an email vote for selection of this year’s Recreational Coach of the Year.
GOOD OF THE GAME
The Positive Coaching Alliance now has a Parent Workshop on line. The cost is $25 per use.
The McLean Technical Director, Curt Onalfo, has been named head coach of the Kansas City Wizards. McLean Youth Soccer is now searching for a new, full-time technical director.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:10 pm. Board members then moved into working sessions of the Retreat Committees.
Prepared by
Julie Caramanica
VYSA Administrator
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Next Board Meeting is February 20, 2007, at 7:00 pm at the Sheraton Richmond West.
