March 12, 2005

An Important Message for all Soccer Parents, Club Presidents, Administrators, and Coaches
By Scott Maxfield, Vice President, Utah Youth Soccer Association

For a very long time, there are many of our member organizations that have been concerned regarding the recent direction of youth soccer in the State of Utah, and to what the future might have in store pertaining to necessary improvements and changes. Actions that will impact all players, and provide a means that will allow our youth soccer programs to flourish for many years to come. Further, there are those who are fearful that the current group of individuals, who currently make up the Board of Directors, are unwilling to listen to change, evaluate and consider new proposals, and finally, to not act on those matters in a timely manner. For these individuals, I offer the following:

One of the first action items our president did was to meet with several of the club coaches with the purpose in mind to listen to their needs and requests. The current agenda for this next board of directors meeting is going to address many of these requests including the issue of a club pass. Notice that these have been placed under the "discussion/action" portion of the meeting. It must be noted that it is the practice of this group to first spend a meeting in discussion, and then voting on any action during the course of the next meeting. The board realizes that there are many items that need to be changed, but listening to our member organizations needs to be paramount, and never before has there been a greater need to do so. To those clubs and individuals who are disgruntled and frustrated, I ask you to:

1. Bring to this board a list of those issues that are most pressing, and matters that need immediate attention. There has been talk of clubs who feel that they have no representation and input regarding the way in which the state runs it's competitive soccer program. Requests for clubs to have age group player passes, and rosters that would allow more than 18 players to be placed on a team. Are these the only issues, or are there more? I submit that rule and bylaw proposals need to be brought to the forefront, even to the end of having a special state council meeting. Further if these issues were addressed and given a priority to effect change, and have them done quickly and in a timely manner, would it make a difference as to whether these clubs stay or leave to start a new group? Are there more issues, and if so, what are they? "Super Clubs" are currently meeting to start a new league of play for the elite player, but why have we not heard from these organizations as to what they would specifically like to see changed. To those who represent the very key building block, and foundation of our organization, the recreation player, I ask that you too stand up and let your voice be heard. There are those who claim that the recreation player receives nothing for their registration monies, while there are many who are very successful in running great recreation programs, and others who would very much like to know your secrets of success. We need to be unified and complete in the changes that are being proposed. The old adage of playing a song on the piano, and only playing a separate key at a time seems to apply here. Please let me explain. You see, that in the past, we all have been guilty of making major changes within our organization without seeing and considering neither the entire big picture nor the domino effect that takes place when things are not well thought out. Thus we play the song with just one note, making changes with one finger at a time. Should we not evaluate change, and be assured, by how it might affect all the other areas of our soccer organization in seeing that all the needs, of every player, are being met, and that we are not in conflict with national rules or even better and closer to home our own rules? Acting in such a manner provides for us a means to make complete changes, thus we avoid singularity and conflict. Then wouldn't the song to be played completely and with all the keys being played together? Let us focus our collective energies, and be unified, in building and making better our current programs, rather than start anew.

2. Understand the current benefits of being a member of Utah Youth Soccer Association. Current members have access to many benefits and programs that have facilitated the Utah player to attain levels of play that until recently have been reserved only for those states with larger programs. The National Youth Coaching Modules are now teaching parent coaches the basics of teaching soccer to young children. As these children develop their skills and abilities, they then have the opportunity to stay at their current level of play, or move up to a more competitive environment that continues player development, and offers the more committed player an opportunity to meet his or her potential. The key to this success derives itself from a quality director of coaching, who may not always be seen personally, but has his hand in coaching classes, and player clinics at all levels in every part of the state. The ODP program is exclusive to Utah Youth Soccer, and carries with it the goal of continued coaching and player development. This is accomplished by placing our best players together, and under the very best teachers of the game, building young men and women who not only get a chance to compete with other ODP programs, but then are allowed to take these experiences back to there respective teams. Competing in State Cup and Regional play is afforded only to those who are part of UYSA. These winning teams are given the opportunity to compete with all of the other state champions, which has an ultimate end of crowning a National Champion. Never before has it been safer for the children in our charge to play soccer. Procedures are now in place that provide for background checks to take place for all volunteers. A professional website, with links to associate entities, and training materials, local information and happenings allows a way for all to "stay on top of their game". There is more to list, but more importantly much more to be done. If we are going to build a solid, unified soccer community, it is going to take a lot of work, and the collective efforts of all. The future successes are going to be predicated on our willingness to work together to make it happen. As Dan Rather stated in the closing of his last telecast, and that I feel applies to us all, "Courage".