February 4, 2005

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THE STATE OF THE STATE ASSOCIATION
The President's Annual Report

Twenty-five months ago, the State Council of the Utah Youth Soccer Association entrusted me with the presidency of this organization. I became the first former player from Utah Youth Soccer to serve as the Association's president. It has been my honor to serve in this capacity, and I hope that my service has benefited the players, coaches, referees, and administrators of the Utah soccer community.

Twenty-five months ago, it would have been a fantasy to imagine that our Association's Annual General Meeting could be sponsored by a Major League Soccer team. Today that dream is a reality. In little more than two months, Real Salt Lake will kick off its inaugural season at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. It has been exciting reading the headlines about the stars and national team players who have been acquired by our Major League Soccer team. Heroes are coming to Utah for our youth players. It cannot be doubted that our soccer community will be transformed by the arrival, development, growth, and success of Real Salt Lake. May we all be Loyalists.

Twenty-five months ago, it was unfathomable to imagine that local political discourse could be centered on a debate about where to build a soccer-specific stadium. It also seemed largely beyond imagination, just twenty-five months ago, that the soccer community could win a bond election in Utah's capitol city for a new soccer complex. And yet it has been done.

Almost twenty-five years ago, when I was younger than I am now, I was drawn to soccer because it is a team game. I enjoyed the camaraderie and challenge of working with a group of diverse individuals to achieve a common goal. I admired the rare players who seemed able to make their teammates better. I certainly wasn't one of these players-as anyone who has seen me on the soccer field can attest-but I continue, as a coach, to judge players based on their ability to work with their teammates. As the president of this organization, it has been my hope to work with the Association's dedicated volunteers as well as the Association's professional staff to bring people together and to bring out the best qualities in us all.

Twenty-five months ago, when I assumed the presidency of this Association, this organization was experiencing many signs of crisis. There was a significant operational deficit for reasons that could not be explained. There were accounting irregularities and a qualified audit report. The office staff was in transition. Critical services were languishing and membership needs were unmet. There was no shortage of challenges to be addressed.

In the last twenty-five months, many people have worked together to make important progress. Not every step has been forward, to be sure, but any mistakes have been honest ones. There have been failed experiments. But the Association is moving forward and it has been applying the lessons of experience. Much work remains to be done, but we should reflect on the achievements and events of the past twenty-five months.

Putting Players First. I am proud that this administration has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to defending the rights of players. The interests of players and player development must always triumph over adult bickering, petty politics, petulant administrators, and arbitrary rules that would limit player choice. It is a truism that this organization exists to serve its players, and this administration has been faithful to this obligation.

Membership Growth. The Utah Youth Soccer Association exists to provide playing opportunities to young people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, and financial means. According to the latest registration report from US Youth Soccer, the Association's current registration is 102% of the previous year. By this basic measure, the Association is making small progress towards achieving its goal. Better still, the Association is poised for more membership growth through community partnerships, community outreach, and geographic expansion.

Southern Utah Initiative. The Association made an important investment this year in the development of soccer in southern Utah. Thanks to the efforts of Director of Development Eric Landon and dedicated volunteers such as Lance Jackson, Lori Cottam, Monica Chadez, the Southern Utah Soccer Association has begun a remarkable journey. Last fall, SUSA launched the KICKS recreation soccer league and enrolled more than 400 players into the new program. At the same time, SUSA has improved the quality and expanded participation in its regional competition league. Overall, membership in SUSA increased almost 50% in a single year. Teams from southern Utah entered the State Cup tournament last fall for the first time. This spring, SUSA teams are expected to compete in both the State Competition League and the 2005 State Cup tournament. SUSA also launched a new Thanksgiving weekend tournament, the Dixie Invitation, which is notable because it does not involve Sunday-play.

Soccer Across the Entire State. The Southern Utah Initiative has been just one facet of the Association's commitment to serving and developing soccer across the state. The Utah Youth Soccer Association cannot allow its focus to be limited to the Wasatch Front. Teams from Delta and other communities in central and eastern Utah have joined the State Competition League during the last two years. This spring, for the first time in the history of the Association, the State Competition League will feature teams hailing from both our northern and southern borders.

Community Outreach. The Association has taken steps to reach out to every segment of the Utah soccer community. Last summer, for example, the Association co-sponsored a Latino youth soccer league, thanks, in large part, to the efforts of District 2 Chairperson Leisa Vineyard. In addition, the Association recently began offering a Spanish-language referee certification course.

Culture of Openness. The Utah Youth Soccer Association should be a public institution. In many ways, the Association is a public trust operating for the benefit of the children of this state. It is important that the Association conduct its business in the open, with transparency and membership feedback. This administration has invited scrutiny and accepted comments and criticism. Business meetings are open to the public, and open forums have been held regularly on important subjects. The budget and audits have been published on the Association's website. Board packets have been made available to the public on the website, as have minutes from meetings of the Board of Directors. In short, the Association now operates with transparency, accountability, and openness.

Elevating Ethical Standards. Because this Association operates as a trust for the benefit of the children of this community, it is essential that its officers and staff comport with the highest ethical standards. I am proud that we have enacted and enforced strong ethical reforms during the last two years. The Board of Directors first adopted a more stringent conflicts of interest policy, which requires the submission of disclosure statements. Then, in October 2004, the Board of Directors dismissed one of its members for having violated this conflicts of interest policy. I am pleased that the Association has upheld its high ethical standards. The players that we serve deserve no less.

Coaches Code of Conduct. The Association has also taken steps to elevate expectations in coaching behavior. By adopting a Code of Conduct for coaches, the Association defined some standards for coaches, who are important role models for players and ambassadors for the game on the field.

Staff Development. The Association continues to benefit from the energy and experience of its dedicated team of soccer professionals. Executive Director Scott Harwood deserves immense credit for the improvements in the Association's business operations, and Technical Director Greg Maas continues to oversee the Association's successful player development programs, including the Olympic Development Program and the Junior Development Academy. Programs Manager Amy Oakeson is fast developing a reputation as a master of the scheduling process.

Financial Stability. The Association has achieved financial stability through sound management and improved internal controls. The last two audits have confirmed that the Association's business practices now conform to generally accepted principles, and the Association has operated within its operating budget. The Association is planning to run a deficit in the current fiscal year, but the expected deficit will be offset by the planned surplus for the 2005-06 fiscal year.

Equitable Fee Structure. After considerable study of the Association's fee structure, and after analyzing how the Association spends its resources, the Board of Directors crafted a balanced budget that fairly apportions the fees among the membership. This administration proposed reducing the basic player membership fee from $11.50 to $11.00. It is hoped that this reduction--likely the first fee cut in the history of the Association--will help recreation programs to enroll more players. On the competition side, a trio of varying fees will be consolidated into a single fee. While the sum of fees paid by competitive players will increase to reflect the share of the Association's resources that are committed to supporting the competitive program, the cost of playing in the State Competition League will remain comparatively low.

Website Development. The Association's website, www.utahyouthsoccer.net or www.uysa.org, was completely re-redesigned during the present administration. Webmaster Colleen Koelliker continues to improve the form and content of this website, which includes popular features such as Greg Maas' weekly "Technical Tuesday" column. Other innovations include the Coach of the Month award and web-based polls that have aided the Board of Directors in addressing important topics. The website has been setting records for hits and is crucial to the delivery of membership services.

E-Travel. E-Travel is one example of the services now available online. During the summer of 2003, the Utah Youth Soccer Association took a pioneering step by permitting members to obtain travel authorizations via an on-line application. The Association's E Travel system has been widely copied and is becoming a standard across the country.

On-Line Management System. In 2004, the Association began a transition to a web-based business model. The On-Line Management System, whose development and evolution continues, is becoming the backbone of the Association's business and member services. It is the key to operating the Association's business in a cost-effective, efficient, and responsive fashion. Almost every aspect of the Association's operations and business will be conducted through this online system.

Referee Development. Consider, for instance, the contributions that the on-line management system will make to referee development. The system will track the match assignments of referees and collect match reports from referees and coaches, who will be given the opportunity to rate the performance of the referee after each match. This spring, the State Referee Committee will hire a referee assessor whose job it will be to review reports received online and to follow up as needed with referees and coaches.

Transition in Referee Leadership. The past six months have seen a transition in the leadership of the State Referee Committee. Chairman Randy Ploeger resigned and State Director of Instruction Bill Marsh also stepped down after 17 years of dedicated service. I am grateful that Gunther Haidenthaller, a national-grade referee, accepted my invitation to serve as the State Youth Referee Administrator. I am also pleased that Shawn Halladay and Kevin Griffiths accepted appointments to serve as the SRC Chairman and State Director of Instruction, respectively.

Partnership with Utah Spiders. In 2004, the Association established a partnership with the Utah Spiders, Utah's franchise in the women's premier soccer league. This partnership enabled players from the Utah Youth Soccer Association to attend Spiders games at no cost. Better still, the Spiders played home matches in several Utah communities, enabling players across the state to see women's soccer played at the highest level now available in this country.

International Soccer Matches. On June 14, 2003, Utah hosted its first international soccer match, thanks to the sponsorship of the Utah Sports Commission and the cooperation of the University of Utah, Utah Blitzz, Utah Soccer Association, and Utah Youth Soccer Association. The game between the U.S. Women's National Team and Ireland was a resounding success. The large and enthusiastic crowd at Rice-Eccles Stadium bodes well for the future of international soccer and Major League Soccer. We are hopeful that the U.S. Men's National Team will soon make its debut in Utah.

Hosting the New Soccer Nation. In October 2004, the Utah Youth Soccer Association hosted the Region IV Workshops in Salt Lake City. This event ran smoothly, a credit to Director of Development Bruce Cuppett, the Association's staff, and a dedicated crew of volunteers. A reprise performance is planned for the US Youth Soccer National Coaches Convention and Workshop, which will be held in Salt Lake City from February 17-20, 2005.

Salt Lake City Proposition 5. In November 2003, the Utah soccer community won a historic electoral victory. The passage of Proposition 5 will enable the development of a soccer complex in Salt Lake City that will serve generations of players.

These projects over the last twenty-five months have made a difference. In the next twenty-five months, the Association needs to make fundamental changes to prepare for its next twenty-five years. The most pressing need is an overhaul of the Association's current governing structure. The Association's existing bylaws are contradictory, byzantine, outdated, and inconsistent with operational realities. The current system of governance has been outpaced by the evolution of youth soccer and is incompatible with changes needed to benefit player development efforts.

The creation of a new governance structure will not be easy. It will not be possible unless an atmosphere of collegiality and mutual respect prevails. But it is essential if the Utah Youth Soccer Association is to move forward with its mission.

At the most fundamental level, the Association must make the transition from a governance-based organization to a service-based organization. The current organizational model is consumed with concerns about power and control. Geographic lines are meant to define district and leagues. In turn, these districts and leagues have tried to claim monopolistic rights within their bounds. While these districts and leagues were born from the desire to promote and expand the game's reach, today this organizational structure operates to reduce or eliminate choice for players. Too often the current structure has been used to hinder, rather than support, healthy competition and the development of new organizations. In any event, the geographic lines on the Association's map are increasingly irrelevant as the soccer community becomes more fluid.

Arbitrary lines on a map should not control the destiny of youth soccer players, and the Utah Youth Soccer Association must permit players to decide where, and with whom, to play. There may be a role for geographic districts for representational purposes, but districts should not be operating programs that compete with their members. Similarly, no membership organization should be saddled with the added obligations of district status. The Association should eliminate an unnecessary and costly layer of administration. Member organizations of all stripes should affiliate directly with the state association.

The Association must also address and resolve inequities in the governance of the State Competition League. Consider, for instance, that the Boys and Girls Competition Directors are not elected by the membership of the State Competition Leagues. Instead, these officers are elected in Association-wide elections in which 80% of the voting strength comes from non-competition programs. This is akin to allowing Californians to vote with Utahns in the election of Utah's governor.

Just as glaring is the disenfranchisement of member organizations in the operation of the State Competition League. Under the present system, each geographic district receives one representative on the respective Competition Boards. Often a district's representative is-or is perceived by others to be-closely aligned with a single member organization within that district. As a result, the outcast member organizations often feel that they lack a voice on the Board. The Competition Boards should be revamped so that every member organization of a threshold size will have a representative on the Board.

There are many other reforms worthy of discussion. Among these is the adoption of a "club pass" that would allow players to compete on more than one team within a member organization during the seasonal year. This concept aids player development because it permits players to receive a variety of experiences. It also recognizes that, over the course of a calendar year, a child's needs can change dramatically. The new online management system has been designed to accommodate a "club pass" concept; the Association need only make the rule changes necessary to support this progressive concept.

Some may question whether these changes can be accomplished over the next twenty-five months. Yet, if the last twenty-five months are any guide, there is little than cannot be accomplished by a united Utah soccer community.

I am proud of the progress we have made over the last two years. I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that the Utah soccer community has been transformed over that time. I am deeply appreciative of the many people who invest their time and effort to serve our game and the children of Utah. For the last two years, the cause of soccer in Utah has been my concern. It will undoubtedly remain one of my passions. And it remains my hope that every child's soccer dream will become a reality in Utah.

Paul C. Burke
President
Utah Youth Soccer Association