Unapproved Draft Minutes

UTAH YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION
Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Directors
November 11, 2006

CALL TO ORDER

President Leisa Vineyard called the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Utah Youth Soccer Association to order at 2:00 p.m. at Sherwood Hills Resort in Logan, Utah. The following Board members were present during the meeting:

Leisa Vineyard-President
Cindy Baron, Vice President
Jodi Wells, Secretary
Kurt Cottrell, Competition Director
Allan Jones, District 1 Chairperson
John Johnson, District 3 proxy
Pat Sebring, District 4 Proxy
Brian Smith, District 5 Chairperson
Rich Egan, District 6 Chairperson
Norm Williamson, SYRA

Also present Paul Skinner (Top Soccer), Jodene Smith (Risk Management), Linda Kay Messenger (Tournament Chairperson), Stephanie Kirtley (Member Services/Office), Amy Oakeson (Programs Director/Office), Corinne Piazza (Public Relations/Office).

WELCOME

President Leisa Vineyard welcomed those board members and visitors in attendance and thanked them for coming.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING

Motion was made and seconded to accept the meeting minutes from the August 17, 2006 meeting. Minutes were accepted.

REPORTS

COMPETITION DIRECTOR

Competition Director-Kurt Cottrell reported that there were many issues concerning boy's teams. The Developmental pass has also had a lot of issues. The Suggestions on that are that Premier players are unable to use it, because so many are going down to lower division teams, although other players can move up or down. Cottrell concluded in stating that the Competition Committee meetings are on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 8:00 p.m. at the State Office. These are open meetings, and anyone can attend.

TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE

Tournament Committee Chairperson, Linda Kay Messenger reported that the Tournament Committee had just had their meeting, and it went very well, every weekend during the summer has at least one tournament scheduled, some have two.

Messenger also reported that when District 1 made the agreement with State to take over the Pioneer Cup, they agreed to pay $10,000. There is an issue if that commitment has been meet. The agreement expires in 2007. The office has difficulty getting response from anyone to clarify this agreement. One more attempt will be made to clear this up before any future tournaments can be sanctioned.

STATE CUP

State Cup representative, Jodi Wells stated that this falls state cup went fairly well. We had several teams that did not make it to check in, but with the new rules, we were able to get them checked in and they were able to play, it cost them some money, but they were able to participate in State Cup.

Wells also reported that we had many Red Cards given, and some people felt that the penalties were a little harsh, but we were consistent with what penalties were handed down. We are in hopes that by doing this, the players will think before they commit a penalty.

Wells concluded in reporting that we will be doing more specific check in compliance across the board. We will be sending out an e-mail blast to coaches and team managers of exactly what is required prior to check in.

DISTRICT REPORTS

District 1 Chairperson, Alan Jones reported that his district had a team at State Cup that forgot their player passes, and were unable to play their game; the punishment that was handed down was very heavy handed. We need to determine the punishment on a case-by-case basis.

Jones also thanked the state for recognizing the late Scott Davis on the web site. Jones made the motion to reimburse the District 1 team their state cup bond due to financial issues.

Majority rules to give them back their bond.

District 2-No report

District 3, Proxy John Johnson, no report

District 4, Proxy Pat Sebring reported that the season went very well; we had a few referee issues, but worked them out.

Sebring concluded in reporting that they have started an Academy League for the U8 and U9's. We used a center referee and had parents run the lines, it went very well.

District 5 Chairperson, Brian Smith reported that he was elected as the new Chairperson for District 5 and that Ross Salmon was put in as the new Boys Director of Competition for District 5.

District 6 Chairperson, Rich Eagan reported that the fall season went well. We are currently working on our District calendaring right now, and putting together education courses, for their district.

Eagan concluded in reporting that their district is working on finding a way to enhance their district program.

ITEMS OF DISCUSSION

SIDELINE/PLAYER AREA POLICY

The Sideline/player area is as follows, Team A and their parents will be on the same sideline. The team will be on the assistant referee side of the field. Team B and their parents will be on the same sideline as well, and the team will be on the same sideline as the assistant referee.

President Leisa Vineyard asked each of the Districts on their feedback on this policy. District 1 was in favor, District 3 was torn, some like it, some do not, District 4 wants to leave it as it is with teams on same side and parents on same side, and District 5 is in favor of it.

Vineyard stated that Technical Director, Greg Maas has talked with many people about this, and has received the feedback that this is a good idea.

Motion made to accept the Sideline/player area policy as written and seconded.

Majority in favor, motion passed.

Vineyard stated that this would be in place for the spring season.

REFEREE ASSIGNING

Referee assigning-possibility of bringing it in-house.

President Leisa Vineyard stated that with the new on-line system, we would be able to have all referee assignors use this to assign all referees. One problem with this is that people do not look on the on-line system on a regular basis, but we can go in and change that.

District 5 Chairperson, Brian Smith asked if there was a reporting system that our assignors can use.

Vineyard stated that we could work with all assignors and train them on the system. We can make it possible within the rules to require that all assigning be done within the ADG system. By having a uniformed way of assigning, we would be able to improve they way referees are assigned

The motion was made and seconded to use the system statewide for all referee assignors, it reads as this:

This ADG system will be required for the Spring Season, all UYSA state competition league games, x-league and State Cup, Presidents Cup, and any other state sponsored tournaments, including and not limited to.

Motion passed. This will be in place for the Spring Season.

RE-STRUCTURE OF THE UYSA OFFICE STAFF

President, Leisa Vineyard stated that with the talent that we have already in the office, an Office Manager could cover everything that we need. We need to continue to grow and serve the people.

Vineyard stated that Corinne has taken over the Marketing aspect of the office.

Vineyard also stated that the office staff is good to follow the rules, and we have had no complaints. The money situation is fine; we are just finishing up the audit. We have discussed about contracting the accounting out, and we are outsourcing our reconciliation. However, the Office is handling the business side.

District 4 Proxy, Pat Sebring, stated that we really need an administer with soccer experience in the office.

District 3 Proxy, John Johnson stated that if we are looking to move ahead, we need to find someone who fills the executive director role.

Motion to table this discussion until executive session, motion passed.

PRESIDENTAL APPOINTMENTS

Motion was made, seconded and approved to ratify Jodene Smith as the Risk Management Chairperson, by President Leisa Vineyard.

MISC. ITEMS

Vice President, Cindy Barron stated that the Rules Committee is meeting Wednesday, November 15, 2006, and that any rule changes need to be in by December 20th at 5:00 p.m. for the State AGM in February.

Office Personnel Stephanie Kirtley proposed that we purchase a copy machine hole punch attachment. With the cost comparison on the attachment vs. hole-punched paper, the attachment would pay for itself in just 1 year with all of the booklets that we put together.

Motion was made and seconded to purchase a copy machine hole punch attachment.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Office staff restructuring and hiring was discussed.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion was made, seconded and approved to adjourn at 4:00 p.m. The next meeting of the Board of Directors of the Utah Youth Soccer Association is scheduled for Thursday, January 18, 2007 at 8:00 p.m. at the State Office of Utah Youth Soccer Association.

These draft minutes were prepared by Secretary Jodi Wells.
Please direct any corrections or clarifications to ewells@networld.com