Unapproved Draft Minutes

UTAH YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION
Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Directors
March 15, 2007

CALL TO ORDER

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Utah Youth Soccer Association was called to order by President Scott Maxfield at 8:18 p.m. at the State Office of Utah Youth Soccer Association in Salt Lake City, Utah. The following Board members were present during the meeting:

Scott Maxfield, President
Cindy Baron, Vice President
Jodi Wells, Secretary
Terri Baker, Recreation Director
Kurt Cottrell, Competition Director
Alan Jones, District 2 Chairperson
Eric Wells, Proxy District 2 Chairperson
Rich Egan, District 6 Chairperson
Norm Williamson, SYRA

Also present were Greg Maas (State Technical Director), Linda Kay Messenger (Tournament Chairperson), Paul Skinner (Top Soccer Chairperson),

Excused Members were Bruce Cuppett (State Cup Chairperson), Kim Smith (Protest and Appeals Chairperson), Jodene Smith (Risk Management Chairperson), Dave Mills (District 4 Chairperson), and Delon Brower (District 7 Chairperson).

WELCOME

President Scott Maxfield welcomed those board members in attendance and thanked them for coming.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING

The following correction was made to the minutes under the Treasurer Position heading it should read:

District 6 Chairperson, Rich Egan stated that would be a pretty big jump in risk profile. Maxfield stated that I am just throwing out different options we can leave it as is, because it is making money.

Egan stated that we could look at increasing the risk a level in the future, but we shouldn't go from CD level risk to mutual fund level risk overnight.

Motion was made and seconded to accept the meeting minutes with those corrections from the February 15, 2006 Board meeting. Minutes were accepted.

REPORTS

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

State Technical Director, Greg Maas reported that the UYSA Coaching Education courses have been going on and have been well attended.

Maas also reported that we have received requests from the Utah Universities for the use of our Mailing list, for their camps etc.

Maas also reported that the US Youth Soccer National Workshops in St. Louis was February 27 through March 4, 2007. The sessions that I did went very well. I have received positive feedback from coaches around the country. It was very positive.

Maas also reported on the Far West Regional League, play dates are slated for March 24-25 and April 14-15, both dates in Cal South. There has been some massive scheduling and rescheduling problems, but everything is set from this point forward. We have 6-7 teams from Utah that are participating in this league.

Maas also reported that the final ODP training will be Saturday, March 17, 2007 for the girls, and the final State Team Pool selections will be Wednesday, March 21, 2007.

Maas concluded in reporting that he would be out of the office from March 16-25, 2007, he will be in Costa Rica with the Region IV ODP '92 Team.

COMPETITION DIRECTOR

Competition Director, Kurt Cottrell reported that the alignment is set, and we are just waiting for schedules to be completed.

Cottrell also reported that Saturday, March 31, 2007 will be the spring season start date. Cottrell also reported that we have had trouble with getting all of the fields put in. We have a lot of TBD fields; because the cities and such have not given out what fields can be used this spring.

RECREATION DIRECTOR

Recreation Director, Terri Baker reported that she is new at this, and is working on recreation tournament. The Kohl's American Cup which will be May 19, 2007. This is open to U5 through U18 recreation teams only. It is a 4 v 4 format and the cost is $80.00. This will be held up in Cache Valley in North Logan.

President, Scott Maxfield stated that we would like to move the x-league under the recreation umbrella. Bruce Cuppett has done the schedule and alignment for this spring, and is willing to help Terri out this fall in getting the alignment and schedule done.

Baker stated that we should try and keep a distinction between recreation, x-league, and competition, so there is not so much confusion. Baker also stated that she would like to get Soccer in a Box along with a procedural manual put together to present to areas that would like to participate with UYSA Soccer.

TOP SOCCER

Top Soccer Chairperson, Paul Skinner, Thanked the Board allowing him to attend the US Youth Soccer National Workshops in St. Louis.

Skinner also reported that the Real Season Opener, April 7, 2007, Top Soccer kids will be performing during the half time show. I have been in contact with Linda Smith in District 6 because they have a great Top Soccer program, and have their kids participate.

Skinner also reported that the Region IV Top Soccer Symposium will be April 14-15, 2007 here in Salt Lake. We have 15 people that have already paid, and a total of 33 that have confirmed that they will be attending. Everything is coming together nicely. I would encourage every district to have someone attend; it will be Top Soccer 101.

Skinner concluded in stating that if any district is interested, I will come down to your area and promote the Top Soccer program and help you get it started.

STATE CUP

State Cup Assistant Chairperson, Jodi Wells reported that we have received a lot of e-mails and phone calls concerning the bond checks being cashed. We have had several incidents last fall that required us to cash them, and they bounced. The cost of the tournament and bond is $1050, you divide that up among the team, you are looking at around $50-$60 per kid. That is a cheap tournament, if you were going to an out of town tournament, you have to pay for hotel etc, and the cost is much higher.

Wells concluded in stating that the entry deadline for State Cup is Saturday, March 31, 2007. I will be coming up to the office by 5:15 p.m. to pick up any entries that have been dropped through the door, any dropped off after that will not be accepted.

DISTRICTS

District 1 Chairperson, Alan Jones reported that they are implementing a mentoring program within their district, we are also looking for a woman to help mentor as well. Jones also reported that their district is trying to work out field boundaries.

Jones concluded in reporting that they are trying to get a solid set of candidates for elections that are coming up.

District 2 Proxy, Eric Wells reported that they will be holding their elections next month. Wells also reported that they have also been discussing referee mentoring with District 2.

Wells also reported that they have a U9 Girls Coach that has reached out to other areas to get a U9 league started. We really need to consider bringing back some form of league for the U9's especially for the girls.

District 6 Chairperson, Rich Egan reported that they are in the middle of finishing up their recreation schedules.

Egan also reported that they have completed some youth modules; we have other license classes going.

Egan also reported that they are meeting with the school districts to implement proper use of fields and get a rain out policy that is consistent.

Egan concluded in reporting that their registrar is back and she and her baby are healthy and doing well.

ITEMS OF DISCUSSION

HIRING OF OFFICE PERSONNEL

President, Scott Maxfield stated that we have hired a receptionist to work from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., her name is Mandy. We are still looking for someone to work from Noon to 5:00 p.m.

Maxfield also stated that we have posted the Executive Director position on the USYSA Website, and we have received 2 applications. We have also posted it on the NSCAA website. The deadline is March 30, 2007. We have also advertised it locally as well. We are in hopes to get a few more candidates before the deadline.

TOURNAMNET/President's CUP POLICIES

Tournament Director, Linda Kay Messenger stated that we need to review the following items under the President's Cup policy:

1. The President's Cup tournament shall offer at least three divisions of play: (1) A premier division open only to UYSA teams: (2) an open competition division; and (3) an open division for recreation teams;

2. The President's Cup Tournament Committee may adopt different entry fees for each division;

3. The state Competition League shall not schedule regular season matches during the President's Cup Tournament;

4. The premier division of the President's Cup will not permit guest players nor allow teams to enter divisions above their registered age group;

5. Notice of this policy will be sent, within twenty days, to all presidents of recreation leagues and to coaches of all teams currently registered in the State Competition League.

Motion was made and seconded to delete those 5 items from the President's Cup policy.

Messenger stated that the Tournament Committee is made up of everyone who hosts a tournament, and we met in January, we wanted to have a consistent policy for tournament check in. We came up with the following procedure for all tournaments to follow on check in. Everyone must have an affinity generated roster, registration forms-which contain the medical waiver, birth certificates, and laminated player passes.

Messenger also stated that Coaches need to let their registrars know what tournaments they will be attending, especially early tournaments, so the registrars can get passes made for them. Messenger also stated that for Guest players, they need to have registration form, birth certificate, player pass, and player action form.

President Scott Maxfield asked that Linda Kay get something written up for next meeting, an outline of procedures for all tournaments to follow for check in. We can then get this out to all tournament directors that have state sanctioned tournaments.

Messenger stated that the Registrars were putting information out to coaches in their packets at tryouts.

Messenger concluded in stating that UYSA would provide a state banner to be placed at each tournament.

President, Scott Maxfield stated that he was putting together a policy and rules rewrite committee, once this has been confirmed, he will send it out to the board for review.

RISK MANAGEMENT-RECREATION COACHES

President, Scott Maxfield stated that we need to follow some safety guidelines, and we need to convey these to all new coaches.

*Never be alone one-on-one with a player
*Never give a player(s) a ride home alone
*Always have an assistant at practice. If an assistant is not available, use a parent.
*Never contact a player by phone or e-mail directly, communicate through the parent
*Never leave a player un-attended at the field. Have a parent wait with you until the player's parent or ride has arrived.
*Make sure player is wearing proper equipment, shin guards
*Never allow a non-registered child play with your team

These safety reminders are intended for the safety of the player as well as the coach and assistant coach. Please try to implement them, and spend more time to educate your coaches on these issues. These measures are not intended to make things more difficult, but safer for all involved.

Recreation Director, Terri Baker suggested that it might be appropriate to have something that they would sign.

Maxfield suggested that Terri get with Jodene Smith, Risk Management Chairperson, and get something put together for this next season.

ADG SYSTEM FOR REFEREE ASSIGNING

President Scott Maxfield stated that from the information that he was given, the ADG System for the Referee Assigning will not work, he will be talking to Sue on Friday, to get this worked out.

Maxfield stated that we could maybe take one age group in a division, and use it to make sure that it will work like we need it to. It will work for tournament play.

Referee Gunther Haidenthaller stated that maybe we should have the assignors be limited to geographic districts.

SYRA Norm Williamson stated that the system won't accept a referee until their games are accepted. The system can not handle it.

Maxfield stated that we need to make refereeing better. Maybe we could help supplement the mentoring programs. Another way is to ask each tournament to have experienced referees watch some games and evaluate referees, mentor and work with them. They could identify most improved young referee for the tournament.

Haidenthaller stated that we need more experienced referees, and we need more mentoring going on.

Maxfield also stated that State Cup is the only time we have assessors at tournaments. We should have them at more tournaments. We need to work with them and be a part of the solution.

Motion was made and seconded to suspend the use of the ADG system for League play, but it would still be used for State Tournaments and State Cup.

Motion passed.

President, Scott Maxfield stated that Registration forms will be available in about 1 week. Maxfield also reported that he met with St. George last weekend they have over 3200 players. 52 regional competition teams and 4 ODP players from down there.

Maxfield also stated that they want to play in State Cup; we will need to address this issue and work with them.

Maxfield also stated that the growth is amazing down there, their referees have not been certified in the past, but they are developing a good pool of referees down there.

President Scott Maxfield reminded everyone that April 7th is the home opener for REAL Salt Lake, and it is Youth Soccer Day. Our AGM Award winners will be acknowledged at half time.

ACTION ITEMS

CLUB AFFILIATION

Club Affiliation from District 6

District 6 Chairperson Rich Egan stated that they had met with the South Davis Soccer Club, and they had agreed to change their name to the Davis Football Club. The state had rejected their first paperwork, because it was on the wrong form, so they are getting the paperwork finished up and we will get is signed and move forward.

Motion was made and seconded to accept the application of the Davis Football Club, once the final paperwork to the state has been completed.

Motion was made and seconded to move in to Executive Session at 10:30.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

There was no business to attend to.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion was made, seconded and approved to adjourn at 10:30 p.m. The next meeting of the Board of Directors of the Utah Youth Soccer Association is scheduled for Thursday, April 19, 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

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