November 20, 2001   Minutes     Next meeting - Tuesday December 18, 2001 at 7:30   In attendance were the following:   David Ward                 Karen Selwyn Al Selwyn   1.         Registrar's Report: All currently registered players will be receiving mail-in registration forms for Spring 2002 in the first week of January. There will also be in-person registration on Saturday January 19, 2002 and Saturday January 26, 2002. Both in-person registrations will be held from 9:00 AM - noon in the foyer (side entrance) at the Urbana Fire Hall. Registration for Spring 2002 closes on February 1, 2002. Any registrations received after that date are subject to a $10 late fee and a potential waiting list. We will be putting up flyers at local schools, and adding blurbs to their weekly newsletters about registration. We will also put a blurb in the newsletters for the Villages and Spring Ridge. If you live in one of the new developments, please help us by spreading the word when you receive your registration information. We've had to disappoint many families especially in the Villages because they missed registration and contacted us so late we couldn't do anything for them. Please remember that late registrations put a real strain on the Association, and make it very difficult for us to make teams, assign coaches, etc. Registration closes February 1, 2002. Please mail in your forms prior to that date. For those who played in the Fall, registration fees will be $20 less for the Spring (no uniform, insurance, administration, etc. fee to pay) - $45 for U6, $55 for U8-U12, $60 for U13-U14. For those who did not play in the Fall, you will be subject to the additional $20 fee (except U6) - $45 for U6, $75 for U8-U12, $80 for U13-14. Fall 2001 players will only be given new socks for Spring 2002. They are expected to wear their jersey/shorts from Fall 2001 in Spring 2002. If your child has outgrown or worn out their jersey/shorts, a new set can be purchased for $20. Please include that money with your registration check and make a note to that effect on the registration form (along with the proper sizes). Please watch the web site (http://www.netstorm.net/~rward/urbanasoccer) for more details. 2.         Treasurer’s Report: We have a carry-over of approximately $5,000 from Fall 2001. Most of this money will be used to buy 10 pairs of small goals (i.e., goals for 4v4). Preliminary Spring 2002 budget has been created and is under review.   3.         Vice-President’s Report: Not present.   4.         Secretary’s Report: Not present.   5.         Coaches Education: There are currently no 'F' or 'E' courses scheduled in the area. There is a 'D' course scheduled for 12/27-12/31 in St. Michael's. We are working on offering both CPR and Sports First Aid training to all coaches prior to the start of Spring 2002 season. More on this later. Check www.msysa.org for more details and more courses. All coaches are encouraged to continue their soccer education with these valuable courses. The Association reimburses all coaching course costs. Also, remember to take a look at the local library - it has some very good books and videos available. If you have any of the videos given out at the October coaches meeting, please get them back to David when you get a chance so that we can distribute them to other coaches.   6.         Field Maintenance: The lack of rain has prevented the seed planted on the Upper and Lower Fields from germinating. David will re-seed the penalty boxes on the Upper Field this weekend since rain is expected (and hopefully, it won't get too cold). We will probably re-seed the penalty boxes again in March. Please remember that the soccer fields at Urbana Park are currently closed for use. Soccer can be played at Urbana Elementary School in the meantime.   7.         Big Hill Update: We're still waiting to get the permit renewed.   8.         Newsletter Update: We're hoping to get a second newsletter out in December. This one will be mailed to all registered players.   9.         Indoor Soccer: Indoor season is upon us. The following teams are playing in session 1 - Ward U14 Girls Freedom (The Goal), Ward U14 Coed Lumberjacks (Sportsplex), Carey U14 Coed Rockets (2 teams - The Goal), Bodine U10 Coed (The Goal), Pike U8 Coed Superstars (The Goal), Loveless U8 Coed Wave (The Goal). Session 2 starts in January for those who are interested in playing January/February.   10.     Bylaws Committee: We held our first meeting on November 8 to establish our bylaws. We had a very good meeting and created a rough draft of approximately 75% of the necessary items. We will finish the rough draft at our next meeting which is scheduled for Thursday 12/6 at 7:00 PM at the Cracked Claw. We will then review and adopt the bylaws prior to Spring 2002 Season.   11.     Columbia Recreational Tournament: Urbana had 4 teams (USA McDonald, USA Hajjar, USA SuperBabes and USA Lumberjacks) entered in this high-caliber recreational tournament against teams from Columbia, Kent Island, Laurel and elsewhere. USA Hajjar (U-11 Coed) was 2nd place!!! Congratulations to all who participated.   12.     FCYSL Tournament: The following teams entered the end-of-season FCYSL tournament: USA Bodine, USA Champions, USA Cordani, USA Freedom, USA Fritz, USA Galaxy, USA Hajjar, USA Heavner, USA Keen, USA Lightning, USA McDonald, USA Rockets, USA Shooting Stars, USA SuperBabes. The USA Champions (U-12 Girls Division 2 - very appropriate name) won the U-12 Division 2 Girls trophy in exciting fashion with a 6-4 win over CYA! Congratulations to all who participated.   13.     MAYAA U-8 Tournament: All four USA U8 teams participated in the MAYAA U-8 tournament. USA Superstars and USA Blue Lightning advanced past the round-robin round. Congratulations to all who participated.   14.     UHS Soccer Update: The UHS girls team won the 3A West Region with a convincing 3-0 win over South Carroll. They were then defeated 4-0 in the State 3A semi-finals by eventual champion River Hill. The UHS boys team fell to Paint Branch 1-0 in a hard-fought 3A West finals game. Both teams enjoyed their best win-loss records ever at UHS. Congratulations! Hopefully, our up-and-coming USA players will continue the winning tradition. NOTE: UHS Football - The BIG football game vs. Seneca Valley in the 3A semifinals is Friday 11/23 at 7:00 PM at Seneca Valley HS in Germantown (off of Middlebrook Rd.).   15.     Urbana District Park: The Master Plan Committee for the new Urbana District Park to be located just north of the current Urbana Community Park had a walk-through of the property on 11/6. The parcel is not particularly level, but there is a large area that the consultants think can be made into ballfields. David Ward (USA's representative on the MPC) suggested that the softball fields located on the soccer field at UCP be moved to the new UDP. This would create enough space at UCP for one or two more soccer fields at UCP. This seems prudent since softball/baseball fields are easier and quicker to build than new soccer fields. NOTE: It will be several years before any fields are available at UDP as planning is just in its initial phases.   16.     Alternative Color Uniforms: We have chosen the silver and blue Casablanca jersey (and silver socks) as our alternative color uniform. Teams interested in getting alternative color uniforms (instead of wearing pinneys when there are color conflicts) need to contact David Ward before February 1. Teams will be responsible for reimbursing the Association for the costs of the jerseys/socks (approximately $15 per set).   17.     Coaches Nights: Next Coaches Night is planned for 1/10/02.   18.     Association Insurance: Prior to the Spring 2002 season, we will be purchasing liability insurance ($350) for the Association and its officers.   19.     MSYSA Membership: The Association will join MSYSA directly (instead of via FCYSL) as soon as our bylaws are complete (bylaws are a requirement for membership). There is a small initial cost (approximately $50).   20.     New Business: Spring is always a tough time to find field space for practice due to sharing with baseball, softball and lacrosse. Proposed Spring 2002 practice sites are: Urbana Park Upper Field (shared with baseball/softball), Urbana Park Lower Field, Urbana Park grass area (by the tennis courts), Urbana Elementary School (shared with baseball/softball), Urbana Recycling Center (shared with lacrosse), Windsor Knolls Middle School (shared with LUYAA soccer), Urbana High School soccer practice field (shared with Frederick United), Spring Ridge Community Park (shared with Frederick United), Spring Ridge Elementary School. If we are using the Recycling Center (which is likely), for safety reasons, I will ask all parents not to use the Recycling Center driveway to drop-off/pick-up players at the Park.