Urbana Soccer Association Monthly Meeting Wednesday March 17, 2004 Ijamsville Methodist Church   Attendees:  David Ward, Karen Selwyn, Al Selwyn, Donna Pike, Steve Mayberry, Steve McKinley, John Jaworski     USA President David Ward called the meeting to order at 7:33pm.    Minutes:  The minutes were approved as submitted by Karen Selwyn and seconded by Donna Pike.   Registrar’s Report:  (Karen Selwyn) Currently 421 players registered on 27 teams and U6 program. Coaches - please contact Karen if there are players who drop out or have never shown up for a practice.   Treasurers Report:  (Al Selwyn) Currently have $18,628 in the treasury with many bills left to pay.   Field Fund contains $3,890.   Vice President’s Report: (Andy Keen) Not Present.   NOTE: Andy will be doing a field lining schedule before games start in April. Each age group will be responsible for lining its own game field.   Secretary’s Report: (Donna Pike) Not present.   Coaches Education:  (David Ward) We held a passing clinic at Urbana Park on 3/7. Four coaches were able to attend.   Stephanie Downs and John Jaworski both received their USSF 'F' licenses on 3/13 at MHS.   There is a USSF 'E' license course at Heritage Farm Park on 3/20,21. Contact Kathryn Welty to register - 301-663-9098.   We also held a very good discussion on what we can do to improve the level of coaching throughout the Ass'n coaching staff. Several good suggestions were made and will be discussed in future meetings:   Requiring appropriate USSF/NSCAA licensing prior to a coach's second season. Creating the position of Coaching Director who's tasked with creating a coaching manual as well as establishing a mentoring system for coaches. It was thought that the CD would not coach a team directly so that he/she had time during the week to work with the remaining coaches. This might even be a paid position. Having more coaching get-togethers to go over soccer topics of interest. Mandatory coaches meeting prior to each season.   Field Maintance:  (David Ward) Initial field lining will take place on Saturday 3/27 starting at 9:00AM. We need to line all three game fields that day. Rain date is Sunday 3/28 at 9:00AM.   Steve Mayberry volunteered to buy up-to $500 worth of construction fencing to put behind goals on the Upper/Lower Fields to prevent balls from leaving the field. Steve will set up a date to install once he has the product in hand.   Newsletter Update/Status:  (Open) If you are interested in doing the newsletter, please contact David Ward (david.ward@acterna.com).   Pictures:  (David Ward) Bill Adkins will be doing pictures again. Pictures will be taken during the weeks 4/19-4/30. A picture schedule has been distributed to coaches. Picture forms will be distributed with uniforms. Please make sure that all players wear their complete uniforms for pictures.   Volunteer's Dinner: (David Ward) Dinner will be held on Saturday 3/27 at Paisano's Restaurant in Rockville. We'll start at 6:00 PM with dinner at 7:00 PM. Dinner is free but there will be a cash bar. Thanks to the Azat family for always putting on this great affair.   Game Protocol (David Ward) We reviewed the game protocol for home/away games. This will also be sent out in an email prior to first games.   Uniforms (David Ward) Uniforms will be available the week of 3/29 (will be in the shed). Returning players only receive new socks. New players receive a complete uniform (socks, jersey, shorts). NOTE: U6s will receive their t-shirts at our first U6 session (4/3).   Coaches Game/Picnic (David Ward) We will hold a coaches game and picnic on Saturday May 29. We need a coach (or coach's spouse) to volunteer to organize the picnic part of this. All coaches and spouses are invited to play in a fun soccer game followed by a picnic. Food and drink will be provided by the Association.   Spring 2004 Participation Awards: (Al Selwyn) Al is having trouble finding navy blue sling backpacks so we'll go with royal blue.   FASA Update:  (Donna Pike) FASA is willing to put on both a coaches clinic and a players clinic. David will contact Bo (FASA) to see if we can find a date that will work.   USA Dutch 4v4 Tournament: (David Ward) We will hold our Dutch-style, in-house, 4v4 tournament on Easter Saturday (4/10). Each age group (U8, U10, U12, U14 and Open) will be coed and there will be trophies for the 1st and 2nd place players in each age group. U8s will kick off at 9:00, followed by U10s at 11:00, U12s at 1:00, U14s at 3:00 and Open at 5:00. All participants will receive a t-shirt. This is an individual-based tournament open to all currently registered Urbana Soccer players (Open division is open to all).   Coaches - please tell your players about the tournament. The whole team does not have to show up.   An email detailing how the tournament will work will be sent out the first week in April.   UK Elite Camp for Summer 2004:  (Donna Pike) UK Elite will once again be running our camp. Dates are 7/5-7/9. Visit the UK Elite web site (www.ukelite.com) for registration/details. All registered Urbana Soccer players should receive camp flyers in the mail.   New Business:  (All) None.    The meeting was adjourned at 8:48pm.