Responsible coaching actually is more difficult, challenging and rewarding than coaching with a “win-at-all-cost” approach. In addition to learning all you can about your sport while honing your x’s and o’s and competing fiercely for wins, you also are committed to a number of more important ideals:

• Ensuring player safety
• Placing education and character development before wins
• Coaching beyond the x’s and o’s
• Coaching athletes to make them fun sports
• Filling “emotional tanks” to improve performance and instill love of the sport
• Living and coaching by a code of “Honoring the Game”

South Carolina Youth Soccer’s 2007 Girl’s Coach of the Year is just such a person. He has coached the Hampton-Varnville Storm girl’s team for over eight years; he encourages the kids to aim higher; he has taken girls to college camps for training; and he encourages the girls to take risks by playing positions out of their comfort levels. These girls look up to him.

The first time Wendy Jarrell met Barry and was inquiring about soccer for her daughter, he kept going on and on about his girls. Later when she asked him how many daughters he had … he said none!. He was referring to his soccer team. Barry is also the President of the Hampton-Varnville club and holds an advanced regional “D” license. If there is ever an opportunity to further his soccer knowledge he is there. He is an outstanding coach and leader in the community. He truly loves soccer, and without him in the club many things would not happen for the kids.

That is why Barry Whittington was name the Liberty Mutual Responsible Coach of the Year for South Carolina. This honor comes with a cash prize for the club of Barry’s choice!

Congratulations Barry!

(The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities, organized by youth soccer association volunteers. The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl, who has a mental or physical disability. Our goal is to enable the thousands of young athletes with disabilities to become valued and successful members of the US Youth Soccer family.

• SC Youth Soccer TopSoccer
• TOPSoccer Online Resource Center
• US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer Grant Applications (doc)
• US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer Grant Winners
• TOPSoccer Parents Guide (PDF)
• TOPSoccer Parents Guide (PDF) - Espanol

1. The Board approved a motion to change the Risk Management Policy section on Applicability to read:

   This policy is applicable to all SC Youth Soccer Board members, District Cabinet members, Referees, Club/League officers, coaches, trainers, and any volunteers that have regular contact with any players, as identified by the president of each club or league and verified by the SC Youth Soccer Board of Directors.

2. The Board approved a motion to change Section V of the Risk Management Policy to read:

To require annually all USSF certified referees over 18 years of age, living in South Carolina and taking part in SC Youth Soccer affiliated matches to complete and submit an SC Youth Soccer Volunteer Disclosure Statement to the SRMC, or their designee.

3. Barry Bynum, will work with the State Referee Administrator, Fred Bieber, to develop a policy and procedure requiring all out of state referees to provide proof of Risk Management compliance from the State Association where they are certified before they are allowed to officiate any SC Youth Soccer sanctioned matches.
4. Steve Cothran presented the Board with a new State Cup Hosting agreement and application. Steve will receive comments from Board members before finalizing the document, which will be effective for the 2008 / 2009 seasonal year.
5. The Board approved a motion to approve the addition of Rule 31. F: "Any recreation or academy non-rostered player who releases from one club to another shall complete the transfer / release form and return their player card to their present club registrar who will send them to the State Registrar before the reassignment will be considered complete. The player will not be allowed to move to another club until their present club's documented financial obligation has been completely satisfied."
6. The Board approved a motion to add a registration sur-charge fee of $2.00 per player for clubs registering players with SC Youth Soccer that are not using the Demoshpere on-line registration program.
7. The Board approved a recommendation from the Office Committee to purchase an office at the Woodlands at Kennerly. This 1550 sq.ft. office site is located at the corner of Broad River Rd. and Kennerly Rd., just off I-26. Approval of the final contract is required by the Board of Directors.
8. As required by US Youth Soccer, the Board approved the payment for hotel accommodations, a travel allowance, and a stipend, for selected referees and assessors attending the Southern Regional Tournament in North Carolina this July.
9. The Board approved the purchase of additional "high visibility" banners with the SC Youth Soccer logo to expand our present signage program.

• SCYSA Parent of the Year - pdf (Entry deadline June 1, 2008)
• SCYSA Boys Coach of the Year - pdf (Entry deadline June 1, 2008)
• SCYSA Girls Coach of the Year - pdf (Entry deadline June 1, 2008)