SOUTH CAROLINA YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

COLUMBIA, SC

JANUARY 18, 2004

The meeting was called to order by President Fred Bieber at 9:40 am.

The following members were present and constituted a quorum: 

Fred Bieber, Steve Ballentine, Cathy Ballentine, Mary Bynum, Bob Brantley, Doug Gaddis, Barry Bynum, Tom Pietras, Jane Simmons, Michelle Jenkins (for Madelyn Carter), Danny Plummer, Dawn Anderson and Lisa Miller

 Board member not in attendance: Michael Cook.

 Guests present: Nancy Shultz, SCYSA Administrative Assistant.

 Mary made a motion to accept the November 17, 2003 BOD minutes.  Steve seconded the motion.

 The motion carried unanimously.

 COMMUNICATIONS: Fred

• Discussed the request made by Columbia Area Soccer Officials Association to use SCYSA logo on referee flip coins.

Tom made a motion to allow CASOA to have a referee flip coin minted that has the SCYSA logo on one side. Doug seconded the motion.

The motion carried unanimously.

• Discussed SCYSA Apparel. Barry will review.
• USYSA reports that we have paid for 13,342 players. We now have 15,981 registered players. A check will be sent for the 2,639 difference.
• Copies of the following items were made available for review:

o       USSF Conflict of Interest Policy

• West Virginia Youth Soccer Association’s Calendar of Events and Procedures for Discipline and Appeals
• Policies on misconduct from North Texas and Virginia
• Young Referee Nominations

VICE PRESIDENT: Steve

Risk Management

• Completing random background checks. The state office is assisting with this task. Risk Management Committee will meet on any discrepancies found between the background checks and volunteer disclosure statements.
• Received approximately 200 disclosure statements from referees. These are being done at the referee clinics. No discrepancies have been found on these forms.
• Two clubs are not in compliance and have not sent in volunteer disclosure forms. Notice of fines will be sent out within the next two weeks.

Discipline and Appeals

• Coach Van Ray of Lexington County DOR received a one-year suspension for failing to show with his team at the 2003 Fall Tide American Cup.  He did not appeal within 10 days.
• We would like to introduce a referee harassment charge to our current misconduct policy. This will be presented at or before the next meeting.

Newsletter

• Thanked contributors. All 4 issues were completed and sent out on time.
• Reminded regular contributors to send in articles.
• 2003-2004 rate and publishing schedule was reviewed.
• Cathy requested that the mid-state commissioner submit articles.
• Contract with Dharma Company is issue-to-issue. The cost of four issues is approximately $53,000.
• Discussed sending the newsletter electronically and making sure that numerous copies of the newsletter are not sent to one address.
• Discussed possible improvements to the SCYSA web site.

CUPS & GAMES DIRECTOR: Barry

• Discussed in-state tournaments. We are averaging 24 tournaments a year. These tournaments have generated approximately $19,000 per year for SCYSA.
• Discussed promoting more in-state tournaments and assisting small clubs in organizing tournaments with/without other clubs.
• A club in good standing may host a tournament as long as it doesn’t conflict with a SCYSA State Cup event; therefore, more than one in-state tournament may be held on the same weekend.
• Discussed age groups in the SCSCL and Premier Leagues.

Barry made a motion that teams participating in the SCSCL and Region III Premier Leagues must play in the same age group during cup play as they did during league play. Bob seconded the motion.

Cathy made a friendly amendment for the motion to read: Teams participating in the SCSCL and Region III Premier League must play in the same age group during cup play as the did during league play for their cup season.

Barry and Bob accepted the amendment. Michelle seconded the motion.

The motion passed.

§         Increases in fees were discussed.

Barry made a motion to increase the American, Classic and Challenge Cup bond fee from $225 to $250 and the application fee from $225 to 250. Steve seconded the motion.

Danny made a friendly amendment to increase the fees to $275.

Barry and Steve accepted the amendment.

§         A discussion was held on possible increases in referee fees.

Steve made a friendly amendment to increase the American, Classic and Challenge Cup bond fee to $300 and the application fee to $300. Barry accepted the amendment. Dawn seconded the motion.

The motion passed.

Barry made a motion to increase the SCSCL fees from $375 to $450 to coincide with other league fees. Tom seconded the motion.

The motion carried unanimously.

§         Discussed increasing the amount that we pay clubs for field usage during State Cup.

§         Discussed roster requirements for Premier League teams and the 60% rule currently in place.

Barry made a motion to use the matrix seen below to determine the number of players that must be retained from the previous year’s State Cup roster for entry into the Premier League in the 2004-2005 seasonal year. Danny seconded the motion.

The motion carried unanimously.

• Brief discussion held on making the Challenge Cup Trophies mobile trophies. 

SECRETARY:  Lisa

No report.

TREASURER: Tom

The financial statement was reviewed.

REGISTRAR: Jane

• Past due bills were sent out to commissioners.
• Jane asked for help from the commissioners with collecting past due monies.
• Players going to pre-season tournaments in August may use either the new season player pass or the current year’s players pass.

PIEDMONT DISTRICT COMMISSIONER: Michelle (for Madelyn)

• Team United Soccer Club registered late.
• Requested support from the board in collecting upfront fees.
• A request was made by a Piedmont District Club to allow the DOC to have one pass that allows him/her to coach numerous teams.  It was determined that SCYSA is not equipped to handle this request.

MIDSTATE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER:  Danny

No Report.

COASTAL DISTRICT COMMISSIONER: Cathy

• Received a request from Blue Crab and Hilton Head to combine clubs for the spring due to the fact that separately they do not have enough players to field teams at the U13 boys and U12 girls levels.

Cathy made a motion to allow Blue Crab and Hilton Head to combine their U13 Boys Classic teams and their U12 girls Classic teams for spring 2004 and play in a classic league, without being able to attend cup or tournament play. Lisa seconded the motion.

The motion passed.

• Ted Rossengarden traveled with his team to FL without permission to travel. Fred referred this case to Discipline and Appeals Committee. Due to a conflict of interest, Steve removed himself from participating in a hearing. Cathy will contact the FL tournament to gather details.

STATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR BOYS: Dawn

• Leaving for sub-regionals Friday.
• Robert Hunter was chosen for the regional pool.
• Van and Dawn will be taking 3 teams to England, April 2-11.
• Dawn thanked Jane for assistance with the paperwork.
• Barry informed the board that Michael Irvin from Summerville Soccer Club requested that ODP Girls and Boys take club obligations of players and coaches into consideration. Dawn and Mary indicated that they tell their players that league play takes priority and that is why make-up dates are built into the calendar.

STATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR GIRLS: Mary

• More information on dates will be coming.
• Mary asked for clarification on returned checks.
• Interstate games were cancelled due to inclement weather. The games will be held next weekend in Columbia. Two regional coaches will be there to observe the girls.

MEMBER AT LARGE: Bob

• Discussed coaching licenses.

Steve made a motion to strongly recommend that all recreational coaches complete the age appropriate Youth Module Training, and all U11-U14 classic coaches obtain an E license and all U15 and above classic coaches obtain a D license. Cathy seconded the motion.

The motion passed.

• Bob will put the information in the newsletter and meet with Van to discuss ways to work with coaches and clubs.

RULES & COMPLIANCE: Michael

Absent

STATE YOUTH RECREATION DIRECTOR: Doug

• Doug discussed promoting the NSCAA membership.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Steve made a motion to move to executive session.  Lisa seconded the motion.

The motion carried unanimously.

Doug made a motion to move out of executive session.  Dawn seconded the motion.

The motion carried unanimously.

• A committee will be formed to study communication within SCYSA. Tom and Steve will serve on the committee.

Tom made a motion to eliminate the requirement that SCYSA clubs adopt the small-sided games concept. Michelle seconded the motion.

The motion failed.

Tom made a motion to clarify if current small-sided games are required.

Tom amended his motion to read: SCYSA will take steps to communicate that compliance with small-sided games is mandatory.

The motion passed.

• Michelle asked if Michael Cook has officially resigned. Fred will follow up with Michael.

NEW BUSINESS:

• SCYSA Presidents’ Workshop will be held August 7, 2004 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbia.

Barry made a motion to accept the nomination of Mark Weston for 2004 Young Male Referee of the Year, contingent upon Mark receiving his certification before State Cup. Dawn seconded the motion.

Doug made a friendly amendment to vote after the certification was received.

The amendment was not accepted.

The motion passed.

• Kristi Temple was voted Young Female Referee of the Year for 2004.
• Mark Weston was voted Young Male Referee of the Year for 2004.

Steve made a motion to adopt a Conflict of Interest Statement. Lisa seconded the motion.

The motion passed.

§         A Referee Harassment Policy will be discussed at the next meeting.

Bob made a motion to adjourn.  Dawn seconded the motion.

The motion carried unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 2:45 pm.

Lisa Miller

SCYSA Secretary