Notes from the
ASA Planning Meeting
Saturday, January 25, 2003

  • Held in Birmingham on Saturday, January 25th, 2003

All,

       Here are my notes from the open portion of the ASA State Planning Meeting held this past weekend – January 25th. These are not the minutes or exactly what went on, but are my notes taken over the course of the meeting. Some of my own notes are now illegible so I had to try to remember what was said. They are correct to the best of my knowledge. I will add them to the NASL webpage.
      If you were at the meeting and have any corrections please let me know. Also I have put two forms on the web that you need to download and read. One is the 2003 ASA Membership survey. The other is the Region III Position Statement.

Thanks,

Ken Gamble
NASL Secretary
 


Notes from the Alabama Soccer Association
 

2003 ASA PLANNING MEETING AGENDA
Introduction of Board Members
Opening Remarks
Introduction of Survey
Topics

  • ASA Merger Progress

    • Long range plans

    • Utilization of Youth office

    • Referees

  • League Play

    • Division III

    • State Leagues

    • Qualifying Tournament

  • Tournaments

    • State Tournaments

      • Snickers Cup

      • DII State Cup

      • Governors Cup

  • Small-sided Implementation

  • Recreational Development

  • ODP

  • Sponsorship Development

  • Additional Topics from the members
     

 

OPENING REMARKS:

     Alabama has the smallest number of players of any state in Region III. We have about 15,000 to 16,000 players while Tennessee has 42,000, North Carolina has 67,000 and Texas has 300,000. Comparable states in Region III are Arkansas, Mississippi and South Carolina. The regional accomplishments that Alabama has been able to make have been substantial when compared to our small soccer population.
     Ron Evans gave a talk about the need for unity among all the members of ASA saying that, “We need to define what binds us together, not what divides us.” There are single issues which we may have conflicting opinions on but we all are involved in soccer for the main goal of growth in our state.
     Introduction of Board Members – it appeared all board members except Dan Mikos, who showed up at the end of the meeting, were at the meeting. Total attendance (including board and committee members) was about 60 members.
Ron asked for a show of hands to determine which topics would be discussed and in what order.


SCHEDULING:

      Terry Hathcock talked about scheduling and said that they were going to compress the end of the season in 2003 to eliminate that dead period in November when few games were scheduled.
Below is a tentative 2003 schedule I received on Monday morning.

3/15 - Spring League Begins
5/18 - Spring League Ends
6/26 - 7/1 - Region III Youth Regional Championship - Greensboro, N.C.
8/9-10 - D1 Qualifying Tournament - Montgomery
9/6 - Fall League Begins
10/26 - Fall League Ends
10/25-26 - Governor's Cup - Montgomery
11/1-2 - Snicker's Cup - Huntsville
11/8-9 - D II Tournament - Location TBA
11/15-16 - Adult State Cup - Mobile
 

ASA Adults and Youth Merger:

      Dave Busby shared his three page notes regarding the merger from the Amateurs (adult) side of the equation.

Vision – Adults prospective (perspective?):
Long Range Goals: Implementation/ specifics
 

  1. One state office handling all soccer functions within the state. The adult division will help pay in proportion to the number of players for the office administration.

  2. Adults and Youth working together to help increase numbers; forming parental teams from the youth ranks. Goal to increase the number of adult players by 100% within five years. Need to target the Dothan, Mobile, Tuscaloosa, and Decatur markets for this growth.

  3. Coaching Clinics – combination of both youth and adults. Target the adult players to become the next generation of top level coaches. The state doc needs to recruit coaches from the adult teams. Put on coaching clinics specifically for the adult players. This will not only increase the number of qualified coaches, but also will bring in more youth players down the road.

  4. Allocation of resources, i.e. field usage. The development of fields with the adult teams. Allow the adults to use the fields when not being used by the youth. The adults will be more willing to help in the youth ranks, if they feel that the youth is helping them to find more fields.

  5. Sponsorship of the adult State Cup. The adult state cup is very similar to the youth's snickers cup. Need to find a sponsorship for the adults. Could possible hold it in conjunction with the snicker's cup ( at some time in the future).

  6. The merger needs to be marketed in such a way as to provide financial benefits to both divisions. When promoting the development of new youth teams, do not forget the adults. Many parents of youth players have no idea about adult soccer.

  7. The referees. In much the same way as above, we need to utilize all aspects of Alabama soccer to increase participation.

     Dave noted that the Adult Association had been very frugal with their money and that they had some funds in the bank where most adult soccer state associations had little or no funds. He said that the Alabama Adults Association would like the ASA State Office to handle the adult’s business. He said that they would be willing to pay for that administration cost.
     Dave noted that there are many adult leagues and players in the state that are not part of the adult association but are independent and ethnic leagues.
     Dave also noted that the Iguanas (Alabama Adult state champion team) had won Region III and had placed second in the nation at the Adult National Cup. This was an amazing feat for a team from Alabama.

Suggestions were made that included the following:
 

  1. Referee association should contact local adult teams for potential referees. Youth clubs should contact adult teams for potential coaches.

  2. Youth and Adult event calendars should be coordinated to avoid conflicts.

  3. Get adult teams to show up at fields to put on exhibitions for youth teams.

  4. Youth and adult teams should work together to share limited facilities.
     

ASA 2003 Membership Survey

Please fill out and mail in.
A copy of survey form is available at
http://wwwnasl.com/forms/ASA2003MembershipSurvey.pdf


EXPANSION:

      Possible expansion of players in Alabama Youth Soccer include:

LATINO OUTREACH
Lance Williams noted that Region III had a coordinator whose job included providing Spanish language coaching courses. Alabama has a large number of Hispanic players. But it was also noted that just because they spoke a common language in Spanish, these players often came from many different countries and they should not be considered as one group.

INDOOR SOCCER:
Indoor soccer players can be registered as Division III players.


REFEREES:

      Dave Stephenson talked about the referees and their association with ASA. Dave talked about using Grade level 9 referees as a bridge between the grade 10 assistant referees and the Grade 8 course. Taking an eight hour course will allow a grade level 10 ref to become a grade level 9 ref which will help alleviate some of the shortage problems at the youngest age level teams.
Sarah Churchill Strickland questioned what they (Montgomery YMCA) were having to pay for referees and the high cost to the Montgomery league.


AHSAA 50% PARTICIPATION RULE:

      Ron appointed Mike Depriest as an ad hoc committee to try to work out a solution for the problems that the AHSAA 50% participation rule causes for club teams. The suggestion was to work out a way of providing benefits to the high school coaches while also alleviating the concerns that the AHSAA had with protecting the student athletes. Ron said that he would also be willing to help. It was noted that soccer was not the real reason for the 50% participation rule. Rather it was instigated to stop abuses of student athletes and the system in other sports - particularly AAU basketball.

Ken's personal notes:
       My own research is that many states have rules similar to AHSAA.  No lawsuits have been successful except in what are known as individual sports - golf, tennis, gymnastics, swimming.
      There have been many cases in the past where high school coaches have required that all of the players on their teams participate on one particular non-school team in order to play on the high school team. In cases where high school associations have passed rules against requiring participation some coaches have merely made it an unwritten rule.  So you often had high school teams that participated year round.  They also participated during the season and got around the maximum practice time rules by saying that they were practicing as a non-school team. 
       It is that sort of abuse that will have to be guaranteed not to happen before AHSAA changes any of its rules.  I don't know of any way of eliminating that possibility of abuse other than the way AHSAA currently handles it.  Not to say it can't be changed but someone is going to have to come up with a different strategy.       


SMALL SIDED SOCCER:

Position Statement – Region III’s Best Opportunity for Region Wide Expansion of Soccer.

      Ron mentioned that Mississippi and Tennessee had voted for the proposal while South Texas had voted against it. The only portion of the document which ASA is to consider at this time is Item #3 which specifically concerns small sided soccer.
      Ron noted that if we did accept the proposal that there would be a gradual implementation. The rest of the document was more controversial but as Ron explained it was only there for our perusal at this time and not under consideration – just the small sided issue.

Excerpted:
Playing Numbers - Small Sided Games #1

      The intent is to use small sided games as the vehicle for match play for players under the age of twelve. Further we wish to promote age/ability appropriate training activities for players region wide. Clubs should use small sided games as the primary vehicle for the development of skill and the
understanding of simple tactics. Our rationale is that the creation of skill and a passion for the game occurs between the ages of six to twelve. With the correct environment throughout this age period players will both excel and become top players or they will continue to enjoy playing at their own levels and enjoy observing the game at higher levels. Small sided games in match play for our
younger players create more involvement, more touches of the ball, exposure to simple, realistic decisions and ultimately, more enjoyment. Players must be challenged at their own age/ability levels to improve performance. The numbers of players on the field of play will affect levels of competition. Children come to soccer practice to have fun. They want to run, touch the ball, have the feel of the ball, master it and score. The environment within which we place players during training sessions and matches should promote all of these desires, not frustrate them.
 

  • We believe that players under the age of six should play games of 3 v 3. This will provide a less cluttered and more developmentally appropriate playing environment. No attempt whatsoever should be made at this age to teach a team formation! These playing numbers will be implemented throughout Region III by September 1, 2003.
    • We believe that players under the age of eight should play games of 4 v 4. This will provide a less cluttered and more developmentally appropriate playing environment. Players in this age group can be exposed to a team formation at the start of the game, but do not be dismayed when it disappears once the ball is rolling. The intent at this age is to merely plant
    a seed toward understanding spatial awareness. These playing numbers will be implemented throughout Region III by September 1, 2003.
    • We believe that players under the age of ten should play games of 6 v 6. This will provide a less cluttered and more developmentally appropriate playing environment. The coaching of positions to children under the age of ten is considered intellectually challenging and often situates parent-coaches in a knowledge vacuum. Additionally, premature structure of U10
    players into positions is often detrimental to the growth of individual skills and tactical awareness. This problem is particularly acute with players of limited technical ability. We also believe that the quality of coaching has an impact on the playing numbers. We recommend that parent-coaches would best serve their U10 players by holding a Youth Module certificate. These playing numbers will be implemented throughout Region III by September 1, 2003.
    • We believe that players under the age of twelve should play games of 8 v 8. This will provide a less cluttered and more developmentally appropriate environment. The U12 age group is the dawning of tactical awareness and we feel it is best to teach the players individual and group tactics at this age rather than team tactics. These playing numbers for the U11 age group will be implemented throughout Region III by September 1, 2004. These playing numbers for the U12 age group will be implemented throughout Region III by September 1, 2005.

 

STATE LEAGUE:

Terry Hathcock talked about state league play. She said that the start date for Fall 2003 State League play will be the second week of August 2003. The value of the league this fall will include:

  1. Raising the level of competitive play at Division I and II

  2. Seeding for Snicker’s Cup

  3. Information and scheduling dates for Fall 2003 will be posted on the ASA website in May 2003.
     

SOUTH ALABAMA SOCCER:

      Randy Halcombe talked enthusiastically about growing soccer in the state. He suggested dividing the state into three leagues – North, Central and South. Each league would provide play inside its borders with the champions and possibly finalists moving on to the State Cup. John talked about growing soccer at the grassroots level in South Alabama. He noted that there is a huge leap from Division III local play to Division I where the amount of traveling drives many families out of soccer. In South Alabama they are looking for a way to bridge that divide.
      Randy talked about their experiences in 2002 with the Lower Alabama Soccer League. The LASL provided play dates three or four times during the season where each team got two games in a day.
      The league had a lot of disparity between teams in terms of ability so the Division I and II teams had the opportunity to play up an age group in order to get competitive games. Randy noted that only 11 teams that were located below Alex City played Division I. He noted that the travel required by the distances between teams made the restriction of only playing one game a day too large a hardship on those teams.
      Suggestions were made that an exemption be allowed for those Division II teams to enter Snicker’s State Cup. Also suggested including being able to play two games in one day.
      Sarah Strickland suggested that neutral sites halfway between two teams be used to cut down on traveling required in one day.
Bart with Enterprise Wings offered some suggestions and Frances Pack from Florence also explained how outlying areas such as Florence also had much in common with South Alabama.


REFEREE PAYMENTS ON THE FIELD:

      It was suggested that ASA consider making referee payments on the field instead of the way it was handled in 2002. There were plenty of arguments on both sides of the issues. The referees’ association (represented by Dave Stephenson and Bill Walker) was in favor of payment on the field because of the headaches involved in administering the current system. It was seen as a way of retaining younger refs who would not want to wait weeks for their pay.
      Some areas of the state (NASL) have been using on the field payments for many years and preferred it that way.
      The main concerns which were brought up had to do with the how 1099s would be handled, who was the doing the contracting (the team or the club), and the liability involved if taxes were due. No consensus was reached.


TIDE FESTIVALS:

       Four will be held throughout the state. Marty Eaton said the Tide Festival in North Alabama would be in the fall.


REC LEAGUES – What is the value of ASA to recreational soccer?

      Terry suggested that a state board of coaches be established to work with and mentor rec league coaches. Sarah told of low cost parent-child clinics for recreational leagues she was involved with in Virginia.
       Sarah asked a very poignant and important question, “What does ASA provide other than insurance and newsletters?”
       She noted that in the Montgomery YMCA their league already had insurance and were questioning the value of ASA.
       Ron Evans noted that a very important task that ASA had was to find out what rec leagues needed and see if ASA could provide that.
       Rob Walker suggested we survey all clubs throughout the state and see what they were doing now and what their main problems were.
       Marty Eaton also suggested the good will value of club volunteer clinics for recreational leagues.
       Lance Williams added that we will make youth module coaching courses as available as possible.
       Ron Evans noted that ASA must deliver a better product!


SPONSORSHIP:

       There are two levels of sponsorship – national and state. National sponsors are Adidas, Holiday Inn, Snickers, Chevrolet, etc. In tournaments which are national in scope such as Snickers State Cup can have other state sponsors but they can not be in the same category as a national sponsor. For example Nike could not be used as a sponsor for Snickers State Cup since Adidas is already a national sponsor. A sponsor is needed for the Division II State Cup since the Kellogg’s sponsorship deal fell through.


ODP ISSUES:

      The consensus was that the main problems with ODP this year were in both in execution and communication.
      Some players paid their $35.00 and showed up at district tryouts and never received any formal communication (letter) or evaluation or feedback from the state. It was not clear when or if players were scouted.
      There were concerns that without firm deadlines (the open window) some players were never eliminated from state pool but left hanging – waiting for an answer that never came. The state was using this as a way to include those players who had not been initially chosen but who had some ability in case other higher ranked players turned down the offer. The problem was that this left players with no clear cut answer as to where they stood.
      Also it was not clear at the beginning that Division III players would never be scouted. They still had the option of trying out. But many D3 players thought that they would be scouted if they went to tryouts and were not immediately struck from the list as lacking ODP talent.
      Several club DOCs spoke in favor of reversing the process. Instead of having tryouts first and then scouting the players it was suggested that the league play be used for scouting and the tryouts be moved to the latter part of the season so that those players who have been scouted and thought to have talent worthy of ODP can be invited to district tryouts. Also a more profession evaluation should be given so players know why they didn’t make the pool and what they needed to work on. Another suggestion was to move the process into December so that College coaches could be used for ODP.
       There were also concerns that players would quit soccer for good because of bad experiences with ODP tryouts. Carlos Petersen and Marty Clark noted that the 2003 ODP tryouts were the most inclusive ever. Most people agreed. It was noted that any players who felt they had been overlooked could call and request another look. Carlos noted that coaches and DOCs must invite players back into the process. Lance suggested more DOC meetings to discuss improvements.
       Over and over the main concerns had to do with communication.


CEREMONY TO HONOR DAN MIKOS:

        Dan was presented a plaque and gift to show appreciate for his twenty plus years of involvement with soccer and his ten years (9-1/2) as President of AYSA. Dan thanked by name the many, many people he had worked with during the years making a special note to call Jeanette Proctor "the mother of soccer in Alabama".  He also gave Dess Feick a special thanks for her work with ODP.  Dan noted that he would still be involved with USYS at the national level.