News from the ASA District Commissioner from North Alabama

.. a brief report on what went on at the ASA Board Meeting Sunday, September 7th, 2003

1. Questions were raised about District Commissioners signing off on travel paperwork and teams then not paying the required fees. After much discussion it was decided that for the remainder of this season only the state office would process travel permits FOR TOURNAMENTS but district commissioners would continue to be able to sign off on travel permits and host applications for FRIENDLIES. Also, we will no longer collect fees for friendlies, just tournament travel permits.

IMPORTANT!! Travel permits are still required to be prepared or the insurance you have through the state organization will not be valid. Don't risk the liability.

The intent next year is to redo the fee structure and charge a higher affiliation fee to clubs based on how many traveling teams they have to make up for the elimination of the travel permit fees.

2. The district commissioners will study the 100 man rule and make a recommendation to the board whether to keep it, modify it, or eliminate it.

3. Clubs and leagues that still owe affiliation fees or other fees to the state need to make payment soon or risk loss of sanctioning.

4. Players can only be rostered on one Div I / Div II team during a season. However, since Div III and IV teams do not use a state issued roster, a Div I/II player can be double rostered onto a Div III/IV team.

5. Roster changes/additions/modifications will be processed weekly at the state office. Change processing date is planned for Mondays with the modified roster, cards, etc mailed out on Tuesday. Changes received later in the week will be processed the following Monday. Emergency processing can be done but will incur a $25 processing fee. Do your homework, get changes in to the office in a timely manner, and try to avoid last min jobs.

6. It is the intent of ASA to have Div One and Two, state league referee fees paid on the field beginning with Fall '04. We have been using that system with NASL games for some time now but other clubs need to revise their budgeting process and other referee assn.s will need to revise the way they pay assignors to accomplish this. Details of the process will be published later.

7. Beginning with the Fall '04 season, bonds will be posted by clubs, rather than by individual teams. That will reduce the total money tied up in bonds however, if a team caused the club's bond to be forfeited, the club will have to replace it before any team in that club can plan another state league match. Clubs will have to actively work with their teams to avoid problems from this action.

8. Scott Spencer is the new DOC. He will be working part time until 31 Oct and full time after that. He comes to us from Memphis where he has been very active at the club level and beyond.

9. ODP budget and planning for next year is almost complete. It is planned where ODP will cover all expenses from their own budget, including the fees paid to Mike Louter who will continue working with the program for the coming months while the transition with the new DOC takes place.

Scouting of players is already taking place and players should be making plans to attend the district tryouts. Check the ASA calendar for dates of those tryouts.

10. There was some confusion about whether Div I teams could play in the Div II tournament. The answer is yes, but only if they are eliminated from Snickers through league play. Otherwise they play in Snickers. Also, since the Div II tournament can accommodate all Div II teams, those teams CANNOT elect to enter the Governor's Cup, it is for Div III and IV teams only.

No Div II teams will be able to play in Snickers this year. However, beginning next year, the winner of Governor's cup will be allowed to enter the Div II tournament and the winner of the Div II tournament will be allowed to enter Snickers.

11. I am serving on a committee that is preparing a report/recommendation on how to best implement the expanded short sided format under the timeline passed at the AGM. If anyone has concerns or comments on that process, please get with me and share your thoughts.

The next ASA Board meeting will be Sunday, October 5th, in Birmingham at 3:00 PM.

If you have any questions about any of the items above please contact me at eaton@hiwaay.net. Thanks.

Marty Eaton
North Alabama District Commissioner