NASL  NEWSLETTER

November 1, 2002
       This is the 45th issue distributed to the new NASL list. The previous newsletters are now on-line at http://www.nasl.com/current_news.htm 
Articles in this week's newsletter:
  1. Upcoming Soccer Calendar
  2. Gulf South College Tournament this weekend
  3. Snickers State Cup Schedules
  4. Act of kindness speaks volumes about football’s spirit
  5. Entry Level (Grade 8) Clinics for USSF Referees
  6. Recertification Clinics for USSF Referees
  7. State Cups Volunteers Needed
Soccer Calendar - Dates to Remember

   More information on all events below is available at the NASL website.
  • "Fall" State League ends (D-I & D-II) - October 31, 2002 -
  • November 1, 2002
    • §1 Final fall registration is due in the AYSA office postmarked by this date and must include:
    • §2 A correctly prepared and readable diskette, roster or copy of the registration form containing required information for any player or coach registered after the submittal of registration information in October.
    • §3 Submission of Registration form and fees for additional players and coaches
  • Final date for Statewide Division III and Division IV League play - November 2, 2002
  • Recertification Clinic for USSF Referees - 11/2/2002 (Saturday) will be at First Christian Church in Huntsville from 8:00 - 12:00.
  • Snicker’s State Cup preliminary matches - November 1- 3, 2002
  • November 6, 2002
    • Entry deadline for Kellogg’s Cup for Division II U11-U13 teams.
    • Roster- freeze date for Kellogg’s Cup teams.
  • Governors Cup will be November 8th - 10th, 2002. Chevy Governor’s Cup for Division II U14-U18 and Division III & Division IV U10-U18.
  • The Alabama Adult State Cup tournament will be held November 16th and 17th at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, Alabama.
  • Samba Girls Friendlies - Point Mallard Soccer Complex - Decatur - November 16th and 17th - Top caliber U14 Girls teams from around the South will play at the Point Mallard Soccer Complex in Decatur.
  • Kicks Girls U12 Friendlies - November 16th - Top caliber U12 Girls Teams from around the South will play at the Point Mallard Soccer Complex in Decatur.
  • Central United Methodist Church Decatur Indoor 5v5 Soccer Tournament - November 16th - Entry deadline - November 8th.
  • Kellogg’s Cup for Division II U11-U13 - December 6-8, 2002
  • Snickers Cup will be December 6/7/8th, 2002 - semi-finals and finals.
  • Recertification Clinic for USSF Referees - First Christian Church in Huntsville on 12/9/2002 (Monday) from 5:00 - 9:30 p.m.
  • Registration Deadline for Division I/II Spring League - December 13, 2002
  • Registration for Division III and Division IV members may begin - January 1, 2003
  • ODP Festival Boys - Huntsville - January 3rd - 5th, 2003
  • AHSAA Referee Camp - January 11, 2002
  • ODP Festival Girls - Huntsville - January 31, 2003 - February 2nd, 2003
  • Entry Level USSF Referee (Grade 8) Course will be conducted by USSF instructors in Huntsville on Jan 31 - Feb 2 at the First Christian Church on Whitesburg Drive (located about 300 yards south of the
    Drake Avenue intersection). This course requires three days. Times are:
    Friday (1/31) - 6:00 to 10:00
    Saturday (2/1) - 9:00 to 5:00
    Sunday (2/2) - 1:00 to 5:00
    Sign up sheets are available at Pete's Soccer Shops on Whitesburg in Huntsville and the Madison location also.
  • Division III and Division IV players may be officially rostered to Spring teams as of this date - February 1, 2003
  • Submission of Registration forms and fees due in AYSA office. These must be true, accurate number of new member registrations and fees. Member cards will be issued to clubs for Division III and Division IV members once forms and fees are submitted. - February 15, 2003
  • Statewide Division III and Division IV League play may begin - March 1, 2003
  • HHS JV Super Cup - Huntsville High School will be holding a JV Tournament on March 14-15, 2003 at the John Hunt Soccer Complex. Boys teams from Alabama and Tennessee and Girls teams from Birmingham, Huntsville, Madison and Ft Payne have already signed up. You may contact Jim Saunders  jim.saunders@gti-us.com 256-533-3466 for more info.
  • Final date for Statewide Division III and Division IV League play - May 10, 2003
  • "Spring" Tide American Festival - May 17, 2003

 

Gulf South Conference Tournament
 November 2nd & 3rd, 2002
John Hunt Complex - Huntsville, AL
 

http://www.nasl.com/college/gulf_so_tourney.htm

Snickers State Cup Schedules
http://www.nasl.com/state_cup.htm

U13 Boys   U14 Boys   U15 Boys   U16 Boys   U17 Boys   U18 Boys
 U13 Girls   U14 Girls   U15 Girls   U16 Girls    U17 Girls   U18 Girls
 
Act of kindness speaks volumes about football’s spirit

By JAMES WALKER - Thursday quarterback
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/2002/October/24/LStop2.htm

    In an age when arrogance and "Sharpie" pens steal the national spotlight, it is often the smallest, most unnoticed acts of kindness that remind us that football is merely a game.
    The story, which is destined to become legendary in Southern Ohio circles, starts in Waverly.
     Northwest football coach Dave Frantz and Tigers’ coach Derek DeWitt shared a conversation the week leading up to the game.
     But the two coaches weren’t discussing strategy, instead they were talking about a mentally-handicapped Northwest player by the name of Jake Porter.
     Porter, a senior, has a disorder called "Chromosomal Fragile-X," which is the most common cause of inherited mental retardation.
     Porter still shows up on time for practice every day and dresses in full gear during games, but he has yet to take an official snap in a football game.
     Frantz wanted that streak to end last Friday.
     "I told them (Waverly) ahead of time that he can’t take a hit or anything," Frantz said. "If the game’s not at stake on the last play, I wanted him to come in and take a knee."
     Yet a week after their conversation, with Waverly leading 42-0 with five seconds remaining, coach DeWitt offered Frantz one better.
     "During the timeout, he met me in the middle of the field and said ‘We’ll let him score,’" Frantz explained. "(Initially) I said ‘Nah.’ Then we talked about it with the referees, and they said ‘Hey coach, we understand."
     What soon followed will forever go down in Southern Ohio football lore.
     At Waverly’s 49-yard line, Porter entered the game at tailback, had his play, "84-iso," called in the huddle, and when the ball was snapped all 21 players parted ways.
     Porter was somewhat surprised when he slowly walked through the huge hole. He initially turned back around to the original line of scrimmage, but everyone on the field -- including defensive players from Waverly -- pointed and guided Porter toward the Tigers’ end zone.
     "When we practiced it, he was supposed to down it, so I think he was a little confused at first," Northwest tailback Zach Smith said. "But once he figured it out, he took off."
     The 49-yard trek to glory took about 10-12 seconds in all, and was culminated by players from both sidelines cheering and running step-for-step with Porter to the end zone.
     Tears flowed from the bleachers well into the night, and the life of one young man was changed forever.
     "At Waverly, we didn’t do anything special. We were just happy to be a part of that," a humbled DeWitt said. "That young man was just excited to get the ball. Our guys didn’t care about the shutout, those stats went out the window.
     "When you’re involved in a moment like that, you want to make sure you end the game with class, decency and respect."
     Those who play football on the highest levels should take notice.
     No pen that Terrell Owens ever pulls out of his sock could write a scene more touching than this.

     This article is on-line at The Herald-Dispatch at
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/2002/October/24/LStop2.htm
     James Walker covers high school football for The Herald-Dispatch. His e-mail address is jwalker@herald-dispatch.com
Entry Level (Grade 8) Clinics for USSF Referees


         Entry Level USSF Referee (Grade 8) Course will be conducted by USSF instructors in Huntsville on January 31st - February 2nd at the First Christian Church on Whitesburg Drive (located about 300 yards south of the Drake Avenue intersection). This course requires three days.

Times are:
Friday (1/31) - 6:00 to 10:00
Saturday (2/1) - 9:00 to 5:00
Sunday (2/2) - 1:00 to 5:00

      Sign up sheets are available at Pete's Soccer Shops on Whitesburg in Huntsville and the Madison location also.
 
Recertification Clinics for USSF Referees


        Re-certification for USSF Referees will be at the First Christian Church in Huntsville on Whitesburg Drive (located about 300 yards south of the Drake Avenue intersection) on 12/9/2002 (Monday) from 5:00 - 9:30 p.m.

David Stephenson
101 Skypark Terrace, Florence, AL 35634
256-386-3087 (w),  cdstephenson@tva.gov
 
State Cups – December 7th and 8th – Huntsville
WANTED: VOLUNTEERS - NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

       Are you interested in getting involved in soccer but don’t coach and have no desire to referee? Do you think a 4-4-2 is an Oldsmobile? Can’t figure out how two yellows can make a red? Think a high kick is something you only see in ballet or a Bruce Lee film? Think nutmeg is only a spice and a bicycle just something you ride?
      Well here’s a great way to get started in soccer - help out at this year’s State Cup!
      The North Alabama Soccer League is hosting the 2002 Snicker’s State Cup on December 7th and 8th at the John Hunt Soccer Complex in Huntsville. On the same day we are also hosting the new Division II State Cup at the Merrimack Soccer Complex. A core group of about 20 to 25 volunteers is needed to be the Hospitality Committee. This committee serves as the “Food Service” committee for the tournament. The main requirement is to obtain donations of food (deli assortment trays, sandwiches, pizza, etc.) before the tournament and distribute the food during the tournament. The Hospitality committee will begin their work soon so please contact Christi Clark at Clarkhse@yahoo.com as soon as possible if you are interested.
      If hospitality is not your “cup of tea” volunteers will also be needed for other jobs, including such things as working two hour shifts selling State Cup t-shirts.
Please note that it is not the Kicks Futbol Club or Huntsville Soccer Club or any of our other clubs that is hosting the State Cup; it is the North Alabama Soccer League! Even if your team is not participating you are welcome to be included. We also know there are lots of people on the NASL mailing list who are with teams and clubs outside of the NASL. You are welcome to volunteer also.
      Last year’s tournament was one of the best in years. Please help us make this year’s tournaments a bigger success. E-mail Christi at Clarkhse@yahoo.com now to volunteer.

NASL NEWSLETTER:

       You may sign up for the NASL e-mail list and also provide changes (including removing your name from the list) to your current e-mail address and phone numbers by using this form at  http://www.nasl.com/Email.htm This is our means of keeping the local soccer community up-to-date on events and items of interest.  If you have something to contribute please e-mail me at dsports@hiwaay.net
All of the above information and more is on-line at http://www.nasl.com

Thanks for being involved in soccer in Alabama. 

Ken Gamble - NASL Secretary
"Next Goal Wins!"