FEDERAL WAY UNITED SOCCER CLUB
General Membership Meeting
Meeting called to order at
Officers Reports:
President – Jesse Hamashima
Introductions were made by
all attendees at the meeting. Jesse indicated that his reports would be
included in items later in the meeting.
Vice President – Perry Woodford
1.
WSYSA Council
Meeting – Perry attended this meeting 1 ˝ weeks ago. Items that were discussed
included referee issues, U-11 development program, the Soccer Fair on April 8th
and open Executive Board positions. Perry noted that Bill White, former VP of
Player Development, was removed from office in December.
2.
Numbers of
players in Federal Way Soccer Association is continuing to decline. In 1998
there were 2500 players and in 2005 there were 1,800 players – 21% have left in
the last two years. Perry believes the
percentage decline is larger than the FW school district change in student
population. The division is 50% boys/50% girls in FW United and its 57%boys/43%
girls in the Mod Club.
3.
Perry is
continuing to work with the Referee Association regarding fees.
Secretary – Christie Baklund
Not present. No report.
Treasurer – Darlin’ Boudreau
No report.
2nd Vice President of Competition – Jammie
Hair
1.
Reported that
selection of Select Coaches has been completed. There is a wonderful group of
coaches for the Reign and Storm teams – some are new coaches and many are
returning coaches. The tryout schedule has been revised and is posted on the
website.
2.
The Committee is
still working on selecting a Director of Coaching. The Committee has spent 35 –
40 hours to date in meetings, has made numerous calls and inquiries and is
doing a very thorough job.
3.
Select team
coaching positions that are unfilled at this time are: Storm U14, Storm U16
White, Storm U17 Green, and Reign U18.
Reign Coordinator – OPEN
No Report.
Girls Coordinator – Sharon Woodford
The Reign Coordinator
position is open so
Storm Coordinator – OPEN
No report.
Boys Coordinator – Lance Bloomer
Not present. No report.
Boys Registrar – Darlin’ Boudreau
No report.
Girls Registrar – Randi Kartes
Not present. No report.
Field Coordinator – Sandy Bjork
2nd Vice President of Administration –
Darlin’ Boudreau
Darlin’ indicated the by-law
revisions that were to be presented at the AGM will be presented later in the
meeting.
Tournament Coordinator – Perry Woodford
The Blast Off
Tournament application has been approved by WSYSA. The process took longer
because the state is scrutinizing U11 tournaments to make sure that they adhere
to the 9 v. 9 format. No games are planned at Lakota
this year during the Blast Off.
Equipment Coordinator – OPEN
No report.
State Cup Report- Sharon Woodford
1.
2.
Webmaster Report – Sharon Woodford
Committee Reports
A. Reign & Storm Uniform Vendor:
a.
At the last Board meeting Perry Woodford reported that offers and bids had been
received from vendors regarding uniforms for the Select teams. At that time the
conclusion and recommendation was to use the Puma brand because it was unique
and inexpensive and that Wembley would be the vendor.
However, upon close inspection of the actual product, it was determined that
the jerseys were not top quality and the warm-ups were impractical (ie bunched cuffs, very heavy material). Therefore, the
issue was re-evaluated.
b.
The Committee has now decided upon Addidas as the
company and a final contract is being negotiated. The expected cost for the kit
is $180 per player, not including tax.
Wembley
would be the vendor for this endeavor.
Members discussed this issue
and one individual indicated that Soccer West is trying to work with FW United
to earn their business.
B. Referee Report:
Craig Ely and Judy
Simone-Johnson reported that the Varsity Student Institute would be holding a
presentation on
C. Coaching Director Selection Committee – Report and
Findings:
Perry Woodford presented the
history of this committee to date. He indicated that in late September 2005 a
meeting was held with the Select Coaches regarding uniforms and other issues
and it was indicated that a Director of Coaching was desired (salary at
$20,000). In November 2005 an unsolicited proposal was sent to the FW United
Board. The FW United distributed a request for Coaching Director Proposals to
all Reign and Storm coaches (it as 30 pages in length and covered the history
of the Club) in November. In late December and early January proposals had been
received and meetings and interviews began.
There were 6 formal and
informal proposals: two from within the Club, one out of area, one from
Committee conclusions:
a.
Not everyone in
their proposals agrees with the duties of a Coaching Director. Example, some
state that a Coaching Director should not coach a team, only fill in when a
coach is not available.
b.
Not all proposals
indicated that the Coaching Director would work with the Mod Club players –
some focused solely on the older brackets.
c.
It was clear that
the salary would be much higher than expected in September.
History:
There is a movement toward a
“Super Club” format in WA state. Several Clubs (ie Crossfire,
There are 14 potential Clubs
that may be invited to participate in the “Premier Club” – FW is one of them
but we don’t have a Coaching Director.
The “Premier Club” group
wants to have a spring league with no scores or standings kept. It’s believed
that the top 8 teams from the spring will become the District Gold Titanium
team in the fall – this is still being discussed. Perry has been unable to get
anyone to e-mail him the criteria and logistics of the spring league proposal.
The belief behind the
“Premier Club” proposal is, for instance, if there are a group of 8 – 14 U13
teams that are strong, instead of having them spread out randomly across 4 Gold
brackets in the fall, they will become one strong bracket and all play each
other.
There are three possible
options/outcomes from the “Premier Club” proposal:
1.
Five or 6 main
clubs separate and form their own state association following US Club soccer
guidelines
2.
WA State will
keep everyone together but will acquiesce and change the rules to what is being
proposed by these clubs regarding a “Premiere Club”.
3.
A new league will
be formed, such as a Commissioners League. It might include Districts 1, 2, 3,
and 4 and then later Districts 5, 6, and 7.
Perry indicated that these
changes will occur within the next year or two. The spring league is expected
to occur this year.
Perry presented summaries of
each candidate for Director of Coaching:
Candidate #1: Coach two
teams (boys only), desired to bring in someone else to coach the girls teams,
not licensed by USSF, semi-professional player. Committee was convinced of
coaching ability but not sure about administrative ability.
Candidate #2: Out of town
candidate, work with one team - $1,500 month to work with team, currently
playing, coaching Div. 1 in Europe, health benefits requested, wants to attend
6 seminars per year (paid), 4 weeks vacation, feels that FW United Board
reports to him, belief that “I’ll get the ideas, you do the work”
Candidate #3: Interested in
girls teams rather than boys, supplement income running soccer camps and
receiving a percentage of the profits, top notch licensing, know that candidate
can run a business, offered 3 clinics/symposiums
Candidate #4: From Alabama, wants to work with boys & girls
teams, runs ODP & camps & teams at state level, desires $ to compensate
for health plans, proposes percentage of camps & percentage of academies.
Candidate #5: wants to require every select team to have a camp in
the summer and Director of Coaching would keep the money
Candidate #6: ?????????
Perry provide
the following information:
·
The Board wants
the Director of Coaching to: work with players and coaches at U8 – U12 level; at
U13-U15 need to work on tactical, more travel out of state; at U16-U18 work on coaches showcases, make sure division & status are
retained, help with financial aid and college campus visits for players.
·
For 3 out the 5
proposals, candidates desired 3 year contracts.
·
The Committee hopes that Director of Coaching
generates excitement in the Club and sponsorships.
·
The Committee
discussed how to pay for the Director of Coaching – suggested money from the
Blast Off Tournament. Select teams, Storm and Reign, carry
most of the burden. Do non-select teams have to pay for the Director? Maybe
have clinics for them and charge for the clinic.
·
Salary is higher
than expected. Closer to $50,000 plus expenses and benefits – could be up to
$80,000 the first year.
·
Last year (fall
2005) there were 340 select players in the Club. Assuming 80% of that figure
this year for player count – ie 275 players for 2006.
If select players paid $200 each, and the Club only charged the select players,
this would cover the salary.
·
The Committee
discussed bonuses for the Director of Coaching.
·
Other sources of
income for this position: maybe charge families for the full amount of the Fall
Academy (last year the Club subsidized and paid for the majority of the
Academy); have money in capital savings that was reserved for paying for turf
fields; use some money in the FW Association account designated for health and
welfare; charge Mod players $5 each – however, the question arose to what
benefit do the Mod players get from this and do we lose players if we keep
increasing the fees
·
Two candidates
didn’t want to work outside of the 12 select teams. Currently there are 12
Reign teams and 13 Storm teams.
Perry explained that the Club
stated in the request for proposals the following important aspects for the
Director of Coaching:
·
For U8- U10 work
with coaches and players
·
For U11 – U14
work on technical development of players
·
For U14 work on
tactical and qualify teams for premier leagues
·
For U16 – U18
want teams to have visibility, right tournaments, and college preparation
·
Asked candidates
how many teams and what ages they wanted to coach
·
Need Director to
develop sponsorships and financial awareness would be needed
·
ODP experience
and knowledge of what it entails
·
Could the person
run coaching clinics
Discussion with attendees at
the meeting ensued. The following comments were made:
·
One coach stated
that if a candidate didn’t want to work with the U8 - U10 age brackets, then
the candidate should be dropped from consideration. Also indicated that a $20
increase in monthly fees was minimal to families (this was relating to the $200
figure for the year for the Director of Coaching).
·
Perry Woodford
indicated that at U13 there was a need for similar terms to be used so that
players can be moved from White to Purple or Green teams and be able to under
soccer terms.
·
It was stated
that the average per select player expenses for the year were $1,300. It was
noted that that figure would increase by $225 per player this year with a
Director of Coaching.
·
One individual
believed that one needs to weigh good value vs. cheap – it’s better to have
value. If increase fees by 5%, might lose players. Felt that might lose players
in the rest of the Club but probably not in the Reign program.
·
It was noted that
some clubs pay coaches - highest paid coach received $3,000 a month. One club
charges U7 players $450 for the season (per player figure)
·
One individual
stated that if the Director of Coaching indicates that he would watch 6 games
in a weekend, don’t hire that individual – no one can watch and evaluate
clearly by the end of the 6th game in one day.
·
One individual
felt that the Club would lose players with the increase of $225 for each select
player.
·
A request was
made for the Director of Coaching to work on increasing the scholarship funds
for players. Select teams are out of reach now for some players and if you want
the “best of the best”, then the Club needs to make it financially viable for
everyone.
·
Perry Woodford
asked coaches if there was a sense of urgency in hiring the Director of
Coaching – need him now or later? One coach indicated
that it was best to hire the person NOW! Some Board members felt that the right
person was more important than rushing the process.
Unfinshed Business
A.
Proposed Bylaw Revisions:
Darlin’
Boudreau distributed and explained the Bylaw Proposals that were to be
presented at the AGM in March.
B.
AGM Preparation:
New Business
A.
Fundraiser Approval(s)
For the Good of the Game
Meeting adjourned at ………
Respectfully submitted by,
Heather Hamashima
Next meeting is