DeWitt Soccer Club
Meeting minutes – Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Board members present: Dave Barnhill, Tom VanderWoude, Dave Kracko, Chuck Murdoch, Angie Schneider, Tony Harris, Toni Harris
Guests: Dan Jury, Dan Yingling, Sean Burke
Meeting called to order: 7:20 p.m.
Review meeting minutes from previous meeting
AGENDA
A. Dan Jury – CASL presentation
1) Options in CA
- Premier now starts in U13, but all premier clubs in area are offering younger groups that are developmental
- CA United is part of CASL
- the only premier org sponsored by CASL and not for profit (recently filed 501(c)(3) documents)
- coaches are paid, but they don’t look to make any money as a club
- any extra monies goes to scholarships or to offset costs in other ways
- Premier from this area that represents CASL on a statewide basis
- Now a 501(c)(3) org – so not for profit
- Look at CA United as public school of all area premier orgs
- Benefits for DeWitt sending kids to CA United à
- not trying to steal players from DeWitt
- Movement to keep players together to have stronger school players later
- Okemos is a good example – state championship won but several soccer clubs across the state represented on that team
- players should be allowed to play at most competitive level and developmental program possible for their level (top 2-3 players who can develop further and open spots for other kids who can’t make the rec teams)
- Dan’s main goal is to bridge gap between CA and CASL and communities
- held a camp here and many DeWitt kids took advantage
- CA will become involved in Capital Area Classic
- developmental league at ages U9-U12
- community directors of coaching who work with community coaches rather than players (i.e. Bill Boyle in Okemos), runs coaches clinics similar to national license programs or work with different teams for different skills and bring several coaches in; also available on for-hire basis to help teams; possibly used for player development but ratio of coach to player is not conducive.
- director attends clinics run by CA coaching director (Aaron Smith)
- helps with tryouts or games to analyze games, opponents, teams strengths or weaknesses, post- and pre-game talks
- suggest that Sean Burke from Cleveland be DeWitt’s community coaching director between CA and DeWitt
Sean - resume attached
- always wanted to coach
- actively pursuing licenses – will be getting D license
- background in elem education
- coaches CA U10 girls team
- most important idea is to develop early and get rid of bad habits through parents who are coaching or just giving tips while practicing at home
Query – Dual rostering
- Sean sees a benefit for dual rostering where they play with their USSF team and the confidence and teaching their team what they’ve learned with their CA team – get proper training with CA and friends with USSF
- Dan – CA’s approach is that it is up to the parents based on their schedule and interest in other sports and family needs.
- Chuck – dual rostering has changed re: priority of games
- developmental league is not state affiliated league so State rules don’t apply, prefer developmental team to come first if direct conflict, otherwise play both games on one day or practices based on prioritization of family needs and physical limitations
- Dave K. - physical limitations of attending multiple practices and explaining to other players why a player is attending fewer practices than rest of the girls is difficult.
- Dan – playing time is usually associated with attendance at practice.
Query - Prices and money allocation
- look at community needs before determining price for either coaching development or player development
- Money is worked out between community and coach hired.
- Based on extra money charged to each child, what will that money pay for and what services are available.
- Director of coaching is a CASL independent contractor to the community
- If community has issues with community coaching director – take them to Aaron Smith, then Dan Jury
- Each community coaching director helps only one community
Query – how do you divide the time between the community and coaching CA teams?
- scheduling issues
- set forth needs in the contract and anything outside the contract would be extra charge
- CASL may establish club day requiring all teams to play at home
Query – Are the teams required to play in the CASL to get the help?
- No – it’s up to the club
Query – Liability
- he’s covered through the state and coaches association
- independent contractor to the club and community
Query – Is Sean available on a part-time basis in spring and then move to full-time?
- coaches may want to set up Sean with their teams individually for spring
- coach can contact Sean via email or cell phone on resume (email is best)
- fall may be the better
2) In-house developmental league
- this year offered teams at 9, 10, 11 and 12
- ended up with teams at 10, 11 and 12
- players wanted to play with friends or family didn’t want to travel every weekend
- can still get them a higher level of coaching without travel expectations
- state will sanction a league with at least four teams.
- strengthen CASL by taking top players and put them in leagues where they get more competition and development
- small sided – 4v4 games – at U8 and U9
- directors of coaching in community get involved
- look only development, not at wins and losses
- can dual roster
- set dates and times for teams to play
- keep players local, minimize travel and lower prices
- something between CASL and premier – play with friends with better competition
- community coaches but with more involvement by community coaching director
- level of play for teams who are beating teams in CASL
- akin to a local Elite league
- targeting U9-U12 age groups
- Query – can’t develop this league until at least four communities commit to it; therefore, can’t determine a lot of the details.
- Query – other premier clubs are pulling kids out of DeWitt, is this league going to work?
- Fall back plans on the back burner
Dave – we’ve spoken with others who have helped coaches of teams
i.e. Jeff Crooks helping Mark Kellogg
Chuck – initial discussions with Jeff the cost was too high - $25K per year. Now at ~$5K.
Dan Yingling – concerns about the affect on AYSO program
If Club takes responsibility for this then need to ensure fair distribution of comm. coaching director services among the teams. Otherwise people will get angry. Another alternative is to let the teams hire the coaching director individually for the services and at the prices agreed upon.
Maybe set up a mandatory coaches meeting/clinic and allow Sean to introduce himself to the coaches who can then set up agreements with him for their own team’s needs. Use Sean as a resource available to the teams. Determine interest in spring through coaches’ use of Sean in spring.
What about female rep for girls teams?
February mtg – TNT will address the board. – Monday, February 7th starts at 7:00 p.m.
Chuck will schedule coaches meeting to intro Sean and his services offered to coaches
Table the issues until March meeting.
B. Reports and Old Business
- not present
- email sent re: spring registration and deadlines (Feb. 12) for returning paperwork and late fees ($50)
- U16/19 boys tryouts are Feb.6
- increased ref fees take effect for spring
- CASL coaches mtg – March 14
- CASL coaching clinic by Notre Dame head coach (Bobby Clark will be there)
- $20 fee and all money will be donated to charity of head coach’s choice
- see CASL web site
- Referee clinics will be scheduled
- new registration/availability sheet form available on CASL web site
- corner flags – set up box at the HS fields
- coaches playing at Sports Park need sets of corner flags
- Toni’s $100 spring fee is paid (did not get reimbursement from Mark for fall season).
- will update web site with meeting information – coaches mtgs and annual meeting
- there is a link from DeWitt Public Schools web site to DSC web site
- not present
- no meetings scheduled yet
- not present
- no report – will report in February
- Tom will speak with Dan re: SZ camp
- first Friday or third Friday of May/ am or pm?
- third Friday in the morning
- letters to previous and prospective sponsors are not completed – requires updates and changes
- will not work on 4x4 in conjunction with Golf outing
- last year for Golf outing
- Tony will help with new letter and e-filing registration form
8) Dave Kracko - Fields
- not a lot happening - frozen
- DeWitt coach wants to use E. Lansing fields, Stacey will schedule games but DSC won’t pay for it.
- Tony will check with BWL contact re: water to fields.
- water and electric to be discussed next month
9) Dave Barnhill
Next meeting – annual election for positions
Tentatively open positions: Treasurer
4 x 4
Meeting adjourned : 10:15 p.m.
ITEMS FOR NEXT MONTH’S AGENDA