NCSL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING- MARCH 27,2003

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:35PM.

 

Roll call showed a quorum.  Clubs not present: Baltimore Bays, Calvert, Crofton, Frederick, Gunston, SAC, and Washington Soccer.

 

The minutes were approved from the last meeting.

 

Gloria Gallagher-VA Registrar-There has been a lot of movement between teams and clubs from the fall season to the spring.  When a team disbands, the roster and team passes must be released from the disbanded team.  Yes, this is a transfer.  We need some kind of system so that if the team manager is out of town, or uncooperative, we can still get the information.  In the fall, after each team is registered through roster pro, the club rep needs to ask each manager to download a disc of their roster and give it to the club rep.  Someone needs to have that core information.  This is not a state requirement, just a suggestion at this point, but it could become a league requirement.  Last June, Virginia had a mandatory meeting for registration, which is where they received their player passes.  There were a lot of mistakes last fall.  One of the problems is that we no longer print out a manual and give it to them.  May require them to have a manual in hand when come to the meeting next June.  The Wednesday before league play is the last day to change your roster for play that weekend.

 

Mike Basileo-MD Registrar-Disbanded teams are a problem in MD also.  The roster freeze date for the MD Cup is March 31^st.

 

Roger Ney-Treasurer- could not be here.  He will e-mail everyone the new budget and if you have a specific question, you can always e-mail him in return.  There will also be time for questions at the May 12^th meeting.

 

Ray Greenberg-R&D- E-mails concerning sitouts went out to each club rep and they are also posted on the web site.

 

Kathleen Sessions-Administrator- Schedules will be posted by the time that you get home.  If you did not get your scheduling request for all games, you were not overlooked.  It was impossible to fulfill all scheduling request.

 

Jeff Skigen-President’s Report- Please fill out all survey forms and return them to Kathleen tonight.  Capital Cup has been moved from Thanksgiving weekend to the 2^nd weekend in August.  Weather and field conditions made November impossible for Soccer Plex.  This begins this year in 2003.  The college coaches were surveyed, overwhelmingly they wanted to do it earlier.  Quality teams also felt that they would like to do it at this time.  Conflicts with only one other tournament,  There will be some roster issues since the seasonal year runs from  Sept.1 to August 31.  Some states recognize rosters early, will probably accept old or new.

One college seminar was held in January, with almost 200 attendees.  The MD one was snowed out and will be held on Wed., April 2^nd at 7:30 PM at Quince Orchard High School.  Open to anyone in Virginia or Maryland.  Directions are on the website.

 

When we invite new clubs to join us, they often cannot get their teams in the league because of long waiting list.  We could increase the division structure size, which would increase the size of the league.  Is this the way to go?  We have a tremendous log jam at the lower age groups.  Another problem is that some wait list teams do not really exist, clubs put them on the wait list in case a team arises.  Suggestions.  AT the 10, 11 and 12 age groups, divide the league geographically.  Could even have 1-4 divisions structured with the lower divisions geographic.  5^th and 6^th division players are more developmental.  If we expand by 10 teams, we can eliminate the long waiting list, but run the risk of diluting the talent.  We also run into field problems and referee problems.

 

John Ellis-Consultant on Player Development- Any sport should have a pyramid.  People who come to the NCSL should want to grow in the game.  There are a lot of players in the NCSL who are there for social reasons.  Travel teams should want to travel to play the best competition.  Think carefully before you do anything.

 

People interested in forming a committee to look at the issue, please let Jeff know after the meeting.  We need to look at our mission, what we are about, and then consider our resources, referees and the needs of players.

 

New Business

Motion:  It is proposed that upon granting admission to a club to the NCSL, one existing team from that club may gain immediate entry into an appropriate division.  This offer will extend only to the first season for which the club is eligible for NCSL play.  The structure committee will assign the division of entry during its normal preseason meeting by evaluating the credentials of the entering team.  The size of the division to which the team is entered will be expanded to 11.  The division will remain with 11 teams until normal attrition allows the division to return to a maximum of 10 teams.

Motion made by Southwestern, seconded by VISTA.

 

Amendment by Team America, seconded by Fort Washington-

Strike the 3^rd sentence.

Amendment passes.

 

Amendment by VISTA,-

In the 1^st sentence add the words: per age group (after the word team).

Amendment passes.

 

Amendment by Arlington-change the word in sentence one from existing to pre-existing.  Motion dies due to lack of a second.

 

Motion to call for the vote.

Motion made by Herndon, seconded by VISTA.  Motion passes.

 

Motion (reworded):  It is proposed that upon granting admission to a club in the NCSL, one existing team per age group from that club may gain immediate entry into an appropriate division.  This offer will extend only to the first season for which the club is eligible for NCSL play.  The size of the division to which the team is entered will be expanded to 11.  The division will remain with 11 teams until normal attrition allows the division to return to a maximum of 10m teams.

Roll call vote shows the motion passes 667 aye, 251 no.

 

Motion:  In order to insure that only competitive clubs petition to join the NCSL, all new clubs must have a minimum of 3 existing teams for which records can be provided (excluding U9’s and first season U10’s) documenting their play.

Motion made by Southwestern, seconded by VISTA.

Motion passes.

 

Motion:  To insure rapid entry of teams from the waiting list, it it proposed that the number of teams disqualified from play be increased to 5 per season.

Motion made by Southwestern, seconded by VISTA.

 

Amendment by Sterling, seconded by VISTA: add effective fall 2003.

Amendment passes.

 

Roll call vote shows the motion passes 550 aye, 339 no.

 

 

E-mail Kathleen if you have a conflict with the ODP schedule and have at least 2 ODP  players on your team.

 

Please return survey forms.

 

Packets are on the back table, alphabetically by club.

 

Meeting adjourned at 9:50PM.