May

NCSL Board meeting

5/5/08

Marshall High School

Ray Greenberg called the meeting to order at 7:30PM. Roll call indicated the following clubs were not present: Arundel, Bowie, Braddock Road, Chantilly Youth, Crofton, Damascus, Epic, Faquier, FC Frederick, Fairfax, Herndon, LaPlata, Reston, Severna Park, Stafford, Takoma Park, Team America Football Club, Team America Soccer Club, Virginia Soccer Assoc., and Westminster Wolves.

Seeing and hearing no objections, Ray Greenberg asked that the minutes be accepted from the March 27, 2008. Request to correct spelling of Claire Filemyr’s name, correction was noted. Minutes were accepted.

Maryland Commissioner – Claire Filemyr reports that all coaches have attended the PCA training. Thank you for you efforts in notifying the coaches in your Clubs.

There is PCA II session scheduled on June 11. Please go to the NCSL website for more details. There will be coaches who will need the PCA II training in order to coach in the Fall 08. Please look over the list to see which level of training your coaches need. If they require the PCA II, please encourage them to attend the June meeting.

The Administrator’s meeting did not go quite as well. It is mandatory that new teams send a representative to this meeting. A list of these teams was posted on the web site. There were 7 teams from this list who did not send a representative to attend this mandatory meeting. The fine for not attending this meeting is $250.00. Please remind your teams that the representative should not be a coach and that one person can not represent two teams.

Virginia Commissioner – Maureen Dalbec– no report.

Rules & Discipline – Lula Bauer had two reports to share. One of our foreign service officer is serving in is organizing a youth soccer league for ages 8-18. He applied and received a grant to build 14 soccer fields. If any of you are willing to contact your Club’s uniform or equipment coordinator and see if they have any equipment or uniforms to donate it would be very much appreciated. All the information concerning this program and how to donate is located on the NCSL website.

As you know I’m the new kid on the block for the R&D committee. There are issues that must be addressed with your teams. There are an alarming number of coaches in this league that think they have the right to dissent in the games. There are obscenities being called out by coaches and parents alike. This behavior is inexcusable and is not acceptable. Thanks to all the reps I have contacted for their help in addressing the issues that have risen this season.

Inform your teams when ever a game is terminated a hearing will be scheduled. A hearing will be scheduled when it’s reported that a coach shouting out obscenities. A hearing will be scheduled when it is reported that a parent has been ejected from a match.

If there is a situation where a coach, parent or player feel they need to report a poor referee they should send an email to Lula informing her of the situation. When the email is received and read and it is found that the situation was referee misconduct she will contact the SRA.

Maryland Registrar – Mike Basileo - Reminder – Maryland will limit U12 to small side play beginning fall 2008 roster limit is 14.

Administrator – Kathleen Sessions – Entry material envelopes will be given out after the meeting is adjourned. Still rescheduling games for rain or lightening. Any game called for weather will be replayed.

Secretary – Gina Clapp – no report

Treasurer - Anne Maynes – no report

President – Ray Greenberg - Evaluation form PCA can be found on the NCSL website. Club Reps please share this info with the managers of your teams. The forms are to be filled out by the parents to evaluate the coaches.

All home addresses that were posted on the NCSL website have been removed. Email and phone numbers are still posted.

There was also a complaint concerning videos showing up on You Tube. For risk management reason this should not be done. Highly recommend that you tell you teams to email the videos directly to family and team members. Putting these videos up on You Tube is a very risky practice.

Reporting for Howard Kohn - Officer Elections will be held at the AG meeting in June.

Anyone interested in running for office please contact Howard Kohn.

Motion to Amend the Bylaws

NCSL Bylaw Change

Change the length of term of elected NCSL officers from one to two years and stagger the terms of their elections on alternate years.

Reason – The following proposal is made to ensure a smooth transition and to maintain cohesiveness of the Executive Board.

Current wording:

Article VI – Officers

Section 2. Elections: The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by a majority vote of the Active Members at the Annual meeting of the members. All officers shall serve for a term of one year, and the term of the office shall commence on July 1^st of the year of election.

Proposed wording:

The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by a majority vote of the Active Members at the Annual meeting of the members. All officers shall serve for a term of two years, and the term of the office shall commence on July 1^st of the year of election. The election of the President and Secretary is to be held in an even year. The election of the Vice President and Treasurer is to be held in an odd year. In order to implement this change, at the annual general meeting in June, 2008, elections shall be held for all officers. The initial term for the Vice President and Treasurer shall be for a term of one year and thereafter for 2 years. Motion passed unanimously.

2^nd motion:

NCSL R&P Manual Amendment

From: Anthony F. Falcone, Bethesda SC

Subject: Team Limits at U9 to U14 Age Groups - Revised 28 April 2008

The following is a proposal that will amend Section III and Section VII of the R&P Manual. The rule will allow clubs to enter and register a maximum of three (3) teams, starting at U9. Clubs will be limited to three (3) teams, so team transfers will not be allowed if a club has reached that maximum at small-sided play (to U12). Upon recommendation of the NCSL Executive Committee, clubs may continue to register three (3) teams at the start of fall play at U13. The current rule that limits entering a new team at the non-high school age groups if a club already has reached its maximum (under this proposal, three (3) teams in a particular age group) will continue to apply from U13 to U14. This does not affect teams any transfer to a club, as is in effect currently. Nor does it impose a limit at the high school age groups. The rationale for this rule change is to allow clubs to develop their player base at the small-sided ages so that when they do move into regulation play at U13, they have enough players that will allow them to form two full rosters of 18 players. The Executive Committee prefers to leave that consolidation to the clubs and teams and not force, as was in the original proposal, at the league level. At no time will clubs be required to register the maximum number of teams allowed under this proposal. It gives the clubs that option. And if a club does not have the maximum number of teams registered with the league at a respective age group, it may enter a new team as is allowed under the current rules taking into application any wait list there may be at the respective age group.

Current Rule:

Section III Entry Requirements and Procedures

Two Team Limit in Non-High School Age Groups

By a June 11, 1984 decision of the NCSL Board of Directors, no club may enter a new team if that club has two teams already playing in that age group. High School age groups shall not have a limit. Clubs may submit as many High School age group teams as the club can support with fields and referees.

Section VII Structure Development Procedures

Number of Teams in an Age Group

Teams will be formed into age groups based upon the birth date of the oldest player. The maximum number of teams in each age group is 60, except for age groups: a) high school age groups, U15 and above and b) U9, U10, and for any age group that started with more than 60 teams and has not been reduced to 60 teams by the five team per season disqualification rule. For the fall and spring seasons, each club is allowed to submit and is limited to two U9 and two U10 teams for league play. Age groups will be subdivided into divisions consisting of 10 teams wherever practical. Effective spring 2005, and for subsequent spring seasons, structure will strive to limit U19 divisions to eight teams so that all games are to be completed prior to the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. For age groups with an odd number of teams (not evenly divided by 10), divisions of 12, 11, 9, 8, 7, or 6 will be formed based on performance as determined by the structure committee.

Proposed Rule (added language in italic and ~~removed language~~ in ~~strikethrough~~):

Section III Entry Requirements and Procedures

Team Limits in ~~Two Team Limit in Non-High School~~ Age Groups

Clubs may register the following maximum number of teams at the age groups listed below:

1. U9 to U12 (small-sided play) – No more than three (3) teams may be registered with an NCSL club to play in a particular season in these age groups. If a club has registered three (3) teams in a particular season, it may not accept the transfer of another team from another club.

2. U13 to U14 (regulation play) – At the beginning of the fall U13 season and through the spring U14 season, a club may not register a new team if that club already has three (3) teams registered in a certain age group. Any new team is subject to the wait list if there is one. A club may exceed the three (3) team limit if it accepts a team already registered with NCSL and transferring from another club.

3. U15 to U19 (High School age groups) – There shall be no limit to the number of teams registered in these particular age groups as long as the club can provide the necessary support of fields and referees.

[Note: Sections 2 & 3 are no different than current policy with the exception of having a third team at U13 & U14 in section 2.]

Section VII Structure Development Procedures

Number of Teams in an Age Group

Teams will be formed into age groups based upon the birth date of the oldest player. The maximum number of teams in each age group is 60, except for age groups: a) high school age groups, U15 and above and b) U9, U10, U11, U12 and for any age group that started with more than 60 teams and has not been reduced to 60 teams by the five team per season disqualification rule. For the fall and spring seasons, each club is allowed to submit and is limited to ~~two U9 and two U10 teams~~ three (3) U9, U10, U11 and U12 teams for league play. Age groups will be subdivided into divisions consisting of 10 teams wherever practical. ~~Effective Spring 2005, and for subsequent spring seasons,~~ For spring seasons, division structure will strive to limit U19 divisions to eight teams so that all games are to be completed prior to the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. For age groups with an odd number of teams (not evenly divided by 10), divisions of 12, 11, 9, 8, 7, or 6 will be formed based on performance as determined by the structure committee.

[Note: The last part amended is for housekeeping purposes.]

Discussion – concerns how it will effect wait list, disqualifying teams, other leagues and referee coverage.

Motion was defeated.

Motion to adjourn was so moved by Fairfax, second by Olney.

Meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM.