NCSL Board Meeting

November 9, 2015

Westin Hotel

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m.

1.  Roll Call

Roll call indicated that the following clubs were not in attendance: Bethesda Soccer Club; Columbia SC; Cugini Soccer Club; DC Stoddert; Fredericksburg Hotspurs FFC; Freedom Soccer Club; La Plata Soccer Club; Maryland Rush Montgomery; MSC; Northern Virginia Soccer Club; Premier Athletic Club; Reston Soccer Club; Southwestern Youth Assoc.; Thunder Soccer Club; Washington Soccer Club; Winchester Soccer Club; and Woodbridge Soccer Club.

A motion was made to approve the minutes of the June 15, 2015 meeting.  Motion approved.

2. Reports

R&D – Alan Paez.   Reminder to get sit-out cards in by deadline, Sit-out forms are online.

Administrator – Kathleen Sessions.  Trophies for Fall 2015 are on their way.  Trophies will be shipped to the address on file or to the club representatives, if the address on file is a PO Box or there is no current address.

President – Richard Smith. 

Blue Game Cards:  New blue game cards were used in the Fall 2015.  Looking for feedback on how they worked. 

STARS:  Be sure to get forms submitted for payment.  All STARS should be reminded about recertification.  U13 STARS should be particularly careful since the initial certification at U12 expires in December. 

Rosters:  Remember that clubs/teams that did not get rosters loaded into system on time were fined. 

Spring 2016 Applications:  All existing fines must be paid before applications will be accepted for the Spring 2016 season. 

Concussions:  US Youth Soccer/US Soccer concussion litigation resolved in settlement, considering imposing new restrictions on heading ball that teams/clubs need to be aware of.  Unclear what those will be.

Richard then gave a detailed presentation on the US Soccer Player development initiatives and the impact on NCSL League play for 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons and going forward.  Concerned in particular on impact of age grouping changes on U11 skipping out a year on player development and going straight to 11 v. 11 full size field as “U13” grouping.  Age grouping is determined by US Soccer and NCSL will implement new definitions beginning in Fall 2016.  Members asked questions about impact of age groupings on underage players, and Richard indicated NCSL is inclined to eliminate impediments to age restrictions, suggest clubs submit motions regarding those restrictions in time for next Board meeting.  These are club wide issues that clubs need to discuss internally as to impact on individual teams, and will require a lot of thought as to division structure/team placement in Fall 2016.  NCSL will have to rely on members/clubs to help determine proper placement of teams based on new age categories.  Will also have an impact on NCSL team id number assigned to teams.

As to changes to field types and progression, NCSL will hold off and wait to implement until required.  Will impact field size and U9/10 and U11/12 and field requirements/goal locations as well as possibly roster sizes.

3. New Club Applications

International FC.    Howard Kohn discussed club application, noted that club’s application had been tabled because club didn’t meet requirements for availability of fields.  Club now has field availability in Woodbridge but only available on Sundays.  Members discussed field availability               and number/age of teams in club.  Club currently playing under VISTA, with VISTA fields.  Concerns expressed that club still did not have sufficient field availability to support application.

Motion made to reopen club application, seconded; motion passes.  Motion made to admit International FC to NCSL was made and duly seconded.  Motion failed with a majority of clubs voting against the Motion. .

Motion to adjourn.  Motion passes.  Meeting adjourned.