NCYSA Challenge Council

Meeting Minutes

Sunday, September 23, 2001

NCYSA State Office, Greensboro

• The Challenge Council was called to order by Grant Underhill at 10:09 am. In lieu of taking roll, an attendance sheet was signed by all participants. This sheet has been included as a separate attachment.

• It was established that a quorum was present to conduct business- 18 associations were represented.

• Meeting Minutes from April 22, 2001 Meeting distributed. A motion was made by Frank Gavigan (BAYSA) to approve minutes. Mike Sweeny (TCL) 2 nd the motion.

• Council was introduced to the new NCYSA Director of Coaching, Bill Furjanik, and new Asst. Director of Challenge/State Select, Mari Villalobos.

• Challenge League Referee Fees:

• There was further discussion on a motion made by Challenge Council at April 22, 2001 meeting, to allow Challenge Associations to pay referees at the same level as Classic referees. The Motion had not yet gone before the Board of Directors. Challenge VP Grant Underhill will take motion to the board today, December 23, 2001.
• Council discussed their dissatisfaction with the current rule. Council expressed a need to secure competent referees and felt that the current rule was dictated by classic. In addition it was noted that council was able to protect the Spring State Cup when BOD approved payment of Classic fees for the challenge cup.
• Dave Stump (GYSA) stated that Challenge needed to pay Classic fees to Challenge refs because it is difficult to secure referees. Mike Sweeny (TCL) commented that age and play are not that different as far as Classic and Challenge refereed matches are concerned.
• General comments about referees and matches were discussed. David Miller (PSA) felt that one problem with referees is that young referees are not willing to make difficult calls and/or often use high school rules. Paul Smith (CSC) suggested that referees be paid based on experience. David Clark (TCL) noted that using an increase pay scale to buy referees sometimes helps to hold referees but, may need to monitored by an assessor. Daniel Clifton (MARA) questioned the cost increases that can arise as a result of paying referees on the basis of experience. Mr. Clifton also stated that older refs are not necessarily better referees. Rachel Jones (NCYSA) suggested that council keep in mind that referee assignors do assign referees to matches based on their grades and are still constantly criticized. Kim Calaway (FVAA) supported paying center referees an increased rate because as a smaller association FVAA does not have the luxury of having multiple grade refs.
• A vote, by show of hands, was done to conclude Council’s discussion on Challenge referee fees.
• Bob Singer spoke briefly about “getting the job done” at BOD meetings by being specific and briefly.

• Challenge Scheduling Leagues-Roundtable Discussion
• A discussion on why scheduling leagues should be associate members of NCYSA was presented by Rachel Jones (NCYSA). Presently only two of these scheduling leagues are members. Rachel encouraged leagues to become members in order of them to have some type of direction and help from NCYSA. In addition, associate member teams are covered under NCYSA’s insurance. Examples were made of Challenge Teams playing non-member teams and not being covered by NCYSA. The only way to be covered is if teams obtain a permission to travel from NCYSA and play teams registered with USYSA. Other advantages noted included the ability to host tournaments, educational functions, liability on the fields, and licensing classes.
• Kim Calaway (FVAA), Tim Kepley (TFC), Dan Clifton (MARA) mentioned the advantages of being member leagues as well as stated that their organizations make no exceptions and require teams to register players with NCYSA. Dave Stump (GYSA) commented that if players were carded to play in regular league play and thus were NCYSA members. Rachel Jones (NCYSA) posed to question, Are cards and rosters being checked?
• Grant Underhill (VP Challenge) noted that there were obvious advantages to scheduling becoming associate members of NCYSA and suggested that staff try and contact those that were not members. Grant also questioned whether or not membership would be automatic or a rigorous process. Rachel Jones (NCYSA) noted that there is difficulty finding these scheduling bodies since they have no relationship with NCYSA.
• What do we do, since most areas can not put things together and pick up games where they can? Answer, Rachel Jones (NCYSA), make them legal and then we can work on making things geographically possible for them.

• Challenge Council Working Meeting
• Rachel Jones (NCYSA) made a note that, as of the last BOD meeting, Councils must have a Nov/Dec working meeting. Council decided on December 1, 2001 10:00 am for the working meeting. Council will Call Mari Villalobos (NCYSA) with agenda items.

• Let’s Get Legal-Challenge Registration Deadline
• Mari Villalobos (NCYSA) discussed a trend in late registration for Challenge Teams. Nothing gets done if teams do not meet deadlines. Teams can not get passes back in time for first weekend of regular league play and thus can not or should not be allowed to play. Rachel Jones (NCYSA) talked about the huge burden placed on local registrars as well as NCYSA staff. Rachel gave figures of 450 fall teams out of 723 teams registering late. Over 20% of Challenge teams are registering late. A Challenge directory could be put out twice a year if this process was more timely. Recreation teams are fined $1 per player for late registration.
• Teams are obviously playing without rosters. Grant Underhill (VP Challenge) recalled seeing a memo saying that not having passes was not a problem.
• What is the problem? What do we do about it? Tom Laundon (D/CH Strikers) felt that the root of the problem was newly formed young teams whose parents do not understand what types of things need to be done in order for a team to play. Dave Stump (GYSA) felt that part of the problem could be the time in which teams are formed. You can not wait until July to form a team and expect to make the Aug 3 rd registration deadline. David Miller (PSA) suggested that there was a communication problem within associations with respect to deadlines. Kim Calaway (FVAA) suggested that all new teams have formation guidelines, that can be given out when a team manager is identified. Dave Clark (TCL) said that TCL charged $350 but noted that a fine would not solve the problem. However, would be a good step towards reducing the number of late registered teams.
• Other suggestions for penalties include teams not being allowed to participate in Challenge State Cup if they do not register on time. (WOW)
• A note was made of the Jan 31 st deadline for teams wanting to play in the spring. Grant Underhill made a note to further discuss the issue in the Dec 1 st working meeting. Grant also wants to address the possibility of having a league policy about playing without passes. Dave Stump (GYSA) asked for a breakdown of teams/associations that are registering late.

• Open Discussion
• David Clark (TCL) wanted to know what the correct procedure was for games in which no referees show up. Grant Underhill answered the question stating that the main goal is for kids to play and if no one shows up the two teams should agree upon having a coach or parents call the game. Rachel Jones stated that there are no liability issues involved when you do this.
• Jerry Healy (Piney Green) Wanted to know what could be done about in-season tournaments. Grant Underhill felt that tournaments are popular and constantly going on and there is no way to control it.
• Daniel Clifton (MARA) asked about new membership categories? What are these areas? Can it be clarified? Grant requested further discussion of this issue at the Dec. working meeting.
• Spring Cup- Grant Underhill congratulated the behavior of players and coaches as well as thanked Kernersville for stepping up to the plate 2 weeks before the fall cup, holding preliminaries. WOW also did a super job with finals. Tournament guidelines were cleared up and solid procedures in place to future tournaments.

• Motion made by Dave Stump (GYSA) to adjourn. Mark Cockman (NUSC) 2 nd the motion. Grant Underhill adjourned Council.

A “thank you” to Karen Freeman from WOW, for taking minutes. Super job.

Grant Underhill NCYSA VP Challenge

Daniel Clifton Matthews Soccer Club

Frank Gavigan Burlington Area Youth Soccer Association

Rick Farmer Guil-Rand Youth Soccer Association

Karen Freeman Wings of Wilkes

Jerry Healy Piney Green Soccer Club

Proxy Swansboro Soccer Club

Proxy Richlands Soccer Club

Paul Smith Charlotte Soccer Club

Mike Sweeny Team Alliance Soccer Club

Triad Challenge League

David Clark Triad Challenge League

Carl Sorensen North Mecklenberg Youth Soccer Association

Mark Cockman Northeast United Soccer Club

Tim Kepley Triangle Futbol Club

David Miller Piedmont Soccer Alliance

Tom Laundon Durham/Chapel Hill Strikers

Dave Stump Greensboro Youth Soccer Association

Kim Calaway Fuguay-Varina Athletic Association

Rachel Jones NCYSA

Mari Villalobos NCYSA