TUFC Board Meeting October 26, 2009
Call to order: 7:14
Attendance: Rob Hayes, Pam Nobles, Tony Kidd, Phil Sandin, Jim Parker, Eric Lipman, Andy Warner, Pete Walker, Winston Howell
1. Director of Coaching Report by Andy Warner
Andy Warner read from report.
· Explained the coaches ratings o tournaments, mentioned the ratings of tournaments as being 1 through 3.
· Reviewed TUFC players currently playing at colleges and then mentioned colleges that have talked to TUFC and their coaches.
· Rob asked about deadline of the ODP program. AW did not have that information available.
· Phil asked what more can we do to get the players seeking to play at the college level more recognition and how to assist them. Andy said they are seen at tournaments and college coaches talk with our coaches. Phil asked if we are communicating what is needed at the technical sessions.
· Rob asked about data that AW got from the coaches on the tournament and the goals of coaches for the spring – asked for this information. Feed back on the tournaments is very important.
· Andy said that Academy wants to vary who they play. Andy has initiated contact with different cities, Columbus and Gainesville for playdates at the academy level.
· Andy mentioned a region-wide league for Region D play. Said that was not in a position to discuss it maybe next week. We are currently in an “association.” Phil asked if we would be able to get the panhandle teams to participate. Andy seems to think so.
· Rob mentioned that after the Academy season is over we could take a couple of hours on a Saturday to have a tryout session and offer free t-shirts or some similar. Advertise in the Tallahassee Democrat calendar. Eric offered to look for things to give out for free.
- Registration Update by Eric Lipman
- Passed out spreadsheet, used USClub numbers because he felt that it was more accurate. Eric noted on the spreadsheet which teams were combined age groups because of lack of numbers. Rob had asked Eric to produce this so that the Board members and Club members can see where we need more numbers and get more players into the club so that we can get more age-appropriate full teams.
- Phil mentioned that Title 9 money is going to girls in college and that we should start advertising during the MS soccer games here at the Meadows.
- Andy mentioned that many of the coaches and parents associated with TUFC are coaching in the middle schools and high schools. Andy recommends that we have pamphlet advertising and pass them out and give a contact person to target the audience that is already interested. This is his recommendation.
- Phil mentioned that it would be good to get more women coaches to coach the girls.
- Pam asked if we could waive the fee for registration fee until they make the decision to join.
- If unregistered players play with registered players there is some question whether or not we can do that.
- Frank – stated that he thought that receipt of the registration fee was required by the governing bodies (FYSA and US Club).
- Eric is going to check to see what the requirements.
- Contract Negotiations by Pam Nobles
- Received comments back from Rick Benton late this afternoon around 4. Have not had a time to review.
- Andy presented a timeline:
- June 29 meeting between parties
- July 27th Rick sent markups to Claire D. counsel representing TUFC in contract negotiations
- Sept 11 Claire sent back to Rick
- Latest response received from RB on today’s date.
- Bylaws Project by Winston Howell & Eric Lipman
· Winston mentioned they were handed out in August.
· Winston believes that they now should be posted on the website.
· The substantive comments were mostly on the way Board members were elected.
· That the proposed changes will have a nominating committee and the Board will be elected by a membership present at a duly noticed Board meeting called for that purpose.
· Read the preamble. Rob would like to give the Board members until the end of the week to get last comments in.
· Winston recommends that we either post them at the end of October or wait until after the holidays.
· Eric mentioned that they need to be posted for 30 to 45 days.
· Winston stated that we need to get this done by January to have everything working by May at the end of this soccer “season.”
· Would like to shoot for mid-December to meet and review comments on the changes.
· Winston recommends not taking substantive changes from the Board at this point.
- Scholarships by Winston Howell
· Requests were submitted at the beginning of the year.
· Received requests for 15 scholarships, he sat down and went through all of them and evaluated.
· He has recommended 10 for approval.
· He has followed up with most of them to notify them that they have been approved. Recommend that we approve 10.
· Made a motion to approve. Pam seconded.
· There will be a second motion involving two board members that requested scholarships that he feels should be dealt with in a separate motion. Motion passed unanimously.
· Two board members – Eric Lipman and Rob Hayes, Winston reviewed information thoroughly and recommends that this should be part of the record. Made in the form of a motion. Pam seconded.
· Phil mentioned that he had an issue that other scholarship recipients had anonymity and why should they be different. Winston stated that he felt the Board applicants should be more transparent.
· Motion passed unanimously.
· Rob Hayes and Eric Lipman abstained.
· Tony asked where money came from. Winston stated that it comes from general fund. Tony expressed the need to have a fund to raise money specifically for scholarship.
· Tony had a question about criteria. Winston used a blend of last year’s criteria and the previous year’s. Winston mentioned that all information will be kept in the Treasurer’s files.
· Eric wanted to make sure that the recipient’s names will not be posted on the web. They will not.
- Update on Tournament by Pete Walker
· Tournament name: Florida State Invitational
· Tournament Dates: March 13 and 14
· Fees tentatively set at: $375 u10, $400 u11–u12, $450 U13-u14, $500 u15 and up
· New FSU Intramural Fields and the Meadows
· Resolved date conflicts and Region D
· Submitted application to FYSA to host and have been approved
· Also on four other websites
· Soccer in College as software package
· Sent first invitations out already
· Sent to 15,000 individuals
· Confirmed that coaches did get the e-mails
· Have developed a brochure
· Submitted a grant application to Leon County and were approved for $3000 to be given at the back end.
· In process of obtaining a host hotel
· Referees has started obtaining the refs – has not yet gotten confirmation
- Open Discussion
Frank Santry expressed concern that there was a meeting on the bylaws that hadn’t been noticed. Eric explained that there has been no meeting as of yet, there has just been a rough draft circulated to the Board. Frank wanted assurance that it would be posted on the website for about 30 days before brought to the membership for their input. Group agreement expressed.
Duane Gregory (Taylor County) mentioned that his middle school girl is playing now and that we need to cast a wider net and perhaps we can send someone around to speak to the coaches and players about TUFC.
Gary Zins – parents asked him to come and convey his thoughts that they have 13 kids on a team playing 6 v 6. He expressed that had they known this going in they may have done something else this year. Mentioned that had they been asked, they would have been happy to go look for other players. Expressed concern regarding constant change with their team - they have not had a cohesive team as it changes constantly. Unfortunately, some parents are talking not returning. Were supposed to play as a whole team in a tournament in Atlanta but then found that they cannot play all together. The team is frustrated. Parents were willing to volunteer to make this work. Eric tried to explain his understanding of what was happening with the Atlanta tournament. Eric explained that he looked at the team as two teams and that they would have two tournaments. Rob suggested the parents on the team engage the chain of command team coach, Academy Director, DoC then the Board. AW had attended the meeting with this team – mentioned that we have a standardized approach and we need to look at each situation. U -10s. AW suggested to have the Academy coaches together to discuss a concept of whether they want to form “teams.” Explained how different the Select is from the Academy. Rob mentioned that a few years ago Select kids were dropping off and TUFC started taking more Academy players to bolster the numbers when they move up to Select play.
Tammy Shotwell, parent on U-13 girl expressed concern regarding numbers vs. talent. Feels some players should be cut because the talent is not there and this is slowing the development of the rest of the players. Andy stated that Jim was coaching girls in the Rec-Plus league and they brought these players in to try out and took the players and are filling in with the 12s. The other option was not to accept them. Stated that she was looking for more competiveness.
Phil mentioned that parents should feel free to express their opinions with the Board but that the Board does not need to get into micromanaging all the teams. Phil reminded everyone of the chain of command, coach, Academy/Select Director, DoC, Board.
Andy suggested a parent evaluation form that we can give out in the middle of the season. This will give the coaches and DoC feedback to have actionable items. Mentioned the difference in Academy and Select.
Tony Kidd mentioned that the difference in parents views of the Club and the coaches view of the club. There is a difference in developing individuals rather than developing teams. There is no standardization that is going to work for everyone.
Meeting Adjourned 8:53 pm
Others Present:
Rudy Powell
Terrance Keenan
Terrance Shotwell
Duane Gregory
Joe McVaney
Dian Lensch
Frank
Leo Flanagan
Brad Lewis
Kevin Marshall
Gary Zins
Frank Santry
Donna Jennings
