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Parents/Coaches Meeting – August
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Terry Bove, President of the Bethel Park Soccer Association (BPSA), called the meeting to order at 7:15 P.M. in the Bethel Park Municipal Building. Also present were Bill Harvey, Jack Kun, Rick Paglia, Dave Porco, Stan Sbei, Russ Spicuzza, Scott Talbott, Tom Vater, Mark Vescovi, Theresa Vescovi and Brian Wassel.
Secretary’s Report: The June meeting minutes were officially approved.
Treasurer’s Report: Jack Kun announced a balance of $15,135.51.
President’s Report: Terry Bove announced the following coaches for the fall travel season:
Boys: Two U-10 teams will be coached by Jack Kun and Russ Spicuzza
U-11 team coached by Rick Paglia
U-11/12 team coached by Jan Gribowitz
U-12 team coached by Mike Hurley
U-13 team coached by Bill Clifford and Brian Wassel
U-14 team coached by Marty Sainsbury
Girls: Two U-10 teams will be coached by John Lydon and Terry Bove
Two U-11 teams coached by Mike Terasovich and Stan Sbei
U-12 team coached by Dave Porco
U-13/14 team coached by Russ Spicuzza
Terry also announced that 472 children have signed up for the Fall flight program. Registration is now ended.
PR/Fundraising: As a supporter of Bethel Park Soccer Association, Uniroyal has given us certificates for 500 free soccer balls. Russ Spicuzza will distribute these certificates to the travel teams and the flight program. Also, if anyone you know needs new tires, now is the time to purchase them at Bruce Brothers in Bethel Park. For every tire sold during the month of September, Uniroyal will donate $4.00 per tire to our soccer association. Spread the word!!!
Community Day: Russ Spicuzza will be asking each travel team to provide at least three parent volunteers for our booth at Community Day, September 14th. Volunteers will especially be needed during the “busy” time of 11:00 to 3:00. The day will be fun and easy for everyone if we all pitch in together!!! Please call Theresa Vescovi at 833-8219 to be a part of our Community Day team!!!
Equipment: Terry advised that the bids were received for flight shirts from Thread and Palette and MLS. As the price difference was not significant, a decision was made to support our local merchants and stay with Thread and Palette. MLS will still be considered for our new travel uniforms.
In an effort to keep moving with the uniform selection process, Eric Young will bring several choices to the next meeting for board approval. The consensus of the board was that the uniforms should be the same for each age group, rather than different colors/styles for each team.
The nets are in very poor shape at Park Avenue. Also, it was noted that two nets are missing from the full-sized nets at Millennium.
Web Site: Russ Spicuzza announced that he and Eric Young attended a meeting with COBWEB to discuss site usage, creating banner ads and many other web development issues. Discussion was held concerning the best methods for getting information to our members and the difficulties we are having with our website.
Coach/Player Development: Bill Harvey asked if our MLS representative would continue to hold a coaches training class before the flights begin. Bill had a lot of positive feedback from coaches that attended the training last year.
Scott Talbott reminded the Board that there is a $250.00 grant available through PA West that is to be used in any way to promote soccer. Discussion was held concerning the best use for this grant money. A decision was made to allocate these funds toward the purchase of several new soccer training videotapes to be placed in our newly-updated Bethel Park Library. Scott will check with Tim McCoy to see how we go about requesting this grant money.
Rick Paglia made a proposal to the board that if a travel team would agree to pay half of the cost of an MLS coach for a season, would the Association be willing to match that amount. Following a discussion of the benefits of having an MLS coach and a discussion of budget issues, a decision was made to ask each travel team coach as to their interest in this proposal. Due to the close time proximity of the beginning of the season, it was decided to decline the proposal for the fall season, but to revisit the issue for the spring season.
Fields: Brian Wassel noted that the fence has been raised behind the goals at Millennium Field. Neil Armstrong will be available for practices, but not for games. Discussion was held on trying to keep the games on a limited number of fields. Millennium will be used for U-9 and U-10 games. Park Avenue will be used for U-11 and U-12 games. Ben Franklin will be used for U-13 and U-14 games.
Scott Talbott attended last month’s Coalition meeting. Scott asked the Borough to take a soil sample at each of the main fields that are shared by different recreation groups (soccer, lacrosse, football). This way, different sporting groups can stop pointing fingers at each other and begin to make a common plan for field maintenance. This idea was well-received and the samples will hopefully be taken this fall and next spring. Discussion was held on the poor field conditions at Millenium. It was agreed that Millenium should be the focus of our efforts.
Grant monies were not received this year to improve the drainage at Village Green. This project has been postponed until 2004.
Brian will have the fields lined within the next two weeks.
Ballboys/Ballgirls: Rick Paglia took the responsibility of organizing the ballgirls/ballboys for the high school varsity soccer games. Each team will be assigned a game during September and/or October.
Flights: Flights begin Saturday, September 7th . Flights I and II will take place at Village Green. Flights III and IV will be played at Millenium. Once finalized, the new flight commissioners will be placed on our website.
Tournaments: All local and regional tournaments are listed on www.pawest-soccer.org.
Scott Talbott announced that the high school can not host our November indoor tournament this year due to a previously scheduled swim meet. Discussion was held on reducing the number of teams we allow in the tournament to 8 boys teams and 8 girls teams. Scott will check with Neil Armstrong to see if their gym is available in November.
Monthly Meetings: THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2002 AT 8:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CAUCUS ROOM.
Upon motion made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Theresa Vescovi, BPSA Secretary