Tom Vater President of the Bethel Park Soccer Association (BPSA) called the meeting to order at 7:06 PM in the Caucus Room of the Bethel Park Municipal Building. Also present were Dave Conely, Matt Scott, Bill Wolf, Jim Huber, Donna Orsini, Jack Kun,  Don Snyder, Bob Monte, Jim Rhoades, Tony Bruno, Bill Boehner, Ray Conway, Scott Bradley and Matt Yee.

Secretary’s Report: The minutes were posted on the website and distributed at the meeting. There were some minor changes that were noted and will be corrected. Motion was made to approve the minutes by Bob Monte and seconded by Dave Conely. The motion passed unanimously.

Treasurer’s Report: Jack Kun gave a balance in the checking and savings accounts of $33,176.95. Jack Kun stated we received a $150 check from Uniroyal.

President’s Report: 

• Tom Vater advised the meeting would be quick to turn attention to the planning session.

COMMITTEES:

Registration -

• Don Snyder stated there were 92 Players for Travel and 143 Players for Flights
• January 17 is open registration in the Council Chambers from 7:00 - 8:30 pm.  Jim Huber, Jim Rhoades, Matt Scott, Donna Orsini and Dave Conely volunteered to assist at the table.
• Tom mentioned there would be Shirts and Sweatshirts on sale during registration.
• Don to get registration form.  Information was sent home from the schools last months about soccer.  Don to check if Maryann needs any information in the February article.

Communications –

• No Report.

Referees –

• There is a referee clinic 2/10 - 2/11 at Bethel Park High School from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  This is for new referees grade 9 and up.

Travel Commissioner  & Registrar –

• No Report.

PR/Fundraising –

• No Report.

Player/Coach Development –

• Bill Wolf discussed upcoming opportunities. 
•     January 20 at Greentree is the Youth Module for $10.00 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
•     January 20 at Greentree is the PA West Coach Clinic for $30.00 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
•     Beadling tryout is January 12th.  STM tryout January 10th. PFC tryouts are next two Saturdays 1/13 and 1/20.  Victory tryouts are later in January.

Flights –

• No Report.

Fields –

• No Report.

Equipment –

• Tom Boss to order nets when needed. 
• Sezzo is closing and Jack will order Spring Flight shirts through another vendor.

Community Liaison –

• No Report.

Website -

• No Report.

Player Appreciation -

• No Report.

Old Business –

• No Report.

New Business –

• The annual planning session will take place in the conference room.
• Tom asked for volunteers and handed out the 2007 Committee assignments. 
•     Fields - Tom Boss
•     Travel Registrar - Ray Conway
•     Flight Registrar - Don Snyder
•     Player Development - Bill Wolf
•     Flights - Bill Harvey / Matt Scott
•     Newsletter -Donna Orsini
•     Website - Jim Huber
•     Communications - Don Snyder / Donna Orsini
•     Player Appreciation - Dave Conely / Bill Boehner
•     Public Relations / Uniroyal & Pictures - Matt Yee
•     Community Day - Jim Huber / Bob Monte
•     Referees - Scott Bradley / Tom Vater
•     Equipment - Tony Bruno
•     Coaches Appreciation - Donna Orsini
•     Community Liaison - Russ Spicuzza / Dave Conely
•     Summer Commissioner - Open
•     Fall Tournament - Open

Jim Huber made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Bill Wolf seconded the motion. All were in favor and the meeting was adjourned.

Upcoming Dates -

• January 17, 2007 In person Registration 7:00-8:30PM Council Chambers
• January 24, 2007 South District meeting
• February 10 -11, 2007 Referee Course
• February 13, 2007 Monthly Soccer meeting
• February 15, 2007 Final Travel Registration
• March 1, 2007 Final Flights Registration
• March 25, 2007 First Travel Games
• March 31, 2007 First Flight Games

Next Board meeting will be February 13, 2007, at 7:00PM in Caucus Room.

Respectfully Submitted

Jim Huber, Secretary

The Annual Planning Session results

First we reviewed the Flight program:

Positive things of Flights                          Areas to Improve Flights

1.  Good introduction to soccer                 1. Getting the information to the Players and coaches in a timely manner (Elk shoot, Promotion material)

2.  Throughout the Community                 2. Provide earlier lead time to volunteer coaches and teams.

3.  Kids have fun !                                   3. Uniformity of the program in player development.

4.  Adds some competition                       4. Saturdays are busy with practice and games.

5.  Player Appreciation Day                       5. Field conditions

Bill Wolf provided a Player Development discussion handout.  We are one of the only communities that have soccer in one day for flight (in-house) soccer.  Many communities have a practice during the week and a game on the weekend. The goal is to get more repetition of playing for the children.  A suggestion was made to have a pilot program to break out the sessions to a 1 hour practice during the week and then the weekend would have a 1-1/2 hour on Saturday for additional practice and a game.  It could be a 1/2 hour practice and a 1 hour game or a 45 minute practice and 45 minute game.  There were many suggestions on how to handle this from a 1- flight pilot to extending it to all the Flights.  An issue would be to get the fields aligned for the weekday practices in which Tom Boss would help to coordinate.  By January 25th, the fields must be selected.  By the February monthly meeting, the framework for the schedule must be laid out and agreed upon.  At this time, the information will be send out to the coaches to disseminate to their teams by the end of February.  Also, BPSA is going to contact Bethel Park High School to ask for assistance from the coaches and players to help on the practices.

Travel Soccer

BPSA is looking to have Goalie Clinics throughout the season for the travel teams.

Another suggestion was made to have multiple uniforms for the travel teams.  A home and an away jersey.  One of the shirt may be one the player may keep.  Also, matching shorts and socks. 

A question was posed to see if the travel teams could have sponsors.  This will be looked into further before a decision is made.

There is a meeting with MLS to determine the resource for the upcoming season.  Could this resource be used for the travel teams as well as the Flights?  This , too, will be looked into further before a decision is made.

We may look for a coaching clinic for the travel coaches.  A travel commissioner may be appointed to assess the travel coaches to aid the program.

Communications

There is the Internet and emails to connect to players & coaches.  We will need some new email addresses once Adelphia moves over to Comcast.  Jim Huber will check the database for email addresses.  Also, he to check to verify if someone may unsubscribe.

A suggestion was made to put the weather report on the website.  Also, list when a Flight or Travel game has been cancelled / postponed.

A suggestion was made  to have representation at kindergarten orientation to introduce parents to BPSA.  Or have some type of Parent's meeting / First Day for a BPSA introduction.

A comment was made we need more coaches for Flight 5 this Spring session.

Schedule of 2007 Events

January     9  - Planning Session

                17 - Registration Table in the Council Chambers

February - 1 Early bird deadline for registration

                10 -11 - Referee Clinic

                15 Travel Registration deadline

March       1 - Final Flight registration

                25 - Travel games begin

                31 - Flight games begin

April           Registration for the Edinboro tournament

                  No flight games on Easter Weekend

May            Player appreciate day

                  Fall Registration in the Council Chambers

June            Deadlines for travel fall registration

                  Travel team formation

                  Travel Coach meeting

July            PA West referee camp

August        Fall Travel begins

September   2 - Fall Flights begin

                   9 - Bethel Park Community Day (Flights 1,2 & 3 play at the High School)

                   Picture Day

                   Uniroyal promotion (free soccer ball with visit to Bruce Brothers)

October        Kids night a the varsity soccer games

November    Referee recertification

                  Coaches appreciation dinner

December     Annual board elections                 

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