JANUARY/FEBRUARY THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF VOLUME TWENTY-EIGHT 2013 THE OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION ISSUE ONE OKLAHOMA CITY

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1 SMOKE SIGNALS SMOKE SIGNALS 1 JANUARY/FEBRUARY THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF VOLUME TWENTY-EIGHT 2013 THE OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION ISSUE ONE OKLAHOMA CITY TULSA Workshop 2013 Offers New Sessions OSA and Score team up to present the 2013 Soccer Workshop at the Downtown DoubleTree Hotel in Tulsa on February 1-3, The 23rd annual Workshop will feature Keynote Speaker Antonio Sanchez from Sport Networking Spain, a soccer development and training organization, who will also lead coaching sessions during the weekend. 10 new sessions will be featured at the 2013 Workshop. Five of those sessions involve Club 101 (a session to provide training on basic club issues) that will offer clubs ways to improve their daily operation, finances, registration, referee training, and sponsorship. Other new sessions provide information on concussions, the Academy program, and ODP training. While new sessions have been added, many of the attractions of the Workshop have been kept on the schedule. Friday evening will feature the announcement of Oklahoma s Hall of Fame inductees for 2013: Keith Ash and Gary Poulsen. The ceremony will begin at 6:30pm in the Council Oak Ballroom. Saturday morning will begin with coaching demonstrations and referee courses along with vendors for members to visit and a continental breakfast to enjoy. Up to the noon break, sessions will run each hour and a short break will allow members to once again visit the vendors. At noon, everyone will gather in the Buckingham/Windsor Ballroom for the annual Awards Luncheon. In addition to the keynote address by Antonio Sanchez, the luncheon will showcase the 4 coaches of the year: Atef Iskander, Ahnas Almughrabi, Stephen Phillips, and Nick Burleson. Volunteer of the Year Jim Weir and Administrator of the Year Gabi Noble will be recognized for see Workshop, page 2 Antonio Sanchez Keynote Speaker at 2013 OSA Workshop A former player for FC Barcelona and currently the technical director for the Hristo Stoichkov Academies with nearly 1,000 players, Antonio Sanchez will bring to the Oklahoma/Score Soccer Workshop his knowledge and experience of training young soccer players and overseeing their development. He has cared for this method and worked for years to develop it into one of the best training programs in the soccer world. Sport Networking Spain is an organization that has pioneered training not only the player but the coach as well. Using elite athletes in the presentations and as models provides the players and coaches who attend the session awareness of the experience and capabilities of the Sport Networking crew. Thus, Antonio, as one of the Technical Directors along with Joan Via Bosch who was also an FC Barcelona player, has the expertise to demonstrate how the Sport Networking program works. Based on the highly successful model of FC Barcelona, many clubs and teams have tried to copy the model that Antonio presents; however, few succeed. For those who know international soccer, the FC Barcelona model is based on the Dutch concept of to- see Keynote Speaker, page 2 ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS Oklahoman Bright Dike Called To Nigerian National Team Atef Iskander Named Region III Girls Coach of the Year Jim Weir Named Volunteer of the Year Oklahoma Administrator of the Year Gabi Noble Andy Stone Scholarship Stephen Phillips Competitive Boys Coach of the Year Ahnas Almughrabi Recreational Coach of the Year SCORE Soccer Workshop Schedule Nick Burleson Coach of the Year - Girls Competitive Refs of the Year - Beall, Cherry, Saghafi NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 781 STIGLER, OK 74462

2 2 OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION WORKSHOP 2013 from page 1 their contributions as will Kristi and Christopher Oneill who are the TOPSoccer Buddies of the Year. Three Oklahoma referees will receive Referee of the Year acknowledgement: Tamara Cherry, Nima Saghafi, and Wade Beall. The luncheon awards will also recognize the OSA scholarship winners for 2012 and the ODP players who participated in the 2012 events. Finally, nearly every attendee will be eligible for one of the many prizes donated by the state sponsors. A list of winners will be placed on the table for the members attending the luncheon. The afternoon classroom sessions begin at 2pm and run through 4pm while the coaching sessions will begin in the Tulsa Convention Center and involve ODP players. If you haven t registered yet for the 23rd Soccer Workshop sponsored by Score and OSA, do so today by visiting the OSA web site at Coaching sessions will continue on Sunday. KEYNOTE SPEAKER from page 1 tal soccer and wouldn t you know that the person who brought that model to FC Barcelona was none other than Johan Cruyff. Called the FCB style, the concept is to develop intelligent players, says Antonio, who understand the game as a coach does. They occupy the spaces, know what is happening around them, think fast but even faster than their opponents, and thus make the best decisions on the pitch. The program is offered to clubs around the world and while here in Oklahoma, coaches and players should plan on attending the Workshop just to see how the Networking Spain system functions. Tulsa Roughnecks Manager Noel Lemon Dead at 68 SPORTS promoter, Noel Lemon, has died following a short illness. For many Oklahomans, Noel was responsible for bringing soccer to the state. His ability to promote a game unknown to most Oklahomans was uncanny. He filled the University of Tulsa's Skelly Stadium to capacity many times as his Roughnecks took on NASL teams such as the New York Cosmos. His lifelong connection with Irish soccer helped bring Victor Moreland and Billy Caskey to the state. Noel Lemon, who passed away at the age of 68, was perhaps best known as the general manager of the NASL Tulsa Roughnecks, but he also played a pivotal role in the history of American soccer as the promoter of international matches in the late 1980s and early 1990s, providing muchneeded competition for the U.S. national team and keeping outdoor soccer alive the years between the end of the NASL and the launch of MLS. A native of Northern Ireland, where he played for Glentoran and other clubs, Lemon later played for clubs in Philadelphia. As general manager of the Tulsa Roughnecks during the heyday of the NASL, Lemon was one of league's most colorful executives. "We've only been in the league two and a half years and already half the teams hate us," he famously said. "Give me another two years and we'll have them all." Lemon was no longer general manager when the Roughnecks won the 1983 NASL Soccer Bowl, but he intervened on behalf of Tulsa to convince NASL President Howard Samuels to allow star Ron Futcher to play. The Englishman was suspended for yellowcard accumulation, but Lemon told Samuels the Roughnecks would not travel to the final unless Futcher played. Futcher played -- and scored -- in Tulsa's 2-0 win over the Toronto Blizzard. Weeks later, however, the Roughnecks were bankrupt. The club only stayed afloat into the 1984 season because of a radio campaign that raised $65,000 so it could make payroll. The NASL folded in Lemon was one of the few executives from the NASL days to stay in the game. He and former NASL executive Clive Toye founded Mundial Sports Group, which promoted such events as the Marlboro Cup. The Marlboro Cup was one of the first events that tapped into the market for international soccer matches in the United States. More important, the event provided competition for the U.S. national team that would go on to qualify for the 1990 World Cup, ending a 40-year drought. It wasn't like today when the U.S. national team can play any team it wants, home or away. Many of the Marlboro Cup games were against South American club teams. The Mundial Sports Group remained active long after MLS took off. Lemon also served as the president of the ASL Ft. Lauderdale Strikers. OSA Tulsa Office 9410 E. 51st St. Ste. B Tulsa, OK P.O. Box Tulsa, OK OSA office in Oklahoma City 4520 Old Farm Road Oklahoma City, OK Executive Board Chairman Brandon Story Vice-Chairman Bill Aven Secretary/Treasurer Larry Faulkner SRA Ron Poulsen Adviser Scott Hughes Youth Board President Tom Wedding 1st Vice-President Daryn Story 2nd Vice-President Marianne Ballard 3rd Vice-President Paul Scott 4th Vice-President Risk Management Michael Naumann Secretary/Registrar Russ Lissuzzo SYRA David Ooten Adult Board President Reza Namavar The Smoke Signals is the official publication of the Oklahoma Soccer Association and is published bi-monthly. Editorial offices are at the OSA office, 9410-B East 51st Street, Tulsa, OK Telephone is and FAX is at oksoccer@oksoccer.com. The Smoke Signals is mailed to all registered coaches, referees, association officers, subscribers, and players six times a year. Advertisers assume all liability for content of advertisements printed and therefore assume all claims against the Smoke Signals. The Smoke Signals does not publish articles or letters from anonymous contributors. Contributors must provide a daytime phone number to confirm authorship of submitted articles or letters. Opinions expressed in this publication are exclusively those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication. Errors, corrections and changes are inevitable. Please accept our apologies for any inconveniences. Smoke Signals Story Submissions Smoke Signals welcomes story submissions from teams, clubs, leagues and associations via or FAX. If you have a story or a story idea, please or FAX us at the following addresses: oksoccer@oksoccer.com -or- FAX: to the attention: Dale Watts. 1st Vice-President Sonny Dalesandro 2nd Vice-President Tekleab Tsegay Secretary/Registrar Jalal Daneshfar SRA Ron Poulsen Editor- Dale Watts Layout & Design- Sandy Bent National Ad Director Varsity Sports Communications 1340 Lake City Way Seattle, WA

3 Oklahoman Bright Dike Called To Nigerian National Team Portland Timbers forward Bright Dike s successful season has received recognition beyond the confines of MLS. Dike scored six goals in 23 matches over his first two MLS seasons with the Timbers although 2012 will probably defined as his breakout after a coaching change saw him receive more opportunities. He has been called down to Florida into camp with the Nigeria National Team by head coach Stephen Keshi to replace Chelsea s Jon Obi Mikel. It is Dike s first national team call-up at any level. Although born in Oklahoma, Bright s parents are Nigerian. Nigeria are in the Sunshine State for a friendly against Venezuela on Wednesday in Miami. He will not be joined by Chelsea s John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses who have withdrawn but the inclusion of Sharks FC s Gomo Onduku will ensure Dike is not the only new boy. Keshi seemed to know more about the player than the club he plays for if local media are to be believed: Timberwolves player, Bright Dike, who stars in the MLS for Timberwolves Fc has already been invited to play in his (Mikel s) stead and we are sure that he will do well in the encounter, especially as he is based in the United States, Keshi was quoted as saying. Nigeria are one of 16 countries that have qualified for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, which begins in January and will take place in South Africa. Nigeria will play Zambia, Burkino Faso and Ethiopia in Nelspruit and Rustemburg. Dike will join the Nigeria National Team on Sunday in preparation for the friendly. The Super Eagles will play Venezuela at Marlins Park on Wednesday; kickoff is set for 5:05 p.m (Cascadia Time). The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and US Youth Soccer, two of the nation s soccer leaders, are merging their respective annual gatherings for the first time in January 2013 to create the game s most influential event of the year. The combined convention will appeal to the entire soccer community as US Youth Soccer brings the annual US Youth Soccer Workshop to the NSCAA Convention. We are excited to welcome the US Youth Soccer Workshop to the NSCAA Convention, stated Joe Cummings, NSCAA CEO and Executive Director, and look forward to growing and enhancing the Convention educational and networking opportunities for coaches, administrators and referees together. Bringing the US Youth Soccer Workshop to the NSCAA Convention is extremely beneficial to the membership of both organizations. Founded in 1941, the NSCAA s mission is to help its members excel in their coaching careers as well as advance the coaching of soccer, thereby improving players, through a commitment to provide the best coaching education, convention and member services and benefits to the soccer community. To create the best, largest and most impactful opportunity for both of our respective members is our first priority, said John Sutter, president of US Youth Soccer. The benefits of exposing a larger pool of coaches and administrators to our combined efforts, our shared missions and philosophies to our members, and to create the largest celebration of our sport is exciting to both US Youth Soccer and NSCAA. US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sports organization in the nation, was established in 1974 with the mission to foster the physical, mental and emotional growth and SMOKE SIGNALS 3 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and US Youth Soccer Join for Annual Gathering Dike, 25, finished his second MLS season as one of the Timbers leading scorers, recording five goals in 12 games over the final half of the 2012 campaign. Additionally, he tallied five goals in five appearances with the Timbers Reserves and recorded six goals and two assists during a two-month loan spell with the L.A. Blues of USL PRO last season. Dike received his chance at club level when Portland s Scottish head coach John development of America's youth through the sport of soccer at all levels of age and competition. The 2013 NSCAA Convention will be held at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis January 16-20, Find out more information about the Convention and to register visit About the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Based in Kansas City, Kan., the NSCAA is the largest soccer coaches' organization in the world. Since its founding in 1941, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America has grown to include more than 30,000 members who coach both genders at all levels of the sport. In addition to a national rankings program for colleges and high schools, NSCAA offers an extensive recognition program that presents nearly 10,000 individual awards every year. The NSCAA fulfills its mission of coaching education through a nationwide program of clinics and week-long courses, teaching more than 6,000 soccer coaches each year. Find out more about the NSCAA at com. About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer) US Youth Soccer - "The Game for ALL Kids! " is the largest youth sports organization in the country and largest member of the United States Soccer Federation, the governing body of soccer in the United States. US Youth Soccer registers more than 3 million players annually, ages 5 to 19, and over 900,000 administrators, coaches and volunteers in 55 member State Associations. US Youth Soccer programs provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game. For more information, visit Spencer was replaced by Gavin Wilkinson as interim manager. The new coach had been at the helm of the old USL club, for whom Dike had starred prior to the club s elevation to Major League Soccer in Dike replaced Spencer s fellow Scot Kris Boyd as the first choice forward and impressed many with a string of bombastic performances at the top level of domestic football in the USA.

4 4 OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION OSA CALENDAR JANUARY 1 New Years 2 Altus, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Collinsville, NOKC, FCSA Competitive, GCSA Ex Bd, Ref Committee 3 Coweta, Midwest City, Northwest Oklahoma Metro Tulsa, Norman, Washington County 8 Claremore, Elk City, Logan County, Mustang, Ponca City, South Lakes 9 Durant, Mayes County 10 Beaver River 14 FCSA, Owasso 15 Chickasha, Edmond, Harrah 21 Choctaw/Nicoma Park, El Reno, Shawnee, Stillwater, Westside 22 Tri-Lake 23 Bristow 24 GCSA Gen Mtg 28 Glenpool, Yukon FEBRUARY 4 Metro Tulsa, Norman, Washington County 5 Youth Board Mtg, Davis, Stilwell 6 Altus, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Collinsville, NOKC, FCSA Competitive, GCSA Ex Bd, Ref Committee 7 Midwest City, Northwest Oklahoma 11 FCSA, Owasso 12 Claremore, Elk City, Logan County, Mustang, Ponca City, South Lakes 13 Durant, Mayes County 14 Beaver River, Valentine s Day 18 Choctaw/Nicoma Park, El Reno, Shawnee, Stillwater, Westside 19 Chickasha, Edmond, Harrah, Sapulpa 21 Bixby 25 Glenpool, Yukon 26 Tri-Lake MARCH 4 Metro Tulsa, Norman, Washington County 5 Youth Board Mtg, Davis, Sand Springs, Stilwell 6 Altus, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Collinsville, NOKC, FCSA Competitive, GCSA Ex Bd, Ref Committee 7 Coweta, Cleveland, Midwest City, NW Oklahoma 11 FCSA, Owasso 12 Claremore, Elk City, Logan County, Muskogee, Mustang, Ponca City, South Lakes 13 Durant, Mayes County 14 Beaver River 18 Choctaw/Nicoma Park, El Reno, Shawnee, Stillwater, Westside 19 Chickasha, Edmond, Harrah, Sapulpa 21 Bixby 25 Glenpool, Yukon 26 Tri-Lake Monthly Club Meetings Clinton Red Carpet COASL Feb & Aug Tri-City Cordell Verdigris Great Plains All other clubs Hinton meet as called. Lawton United NEOASA Jan, June, Aug, & Dec When told he had been selected as Oklahoma Recreational Girls Coach of the Year for 2012, Atef Iskander s first words were: Why did they pick me? The Hall of Fame member is well known throughout the state as a former National referee, assessor, and instructor. But when his daughter Sherene informed him that she wished to play soccer, he agreed to be the assistant coach. I had been a coach in the early 80 s when a friend asked me to coach his son s team, says Atef. I coached for one or two seasons but then quit. Atef was still playing soccer as an The League Will Begin Play in the Spring of The new eight-team women's soccer league will be called the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The league, which will be administered by U.S. Soccer, will begin in the spring of The new league logo is appropriately red, white and blue and features the silhouette of a female soccer player about to strike a shot. With the confirmation of the league name and logo, the National Women's Soc- Atef Iskander Named Region III Girls Coach of the Year adult and his team was required to furnish a referee. Informed he would be the team s referee representative at a referee course, Atef attended the class. Thus, playing took a back seat to being a referee because I found out I liked to referee, says Atef. When Atef and Becky s second child arrived, son Matthew, Atef was now more involved with coaching than refereeing. When Matthew did not pursue soccer, Atef continued to work with Sherene s team until she went to college. I thought I was done, says Iskander, but a phone call from a coach who could no longer find time in his work schedule to be the coach put Atef back on the sidelines with a group of young ladies. With his knowledge of the game as a player, a referee, and a coach who attained his USSF D license, Iskander s ability as a coach was soon realized as the team began winning league play, then tournaments, and eventually state tournaments. These were all recreational players, says Iskander. He did not wish to become a competitive coach and simply took the teams given him by the club. The game has given me so much and to be around young people all these years is a gift. cer League has also launched its official pages on Facebook and Twitter. Fans are encouraged to like the league at facebook. com/nwslsoccer and follow on A league website will be launched in the near future. U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati announced on Nov. 29 that former U.S. Women's National Team General Manager Cheryl Bailey had been named the Executive Director for the new league. "We are working on finalizing a number of league items, but we now have a name and a logo that we think the fans will identify with and enjoy," said Bailey. "This is a league we have to build from the bottom up and we have a group of dedicated owners and talented support staff at U.S. Soc- And now the United States Youth Soccer Association has recognized Atef as the Region III Coach of the Year. He joins only five other Oklahomans who have achieved that honor: Suzie Page, Wilbert Maximore, Jane Remy, Frankie Mozingo, and Geron McGinnis. Oklahoma has had four National Coaches of the Year: Suzie Page, Wilbert Maximore, Jane Remy, and Frankie Mozingo. Iskander s philosophy of coaching is centered on fitness both mental and physical in nature. If they are fit they don t make mistakes. I let them make their own decisions during the game and then we talk about it at practice. We must have a common goal and that goal is to be the very best and to play the best we can. As the U16 Inferno team (97) enters the spring season, Atef was asked of his future plans. I will continue coaching this U16 Inferno team until they don t want to play anymore or graduate. Then I will retire! Whether Atef s prediction comes true or not, Oklahoma is proud to have another Region III Coach of the Year and we congratulate him on that honor. U.S. Soccer Unveils Name And Logo Of New Women s Soccer League cer to keep this process moving in a positive direction while slowly growing the brand." U.S. Soccer will subsidize the salaries of up to 24 U.S. Women's National Team players while the Canadian Soccer Association and Federation of Mexican Football will each do the same for up to 16 players. The eight teams in the league are: Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Kansas City, Portland Thorns FC, Sky Blue FC, Washington Spirit, Western New York Flash and Seattle, which has yet to announce its team name. More information on the details of the league will be released as they become finalized.

5 Jim Weir Named Volunteer of the Year As with every Volunteer of the Year selected by Oklahoma Soccer, the amount of time and energy devoted to their club and its soccer program is priceless. Jim Weir of Broken Arrow Soccer Club is yet another example of a person willing to spend every spare moment in the service of his soccer club. I have seen Jim coach two teams, serve as a club officer, and then work on our fields just to make sure everything needed for a game or a tournament is ready, says Frankie Mozingo, OSA Hall of Fame member and past National Coach of the Year. Jim has been selected as Broken Arrow s recreational Coach of the Year and OSA s Coach of the Year as well as Broken Arrow s Volunteer of the Year. As a volunteer coach for 13 years, beginning with the U8 boys Fireballs in 1999, Jim has guided his girls teams to four state championship matches and two championships. He has served on the BASC tournament committee, and the registration committee since He has been on the field preparation committee since In addition to his club volunteer work, Jim also is a member of the Broken Arrow schools Partners in Education and has volunteered with that organization since For the members of Broken Arrow Soccer Club, Jim Weir is the example of a volunteer who provides the club with services few would accept for pay. Congratulations Jim Weir, OSA s Volunteer of the Year. Oklahoma Administrator of the Year Gabi Noble North Oklahoma City Soccer Club s Gabi Noble has been selected as OSA s Administrator of the Year and she has been involved with the NOKC club since her oldest son, Nick (who now plays for OFC 97 White), began playing. Soccer is a family outing with husband Tom and younger son Carter (now playing for OFC 99) all involved in the sport. I began volunteering at NOKC when Dr. Jim Taylor, our dentist, who was also the Vice President of NOKC at the time, convinced me to get involved with the club, says Gabi. I was managing Nick s U6 team at the time and had developed a great snackmaster schedule for the team. Jim knew I had potential and that s how it all started. From there, Goble moved up the ranks in the club s board holding many offices and positions within NOKC s club. Today, Gabi is the NOKC President and working on a task force to start a large fundraising campaign for the club. I want better soccer at NOKC for our youth and the world of soccer is constantly changing. In the past ten years, growth of soccer has been steady in Oklahoma, according to Noble. I feel Oklahoma needs to make necessary changes to put us in the right place to maintain the growth as well as make Oklahoma soccer the best, says Gabi. As with every club administrator, Gabi praises her family and club board members for supporting her endeavors. Our board is very supportive and I know that I can call on them for help at any time, she says. Besides working for NOKC as President, Gabi is also working with OFC, Edmond Soccer Club and OSA in many ways to further soccer development and change. Congratulations, Gabi Noble, Oklahoma s Administrator of the Year. OSA Awards Seven Scholarships Seven youth players will receive $500 scholarships this spring from the OSA Scholarship account. Each year OSA awards scholarships to deserving young high school players. The application is available online and the applicant must complete the form and write an essay of 500 words or less on what the scholarship would mean to them. Winners of this year s scholarships are Sheridan Crofford of Edmond; Natasha Fuentes from Yukon; Kaci Hutchinson of Oologah; Marc May from Coweta; Johnathan Morris of Broken Arrow; Ally Renfroe from Norman; and Kailey Stewart of Bixby. The applicants must have been a registered player in OSA for at least three seasons within the past four years. Applicants are not restricted to high school seniors because many scholarships have gone to players in college who continue to play soccer for their club. The scholarship may be used to pay for almost any school-related expense the student wishes. Only two of the recipients of 2012 will attend a university outside Oklahoma. The others will all enroll in colleges or universities in the state. Sheridan Crofford will attend OBU this fall after playing for OFC 94 White girls and she plans on majoring in nursing. Soccer has been a constant in my life for over three-fourths of my life, says Sheridan. I am not ready to give it up. In fact, I see myself involved in soccer for many years to come. Whether I am playing in an adult league or being a soccer mom, I will never forget how the game I love has shaped my life. Natasha Fuentes will attend Southern Nazarene University in the fall and hopes to be the first daughter to graduate from college. Playing soccer with Fusion 94 in Midwest City, Natasha will continue her soccer career as a player for SNU. Driving her to complete a degree, according to Natasha, is the wish to be the first daughter on my mother s side to complete high school and college since my older sister passed away in 1996 when I was two. Kaci Hutchinson will apply her scholarship to fees at Southwestern College at Winfield, Kansas where she is currently enrolled pursuing a degree in education and plays midfield on the varsity squad. Club soccer for Kaci was with Blitz United and the Owassee OSA Scholarships, page 6 SMOKE SIGNALS 5 Andy Stone Scholarship Application 2013 The Andy Stone Scholarship was set up by US Youth Soccer Region III to honor the dedication and commitment of Andy Stone, former Region III Director. Andy passed away suddenly in Any active member of Region III may apply for the scholarship as per the guidelines in the application. The 2013 year scholarships for $1, will go to two Oklahoma soccer players (one boy and one girl). The payments are split with $1, for the first grading period and the $ payment made after receipt of proof of a C average for the first grading period. The Andy Stone Scholarship is offered only to players in Region III and is granted on an alphabetically rotating schedule. The first Oklahoma players to receive the scholarship was Joseph Steinocher of Broken Arrow and Kari Nicole Roberts of Edmond in The scholarship is awarded to Oklahoma every 12 years because each of the state affiliations in Region III of US Youth have an opportunity to select a scholarship winner. The next time Oklahoma will be eligible to nominate an Andy Stone scholar is OSA will determine the winner of the scholarship based on the application (see link below) and the application must be received by September 1, The presentation will be announced through OSA at a date to be determined. Please visit the OSA web site at www. oksocccer.com for the link to the application, or use the URL below: Scholoarship.pdf Follow OSA on Facebook Friend Oklahoma Soccer Association

6 6 OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION Stephen Phillips Competitive Boys Coach of the Year Twelve years ago, a young Stephen Phillips arrived in Oklahoma working with Challenger Sports to conduct British Soccer Camps across the state. Four years later, he was named OSA s Coach of the Year for girls. The native of Swansea City, Wales, has been a fixture in Oklahoma soccer for many years and now he and wife Andrea have a twoyear old, Seren, who will surely be playing soccer soon. I have a photo of me kicking a ball even though I could not walk yet, says Phillips. My brothers, Dad, and cousins would all play with me and when I did start playing, my team constantly lost games. Stephen s father coached him, and as he states: I was coached by dad coaches who were great people but not trained to coach and when we would travel to Germany every year, it was obvious the difference in level of play. Because the Phillips family ran a community center, Stephen began helping the young ones learn the game and eventually led him to a degree in Sport and Human Movement and then a teaching degree. While still playing in the Welsh league, Stephen also became involved with the OSA Scholarships from page 5 so Soccer Club. Kaci s mother was her first coach and she says: I played under Green Country Soccer for 13 years and loved every minute of it. I made friends that will last a lifetime. Marc May plans to attend Northeastern State University in the fall of 2013 and hopes to continue his hard-working attitude in regards to college studies. I apply myself not only in school (he holds a 4.0 GPA) but also with outside school activities. I am the captain of the Coweta Tigers and the cap- Welsh Football Association and through Roy Thomas he did all the course work and earned the UEFA A license and ended up working part time for the Welsh FA teaching school to year olds and playing in the Welsh league. Because Stephen recognized that had he been given better training as a youngster he might have had more success as a player, he turned that idea into providing solid training to young ones using methods he had gained from experience and the classroom. Upon arriving in Oklahoma, Phillips continued to pursue coach licensing and quickly achieved the USSF A license as well as the USSF National Youth License. All this has led to his philosophy concerning soccer player development. I ve been given the opportunity to work full time in a game I love and to develop children s love for the game, says Phillips. I ve seen my players win leagues and cups and travel across the country; I ve seen my players on college and professional teams; and now I have former players having their own children and realize that my parents were responsible for setting my values. The game has rewarded me in many ways. Phillips knows that although soccer has grown in popularity and support since those early days twelve years ago, we are still a nation who values other sport stars and not soccer players. I see a couple of areas that concern me, says Stephen. First, our players must become more soccer savvy and they do that only by watching good soccer and copying the soccer idols from around the world. Second, some parents are overzealous and want their children to win at all costs and who hinder their child by words or actions. tain of our culinary arts team. Marc enjoys working with others to make a team succeed. Johnathan Morris will travel to the University of Arkansas this fall and after graduating from Broken Arrow will major in engineering. Johnathan has played for Green Country since I was six years old. I m also an 08 referee and have played competitive soccer with HFC in the OPL. He plans to continue his officiating while in college and after graduating hopes to start his own business. Ahnas Almughrabi Recreational Coach of the Year From the streets of suburban Damascus to OSU and then the Indian Springs Sports Complex has been quite a journey for Ahnas Almughrabi. Playing in the street was tough, says Ahnas, but we did it and I had a lot of fun. It s doubtful that he would encourage his two sons, Rashad and Awsam, to attempt that in any of Broken Arrows streets. Phillips likes the quote: To fail to prepare is to prepare to fail and encourages his teams to work harder and be smarter than their opponents about the game. As he observes Oklahoma soccer he recognizes that we will have difficulty in becoming a soccer power due to our small population and a culture that places other sports ahead of soccer; however, he is pleased with the gains made over the past decade or so and reminds upcoming coaches that they must be open minded. Coaches have to learn that soccer is a simple game and they must keep it simple. Also, decide what your style is and don t try to be someone you are not. Congratulations, Stephen Phillips, OSA s Competitive Boys Coach of the Year. Ally Renfroe lives in Norman and will attend OU this fall after playing the NYSA Fury 94 Green team for many years. From the time I can remember, I ve been at soccer fields in Norman. I ve tried other sports but soccer has always been my passion and it s shaped who I am. It taught me how to work with others, how to lead, and how to work hard. It s a blessing I will carry with me forever, says Ally. Soccer will continue to be a part of Ally s life. I will always play and I m planning on playing in college, but not Rashad plays for Nationals 2000 Red and Awsam plays for the Broken Arrow Rockets U12 boys squad that Ahnas coaches. As with most families of soccer players, the youngster s mother, Yaneth, provides support for her son s playing and their father s coaching. Ahnas coaching career was thrust upon him by an unfortunate situation. I agreed to help coach my son s team when he (Rashad) was 6. The coach was Jack Dunlap and Jack knew I had played the game for many years and thought I should be an assistant coach. Then, according to Almughrabi, tragedy struck and Dunlap died prior to the beginning of the spring season. I had never considered being the coach, says Ahnas, but I found it was something I really enjoyed doing. Ahnas stopped coaching for a time but when younger son Awsam decided to play soccer, Ahnas again agreed to become a coach. Not willing to rest on his playing experience, Ahnas took US Soccer and OSA coaching courses and completed the E license. I liked the coaching courses and plan on continuing that training in the future, he says. He is considering attaining a C license in order to coach competitive teams. Geron McGinnis, Oklahoma Regional Coach of the Year, has been a big influence on his coaching career according to Ahnas. He has made me see that the should be fun. It s what I ve learned from the US Soccer and OSA coaching schools teach the fundamentals and make it fun for the little guys and gals. Ahnas plans to keep playing soccer as an adult and to keep coaching. If I can share anything with new coaches it would be to tell them to be patient and let the kids have fun. Congratulations to Ahnas Almughrabi, Oklahoma Boys Recreational Coach of the Year on the varsity squad. It s something I ll do forever. Kailey Stewart will travel from Bixby to Oklahoma State University this fall after playing for the Bixby Highlanders for the past three years. Kailey began playing soccer at age 4 and has now spent 14 years playing the game. With plans to become a Physician s Assistant, Kailey says Soccer has taught me commitment, teamwork, and dedication can get you farther than you ever imagined possible.

7 SMOKE SIGNALS 7 SCORE OSA WORKSHOP FEBRUARY 1-3, 2013 SCORE OSA AWARDS LUNCHEON Feb. 2, 2013 Welcome Brandon Story, Chairman, OSA Invocation Introductions Brandon Story, Chairman, OSA 2012 Elite Players ODP Recognition OSA Youth Board 1st VP Presenter: Kurt Luitwieler Keynote Speaker Antonio Sanchez, Technical Director of Hristo Stoickhov Academy Referees of the Year Ron Poulsen, State Referee Administrator Hall of Fame Class of 2013 Keith Ash and Gary Poulsen will be inducted into the 2013 Class of Oklahoma Soccer s Hall of Fame on Friday night, February 1, 2013 at the Downtown DoubleTree hotel in Tulsa. The evening event will begin at 6:30 with a reception for the two inductees and at 7pm they will be formally inducted and a short program summarizing their contributions to Oklahoma soccer will be presented. Keith Ash is a longtime volunteer and administrator in the Broken Arrow Soccer Club where he has served in nearly every board position. He has also served as Green Country Soccer Association president and currently works with the OSA bylaws committee. Antonio Sanchez Keynote Speaker at 2013 Workshop Gary Poulsen began his association with Oklahoma soccer in the 1970 s when his children began playing soccer. After agreeing to be a referee for his son s team, Gary became involved in nearly every aspect of refereeing in Oklahoma. His legacy includes developing the assessment program for referees, creating the instructional program in use in today s training of referees, and watching as his son, Ron, continued the family interest in officiating by becoming Oklahoma s current State Referee Administrator. Please plan on attending the Friday evening induction ceremony it is open to the public for no charge. Volunteer of the Year Tom Wedding, OSA Youth Board President Administrator of the Year Tom Wedding, OSA Youth Board President TOPSoccer Buddies of the Year Tom Wedding, OSA Youth Board President Youth Presentations Brandon Story, Chairman, OSA Coaches of the Year Recognition Tom Wedding, OSA Youth Board President Hall of Fame Inductees Recognition Brandon Story, Chairman, OSA Door Prize Drawings Brandon Story, Chairman, OSA

8 8 OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION SCORE OSA WORKSHOP FEBRUARY 1-3, 2013 Session Information All rooms and sessions are subject to change. Friday, 6:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. REFEREE Topic: Referee Assignor Course Parts 1 & 2 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. A five-part course provides required USSF training in referee assigning. Every club in Oklahoma is required to have a registered assignor who is responsible for assigning referees to its matches. Attendance at all four sessions is required. Assignors will gain access to all registered referees in the state and learn techniques on how to assign matches and tournaments. This is not a recertification class. Presenter: Jim Brittain, State Coordinator of Assignors Location: Dover Topic: Referee Recertification Class 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Recertification course for any 09, 08, 07, or State referee who has not completed the required 3 hours of annual referee recertification. Course will cover the changes in the Laws of the Game for 2013 as well as directives and information pertinent to officiating in Oklahoma. Presenter: State Referee Instructional staff Location: Westminster COACHING Topic: Coaching Course I Recreational Player Development 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sport Networking Spain provides the recreational coach with training tips and methodology on how to prepare coaching sessions for the recreational player. Sport Networking Spain designs their programs around how the player s mind works at each level of development. Presenter: Sport Networking Spain Location: Gilcrease Topic: Coaching Course II Recreational Plus Player Development 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sport Networking Spain provides the recreational coach with training tips and methodology on how to prepare coaching sessions for the recreational player. This session will focus on the type of player Oklahoma determines as a Recreational Plus player. Presenter: Sport Networking Spain Location: Gilcrease ADMINISTRATION OSA Welcome Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Reception 6:30 p.m. OSA reception and Induction Ceremony honoring the Nominees for the Class of 2013 Location: Council Oak ballroom General Membership Meeting 8:00 p.m. All club presidents meet for business meeting. Location: Remington Youth General Membership Meeting 8:00 p.m. Country presidents meet with the Youth Division for a business meeting. Location: Remington Adult General Membership Meeting 8:00 p.m. Adult and league club presidents and officers meet with the Adult Division for a business meeting. Location: Philbrook OSA SoccerCity After Party 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to drop by for a chance to meet and greet members from across the state. Location: Suite 1828 Saturday, 8:15 a.m. 9:00 a.m. OSA Hosted Continental Breakfast Presented by OSA Youth Vendor Booths and Exhibits open Location: Council Oak Foyer Saturday, 8:00 a.m. 8:50 a.m. REFEREE Topic: Referee Assignor Course Part 3 A five-part course provides required USSF training in referee assigning. Every club in Oklahoma is required to have a registered assignor who is responsible for assigning referees to its matches. Attendance at all four sessions is required. Assignors will gain access to all registered referees in the state and learn techniques on how to assign matches and tournaments. This is not a recertification class. Presenter: Jim Brittain, State Coordinator of Assignors Location: Dover 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. COACHING Training Methods of FC Barcelona 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Sport Networking Spain will share with coaches the training methodology of FC Barcelona. The session will demonstrate how FC Barcelona trains its youth program and develops players. Presenter: Sport Networking Spain Location: Tulsa Convention Center 9:00 a.m. 9:50 a.m. ADMINISTRATION Topic: Registrar and Risk Management Certification 2013 Club registrars will be given first hand information on how to properly register players for the 2013 year using the Got Soccer program as well as how to utilize the Risk Management program of Got Soccer. Presenter: Mike Naumann & Jill Roberson Location: Council Oak Ballroom NEW! Topic: Club 101: Education Best Methods in Running a Soccer Club Basic information on how to make the administration of your club efficient and successful in providing services to all members. Presenters represent both large and small clubs and have first-hand experience in administrative techniques that they will share and discuss. Presenter: Hans Willemse & Russ Lissuzzo Location: Remington REFEREE Topic: Area Referee Meeting Club Planning for 2013 The Area Referee is the administrator for each club. Although often given other titles, the Area Referee is responsible for the training, registration, retention, and recruitment of referees in the club. Every club should have representation at the planning session for 2013 events. Presenter: Ron Poulsen, SRA, and David Ooten, SYRA Location: Westminster 9:00 a.m. 9:50 a.m. Topic: Referee Assignor Course Part 4 A five-part course provides required USSF training in referee assigning. Every club in Oklahoma is required to have a registered assignor who is responsible for assigning referees to its matches. Attendance at all four sessions is required. Assignors will gain access to all registered referees in the state and learn techniques on how to assign matches and tournaments. This is not a recertification class. Presenter: Jim Brittain, State Coordinator of Assignors Location: Dover 10:00 a.m. 10:50 a.m. ADMINISTRATION Topic: Got Soccer s New Features 2013 Learn how to use the latest features from Got Soccer including registration, messaging, and other uses for the program used by nearly every soccer organization in the U.S. Presenter: Got Soccer staff Location: Council Oak Ballroom NEW! Topic: Club 101: Education Coaching and Board relations A primary goal of every soccer club is to develop their players and to that end the coach becomes the focus of that goal. Learn how other clubs have made coaching and board relations work to the betterment of the players and the club. Presenter: Roger Bush, Director of Coaching West Side Alliance Location: Remington

9 SMOKE SIGNALS 9 SCORE OSA WORKSHOP FEBRUARY 1-3, 2013 Session Information All rooms and sessions are subject to change. REFEREE Topic: Referee Assignor Course Part 5 A five-part course provides required USSF training in referee assigning. Every club in Oklahoma is required to have a registered assignor who is responsible for assigning referees to its matches. Attendance at all four sessions is required. Assignors will gain access to all registered referees in the state and learn techniques on how to assign matches and tournaments. This is not a recertification class. Presenter: Jim Brittain, State Coordinator of Assignors Location: Dover 10:00 a.m. 10:50 a.m. Topic: Referee Assignor Recertification Every club s Assignor must attend an annual recertification clinic held in July of each year. For those Assignors who did not attend that course, this session will provide them the recertification required. Presenters: Bill Harn, and Aaron Whitewolf Location: Westminster 11:00 a.m. 11:50 a.m. ADMINISTRATION Topic: Got Soccer s Advanced Program For those registrars and others who are experienced users of Got Soccer s programs, this session will provide advanced training on utilization of the many programs in Got Soccer. Presenter: Jared Hirschowitz, GotSoccer Location: Council Oak Ballroom NEW! Topic: Club 101: Education Financial Management of your Club Maintaining the financial integrity of your club can be a burden if your volunteers or staff are not prepared for the amount of money that will transfer hands during a single season. Learn from other clubs how they handle financials and how those concepts can make a difference in your club. Presenter: Mark Usrey Location: Remington REFEREE Topic: Welcome to the Arbiter Assignor Program The State Referee Committee has designated the Arbiter Assignor Program the official program to assign referees throughout the state. It is available free of charge to clubs who wish to utilize the program. The session will provide training and tips on the use of Arbiter at the club and/or league level. Presenter: Taylor Hauser, Arbiter Sports Location: Dover NEW! Academy Development Roundtable for DoC s One of the largest areas of growth in OSA is the Academy program. All club Directors of Coaching and/or club administrators should plan to participate in the roundtable discussion of this rapidly expanding area of soccer development. Presenter: Kurt Luitwieler, OSA DoC Location: Westminster 12:00 p.m. 1:45 p.m. SCORE OSA AWARDS LUNCHEON 2:00 p.m. 2:50 p.m. COACHING Topic: Club Directors of Coaching Meeting Discussion of DoC positions on many topics facing Oklahoma Soccer and the goals of club DoC s. Presenter: Kurt Luitwieler, DoC OSA Location: Westminster 2:00 p.m. 2:50 p.m. GENERAL PUBLIC Topic: College Session How Do I Get Recruited Juniors and seniors in high school are invited to attend this special session designed for them and their parents on how to find scholarships and other ways to use your soccer skills to pay for college. Presenter: Derek Larkin, Rogers State University Location: Council Oak Ballroom ADMINISTRATION NEW! Topic: Club 101: Education Sponsorship Development for you club Learn how your club can benefit from attracting sponsors for your events and teams. Presenter: Chris Moler, STAAR Solutions Location: Remington SPORTS MEDICINE NEW! Topic: Heat Accumulation for Soccer Players Presenter: Joe Waldron, OSOI Location: Gilcrease 2:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m. COACHING NEW! Topic: Advanced Training in the Girls ODP Antonio Sanchez from Sport Networking Spain will work with girls who have registered for the Olympic Development Program. Location: Tulsa Convention Center 3:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. COACHING NEW! Topic: Advanced Training in the Boys ODP Antonio Sanchez from Sport Networking Spain will work with boys who have registered for the Olympic Development Program. Location: Tulsa Convention Center 3:00 p.m. 3:50 p.m. SPORTS MEDICINE NEW! Topic: Concussions on the Soccer Field When to Return to Play? Concussions are being considered more serious injuries over the past few years. Soccer players are often exposed to head injuries during the game and OSOI will present information for determining when a player may return to competition after suffering a concussion. Presenters: Joe Waldron, OSOI Location: Gilcrease Topic: College Session College Coaches Panel A panel of several local and/or state university head soccer coaches will host a question and answer session with players and parents on how to prepare for college and what is expected of the student athlete in a higher education setting. Presenter: Derek Larkin, Rogers State University Location: Remington ADMINISTRATION NEW! Topic: Club 101: Education Referee Development for Your Club Every season clubs face the prospect of not enough referees to cover the club s matches. How do large and small clubs manage to provide enough referees? This session will provide methods that are working at both the large club and small club across the state. Presenter: Doug Cooper, Stillwater Soccer Club Location: Remington Topic: Arbiter Program for the Advanced User Learn how the Arbiter Program can save your club money, time, and energy by scheduling your matches, paying your referees, and providing the club with records of each match assigned. Presenter: Arbiter Sports Location: Dover 4:00 p.m. 4:50 p.m. ADMINISTRATION Topic: OSA Bylaws and Committees Presidents and board members should attend this session to learn of the updates and changes to the Bylaw Proposal submitted to the state this past year. Presenter: Bill Aven, OSA Vice Chair Location: Gilcrease Coaching sessions will continue on Sunday.

10 10 OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION American Soccer Company, Inc E. Anaheim Street - Wilmington, CA

11 Yukon s Nick Burleson Coach of the Year - Girls Competitive Four-year-old Nick Burleson s earliest memories of soccer are tied to his Northwest Optimist team and how excited he was to get a ticket to the concession stand after every game. It seemed like it was always cold when we played, says Nick and the opportunity for a free drink made a big impression on him. With his daughter Jaelin playing on a U7 team he coaches, Oklahoma s Coach of the Year for Competitive Girls teams has different insights on the game. After playing soccer from the age of four until college at Southern Nazarene University, Nick began considering what to do in the offseason during his freshman year at SNU. Neil Cagle, coach at Bethany, talked to me about working with him. It seemed like a no brainer so I agreed and ever since then I ve been coaching. With his wife, Nikki and daughter, Burleson has now become coach of the U16 girl s squad Canadian Valley Football Club 97 Red. I often ask her for insight on coaching the girls, says Nick. Of course, my family is always supportive of my endeavors and that s really important. The past year was very special for the team as they won the State Cup in the U15 bracket and advanced to the Southern Regionals. The team also plays in the Premier League West and recently won the Beat the Heat tournament in the U16 bracket. Nick has completed his US Soccer D course and currently is a member of the CVFC club coaching staff. I also depend on getting good advice from Michael Cagle, our club s director of coaching on the girls side. Wade Beall is an 08 referee from Broken Arrow who has been recognized by not only his local assignors and clubs for officiating but by regional assessors as well. The seventeen year old became an 09 in 2009 and then an 08 in the spring of Since then he has worked numerous games across the state and participated in many club tournaments and state tournaments as well as attending ODP camps the past two years. Wade s ability to referee was rewarded with a trip to the 2012 Regionals along with 17 other Oklahoma referees. He was the only 08 grade referee in the group but was given one center match (usually 08 s are assigned only the AR position)in addition to his AR assignments Wade will complete his upgrade to 07 this year after having completed his requirements. The whole staff is always available and eager to offer me ideas and suggestions. Burleson cites as influential to his coaching career Neil Cagle. He got me into coaching so I have to be grateful for that, says Nick. I also know that Zach Stephens taught me a lot while we coached at Deer Creek High School and of course my college coach, Mark Persson, was an extremely influential person on my career. Burleson feels that soccer should be fun for the players and that coaches should try to make every player get better. If I would share anything with new coaches, it would be not to forget the intangibles the stuff that doesn t have anything to do with soccer. That can sometimes make or break you. Congratulations, Nick Burleson as OSA s Competitive Girls Coach of the Year Referees Named As Referees of the Year Tamara Cherry signed up to be a referee in 2003 along with her sister. Her father Craig had been a referee for two years and during that time she and her father and sister Heather o f t e n worked as a team and officiated both youth and adult matches in the Oklahoma City area. As with most young refs, the appeal at first was making spending money. However, it soon became apparent to Tamara that refereeing was something she truly enjoyed. Obtaining her 08 grade in 2005, Tamara became a fixture in the South Lakes and Norman clubs and began her climb to the grade 07 in She has attended both state ODP camps and regional ODP camps as a referee. Tamara also attended this year s Regionals as was named one of the top 25 AR s from Region III. SMOKE SIGNALS 11 Oklahoma s State Referee Committee has announced three referees named as Referees of the Year. For the Adult Referee of the Year, Nima Saghafi and Tamara Cherry were selected for their work with the adult program. Youth Referee of the Year is Wade Beall. Congratulations to all three of our Oklahoma Referees of the Year. Nima Saghafi became a referee in 2002 and worked many games in the Edmond club as an 09 grade for a year before obtaining his 08 badge in His ability to manage matches of players much older than he became apparent and soon Nima was assigned more competitive matches in the Oklahoma City area and in tournaments around the state. In 2009 he attended the Upgrade clinic to 07 and after two years with that badge became an 06 State Referee in During that time he attended numerous ODP camps and regional tournaments. He was invited to the US Youth National tournament as an 07 referee. He attended the 2012 Regionals and was named one of the top 25 Referees at the tournament and was then rewarded with a second selection to the National tournament. Currently Nima is completing work on achieving his State 05 badge for 2013 and eventually hopes to become a National referee. OUTSIDE THE LINES Keith Ooten has been informed by FIFA Inspector and former Oklahoma referee Ryan Cigich that Keith will be one of the referees at the US Youth National Championships July 22- July 28. This recommendation is another reason for pride in the referee corps of Oklahoma. Congratulations, Keith Ooten. Thomas Shannon traveled to Australia during December to try out for a spot on the Brisbane City soccer team. His soccer dreams are coming true as he signed a contract December 19 and will play professional soccer for the Australians. Congratulations, Thomas! USSF Selects Oklahoma Referee as Referee of the Week in Development Academy Season Throughout the U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, referees are recognized on a weekly basis for their outstanding performance officiating U-15/16 and U-17/18 matches. Referees Vince Apple-Chiarella, Nima Sghafi and Turan Ozdemir received weekly honors in November as the Development Academy season completed its third month: Week 10: Nima Saghafi was named Referee of the Week for a U-17/18 match between Solar Chelsea SC and Sporting Kansas City. The game marked the Academy debut for Saghafi, a Grade 6 referee from Oklahoma. The 22-year-old official attended the 2012 Development Academy Winter Showcase.

12 12 OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION PLAY HARD. CELEBRATE WITH PIZZA. $ 5 50 ONLY PER PERSON ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT-AND-DRINK PIZZA* AND SOFT DRINKS Gather your group (15-person minimum) and enjoy All-You-Can-Eat *One Topping Pizzas of your choice and Soft Drinks for everyone for just $5.50 per person. Just give us a call to schedule your party at the Mazzio s location most convenient for you. Call Us Anytime to Schedule Your Event! Supporting Our Local Teams and Schools. mazzios.com Playing Doctor By not Playing the Child by Sam Snow, Coaching Director of US Youth Soccer The team mom/parent of a player states through an that her son won t attend the soccer game due to his bronchitis. The following practice, the player shows up and I ask if he is still sick. The player states to me, "A little. I am still on antibiotics and can t run." As a coach, what should I do? The foremost obligation of any team coach is the well-being of the players. So, for the sake of the ill player and the rest of the team too, the player in question should remain at home until fully recovered. This is not an injury from which he is recovering, but an illness. That illness could be contagious, so the coach must not put the rest of the team at risk of catching bronchitis. On the one hand, it is praisewor- thy that the player wants to attend training even though he might not be ready to participate. He is being supportive of the team. That is a good attitude for a coach to reinforce. However, the desire is misplaced in this instance. First, the player should remain at rest until fully recovered. Second, he should not put anyone on the team at risk of catching his illness. Too often, though, whether it is an illness or an injury, players come back to training and matches too soon. Returning to training before full recovery means inefficient training and the likelihood of injury. If a player has been injured severely enough or was ill enough to see a physician, then the coach MUST have a written release from the doctor. Once the player is back to the team, he must not play in a match until the coach feels the player is 100 percent ready to play. This means the coach must first have the player go through training sessions to evaluate his rehabilitation. The coach can control the strenuousness and amount of contact in a training session, but he or she does not have that control over a match. It is very important that a player eases back into full action gradually after illness or injury. Sometimes the player and/or the parents will push too soon to have the player back in training and matches. Do not succumb to that pressure. Club administrators must support the decision of the coaching staff to put the player back into match play at the right time. If a player is not fully rehabbed then soccer participation could lead to chronic illness or injury. The adults involved in the situation must take the long-term perspective that it is better to miss a few matches, than to resume active play too soon, which could be detrimental to the player. The general rule of thumb is to err on the side of caution.

13 SMOKE SIGNALS 13 YOUR GAME, YOUR FIELDS TULSA 5817 S. 118th East Ave. Tulsa, OK SOCCERCITYTULSA.COM OKLAHOMA CITY 4520 Old Farm Road Oklahoma City, OK SOCCERCITYOKCITY.COM Watts What Is it just me or is everyone I know coughing and sounding as if their nasal passages are clogged? This is just not right! The holidays are meant for family time and hugs and kisses, not passing around Mucinex, aspirins, and Kleenex. When folks left parties this year you would have thought we were in Hollywood with all the air kisses and hand waving rather than the possible contamination of contact with another human. So, here we go into 2013 and for the most part no snow on the ground, no ice on the bridges, and the temperatures finally in the freezing range. For a period of time there I thought the state had inherited California s December with 70 degree temps. By Dale Watts, Editor Even the winter soccer tournaments and matches were odd because the only ice to be found was in the water coolers and we had to buy more of that as the day went on. I hope many of you are planning to attend our 23rd annual Soccer Workshop February 1-3 at the Downtown DoubleTree in Tulsa. If you ve never been to the Workshop, this will be a great opportunity for you because several new sessions are planned (see the articles in the center section of this issue) and we ll be honoring lots of deserving folk who are coaches, volunteers, referees, administrators, or Hall of Fame inductees. The Saturday Awards Luncheon and the Friday night Hall of Fame event are heartwarming and well worth your attendance. We are truly blessed in Oklahoma with people who love this sport and are willing to sacrifice hours of time and effort to develop and provide growth of soccer. Those of us on OSA s staff know full well that the real work of Oklahoma Soccer Association is at the club level where the five-year-old player first becomes acquainted with the beautiful game. Providing that young player with quality training, safe facilities, and the potential for development is all funneled through that U6 coach, the team, the club, and the league. This year Oklahoma is facing several challenges in how to best serve those youngsters and provide them with the best soccer available. OSA was founded in 1967 and our bylaws and organization reflect that time period. We no longer require paper documents for many of our transactions with a club or a league or with OSA. We have cell phones we use to send text messages and the internet to quickly update us on the status of games and standings. Our organization needs to adapt to our time and restructure ourselves so we are not tied to artificial boundaries. In my day, if you needed to transfer a player from one club to another it required at least a day off work or relying on someone to drive around Tulsa collecting signatures from one of the seven local clubs. That process has changed and now we need to go a step further. Kids playing soccer in Luther or Durant need to know that they are just as important to soccer development in Oklahoma as the youngster in Midwest City. By centralizing our registration process and making our policies consistent across the state, what Johnny Sue is experiencing in Altus should be similar to what Ella Jack is doing in Beaver. We are a small state as far as soccer population goes compared to the Texas, Florida, or California states, but we can and do compete when the opportunity arises. That opportunity to grow and develop is being discussed amongst our club officers and OSA s leadership. Inform yourself as to how the bylaws proposal will affect your club and your team. To paraphrase a bit, We re not in 1967 anymore. Hope to see you at the Workshop. Perhaps by then I ll no longer be coughing and carrying a box of Kleenex. Join us for the SCORE OSA Soccer Workshop February 1-3 in Tulsa

14 14 OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION OSA Approved Tournaments February 9, 2013 Polar Bear Showcase Host: West Side Alliance SC Sand Springs, OK Fields: Rivercity Parks Web site: Contact: Roger Bush Phone: HYPERLINK com U10 Academy Boys & Girls U11-U19 Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Nabiel Kharoubeh February 15-17, 2013 Highlanders Cup CANCELLED February 22-24, 2013 Patriot Cup Competitive Tournament Host: Midwest City Soccer Club US Youth member teams only Oklahoma City, OK Fields: Midwest City Soccer Club complex Web site: Contact: Catherine Gallagher Phone: U7 U10 Academy Boys & Girls U11 U16 Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: David Moore March 2-3, 2013 NYSA Academy Invitational Host: Norman Youth Soccer Association Norman, OK Fields: Gillis-Rother Complex Web site: Contact: Dustin Hooker Phone: U8 U10 Academy Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Bill Pevarnik March 8-10, 2013 Red Earth Invitational Host: NOKC Soccer Club Oklahoma City, OK Fields: NOKC Soccer Club complex Web site: Contact: Gary Boreham Phone: U7 U10 Academy Boys & Girls U11-U19 Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Brett Dobie March 29-31, 2013 Annual Spring Recreational Tournament Host: Broken Arrow Soccer Club Broken Arrow, OK Fields: Indian Springs Sports Complext Web site: Contact: Steve Wierzchowski Phone: U6 U19 Recreational Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Mike Naumann April 5-7, 2013 Spring Spectacular Host: Midwest City Soccer Club US Youth member teams only Oklahoma City, OK Fields: Midwest City Soccer Club complex Web site: Contact: Catherine Gallagher Phone: U7 U10 Academy Boys & Girls U6 U16 Recreational Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: David Moore April 12-14, 2013 Lexus Tulsa Cup Host: TSC Hurricane Tulsa and Broken Arrow, OK Fields: Metro Tulsa and Indian Springs complexes Web site: Contact: Jim Tindell Phone: U8-U10 Academy Boys & Girls U11 U19 Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Frank Sesso April 19-21, th Annual WSA Cup Host: West Side Alliance SC Sand Springs, OK Fields: Rivercity Parks & West Bank complexes Web site: Contact: Roger Bush Phone: U7-U10 Academy Boys & Girls U11-U19 Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Nabiel Kharoubeh April 19-21, rd Annual Spring Twister Host: South Lakes Soccer Club Oklahoma City, OK Fields: South Lakes Soccer Comlex Web site: Contact: Brent Gatewood Phone: U6-U19 Recreational Boys & Girls U8-U10 Academy Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Bill Pevarnik May 3-5, 2013 Clinton Arsenal Cup Host: Clinton Arsenal Soccer US Youth Soccer member teams only Clinton, OK Fields: Clinton Schumacher Fields Contact: Lucas Martinez Phone: U8-U10 Academy Boys and Girls U11-U19 Competitive Boys and Girls Referee Assignor: Ashley Rodriguez August 16-18, th Annual Beat the Heat Host: Edmond Soccer Club Edmond, OK Fields: Edmond Soccer complex Web site: edmondsoccer.com/tourn_ts.php Contact: James L. Soesbee Phone: U11-U19 Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Brandon Story August 30 September 1, 2013 BASC Labor Day Tournament Host: Broken Arrow Soccer Club Broken Arrow, OK Fields: Indian Springs Sports Complex Web site: Contact: Steve Iwerzchowski Phone: U8-U10 Academy Boys & Girls U6-U19 Recreational Boys & Girls U11-U19 Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Mike Naumann October 4-6, 2013 Festival de Futball Host: North OKC Soccer Club Oklahoma City, OK Fields: NOKC fields Contact: Gary Boreham, U6 - U19 Recreational Boys & Girls U8-U10 Academy Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Brett Dobie referee@nokcsoccer.com October 25-27, 2013 Clinton Arsenal Cup Host: Clinton Arsenal Soccer US Youth Soccer member teams only Fields: Clinton, OK Schumacher Fields Contact: Lucas Martinez, martinezb21@yahoo.com U7-U10 Academy Boys and Girls U6-U18 Recreational Boys and Girls Referee Assignor: Ashley Rodriguez martinezb21@yahoo.com November 1-3, 2013 Turkey Shootout Host: Edmond Soccer Club, Edmond, OK Fields: Edmond Soccer complex Web site:edmondsoccer.com/tourn_ts.php Contact: James L. Soesbee, soccer999999@sbcglobal.net U7-U10 Academy Boys & Girls U6-U19 Recreational Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Brandon Story bstory4@gmail.com November 15-17, 2013 BASC 32nd Annual Recreational Tournament, Broken Arrow Fields: Indian Springs Sports Complex Web site: Contact: Steve Iwerzchowski, bascsw@cox.net U6-U19 Recreational Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Mike Naumann bassignor@hotmail.com November 23-24, 2013 adidas Sam Shannon Showcase Host: TSC Hurricane, Jenks, OK Fields: MetroTulsa and Indian Springs Web site: Contact: Jim Tindell, jimtindell@me.com U15-U19 Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Frank Sesso samshannonshowcase@yahoo.com

15 KIDS PAGE SMOKE SIGNALS 15 RIDDLES Why was the baby ant confused? All his uncles were ants. What s the difference between a jeweler and a jailer? A jeweler sells watches and a jailer watches cells. What do moths study in school? Mothmatics JOKES Why did the surfer wear a baseball glove? Because he wanted to catch a wave! Why were the bowling pins lying down? Because they went on strike! Why did the soccer player go to the Doctor? He wasn t getting enough shots. QUESTIONS FOR YOUR COACH I planted some bird seed and a bird came up. Now what do I do with it? Why do buffalo wings taste like chicken? What is a free gift? Aren t all gifts free? What was the greatest thing before sliced bread? KNOCK, KNOCK JOKES Knock Knock Jokes Knock Knock Who s there? Rabbit! Rabbit who? Rabbit up carefully, it s a present! Knock Knock Who s there? Quiet Tina! Quiet Tina who? Quiet Tina courtroom - monkey wants to speak! PUNS There was once a cross-eyed teacher who couldn t control his pupils. A relief map shows where the restrooms are. You want to clone yourself? Now wouldn t that be just like you! Some people s noses and feet are built backwards: their feet smell and their noses run. PUZZLE WORDS ARROW CAKE CANDY CARDS CHOCOLATE COUPLE FEBRUARY FLOWERS FOURTEEN HEART HUGS KISSES RED REDHOTS SAINT SWEETHEART VALENTINES January/February Puzzle This issue of the Smoke Signals will feature Valetine s Day. Please complete the puzzle and send in your answers! Solve the puzzle, cut it out and mail to OSA, c/o Smoke Signals, PO Box 35174, Tulsa, OK Good luck and remember to PRINT your name, address, and zip code on the form below. I ll publish your name in the next issue if you solve the puzzle. Plus, you ll get prizes from Mazzio s Italian Eatery as well. Name: Address: City: State: Zip: S E N I T N E L A V R I T G J H X O E X D W I Y C Q R A F Y W D A D Q Y J Z T A R A E K D I W E I X C O B F W V Y P X K A J E E Y N J O O D B A D F F Y C M D D C Z C W T N A C H S K S K F R Y I Y D Y Z G M C C H O C O L A T E E B Q R O R C W V X N H U E R Y I R B D W E O B P F A D F X M P S M A N H R H S H Q L T Y P V O Q L L N E E T R U O F U W F Z U V O D V K E Z X R R S A T W A K G P B Q R X B H W F L O W E R S T K X L K S N F O V C I C D Z Q J Y R J I T R G D Z R Q N S B A Z O T G L B D X L K I L S C J Q J S F K I B P L F T R W C X H D F Y C Y B V J O L L O G Z E N D W U Y H T T R R Y I U B X M N M X Q Q M B W A F L H N A O O X F C B L Z V S E X V P A F Z N P P N W U K E W E S I S W V J P S H L G K Q M F G T I J Y K F I Q B K L F T I A Y M N O I R G N B Z G D L E P P B Q U L H R N E V

16 16 OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION