L O U I S I A N A S O C C E R A S S O C I A T I O N Executive Committee Meeting Sunday, November 20, 2016 @ 2:00 pm Baton Rouge, LA Minutes 1. ATTENDANCE The roll was called and all Members were either present or accounted for. Present were Sean Esker, President Chad Vidrine, Vice President-Youth Jeff Moyle, Treasurer Dee Flint, Competitive Commissioner Grant Guthrie, Recreational Commissioner Danny Clear, Adult Competitions Commissioner Gabrielle Erny, Member-At-Large (Odd Year) via telephone Bill Rushing, Chairman of State Referee Committee Mark Godwin, Director of Coaching (Non-Voting) Tucker Reynolds, Secretary / Executive Director (Non-Voting) 2. CALL TO ORDER The Meeting was called to order at 2:04 PM on Sunday, November 20, 2016 at Baton Rouge, LA by President, Sean Esker. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The Minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting of September 25, 2016 were presented and reviewed. MOTION made by Dee Flint and SECONDED by Jeff Moyle to accept the Minutes as submitted. There being no opposition to the Motion, the Minutes of the September 25, 2016 Executive Committee Meeting were APPROVED as presented. 3. REPORTS a. President Sean Esker submitted his President s Report as written. There were no questions or comments. b. Treasurer Jeff Moyle submitted his Report as written. He reiterated that the primary issue he raised was changing the LSA fiscal year from September 1st through August 31st to August 1st through July 31 st. Dee Flint asked for clarification of the reason. The reasoning was to bring the fiscal year more in line with the seasonal year. A large amount of revenue is paid in August, but has to be deferred until September. Sean Esker shared that many other state associations have the same August to July fiscal year. c. Vice-President Youth Chad Vidrine submitted his Report as written. There were no questions or comments. d. Youth Competitive Commissioner Dee Flint indicated that the fall season went smoothly and thanked the office staff. The Executive Director shared that approximately one third (1/3) of the games that the office schedules are rescheduled. May propose to have older age groups self-schedule. Dee Flint also questioned the new player development initiatives and their effect on the game. Sean Esker shared that US Soccer may see further changes in player development philosophy as they reorganize their coaching staff. He also mentioned that LSA will need to address some of the initiatives down the road such as the punting rule in small-sided games. Danny Clear was introduced as the new Adult Competitions Commissioner. He gave the
Members a brief synopsis of his background in the game and his involvement with Crossroads. The Members introduced themselves. MOTION made by Chad Vidrine with a Second by Jeff Moyle to appoint Danny Clear as the Adult Competitions Commissioner. There being no further discussion and no opposition, the MOTION PASSED. e. Youth Recreational Commissioner Grant Guthrie indicated that he has been working on special programming for outreach programs. LSA is looking at other state associations and national organizations to make connections. f. Vice President Adult. Sean Esker shared that he has had continuing discussions with the USASA regarding insurance costs. They will be voting on the fee structure they charge member organization which savings would be passed on to LSA. g. At-Large (Odd) TOPSoccer Gabi Erny has reached out to all of the TOPsoccer programs in the state. In particular she spoke to Thibodeaux and the HTSA both of whom continue to move toward starting programs in the spring. h. Chairman of State Referee Committee This is a slow period for youth referees since this is the high school season. Up and Coming Referee Program has started to identify young referees. Grant Guthrie indicated that he is involved in a New Orleans program/league and they, too, are looking for the identification of new referees. Bill Rushing wanted to make certain these referees understand that referees for these unaffiliated programs and leagues are often not registered and, hence, they are not insured. He also wanted to make certain the Assignors of these programs are registered as well. i. Director of Coaching Mark Godwin submitted his Report as written. There were no questions or comments. j. Executive Director Tucker Reynolds submitted his Report as written. Sean Esker shared that registrations are actually ahead of where were a year ago. Tucker Reynolds reported that, despite expectations that our numbers would be diminished as a result of the flooding, registrations are being submitted more timely and the numbers do not appear to have suffered. He also reported that only five (5) clubs have failed to file their Annual Report as required as opposed to more than twenty a year earlier. 4. OLD BUSINESS a. Presidents Cup Sean Esker reported that the consensus Region-wide was not to add a 18U group to the Presidents Cup permanently. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Camps and Clinics Tucker Reynolds reported the desire to expanding the definition of LSA-approved soccer activities to include camps and clinics subject to an application process. This would give our members the opportunity to run camps for LSA-registered players and would give coaches who run individual player clinics the ability to do so without having to purchase their own insurance. It expands the benefits to our membership. Gabi Erny indicated that the HTSA Board of Directors studied the issue of running camps that were attended by players not registered with LSA. The inclusion of these events as approved soccer events will not, in and of itself increase
insurance premiums. b. Futsal The Executive Director reported that he contacted US Futsal Association about affiliation. Affiliation would cost our members and players registration fees. The LHSAA has also announced that futsal is not soccer and that high school players can play futsal during the high school season. The futsal application process will be similar to the goal and field safety guideline LSA has for outdoor fields. Bill Rushing agreed with the concept of expanding approved soccer activities to include futsal, but expressed concern that organized futsal has to be officiated by registered futsal referees. He is unaware of any referees who are registered futsal referees. The SRC is making provisions to have a number of referees certified as futsal referee instructors and to conduct courses hopefully to begin by the fall of 2017 to certify futsal referees in those areas in which futsal is most likely to be played. MOTION made by Chad Vidrine and SECONDED by Dee Flint to expand the definition of approved soccer activities to include futsal subject to the ability to have futsal certified referees to commence in the 2017-18 seasonal year. Sean Esker confirmed that the LHSAA has defined futsal as not being soccer, but this written policy could be changed. c. LHSAA Sean Esker reported that the LHSAA has prohibited players from attending College Showcases despite its earlier interpretations. The LHSAA was confronted with the past policy and permitted the practice this year, but stated that, unless the Policy is formally changed, players will be prohibited from attending College Showcases with their club teams during the high school season. Chad Vidrine shared his experiences with the LHSAA and the fact that the soccer personnel in the LHSAA office have drastically changed. The new Policy will be offered at the next LHSAA meeting. LHSAA is afraid that if they open the door for soccer, other sports will ask for the same treatment and setting a precedent. d. POLICY AMENDMENTS MOTION made by Chad Vidrine and SECONDED by Jeff Moyle to accept the Amendments to LSA Policy as set forth. POLICY 105 RISK MANAGEMENT This Policy is being offered to make people and clubs more accountable to comply with Risk Management Policies and Procedures. The Executive Director pointed out that Referee registration with US Soccer is based on a calendar year and that their link to GotSoccer to perform their Risk Management questionnaire is in the platform used by referees to register. Bill Rushing suggested that referees across the state be permitted to perform their Risk Management when they register as opposed to performing a second procedure. He proposed that all referee risk management be done through the referee registration platform rather than GotSoccer and confirmed both processes are done through BackgroundChecks.com. He also suggested the background checks for referees be paid directly from the registration fees paid by the referees. He also stated the Referees would be reviewable as every other individual in the state and that the SRC would report to LSA which referees had, in fact undergone the Risk Management process. He assured the Committee that no referee can become registered in Louisiana without having first undergone the Risk Management process. The Executive Director will redraft the Policy Amendment and submit it to the Executive Committee for consideration at its next meeting.
POLICY 202 CLUB AFFILIATION Qualified Outreach Program Grant Guthrie questioned why there is a requirement for 25% of the operational budget of a qualified program to come from outside sources. The Executive Director explained that these are outreach programs and such programs need to keep fees to its participants as low as possible. The requirement compels these programs to find alternative revenue sources to ease the financial burden on its players. Jeff Moyle also asked that there be inserted a requirement that these qualified programs be required to file its most recent Form 990 Form. There being no further discussion and no opposition, the AMENDMENT PASSED as amended. POLICY 202 CLUB AFFILIATION Minimum Registration Standard Dee Flint questioned how this policy would affect new clubs that register players previously registered with other clubs. The Executive Director pointed out that the Policy that these players need to be new players has not changed. The Amendment encourages the development of recreational players and provides for a tolling of the probationary period if a club drops below the 70 player minimum. There being no further discussion and no opposition, the AMENDMENT PASSED as presented. POLICY 212.1 ETHICAL STANDARDS Non-discrimination Dee Flint expressed concern that there should be legitimate reasons one club may not want to invite a team from a particular club to a tournament. There being opposition to the Amendment, the President called for a VOTE. The Amendment passed with a VOTE of 4 in favor, 1 opposed and 1 abstention. POLICY 212.4 ETHICAL STANDARDS Recruiting The Executive Director indicated this Amendment arose out the complaints that are filed each year. It was intended to make the definition of improper recruiting clearer. Dee Flint asked about certain scenarios and communications and how the Amendment would be apply. Grant Guthrie expressed concern that the Amendment would stifle recruitment for elite players. Gabi Erny shared that, in her experience, parents are employed by teams to recruit players from other teams. She also indicated that the LPDL will not suffer as players and their parents will seek LPDL teams out. There being no further discussion and no opposition, the AMENDMENT PASSED as presented. POLICY 300.2 COMPETITIVE TEAM TRYOUTS The Executive Director pointed out that this Amendment was entirely ministerial. There being no further discussion and no opposition, the AMENDMENT PASSED as presented. e. Fiscal Year Jeff Moyle mad a MOTION to change the fiscal year of Louisiana Soccer Association to August 1 st through July 31 st effective immediately. The MOTION was SECONDED by Dee Flint. There being no further discussion and no opposition, the MOTION PASSED. 5. FOR THE GOOD OF THE GAME Gabi Erny asked what a club needs to do when a team wears a uniform that does not identify the club with which they are registered. The Executive Director pointed out that they simply notify LSA and the Executive Director would confront the club. Dee Flint thanked Sean Esker and Chad Vidrine for intervening in the LHSAA College Showcase issue. Mark Godwin indicated that he will be attending a US Soccer Coaching symposium in two weeks and is afraid there may be more changes coming in coaching education. Sean Esker spoke briefly about US Soccer and charges for participating in the DA. 6. ADJOURNMENT