Looking For New Teams

Are you satisfied with your current club?   If not, consider moving your team to the Laurel Soccer Club.   Some of our current teams have joined us from other clubs including the Soccer Assn of Columbia, Columbia Soccer Club, and Calverton Soccer Club.   The Laurel Soccer Club allows teams to operate with autonomy, coaches/parents run the team, while the Club still provides support and structure.   Annual club dues are minimal and primarily provide for field maintenance.   New teams can be formed outside the Laurel area.   If interested in joining the Club, please contact Bob Lalley, club president, at 240-876-5990 or robert@lalley.com

Volunteers Needed

The Laurel Soccer United Club is operated by a group of volunteers.   As the club grows, the demands on these people become larger.   We are looking for parent volunteers to step forward to help perpetuate the benefits that the Club provides. There are many ways we can improve and move forward, but it takes people willing to help for it to actually happen.   Please consider submitting your name as a volunteer either on a casual basis, or as one willing to jump in and take on a major element of work. The more volunteers, the less we each have to do.

Rain Out Procedure

WAGS/NCSL
For SATURDAY and SUNDAY games, if you judge the fields unplayable due to weather or other conditions, you must call the WAGS Hotline AT LEAST three (3) hours prior to kick-off and give the name(s) of the closed field.   If you cancel the first game of the day I'd recommend you go ahead and cancel the entire day (vice maybe waiting to see if later games can be played).   You also need to contract Bruce Harris at 301-776-7144 regarding referees.   After that, you need to call each Laurel team to notify them. The teams are responsible for notifying their opponents and their division coordinator.   If WAGS cancels the entire day's schedule (extremely rare), whenever possible, Club Representatives and referees will be notified of cancellations, at least two (2) hours prior to kick-off.

BBSL
To report field closures, the home field coordinator must notify the league through the inclement weather telephone numbers 410-256-8807 or 410-515-3165 no later than 8:00 am on the morning of the game.

CMSSL
Contact Kenny and he will contact the league.

Coaching Safety Checklist

Prior to practice and games, coaches should make sure that field and goals are safe.

Field Safety

- Inspect for any foreign objects that potentially cause injury (glass, large rocks, etc.)
- Check for pot holes
- Make sure sprinkler heads are sealed
- Do not allow anyone to use the field until all hazards have been corrected

Goal Post Safety

- Make sure goals are properly fastened and anchored to the ground
- Inspect goal post for sharp corners and unsafe rusting
- Portable goal posts should only be moved under proper supervision
- Forbid any horseplay by players or members of the public on or around any goalpost
- Anchor or chain one portable goal to another to a nearby fence when not in use
- Remove nets (if possible) when goals are not used.

"The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that at least 21 deaths during the period 1979-1994 were associated with movable soccer goals. The mean age of those that died was 10 years old. Most of the insurance claims have been related to a) moving portable goals; b) goals falling over due to WIND; and c) injuries occurring when there were no games played, but goals were NOT properly secured when unattended. According to Bollinger's claims data, there has been no appreciable reduction in goal-related claims, despite the safety guidelines that have been put in place by soccer associations."

Reference: "Many Youth Soccer Leagues Still NOT Getting the Message on Soccer Goal Post Safety". A Risk Management Report by Lori Windof crispo, CPCU. Executive VP, Bollinger, Inc.

Player Safety

- Make sure jewelry and hair pieces are removed.
- If severe weather approaches, remove all players and spectators from the playing fields immediately.
- Know the location of nearest emergency health care facility.
- Have medical forms on each player documenting any medical issues (such as: asthma, allergies, heat related issues, concussions, etc.)
- Keep a first aid kit handy at all times (games and training sessions).
- List of all phone numbers of parents and emergency contacts
- Supervision of players that are without rides after practice. No child should be left behind after practice or games. The coach, manager, team official must ensure that all players are picked up.
- Coach, assistant coach, or manager has basic first aid training.

The safety and well being of our players should be our FIRST Priority. Education and communication is an effective way to make sure that all coaches, players, and parents are aware of the hazards associated with improperly secured goal posts.

MSYSA Adopts Policy Requiring Travel Team Coaches to Have an 'E' Coaching License

Policy Effective September 1, 2007
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There has been a continuing debate within National youth soccer administration as to whether youth soccer coaches should be required to have a coaching license in order to be able to coach a youth soccer team. A move in the direction of requiring a minimum license level is becoming more common.

Both practical and Risk Management considerations exist for wanting to assure that youth soccer coaches have a minimum level of knowledge about coaching and the game in order to provide a proper and safe environment for youth players. Moreover, a coaching license requirement is common in many countries. In Europe, no one is permitted to coach a team of players beyond the age of 10 years, without having the UEFA 'B' license, which is obtained upon successful completion of a coaching course of over 100 hours of instruction.

The MSYSA Executive Board recently concluded considerations regarding adopting a license requirement for Maryland coaches. It was the decision of the Executive Board that all coaches of MSYSA rostered travel teams should have at least a USSF 'E' license or its equivalent, the NSCAA Regional Diploma. The 'E' license involves an 18 hour course given over a two day weekend and is the course designed for coaching young players between the ages of 10 - 14, the age range where 'travel' teams are typically formed.

The Policy adopted by MSYSA will require all returning travel team Head Coaches to meet the 'E' license, or equivalent, requirement by the start of the fall 2007 season. New coaches in their first season as a Head Coach of a travel team can obtain a one year waiver of the license requirement, but all Head Coaches must meet the minimum 'E' license, or equivalent, requirement within one calendar year of their first season (fall or spring) coaching a travel team. Coaches who fail to meet this minimum requirement will not be permitted to appear on a team's roster.

MSYSA Registration Information

The State MSYSA system is live.   All managers have been sent instructions, team ID numbers and player id numbers to be used in the registration process.   Once everyone is entered into the registration system, you can access your member 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.   If you have technical problems, please contact Frank Parker for assistance.

Minutes from 2006 Annual Meeting

..... coming soon

Minutes from 2005 Annual Meeting

Attached are the minutes from our last regular meeting for everyones review prior to the meeting. Also attached are the minutes from our annual meeting to elect new officers.

Please ensure that your team is well represented at the upcoming meeting. We have several important pieces of business:
1. Election of a new Secretary and new Treasurer.
2. Discussion of priorities for the upcoming year.
3. Discussion regarding open items that have been lingering for some time (budget, Club Operating Policies)

Regarding #1, it is very important that ALL teams are taking action to recruit parents for the positions of Secretary and Treasurer. If you have a volunteer, please ask them to submit their name to me and a brief statement of background/qualification as soon as possible this week. All information will be disseminated prior to the meeting.

If anyone has specific agenda topics they would like to see addressed at the meeting next week, please submit them to me no later than July 8th. The agenda will be prepared and distributed July 9th.

Thanks
Sue Handy
LSC Secretary