April 2024 Leadership Report

LEADERSHIP REPORT

IMPORTANT DATES

5/11 & 5/12 - THE STATE CUP AND PRESIDENTS CUP SEMI FINALS & FINALS

5/22/24 - BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, STATE OFFICE IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA

6/22/24 - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING IN ALEXANDRIA VA

WHAT’S NEW

MOTIONS RECENTLY APPROVED BY THE VYSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A motion to approve Appalachian United FC as a new member club.

The 2024-2025 registration fees for players, coaches (team officials) will remain the same as 2023-2024 View member fee structure HERE.

The VYSA 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on June 22, 2024 at AlexRenew in Alexandria, VA.

RECREATION AND TRAVEL PLAYER PAYMENTS

Clubs should have completed uploading and registering new players and coaches for this spring season.

Travel players and all coaches should be rostered and submitted for approval at least 3-5 days before their first game

Recreational players and coaches must be uploaded and Directly Registered through VYSA to have full registration for the season. Remember to complete the last step of Direct Registration!

For questions contact Kristen Osteen at Kristen@vysa com

THE STATE CUP AND PRESIDENTS CUP

Group play weekend took place April 2628th at PVSTC 134 teams participated, each competing in 3 tournament style games

Semi-finals and finals weekend takes place May 11-12th, where the remaining teams will compete for the Cup!

The State Cup Bracket

Presidents Cup Bracket

GOVERNING BODY UPDATES ODP INTERNATIONAL TRIP

US SOCCER UPDATES

US Soccer is making significant progress on it’s Strategic Vision View the US Soccer Strategic Pillars, Core Philosophies, and Accelerated Initiatives HERE.

US Soccer awarded $3 million in funding to benefit member organizations through the 2024 Innovate to Grow initiative Read more HERE.

The US Soccer senior leadership (led by President Cindy Cone and CEO JT Batson) and their staff are evaluating ideas on a reimagined youth soccer ecosystem.

Over the next several months this thorough evaluation will continue VYSA Executive Director, Don Rawson, is serving on the Competition Working Group Survey: “Why do Parents Enroll their Children in Soccer?” Take survey HERE.

USYS UPDATES

The USYS Board of Directors will meet on May 11th to consider a proposal to significantly change the National Championship Series. It is expected that the State Cup winning teams will advance directly to the national finals. Wichita, Kansas held their first ever TOPSoccer event which was very successful Read more HERE. USYS launched a monthly Grassroots Coffee Talk Series to engage state associations, their members, and others involved in grassroots. To register for an upcoming sessions hosted by Dr. Sari Rose click HERE.

USYS announced that the 2024 Grassroots Symposium will be in Salt Lake City, Utah in September. To register or learn more click HERE.

VYSA UPDATES

VYSA has enlisted the services of The Collective to assist the state association in a strategic planning initiative Initial work is expected to be completed by June 2024

The VYSA Annual General Meeting will be held on June 22, 2024 at AlexRenew in Alexandria, VA.

VYSA has partnered with the Get on the Bus program and earns US Soccer ITG grant. Read more HERE.

Twelve C4C courses have been completed since mid January

VYSA welcomes a new member club, Appalachian United FC.

From March 26th to April 4th, four VA ODP teams visited Portugal for the 18th annual ODP International trip. The 2010 and 2009 boys teams along with the 2010 and 2008 girls teams spent four days in the northern town of Braga and four days in the capital city of Lisbon All teams played four games with the added bonus of a boy’s game in the NW Spanish city of Vigo.

The four teams, with 16 support staff, were able to experience a beautiful culture with different customs The players were exposed to new foods, a different language, and in between matches, some history of the region.

This ODP International trip is unique due to the presence of an exceptional support staff Accompanying the trip were VYSA coaches, four chaperones, the ODP goalkeeping coach, an athletic trainer, and Sports Psychologist.

These trips are valuable for the Virginia ODP players and staff The players come back wiser, more mature, and a little more independent from the lessons and experiences learned both on and off the field.

COACHING EDUCATION

Member Clubs and Leagues are encouraged to host an in-person grassroots course If you have 13-15 coaches then your club is the perfect candidate for hosting a course.

The 2024 National C License that begins April 25th and the 2024 National B License that begins next September have filled. Both courses have a waiting list.

If you are interested in registering for future 2025 VYSA hosted National License courses, please contact Jessica Cottet at Jessica@vysa com

COACHING FOR COMMUNITY

VYSA has announced a new, free coaching course supporting the recreational coach! The Coach For Community (C4C) is a FREE two-hour course that is designed to help prepare entry level coaches with practical and theoretical knowledge This course is conducted by a qualified US Soccer/VYSA Coach Educator and can be requested by VYSA member clubs at the U6, U8, U10 and/or U12 levels.

The First hour is classroom presentations that consist of player characteristics, age-appropriate games, running a practice, role of the coach, and tips to survive. The second hour is field/gym demonstration. Age specific players will participate in an organized practice session

For questions contact Jessica at jessica@vysa com today!

IMPORTANT NOTICE

GOTSPORT TRAINING AVAILABLE TO CLUB AND LEAGUE REGISTRARS

GotSport is the association's official technology partner Club and league registrars are encouraged to visit the VYSA website for resources on navigating the GotSport registration platform.

Several GOTSport representatives held workshops in Fredericksburg, va on February 18th to assist registrars with both group discussions as well as 1 on 1 time with members who need additional training.

Contact Kristen Osteen at Kristen@vysa com for GotSport related questions or to set up a one-on-one inperson or zoom meeting with a GotSport representative

US C LICENSE COURSE

36 coaching candidates participated in the US National "C" License course hosted by VYSA this past weekend in Fredericksburg, VA.

The course was hosted by Gordon Miller, Paul Shaw, and Bill Furjanic, and included both in classroom and on the field workshops!

FFC and Stafford SC were gracious enough to provide players for the coaching candidates conducting their on-field assignments

A National “B" License will be coming into Virginia beginning in the fall.

FREE COACHING COURSES AVAILABLE FOR QUALIFIED FEMALE COACHES

US Soccer approved VYSA for a three-year extension of the 'Women in Coaching' Innovate to Grow Grant to further support female coaches in Virginia and the District of Columbia. This grant supports female coaches seeking to further their education with US Soccer Grassroots Coaching Courses and Licensures. The grant allows VYSA to support all women registered for any US Soccer coaching course as well as those coaches registered for all-female courses

In 2023, nearly 150 female coaches have enrolled in a US Soccer coaching course through VYSA supported by the US Soccer ITG Grant.

For clubs interested in hosting coaching courses, please contact Jessica@vysa com to get started.

SAFESPORT COMPLIANCE

All VYSA Member Clubs are REQUIRED to submit a SafeSport Compliance Form to VYSA in accordance with U.S. Soccer Federation mandates and VYSA SafeSport Policy.

Contact Kristen Osteen in Member Services, at Kristen@vysa com, for any questions regarding SafeSport.

VIRGINIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Congratulation to Jill Ellis for being inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame On April 21st.

Visit Virginia Sports Hall of Fame website to learn more about Jills soccer career!

Learn More

STATE OFFICE OPERATIONS

M-F | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (540) 693-1430

4805 Lassen Lane, Fredericksburg, VA 22408

DON RAWSON Don@vysa.com

Executive Director

ROBERT CAREY Robert@vysa.com

Director, Finance and Administration

JESSICA COTTET Jessica@vysa.com

KRISTEN OSTEEN Kristen@vysa.com Director, Technical Department Operations

Assistant Manager of Facilities

DEVIN BEST Devin@vysa.com Manager of Member Services

Technical Director

GORDON MILLER Vysatd@vysa.com

Senior Manager of Finance and Administration

THOMAS TRUSLOW Thomas@vysa.com

Director, Events RAY FORD Ray@vysa.com

DAVID COFFEY David@vysa.com

Senior Manager of Facility Operations

US Soccer awarded $3 million in funding to benefit member organizations through the 2024 Innovate to Grow Initiative.

Manager of Marketing and Communications

CHLOE ERAZO Chloe@vysa.com

Get on the Bus is an after-school program for recreational level players that includes tutoring, personal development, free equipment, free transportation, and free participation.

Two teams from Woodburn Elementary School will participate in the McLean Rec program this spring through the Get on the Bus program The funds from the grant will cover the costs of transportation, facilities, equipment, league feeds, food, and coaches and teachers.

Click below to read more about the Get on the Bus program