VIRGINIA
LEADERSHIP REPORT
IMPORTANT DATES
RICHMOND FALLSCHURCH
FALLSCHURCH
FALLSCHURCH
FALLSCHURCH
CHARLOTTESVILLE ROANOKE
VIRGINIABEACH RICHMOND
10/2/24 - 10/8/24 - MEMBERSHIP
WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER2,2024 (5:00-7:15PM)
THURSDAY,OCTOBER3,2024 (1:30-4:00PM)
THURSDAYOCTOBER3,2024 (5:30-8:00PM)
FRIDAY,OCTOBER4,2024 (10:30AM-1:00PM)
FRIDAY,OCTOBER4,2024 (2:00-4:30PM)
SATURDAY,OCTOBER52024 (9:30AM-12:00PM)
SATURDAY,OCTOBER5,2024 (2:30-4:45PM)
MONDAY,OCTOBER7,2024 (10:15AM-12:30PM
TUESDAY,OCTOBER8,2024 (8:30-11:00AM)
VIRGINIA YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION WILL BE VISITING YOUR AREA TO RECEIVE MEMBERSHIP FEEDBACK!
Dear Club Leaders:
Over the next two weeks, VYSA leaders (Staff and Board Members) will be hosting nine (9) meetings throughout Virginia.
These meetings will be an opportunity to exchange ideas about how to create an improved youth soccer environment!
Staff will provide a quick overview of the current programs, services and events provided by VYSA and USYS. A representative from U.S. Soccer will be at several of the meetings to offer insights into the progress being made with several U.S. Soccer strategic initiatives as well as the recently announced Soccer Forward Foundation.
A representative from The Collective Global (Retained to assist VYSA in drafting a new Strategic Plan) will explain the current draft of the VYSA Mission and Vision Attendees will then review and discuss a draft of several Strategic Pillars, Key Initiatives and Projects that have been identified thus far
The current VYSA Bylaws will be discussed to initiate a dialogue about how that document will be reviewed and improved to support the VYSA membership.
Your attendance and input in the meetings are very important for the future of VYSA and to identify ways to help soccer clubs in Virginia.
Please invite as many adults as possible in your club that you think will benefit from participation.
As leaders, we all have a responsibility to the game- and to the players, coaches, volunteers, referees, families, sponsors, and communities we all live in. Let’s find ways to grow the game. Let’s create more joy and smiles of the faces of all involved.
Thank you for all you are doing now!
I look forward to seeing many of you soon!
Don Rawson Executive Director
RECREATION AND TRAVEL PLAYER DATA
Reminder to please have Travel Teams ready for approval at least one week before the first game.
When teams are ready please email the Assigned League Registrar for approval of any newly added player.
Travel rosters were locked on September 1st If a player transfer occurs please use the available player transfer forms found in Gotsport.
REMINDER ALL Recreational players MUST be Directly Registered to VYSA. This step must also be completed before adding to a rec roster.
For question regarding registration please reach out to Kristen Osteen at Kristen@vysa.com
WHAT’S NEW
MOTIONS APPROVED AT THE AUGUST 2024 BY THE BOARD
Motion to retain The Collective Global to complete the drafting of the Strategic Plan (including the Bylaws)
Motion to approve the Players Health proposal to provide medical and liability insurance for 2024-2025.
Motion to approve Renner and Company, CPA to complete the audit of the 2023-2024 VYSA fiscal year and complete all VYSA associated tax related requirements (990)
Motion to approve the BAND proposal to provide VYSA with communication services for 20242025.
Motion to approve the board meeting schedule for the remainder of the 2024 calendar year
Motion to approve six new provisional member clubs, PW NOVA Soccer Club, VA Rush Peninsula, Grove United Soccer Club, Académie Sportif, NK Cosmos SC, and Ciprini Soccer Academy (CSA).
IMPORTANT INSURANCE UPDATE
Virginia Youth Soccer Association encourages Member Clubs and Leagues to nominate individuals who went above and beyond for the good of the game during the 2023-2024 Season
Administrator of the Year
Boys Competitive Coach of the Year
Girls Competitive Coach of the Year
Boys Recreational Coach of the Year
Girls Recreational Coach of the Year
TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year
TOPSoccer Coach of the Year
Volunteer of the Year
Young Male Referee of the Year
Young Female Referee of the Year
Team Manager of the YEAR
The deadline to submit nominations is September 30 , 2024.
Download Nomination Forms
VYSA has renewed its agreement with Players Health for the 2024-25 seasonal year. Players Health is providing medical and liability insurance as well as Certificates of Insurance (COIs).
Organizations may visit the link below to begin the process of obtaining COI’s
VYSA also provides Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance for all of its members For details or questions contact Robert Carey at Robert@vysa com
PROCESS OBTAINING COI’S
GOVERNING BODY UPDATES
U.S. SOCCER UPDATES
U S Soccer is making significant progress on it’s Strategic Vision. View the US Soccer Strategic Pillars, Core Philosophies, and Accelerated Initiatives HERE.
VYSA received an ITG grant from U S Soccer support of the “Get on the Bus” initiative To learn more about this program, read HERE.
The U.S. 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
USYS UPDATES
Elections were held at the USYS AGM on 7/27/24. Congratulations to Tina Rincon, who was elected President. Thank you to Todd Lockheart for his service as President
The 2025 East Regionals will be held by Visit Loudoun at Bolen Park in Leesburg!
USYS launched a monthly Grassroots Coffee Talk Series to engage state associations, their members, and others involved in grassroots soccer To register for an upcoming session hosted by Dr Sari Rose click HERE.
The USYS Grassroots Coffee Talk on US Soccer’s Innovate to Grow program took place on July 11th To view the Grant Writing presentation, 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
The fee for recreational players is now reduced from $9.00 to $8.75 per player if player and coaching data is submitted to the state office by September 16th, and payment received in the state office by September 30th.
Virginia is the first state association to combine previously competing State Cups into a singular event co-hosted by Virginia Youth Soccer and US Club Soccer!
VYSA has enlisted the services of The Collective Global to assist VYSA in a strategic planning initiative Phase 1 was completed June 2024
VYSA staff will travel through Virginia at the beginning of October to share the vision and get feedback from the membership to complete the strategic planning process To view the dates, times and locations click HERE.
VYSA has partnered with the Get on the Bus program and earned a US Soccer ITG grant. Read more HERE.
2024-2025 OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DISTRICT TRYOUTS
VYSA has successfully completed all five district ODP tryouts! It is exciting to see increased participation in four of the five districts The coaching staff is looking forward to a wonderful district training season ahead!
VYSA is pleased to welcome two new district head coaches to the ODP program: Gregg Mottinger, will be leading the Southeast, and Brian Biggio, will be overseeing the Central District
Explore ODP
FIELD OF TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR DECEMBER 2024 NL QUARTERFINALS
Congratulations to Burke AC United Academy NL PRO u19 Boys and Charlottesville Alliance 2010G Navy for qualifying to play in the December 2024 National League Quarterfinals taking place in Arizona!
The December competition will feature more than 260 top-performing teams from the past year of competition in the 13 National League Conferences, as well as the Elite 64 Regional League. Each side earned its place in the quarterfinals, either via automatic qualification or by securing an open slot selection, through its recent on-field accomplishments.
EVENT DETAILS
COACHING EDUCATION
VYSA’s first in-person session of the National B Coaching License course took place September 1417th Thank you to the two coach educators, Heather Pedersen and Tommy Geis, and 23 coaching candidates!
VYSA was recently awarded a 50/50 B License course for Spring 2025 This course will be strictly 50% female and 50% male
For more information on Coaching Education visit the VYSA website below.
FALL 2024 THE VIRGINIA STATE CUP AND PRESIDENTS CUP
The Virginia Youth Soccer Association is excited to host its annual Fall Cup Competition Series for the Fall 2024 Season. 15U, 16U, 17U, 18U, and 19U Boys and Girls teams are eligible to compete Both the Fall 2024 The State Cup and Virginia Presidents Cup tournaments are official US Youth Soccer Regional Qualifiers
Thank you to the 207 teams who have applied for The State Cup and the 134 teams that applied for Presidents Cup! VYSA appreciates your support!
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.
A GotSport refresher zoom meeting was held on July 16th To view the recorded meeting please check the VYSA GotSport Onboarding website, HERE.
Contact Kristen Osteen at Kristen@vysa.com for GotSport related questions.
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 and 2024, 233 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.
Center for SafeSport Policy Revisions:
The Center has released the final version of the SafeSport Code Please navigate HERE to find the newest version of the Code, along with a summary of its noteworthy revisions. Please reach out to Alison or Bria if you have any questions about the Code updates.
Contact Kristen Osteen in Member Services, at Kristen@vysa.com, for any questions regarding SafeSport
STATE OFFICE OPERATIONS
M-F | 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (540) 693-1430
4805 Lassen Lane, Fredericksburg, VA 22408
U.S. SOCCER EXCITING UPDATES
U.S. Soccer is thrilled to announce that the valuable content from the “Recognize to Recover” program is migrating to a new and enhanced section on the Learning Center, now called the “Center for Health, Innovation, and Performance”
Starting today, you can access the first set of articles in this new section. CHIP is a resource hub, offering cutting-edge insights and practical tools to support health, innovation, and performance in soccer
Explore the new content and stay tuned for more updates and resources that will help you stay at the forefront of soccer health and performance
Executive Director
DON RAWSON Don@vysa.com
Director, Finance and Administration
ROBERT CAREY Robert@vysa.com
Director, Technical Department Operations
JESSICA COTTET Jessica@vysa.com
KRISTEN OSTEEN
Manager of Member Services
Kristen@vysa.com
CHLOE ERAZO Chloe@vysa.com
Manager of Marketing and Communications
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
Director of Facility Operations
"RECOGNIZE TO RECOVER” CONTENT IS MOVING TO A NEW HOME! Assistant Manager of Facility Operations
DJ@vysa.com
