* part-time

The minutes from the last meeting (10/13/03) that were previously provided electronically were unanimously approved.

• In-house Coaches’ meeting 3/15/04
• 7 regular season games (3/27/04 through 5/8/04); no make-up of rain-outs
• 2 weeks for tournament (5/15/04 & 5/22/04)
• Travel: Coaches’ meeting 3/08/04 (at end of March membership meeting)
• Registrations: Spring ’04: 1/10/04 & 1/15/04 (pending availability of the Community Room). May experiment with digital camera to streamline process.
• Fall ’04 registration dates to be determined
• Field maintenance: Set-up: 3/20/04 9-12 & 1-PM (raindate 3/21/04)
• Take-down: 6/19/04 9 AM to 12 PM
• Riverhounds: Camp 8/9/04 – 8/13/04 (preliminary); Mark Donoghue to set up SP Day at the Riverhounds

Current balance: $28,464.11 (11/10/03)

• Selected U8 rain-out games from the fall (when fields were unplayable for certain games) can be made up on weeknights in the spring
• Need to order U8 replacement nets for one pair of goals and assess needs for upgrades to the older U6 goals (either replace nets or use new goals)
• Bob Tramontina noted that he, personally, did not like the 5 v 5 format used for the U8B division. Teams were thin on numbers and players became tired. Bob will poll the U8 coaches (both boys and girls) to get their feedback on this topic and the fall session in general.
• Pat Carter will similarly contact the U5/U6 coaches to get feedback. General, unsolicited opinion to date seems to be favorable for the 4 v 4 format, dual teams and splitting up the U5 and U6’s.
• Need to reinforce that U5/U6 coaches should stay off of the fields during games.
• TOPSocer requested an earlier time slot for the spring (12:30 PM); this should not be a problem. Concern whether handicapped parking was adequate.
• U10B concerns with equal playing time were addressed in a earlier e-mail. It was suggested that, in the future, direct communication in instances like these may be more effective.
• U12G teams are not balanced, roster sizes are thin (kids drop or are less dedicated). May need to revise borrowing/call-up position for this division in the spring.
• U15, unrostered player was allowed to play in several games this fall. This must be rectified in the spring. All players must be registered and the borrowing of players must follow the guidelines provided at the coaches meeting (see minutes from 8/18/03 SPSA meeting)
• In-house commissioners need to call coaches in early February to obtain player counts by team for the assignment of spring sign-ups.

• Need to coordinate evaluations for next year. Solicited input on the evaluation process
• Parking on Sundays is horrible; this needs to be addressed at the spring coaches’ meeting.
• A potential problem with a player and several families on one of the travel teams was identified. Discussion of this topic was deferred to the subsequent board meeting.

• Field take-down was successfully completed last weekend. All goals, benches and other equipment was stowed in the storage area. Additionally, dirt was spread at the Middle school upper field to repair tire ruts from vandalism and to improve the area in front of the kick board.
• SP Township has recently aerated and overseeded the Middle School upper field and all fields at Evans.
• To maintain our fields, please make sure that the gates at Evans and to the Middle School upper field are closed at all times during the off-season to discourage any future vandalism.