Highlights of the minutes from the previous meeting (4/12/04) were reviewed and approved.

Previous balance: $23,131.45 (4/12/04)

Deposits: $2,813.04 interest & spring registration fees

Expenses: $6,297.05 equipment, spring shirts & travel referee fees

Balance: $19,647.44 (5/10/04)

Approved.

Still need to check on the shipping charges that were previously assessed for the field paint ($354.02). This should have been waived because of the size of our order. Mark Donoghue will investigate.

Reviewed calendar of events. In-house tournament on 5/15 and 5/22. Registration for next year on 5/22. High School boys soccer team to hold summer camp at the Middle School in July (7/12 to 7/15 and 7/19 to 7/22). Boosters to provide application form for posting on SPSA web site.

Nominations for Girl’s Travel Commissioner were opened but no nominations were made. Nominations were closed and tabled until next meeting.

Tournament schedules are set. Entertainment also set and the team assignments have been coordinated among the in-house commissioners. Teams playing in last games for the day are responsible for takedown.

Trophies will be ready for 5/22.

May want to consider parking monitor as standard assignment for weekly in-house games next season.

Shelly Thropp is available to oversee travel girl’s evaluations. She will try to get assistance from other coaches. Would like about two-hour time slot and maximum of about 25 players at a time.

Need to sod portions of A field, B field and in front of most in-house goal areas. Estimate 4000 square feet at $0.20 / sft. Additionally, 22 yards of topsoil for general field dressing and materials to fix the Middle School field gate. Plan to also fill in spectator side of A field to extend sitting area and free up walking space on sidewalk. Will build up area and sod for about five feet additional width. May consider adding central bleachers in the future. Request for approval of this expenditure was deferred to the subsequent SPSA board meeting.

General concern with travel numbers at next year’s U12G level. Several current U11G’s will not continue due to cup soccer obligations and there were questions about the viability of a team for that age group for next year. The remaining current U11G’s (about 5) and the current U11G’s playing U12G Div C (about 9) should be enough to form a viable team (maybe U12G Div B). The interested players were encouraged to register and the organization would make every effort to provide the opportunity to play.

The potential for a Middle School soccer team was also discussed; SPSA support for this effort was solicited. There was some thought that this would provide better coaching to those players not involved in a cup program. It was pointed out, however, that a school-sponsored team must be open to all students (could not discriminate against cup players) and that the selection of coaches would be based on the decision of the school board (not necessarily choosing exemplary soccer coaches).

A Middle School team was thought to boost player participation because soccer competes with other Middle School sports (volleyball and football) for the better athletes. Some thought, however, that this would also compete with the current SPSA travel program, leading to further difficulties in maintaining team viability at upper age levels. Joint community travel teams may be needed in the future, regardless of the development of Middle School teams.

Past attempts at forming Middle School soccer teams have been unsuccessful primarily due to financial concerns (mostly busing costs).

The SPSA asked to be kept informed on efforts in this area.

Meeting adjourned 8:45 PM