2010-2011 Association Newsletter
Coaches:
Welcome to the 2010-2011 soccer season! I wanted to send you a reminder/update about the Missouri Soccer Coaches Association and some of the news and events that are currently or will be taking place this year. You are receiving this email because you were a member of the association last year. There is much to share as we enter into our 13th year as an association – last year we had over 160 members and look forward to another great year in our ongoing pursuit to better Missouri high school soccer!
1) A reminder about dues. Membership runs from August 1-July31 of each year, so for many it’s time to renew your membership. We have already received several renewals and they are posted as soon as we get them, so you can see if we’ve received it on the “Member Roster” section of our website. If you haven’t done so yet, you can go to the membership application link (http://www.mosoccercoach.com/membershipapp.html) to renew. If nothing has changed from the previous year’s info, you do NOT need to fill out another sheet. Just follow the directions concerning dues and send the check to the address at the bottom of the website. In addition, membership dues are reduced by $5 if they are paid by Oct. 1 so get your renewals in early. Also, don’t forget to consider chipping in a few extra dollars for the Coaches Support Fund. Over the past two years we have been able to distribute over $5500 to coaches in need through generous donations from coaches throughout the state. New this year – an online form to submit your membership. We are also working on having a PayPal account so you can pay online – check back soon for details.
**Membership includes: Voting privileges for all rankings and awards, eligibility for players and coaches to be recognized with all state and region honors, 15% off of orders from our sponsor, Select (www.selectgear.com), huge savings on Select balls, a gift at the NSCAA Missouri Coaches social and more!
2) One other note: we cannot accept purchase orders, so if you need some extra time to get a check cut from your district, just let us know. Again, membership dues allow us to conduct all state calls, keep our website up-to-date and print/mail all state certificates.
(Speaking of all state certificates… If you have a problem with the spelling or anything concerning the certificates, please contact Matt Pritchett at mpritchett@pembrokehill.org. Girls certificates should have been sent out already.)
3) Boys district assignments should be posted today (8-20-10) on the MSHSAA website (www.mshsaa.org).
4) Many of you are members of the NSCAA and probably just received your renewal in the mail (http://www.nscaa.com/join.php.) With your renewal is a sheet that allows you to sign up another new coach for free for a year (http://www.nscaa.com/articles/20100809120923586.php.) If possible, please take advantage of this. Not only will the person get free member benefits, but our state will also have the opportunity to increase our membership and thus increase our positions on the All Midwest and All American teams. Last season, we received 2 All American and 5 All Midwest for the boys and only 1 All American and 6 All Midwest for the girls. This number is based solely on state membership/participation with the NSCAA, so the more members we have, the better off we will be when it comes to postseason recognition. (IF YOU NEED MORE INFO ON THE NSCAA, GO TO www.nscaa.com.) In addition, make plans for the 2011 Convention in Baltimore January 12-16. This year you can go for FREE (http://www.nscaa.com/subpages/201001192121461132.php.) if you sign up three new members to the NSCAA and they list you as the referring member. For those first-time members not knowing who to refer but want to join, please contact me and I will make sure someone who is attending the convention will get the referral. (Note: when joining the NSCAA, make sure you choose “high school” as the type of coach.)
5) Please remember to update or send us your coaching records to add to our website. We’d really like to continue adding coaches, as well as keeping up-to-date with the ones we’ve already received. The list was updated recently, so check on the website (http://www.mosoccercoach.com/records.html) to see if your record is accurate and current.
6) We have recently “cleaned out” the “Open Dates” section of the website. We will post whatever needs your program has, but please remember to keep us updated so that we can remove them once they are filled. If we don’t hear from you, we will update as needed.
7) PLEASE CONTINUE TO SEND US YOUR SCORES FOR OUR SCOREBOARD. WE UPDATE DAILY THROUGHOUT THE SEASON SO THAT YOU CAN KEEP TABS ON WHAT’S GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
8) Make sure you take advantage of our sponsors (Select Gear and Select Balls) – great deals on uniforms, equipment and balls. See our website for details.
9) Girls All American and Midwest voting from the 2010 season will be done soon. Please remember to send me your player nominations from the 2010 season. I received several last spring, but wanted to make sure everyone had a chance to nominate so all nominations are due by September 1. We will vote on the players, as well as Coach of the Year awards early in September.
10)If you have boys players who may be interested in playing in tournaments in England and Ireland this summer, please let me know. You can also check the website (the new "Europe Soccer" tab) which will be updated in the next few days with more information about the 2011 trip, as well as pictures and news from the 2009 boys trip to Germany/Czech Republic and 2010 girls trip to France and Spain (Copa Catalunya champions!) We travel through Premier International Tours. I am hoping to get a boys trip organized this fall for travel in late July of 2011.
11) Finally, some important dates as far as the boys season goes. We will do coaches polls/rankings the weeks of Sept. 13, Sept. 27, Oct. 11 and Oct. 25. The final poll will be done after the state championships in November. All State recognition will begin after Thanksgiving. Boys All American and All Midwest nominations will be due in early November as we will need to have the voting finished by mid-November. If you have questions as to who to contact to be involved with poll voting, regional team selections and all state team picks please contact me.
I will be in touch with additional news and announcements as the year progresses. Best of luck to you on a new school year and season. Hope to speak to you soon!
(If you are no longer coaching or would like to be removed from this list, please let me know. Also, please forward this to any new coach that you may know.)
Chris Miller
MSHSSCA President
www.mosoccercoach.com
president@mosoccercoach.com
573-999-9891
