NCSL Board Meeting

May 18, 2020

Via Zoom

The meeting was called to order at 7:37 p.m.

I.         Roll Call

The following clubs were in attendance at the meeting: A3, Alexandria Soccer Association, Alliance Soccer Club, Annandale Boys & Girls Club, Antietam United Soccer Club, Arlington Youth Soccer Club, Bethesda Soccer Club, Blue Ridge United, Braddock Road Youth Club, Broadneck SC, Calvert Soccer Association, Calverton Soccer Club, Chantilly Youth Association, Culpepper Soccer Club, D.C. Stoddert, Damascus Soccer Club, DORADUS, Epic Soccer Club, Fairfax Police Youth Club, FC Dulles, FC Frederick, FCV Ashburn, Fort Washington, Fredericksburg FC, Fredericksburg Soccer Club, Front Royal Soccer Association, Future Soccer Club, Great Falls – Reston, Gunston Soccer Club, Hagerstown Soccer Club , Herndon Youth Soccer Association, La Plata Soccer Academy, Laurel Soccer Club, Lee-Mt. Vernon Sports Club, Leesburg Football Club, Loudoun Soccer Club, Maryland Rush Montgomery,

McLean Youth, Northern Virginia Soccer Club, Old Dominion Football Club, Potomac Soccer Association, Premier Athletic Club, Prince William Soccer, Inc., Severna Park Athletic Club, Shenandoah FC Elite, Soccer Association of Columbia, Southwestern Youth Association, Springfield South County Youth Club, St. Mary's Soccer, Stafford Soccer Club, Sterling Youth Soccer Association, Takoma Park Soccer Club, Team America Football Club, Thunder Soccer Club, Vienna Youth Soccer, Villarreal Virginia Academy, Virginia Revolution, Virginia Soccer Association, VISTA, Waldorf Soccer Club, Warrenton Youth Soccer Club, Washington Capital United, West Virginia Futbal Club, Woodbridge Soccer Club

Roll call indicated that the following clubs were not in attendance: Arundel Soccer Association, Burke Athletic Club, OBGC, Real World Futbal Club, Montgomery Soccer, South County Athletic Association

Executive Committee in Attendance: Maureen Dalbec, Howard Kohn, Carol Montoya, Alan Paez, Eric Popiel, Richard Smith, Dave Shannon, Doug Wall

Staff in attendance: Ryan Rich, Alison Smith

Approval of Minutes

A motion was made and seconded to approve the March 9, 2020 Board Meeting minutes. A voice vote was taken; all were in favor and the motion passed.

I. Nominations for Officer Elections – Howard Kohn

There are four NCSL officers. This year, the positions of President and Secretary are up for election. The incumbents of each position, Richard Smith (president) and Carol Montoya (Secretary) have been nominated to serve an additional term. Additional nominations may be submitted to Howard by midnight on June 10. The ballot will be presented for vote at the AGM on June 25.

II. Spring 2020 Season – Richard Smith and Ryan Rich

Richard noted that NCSL has been maintaining contact with clubs and working to provide resources for players and clubs, including a coaching education series, an interview with Paul Arriola, and how to build a soccer kick wall.

Richard and Ryan have been keeping in touch with referee assignors. They have been lobbying referee organizations and US Soccer to repeal the rule stating that referees much be recertified by July 1 or become ineligible to referee.

NCSL, along with other leagues, tried very hard to delay any cancellation of the season while monitoring advice from public health organization and local governments. Various options were explored, including a truncated season, 7 vs 7 games. As the situation has been monitored, factors included government regulations, field availability, and safety concerns from parents.

A survey was sent to all clubs asking for input on willingness to play depending on different start dates for the season. The feedback was mostly a lack of ability or interest in playing. Some clubs indicated it would be a team by team decision.

Richard announced that the Executive Committee has decided to cancel the spring season and will not try to implement a summer season. This allows the league and clubs to move forward with plans for the Fall.

The Executive Committee has met to discuss the financial impact of cancelling the season. They feel strongly that no one should profit from a shutdown. Richard noted that the league has fixed overhead expenses, including salaries and the website. Some expenses had been incurred in preparation of the season, including blue game cards and some games assigned by the referee assignors. Outside of these overhead costs, referee fees are the largest component (at least 60%) of each season’s expenses.

NCSL will calculate the amount of each club’s registration fees that would have been used for referee fees and provide that amount back to the clubs in the form of a credit that can be used over the next two seasons. Each club will receive an email within the next 10 days with the amount of their credit. Richard asked for time for Ryan and him to calculate these amounts and send the emails with the final credit amounts.

Richard clarified that the refunds are club-based, not team-based; the league will not check on how the clubs are using the amount credited to them.

In response to a question, Richard said the league has applied for a PPP loan but has not received a loan at this time. He also noted that laying off staff would make the league ineligible for a PPP loan. Staff have still been working on league tasks even though games are not being played.

In response to a question about refunds rather than credit, Richard noted that fall registration will open soon and clubs will soon be paying the league. In addition, with the recent passing of Treasurer Anne Maynes, getting checks out to over 80 clubs would take time. He noted that the league isnt “one size fits all” and can be flexible when individual needs are voiced.

III. Fall 2020 Season

There is still much uncertainty about the Fall season. Many clubs are advertising for Fall registration. So that clubs can go forward with plans to form teams and play soccer in the fall, NCSL will open registration for teams and clubs. The Executive Committee has asked Ryan and Alison to evaluate the latest point at which NCSL can ask teams to register and still allow enough time to prepare for a Fall season. Clubs will not be asked to make a Fall payment before they are told how much their Spring credit is.

Without knowing when jurisdictions will allow access to fields, NCSL does not have a definite decision on what the Fall season will look like.

IV. Treasurer Appointment – Richard Smith

With the passing of Anne Maynes, Richard has appointed NCSL vice president Eric Popiel as interim treasurer. Anyone who is interested in learning more about the position should contact Richard.

Richard said there will be memorial service for Anne once we can gather again.

In response to a question, Richard noted that the league will be evaluating changes that need to be made to accommodate a Fall Season. There may be some temporary modifications so that kids can play soccer.

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.