HOUSTON WOMEN'S SOCCER ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF MEETING

March 5, 2003

The meeting was called to order by Jen Cooper, HWSA president, at Saengerbund Hall at 7:35 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Women's teams absent: Footloose 2, Katy Kicks, Trademark United

Coed teams absent: Blowout Preventers, Bunker Hill Bruisers, Buffalo Wild Wings, Olympia V, Revolucion, Sabotage, Scorpions, SCV Thunder, Synergy

Board members absent: Patti Ernst, Treasurer

MINUTES:

Minutes of the January 8, 2003 meeting were posted on the website. Minutes of the January 8, 2003 meeting were approved as presented.

OFFICER REPORTS

President:

1. Spring field problems:

• Alief and Bear Creek are under new management. Please be patient during this transitional time.
• The Board welcomes your feedback on the fields but asks that team representatives understand that the Board consists solely of volunteers and communication is expected to be respectful at all times.
• The floor was opened for a question and answer session regarding field problems.

2. TSSAS meeting was held the first weekend in March in McAllen, TX.

• Player Registration forms and instructions are now available in Spanish. This new form will be posted to the website shortly.
• Insurance fees increased from $7.75 to $10 this year. The state ate the difference this year, but will pass the fees on to the leagues in the fall. Therefore, player fees will likely increase with the Fall 2003 season. This will be determined when the budget is developed for the next year. If you are interested in helping to prepare the budget, please see the Treasurer.
• Select team try-outs are happening now for regional and national teams. Details are on the TSSAS website.
• TSSAS is looking to increase its number of female referees. Details on how to become a referee are available on the website.

3. A new 8v8 coed open league is opening this summer on the Northeast side (Kingwood). This league is sanctioned by HWSA. Games will be played on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights on two short, lit fields. Fliers are available at the table by the door.

4. WUSA exhibition match tickets are available tonight, or at Soccer 4 All, Fiesta, or Rice. The capacity is smaller this time because Rice will be using aisles for this match. Cindy Parlow will be available for autographs on the Tuesday before the game.

Vice president:

1. Clarification of the slide tackle rule for coed goalkeepers. The goalkeeper can slide for the ball but not the player. The rule is intended keep the goalkeeper from going head first for the ball.

2. No red cards so far this year.

Secretary:

1. If you missed roll call, be sure to see the secretary after the meeting, as there is a $10 fine for missing league meetings.

2. We are looking for a new meeting site. If you know of a potential meeting place (preferably air-conditioned and free), please let the secretary know.

3. Secretary needs to see the team reps for Shooting Stars, Wildcats, Alliance (women), and El Tri.

Registrar:

1. Registrar needs to see team reps for El Tri and Rapid Fire.

2. Lots of ID cards are available for pickup. Please see the Registrar.

Treasurer:

No Report

Women's Commissioner:

1. The women’s team reps determined that reschedules to Zube for Bear Creek and Alief games would be posted by 8am Saturday mornings.

2. Please reschedule rained out games for weeknights when possible. First division is already scheduling make-up games for June.

3. Women’s Commissioner needs to see team rep for PWC.

Coed Commissioner:

1. Rescheduled games were posted to the website early in the week. Please email the Coed Commissioner if there are problems.

2. Please see the Coed Commissioner if you are not receiving coed emails.

3. Coed Commissioner needs to see team reps for Allies, Alliance, SW Kickers, and Montezuma’s Revenge.

Field Coordinator

1. Rasmus status is still unknown.

2. HWSA is looking at county fields and schools, but is having difficulty locating lit fields for Mondays.

3. GOALS is developing two new fields that are expected to be ready by 2004.

4. Houston Area Field Coalition will be meeting again soon to discuss the possibility of proposing that the county allow some retaining ponds to be converted to soccer fields during dry periods, approximately 10 months each year.

5. The county is currently developing a 20-field complex near I-10 East and the Beltway, as well as continuing to search for property to be developed.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Membership

1. Coed: 5 new women have signed up in the past 2 months. The number of men looking for team continues to grow.

2. Women: no report

Tournaments

1. Women’s State Cup will hosted by HWSA in April. First and Second place finishers will be eligible to go to Waco to play the winner of North Texas.

2. Congratulations to Memorial who won the O30 Women’s State Cup at Bear Creek in February.

Webmeister

No Report

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

None

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Women’s skills clinic scheduled for Saturday, April 5.

2. U.S. men’s national team vs Mexico scheduled for May 8 at Reliant Stadium.

3. 2003 HWSA scholarship applications are now available online. Due to the proceeds from the WUSA exhibition match last October, the league has 4 scholarships available this year, one more than last year.

4. A representative from Tobacco-free Sports attended the meeting. Tobacco-free Sports is promoting smoke-free sporting events. It offers tobacco education and works with the Texas Department of Health to assist people quit smoking. A representative will be attending some future HWSA games.

Meeting adjourned at 8:08 pm.