Springville Youth Inc. Board of Directors discusses soccer program

Board Member Chris Cerrone put together a list of concerns and recommendations regarding the Springville Youth Inc. soccer program and presented it at the Feb. 2 SYI Board meeting. Speaking as the umpire and chief of the Little League baseball program as well as a soccer dad, Cerrone asked, “Does soccer have an organized committee governing its recreational program?”

Board Member Nils Wikman responded, “Soccer used to have a strong group of volunteers. They used to be like baseball is now.”

Cerrone added that he believes too few adults to have been left to handle too many duties. Others suggested that the situation could grow worse with the recent resignation of two longtime soccer spearheaders, Ken Heidle and Mel Williams.

Cerrone’s report also questioned what he said he perceived as a lack of training among the recreational soccer coaches. He added that a lack of quality coaching instruction also appeared to be affecting the growth of the players and the overall program. Issues with recruitment and retention were also cited.

Cerrone outlined several registration and scheduling concerns he said he would like to see addressed, along with equipment and safety issues that should be reviewed. In addition to increased control of children along the sidelines, Cerrone pointed out the need for earlier notification of team assignments, balanced scheduling and earlier distribution of team equipment.

Travel soccer did not escape Cerrone’s attention, either. “It needs greater promotion,” he said. “We need to direct parents to the SYI website and supply them with detailed information.” Dates, locations, ages, genders, time frames, training schedules and opposing townships were mentioned as some of the information that should be available to increase awareness and generate greater participation.

In other board news:
- Springville Little League officials met with SYI Board members Wikman and Terry Skelton several times last month to trim the 2012 baseball budget. The result was a line-by-line, three-part document covering baseball and softball, travel baseball and the County of Erie Baseball Association that calls for additional volunteer labor, including building a pitching mound, fewer luxuries such as no turf mats and an increase in travel registration fees from $125 to $160. Board members praised these individuals’ efforts to get baseball’s financial situation under control.

- Baseball registrations are now being accepted at www.springvillebaseball.com.

- The annual SYI $1 tubing day at Kissing Bridge is scheduled for Saturday, March 3 from 8 - 10 a.m. Participants must be 7 years old and 42 inches tall.

- Despite the almost daily changes in weather conditions, the SYI Ski and Board Club has been able to hit the slopes four out of its first five scheduled Wednesday evenings. Club members are guaranteed four more outings this season.

- Treasurer Barb Romanowki, an eight-year veteran of the SYI Board of Directors, resigned from the youth board.

- Board Member Scott Kearns recommended that background checks be run on all SYI administrators and coaches. Little League baseball and travel soccer already require investigative checks on adult personnel.

- President Wende Pukay alerted the board to a grant designed to assist in playground improvement. The Satellite Broadcasting Communication Association grant could bring as much as $5,000 to SYI coffers.

- The board discussed the possibility of hosting a town of Concord Bicentennial event this summer. Among the ideas being considered are a basketball shooting contest, a swimming competition and several baseball-related activities.

The SYI Board of Directors meets the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the village offices on Franklin Street.