Way to go Chuck/Matt
Outstanding Chuck and Matt.
OPL - What do you have to say? Here is what I will tell you if I could them. "Stop this Crap and Rejoin the State Soccer Groups".
Originally posted by Unregistered
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This copied directly from OYSA's main page http://www.oregonyouthsoccer.org/ass..._Letter_V4.pdf
__________________________________________________ ______________________
March 3, 2012
Open Letter to Youth Soccer Club Presidents in Oregon
Oregon Youth Soccer has worked diligently to reunite youth soccer in Oregon from the moment the Oregon Premier League (OPL) was formed. This division left many premier and classic teams without the ability to play home games, but more importantly it has divided our relatively small number of competitive teams; diminishing the depth, balance and developmental effectiveness of each league.
Not much progress was made the first year the Oregon Premier Council (OPC), the organization that formed to run the OPL, was intent on getting a year under their belt before they considered other options. OYSA focused on adapting to new market forces and trying to be more flexible and open to new ways of doing things. We lowered our recreational member dues from $13 to $9 and $11, depending on age and lowering our competitive member dues from $28 to $17 (US Club Soccer charges $18). Our membership also approved a bylaw change that limited policy development to the board, thereby preventing recreational clubs from establishing competitive policies and vice-versa. We also eliminated the small-sided requirement for U11 games.
The leadership of OYSA has met multiple times with the leadership of the OPC this past year to try to work out an agreement that would reunify soccer in Oregon. As recently as a few weeks ago, OYSA had proposed and/or agreed to the following:
Lower dues/player card fees for the balance of the current seasonal year for competitive players on teams in the OPL who also registered with OYSA to play in a sanctioned league that would qualify them for the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series
Competitive dues for all players next year of $17. It is important to note that the fees are being paid to a local organization not some organization on the East Coast. These dollars are being reinvested in the local soccer community through programs or services
Set reasonable caps on player dues and tournament fees that could not be exceeded without a vote of the affected membership.
Next year, the OPL would be an OYSA sanctioned league and would qualify teams for the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series
OYSA would perform certain administrative functions to ensure, at a minimum, compliance with the eligibility requirements of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series and would work closely with the OPC regarding these requirements
OYSA would not operate sponsored leagues in competition with the OPC
OYSA would work with OPL and establish a State Cup/Presidents Cup Advisory Committee that would make all of the operational decisions regarding State Cup and Presidents Cup, including the calendar, bracketing, seeding, venue, fees and budget
Competitive calendar would be coordinated with ODP, OPL and State Tournaments
Provide financial subsidies of $500 to $1,000 per team that advances to Far West Regionals
Pay the entry fees to Far West Regionals for advancing teams
Project significantly reduced State Cup and Presidents Cup fees due to increased participation
Share, with limited exceptions, 50% of all surplus revenue generated from both the Oregon State Cup and Presidents Cup with the OPC (it should be noted that OYSA will be losing substantial revenue from divesting from our PML and spring leagues)
Our financial position with the OPC was simple We did not want the arrangement to add to our operating deficit and we wanted an equal share of any surplus revenue from the State and Presidents Cups. The reason we want to avoid losing money on the reunification is also simple; we have a responsibility to provide a variety of services to the youth soccer community throughout the state. To do this, we have a fiduciary responsibility to have a business model that allows us to do that. Over the past two years we have reduced staff from 13 full time equivalents to 3.5 and made other reductions in salaries, benefits and services. We had a surplus last year, but are projecting a modest deficit for this year and next. We simply cannot afford to lose more money and professionally fulfill our obligations to our membership.
The revenue sharing was in recognition that the OPC would no longer have revenue from their two tournaments and the fact that the OYSA State Cup and Presidents Cup are the property of US Youth Soccer and the responsibility of OYSA. It should also be noted that the OPC would make substantial additional revenue from up to 200 teams joining their leagues that had previously played in our Portland Metro and spring leagues. OYSA would receive additional revenue from player dues, only a fraction of which comes from the eight clubs that comprise the OPC. This additional revenue would roughly offset OYSAs loss of revenue from not operating leagues anymore plus what we currently receive from State and Presidents Cup. We believe this would have an overall neutral impact on our budget, a positive financial impact for the OPC, and any excess funds from new player dues (since they come from competitive members) would be used to reduce State Cup and Presidents Cup fees and fund other expenses related to the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, including subsidies to teams advancing to US Youth Soccer regional and national competitions.
The new model basically had the OPC running the primary competitive leagues in the state, with other competitive leagues in the state being administered by clubs in the central valley and southern Oregon. The clubs within the OPC, along with other clubs participating in State and Presidents Cup, would make the operational decisions affecting those events. In short, the OPC would have absolute control of their premier leagues and largest competitive leagues in the state (as well as all of the revenue), would have significant control of operational issues of State and Presidents Cup (as well as half of the surplus revenue). Further, all competitive teams would be able to play together in the same league and every team in every OYSA sanctioned league (including the OPL) would be eligible for the OYSA State and Presidents Cups.
Since OYSA would no longer be running competitive leagues and would delegate significant operational responsibility to cup committees, OYSA would be able to refocus its energies and attention to supporting the recreational community, helping to develop strong players, coaches and clubs that are the overwhelming majority of our membership and also the foundation of all youth soccer in the state. OYSA is committed to greatly increasing our coaching clinics and coach education throughout the state, the vast majority of which is for novice recreational coaches soccer moms and dads.
It is our understanding that the OPC has recently voted not to reunite with OYSA and US Youth Soccer. Indeed, there appear to be additional efforts underway to divide soccer in Oregon even further. It is a free market players, teams and clubs are free to choose where they want to affiliate. Except for $2 that are passed through to National Organizations and about $4.50 that is used for online registration, player accident and club liability insurance, the dues that are paid to OYSA stays in Oregon to benefit the youth game here at home.
We are sharing this letter because we believe we can accomplish more together than we can apart. We also believe it is important for you to know the facts about what we were, and are still willing to do to achieve reunification.
Teams from some of the eight OPC clubs have contacted us and expressed a desire to play in our Tournament Qualifying League so they can qualify for our State Cup or Presidents Cup this year. Other teams that have played in the OPL from clubs outside of the eight OPC clubs have expressed the same desire. If you have teams wanting to be part of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, we welcome their participation. (Note that the OYSA Tournament Qualifying League is not the only option remaining that would qualify teams for these tournaments. Other OYSA sanctioned competitive leagues may also qualify teams if operated in accordance with National Championship Series and President Cup rules.)
More importantly, we remain committed to work to reunify youth soccer in Oregon. We welcome your ideas, input and assistance to help bring us together. We believe this matter can be resolved quickly and begin the steps to reunification of soccer in Oregon.
Yours in Soccer,
Chuck Keers Matt Madeira
Executive Director, Oregon Youth Soccer President, Oregon Youth Soccer
__________________________________________________ ______________________
March 3, 2012
Open Letter to Youth Soccer Club Presidents in Oregon
Oregon Youth Soccer has worked diligently to reunite youth soccer in Oregon from the moment the Oregon Premier League (OPL) was formed. This division left many premier and classic teams without the ability to play home games, but more importantly it has divided our relatively small number of competitive teams; diminishing the depth, balance and developmental effectiveness of each league.
Not much progress was made the first year the Oregon Premier Council (OPC), the organization that formed to run the OPL, was intent on getting a year under their belt before they considered other options. OYSA focused on adapting to new market forces and trying to be more flexible and open to new ways of doing things. We lowered our recreational member dues from $13 to $9 and $11, depending on age and lowering our competitive member dues from $28 to $17 (US Club Soccer charges $18). Our membership also approved a bylaw change that limited policy development to the board, thereby preventing recreational clubs from establishing competitive policies and vice-versa. We also eliminated the small-sided requirement for U11 games.
The leadership of OYSA has met multiple times with the leadership of the OPC this past year to try to work out an agreement that would reunify soccer in Oregon. As recently as a few weeks ago, OYSA had proposed and/or agreed to the following:
Lower dues/player card fees for the balance of the current seasonal year for competitive players on teams in the OPL who also registered with OYSA to play in a sanctioned league that would qualify them for the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series
Competitive dues for all players next year of $17. It is important to note that the fees are being paid to a local organization not some organization on the East Coast. These dollars are being reinvested in the local soccer community through programs or services
Set reasonable caps on player dues and tournament fees that could not be exceeded without a vote of the affected membership.
Next year, the OPL would be an OYSA sanctioned league and would qualify teams for the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series
OYSA would perform certain administrative functions to ensure, at a minimum, compliance with the eligibility requirements of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series and would work closely with the OPC regarding these requirements
OYSA would not operate sponsored leagues in competition with the OPC
OYSA would work with OPL and establish a State Cup/Presidents Cup Advisory Committee that would make all of the operational decisions regarding State Cup and Presidents Cup, including the calendar, bracketing, seeding, venue, fees and budget
Competitive calendar would be coordinated with ODP, OPL and State Tournaments
Provide financial subsidies of $500 to $1,000 per team that advances to Far West Regionals
Pay the entry fees to Far West Regionals for advancing teams
Project significantly reduced State Cup and Presidents Cup fees due to increased participation
Share, with limited exceptions, 50% of all surplus revenue generated from both the Oregon State Cup and Presidents Cup with the OPC (it should be noted that OYSA will be losing substantial revenue from divesting from our PML and spring leagues)
Our financial position with the OPC was simple We did not want the arrangement to add to our operating deficit and we wanted an equal share of any surplus revenue from the State and Presidents Cups. The reason we want to avoid losing money on the reunification is also simple; we have a responsibility to provide a variety of services to the youth soccer community throughout the state. To do this, we have a fiduciary responsibility to have a business model that allows us to do that. Over the past two years we have reduced staff from 13 full time equivalents to 3.5 and made other reductions in salaries, benefits and services. We had a surplus last year, but are projecting a modest deficit for this year and next. We simply cannot afford to lose more money and professionally fulfill our obligations to our membership.
The revenue sharing was in recognition that the OPC would no longer have revenue from their two tournaments and the fact that the OYSA State Cup and Presidents Cup are the property of US Youth Soccer and the responsibility of OYSA. It should also be noted that the OPC would make substantial additional revenue from up to 200 teams joining their leagues that had previously played in our Portland Metro and spring leagues. OYSA would receive additional revenue from player dues, only a fraction of which comes from the eight clubs that comprise the OPC. This additional revenue would roughly offset OYSAs loss of revenue from not operating leagues anymore plus what we currently receive from State and Presidents Cup. We believe this would have an overall neutral impact on our budget, a positive financial impact for the OPC, and any excess funds from new player dues (since they come from competitive members) would be used to reduce State Cup and Presidents Cup fees and fund other expenses related to the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, including subsidies to teams advancing to US Youth Soccer regional and national competitions.
The new model basically had the OPC running the primary competitive leagues in the state, with other competitive leagues in the state being administered by clubs in the central valley and southern Oregon. The clubs within the OPC, along with other clubs participating in State and Presidents Cup, would make the operational decisions affecting those events. In short, the OPC would have absolute control of their premier leagues and largest competitive leagues in the state (as well as all of the revenue), would have significant control of operational issues of State and Presidents Cup (as well as half of the surplus revenue). Further, all competitive teams would be able to play together in the same league and every team in every OYSA sanctioned league (including the OPL) would be eligible for the OYSA State and Presidents Cups.
Since OYSA would no longer be running competitive leagues and would delegate significant operational responsibility to cup committees, OYSA would be able to refocus its energies and attention to supporting the recreational community, helping to develop strong players, coaches and clubs that are the overwhelming majority of our membership and also the foundation of all youth soccer in the state. OYSA is committed to greatly increasing our coaching clinics and coach education throughout the state, the vast majority of which is for novice recreational coaches soccer moms and dads.
It is our understanding that the OPC has recently voted not to reunite with OYSA and US Youth Soccer. Indeed, there appear to be additional efforts underway to divide soccer in Oregon even further. It is a free market players, teams and clubs are free to choose where they want to affiliate. Except for $2 that are passed through to National Organizations and about $4.50 that is used for online registration, player accident and club liability insurance, the dues that are paid to OYSA stays in Oregon to benefit the youth game here at home.
We are sharing this letter because we believe we can accomplish more together than we can apart. We also believe it is important for you to know the facts about what we were, and are still willing to do to achieve reunification.
Teams from some of the eight OPC clubs have contacted us and expressed a desire to play in our Tournament Qualifying League so they can qualify for our State Cup or Presidents Cup this year. Other teams that have played in the OPL from clubs outside of the eight OPC clubs have expressed the same desire. If you have teams wanting to be part of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, we welcome their participation. (Note that the OYSA Tournament Qualifying League is not the only option remaining that would qualify teams for these tournaments. Other OYSA sanctioned competitive leagues may also qualify teams if operated in accordance with National Championship Series and President Cup rules.)
More importantly, we remain committed to work to reunify youth soccer in Oregon. We welcome your ideas, input and assistance to help bring us together. We believe this matter can be resolved quickly and begin the steps to reunification of soccer in Oregon.
Yours in Soccer,
Chuck Keers Matt Madeira
Executive Director, Oregon Youth Soccer President, Oregon Youth Soccer
OPL - What do you have to say? Here is what I will tell you if I could them. "Stop this Crap and Rejoin the State Soccer Groups".
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