OSSCA Member:

As we enter summer, the 2008 season will soon be upon us and I just want to update you on matters related to the OSSCA. You should be receiving in the near future information about dues which will include local, state, and national. The OSSCA has had unification with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America for about eight years; the NSCAA has always provided the OSSCA with a discount towards membership. This coming year general membership dues to the NSCAA have increased to $80.00. OSSCA members have been paying $60.00, our contract with the NSCAA has expired and we have entered into a new three year contract. The contract calls for dues to increase to $65.00 for OSSCA members. In April the OSSCA Executive Board voted to accept the new contract. Since this was not done until April, the OSSCA has decided to ask all members to pay $60.00 this year and the OSSCA will pick up the additional cost. Starting in 2009, dues to the NSCAA will increase to $65.00. Other states have since implemented unification like the OSSCA has, but the OSSCA will the have lowest national dues in the country, the other states will pay $70.00. I just want to prepare everyone now for 2009.

The OHSAA will put into effect the National Federation of State High School Associations shin guard rule. This year all shin guards must have the official NOCSAE stamp on them. The 8 inch rule is no longer in place, but all players must wear the appropriate size shin guards. The stamp will have a recommended height and players must purchase the proper size guard. It will be the official's choice if they wish check shin guards at the game. They may check every players or just a single player. It will be up to each official. There are a few other potential rule changes, which may relate to the sportsmanship talk, but I have not heard officially if there will be any changes. All changes will announced at the local rules meeting.

You should find on the OSSCA website a survey related to the state clinic. If would please take the time to complete this survey, the information will be shared with John Bluem in an effort to provide a state clinic that coaches find beneficial. At our next state clinic there will an election for president and vice-president of banquet. Currently the vice-president of banquet is vacant as Bryan Loveless has resigned his position as boys coach at Centerville. The executive board will collectively handle the banquet, but if any individual is interested in getting involved I encourage you to contact me. We can use the help and you can get a feel for what is the position involves.

At our board meeting in April, Roland Winzer and Dale Conly were elected to the OSSCA Hall of Fame. Roland is the first soccer coach at Hudson High School. He coached 14 years at Hudson and assisted in creating the first OSSCA By-laws. Dale Conly served as head coach at Western Reserve Academy for 27 years. Prior to coach at WRA, he coached at Mount Hermon for 9 years. Total Dale coached high school boy's soccer for 36 years. He was named coach of the year twice by the Greater Akron Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association, in 1993 he won the OSSCA Ron Pinsenschaum Award, and he has been inducted into the Northfield-Mt. Hermon and Oberlin College Hall of Fame.

At our board meeting in April the Executive Board also made a few By-law changes. Most of the changes dealt with wording and changing dates or numbers. The most significant change relates to the All-State selection process. There are several changes that have been made to the process and selection of All-State players. I will highlight the changes for you.