Newsletter 06-1

1. Second Winter Clinic
   Date: Thursday, February 16, 2006
   Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
   Place: Kingdom Indoor Center (KIC)
   8151 Merchant Place, Portage, MI
   
   Pizza and pop will be served!
   
   Topics:
   
   6:00 - 7:00: Wayne Wilkinson, High School/College Assignor, will give an update on issues that have been recently discussed with local High School AD(s). In particular he will address the HS referee shortage, new fees structure and referee abuse. This is a great opportunity to understand the challenges and voice your opinion.
   
   7:00 - 8:00: We have arranged to have two high school men teams play on the "main" Kingdom field. A 3-man team will referee. The rest of us will watch and discuss the "nuances" of the teams' play and the referees’ calls. This will give us a good opportunity to review the Laws of the Game and their application. What a great way to experience soccer on a cold wintry night!
2. Heinz is ready to start assigning USSF games. Please fill out the "avail. List" he sent you or download it from our web site www.wmsra.com and send it to Heinz in the next 10 days (most already have). He will not assign you any games until he has your list. If you don't want any games this spring or would like to be a sub, please indicate that on the form. I hope you also will look around our web site, while you are at it: We have updated the "Referee List" (please proof read your line), "Information" and a few other files.
3. Some refs have not re certified in Kalamazoo or Stevensville; most have informed Heinz where they took the recert. class. If you have not done so, please fill out the "Recert. Proof" form on our web site and send it to Heinz. If you are still missing the fitness test, you can do that on Sat, 4/15, 10 am probably at Hackett HS (please call Heinz in early April to confirm). Without recert. proof we cannot assign any games to you, without the fitness test, your assignments will be limited to the easiest USSF games. [Without re-certification clinic and written and fitness test you cannot do any HS games].
4. If you are interested (and USSF certified for 2006), please sign up for the KISS tournament on www.mysoccer.com/kiss (You need to scroll to the end of that site). Gerry Ouellette is in charge of assigning referees. The Portage tournament is on June 9, 10 and 11, 2006. Contact Debi Genisio at (269) 375-8521 or pscrefs@sbcglobal.net
5. I would like to remind you of two procedures: When checking in teams, make sure not only to check off players on the roster, but also coaches and managers (WMYSA allows a total of three, if they have ID cards). Also, when substituting in U-15-19 games, wait for the leaving player to be off the field before allowing the sub on. Tell the coaches before the game - many are not used to it.
6. Finally, let's get our house in order. To get games you need to be a "member in good standing" - in addition to being USSF certified you must have paid your WMSRA fees. And there are still some refs who have not paid their 2006 (and earlier) WMSRA dues. Heinz sent out a separate e-mail to the stragglers. If you think his records are incorrect, please call him with the date of your check.

 
I wish you an enjoyable season
Sue