To: All Ohio County Youth Soccer Parents
Subject: Critical Need for Participation in Administration & Referee Programs

The Board of Directors for Ohio County Area Soccer has identified two key areas in critical need of new parent involvement and participation. These are Administration and Referee positions. To better understand how these needs have arrived, a brief background description has been prepared.

Ohio County Youth Soccer originally began in 1999 under the direction of two individuals. At that time, there were only a handful of youth players, mainly girls, who began traveling to Bowling Green every weekend to play games. Over the next couple of years, interest grew in the program allowing several co-ed teams to be formed. All registrations and games were played under the auspices of Southern Kentucky Soccer (SOKY) based in Bowling Green. All fees were collected by SOKY with no disbursements for local practice areas, equipment, or games. In 2004, players and teams had grown to a number not easily managed by a single individual any more. At that time, a concerned group of parents decided to form the current youth soccer organization and keep all fees here and conduct the practices and games to better cultivate the sport in the county.

There have been numerous parents involved with the program over the last several years but now their children have grown older and are either no longer playing, chosen a different sport to pursue, or playing with other clubs who offer more options for a higher playing level than recreational soccer can afford. As a result, the once overwhelming participation has now dwindled and operations of the program have fallen on a just a few individuals. Several of those have children that have now grown older and making similar choices to past players. Without involvement from new parents who have younger children that plan on continuing playing soccer, the operations of the program may cease very soon due to the amount of time and involvement required of a few individuals versus a full board of directors. It is with this dire need, the Board of Directors is urging any parent of a player who has several years of playing left, become actively involved with the program and the administration thereof. Many times, parents are too intimidated to become involved due to their lack of knowledge about how a program works, but our directors are more than happy to welcome new members and help them get acquainted with the program and all that is needed to continue its operation from season to season. Again, we urge you to contact us and inquire about what positions are open and will be open in the very near future and we will get you started right away!! Our club number is 298-3336 and all our directors can be reached via email as well. Our website address is www.ohiocountysoccer.org and from there you can contact any board member for more information.

Our other area of need is for new referees. This area has a similar story line to our administration needs. Our original referees now have children who have grown older and not playing, playing a different sport, or not involved with the program anymore. In addition, those same players who were also referees have become too involved with other interests and have either given up their license or are on a very restricted schedule that allows a bare minimum of officiating. Soccer games need referees. We have recently been scheduling a referee clinic over the last couple of years. The requirements to become a referee are quite simple and take a minimum amount of time. There is no minimum age requirement (however the recommended youngest age is 12) and the costs involved with becoming certified are reimbursed to the referee by the Association. The clinic consists of an 8-hr instruction period and then a passing grade on a 50 question test. The instructors are from the State Referee Association and are very knowledgeable and helpful during the clinic. Please consider registering to become a referee or if you have children or know of children that would enjoy officiating our local games, don’t hesitate to register them either. It’s a great way to learn the game and get paid as well for your time and involvement with the soccer youth of Ohio County. Details for the clinic can be found on our website, www.ohiocountysoccer.org, and you can call us for more information as well at 298-3336.

Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to hearing from you!!!

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