2009-10 Season Opening Letter

Hello players, managers and fans of the game;

We recently explored acquiring private medical and liability insurance for our participants and discontinuing our affiliation with the United States Adult Soccer Association. After much debate, consideration and negotiation, we are pleased to announce our intent to continue our membership with the local board of the (USASA). In addition to re-confirming this relationship, we are also implementing a $5 increase in the Soccer Alaska player fee, to $30 annually. This modest increase will allow Soccer Alaska the autonomy and budget to continue and expand existing in-house programs as well as develop and implement new ones.

We have been diligent in our efforts to not pass along growing operating costs to our membership and yet we are challenged to continually improve the quality of our offering. We have been successful in doing so, especially as it relates to our outdoor playing venues. I’m not sure how many of you remember the moon landscape we called the South Anchorage Soccer Fields, but I believe the various turf venues and Balto Seppala are a pronounced improvement. However, our cost in those days was $30 for each field per day, while our fees now range from $25 to $100 for each venue per hour, depending on the location. Additionally we implemented across the board wage increases for the game officials in 2008 and the Dome has announced a second rate increase since opening its doors, beginning this fall. At the same time we continually upgrade and improve the website and its associated programs to make it more interactive and user friendly. So far we have been able to do more with less. This spring we began offering referee certification courses to Soccer Alaska registered players for free in an attempt to tap into our player pool and increase the number of adult game officials. We will continue this program 2-3 times per year. In addition to placing a greater emphasis on recruitment, we also want to provide referee training opportunities, especially as they relate to adult game management.

Other value added benefits being developed are increased social opportunities, adult skill training and travel assistance for adult teams wanting to attend tournaments outside of Anchorage and Alaska. We are also exploring a telephone answering service and the possibility of leasing office space. There is much we have done and more we will do, but if the $5 per year does nothing more than make you want to scream at an official a few less times, then it is money well spent.

As always, we look forward to your feedback and suggestions, and no, we cannot spend a portion of the funds to renovate the AT&T bathrooms.

Take care,

Klaus
President
Soccer Alaska