Post by beauchenecoach on Oct 25, 2010 10:29:37 GMT -6
Message from the President
October, 2010
Welcome to Louisiana High School Soccer season-2010-2011! Each year we promote high school soccer in Louisiana is another year added to the success of our coaches association. On the heels of World Cup 2010, we are sure to see our numbers surge as the popularity of our sport continues to grow.
Our high school sport grows only with the support of all of the high school coaches. I believe that the high school coaches of the last 4 years have really stepped up their commitment to improving the game for our high school student-athletes.
Each year your coaches association looks for new ways to encourage membership. Our membership percentage is one the highest under the umbrella of the LHSAA and LHSCA. This membership has translated into much credibility with the LHSAA and the LHSCA. The working relationship between the LHSSCA (our coaches’ association) and the LHSAA has never been better. Even though our associations may not always agree, we have a voice that is respected by the LHSAA.
Additionally, given the recent information and accusations involving past LHSAA leadership I along with the LHSSCA Executive committee want to assure you of our integrity and transparency of leadership. None of us are paid by the LHSAA, LHSCA, or the LHSSCA, and nor is that our desire. We are a volunteer group of people that want to give back to the sport that has given so much to us. All of the records of expenses of our organization are available at our spring meeting.
Each year in my first “Message”, I always try to announce the new things that our coaches association undertakes. This year I have a big announcement. Last spring, I was contacted about the possibility of our coaches association becoming more involved with the design and maintenance of the website and message board: lahssoccer.com (formerly laprepsoccer.com). The original designer of the message board (Scott Crawford) actually told me that when he began this site it was his vision that the coaches association would one day own and operate this website.
It is my pleasure to announce that his vision is now a reality. Last year when lahssoccer.com hosted the actual playoff pairings when the LHSAA’s website went down, it was a foreshadowing of what is now a reality. The LHSSCA now officially owns the domain(s). Throughout the years the LHSSCA has financially supported the website by helping to pay for the web hosting of the site. The current annual investment for this site is $153. Given the fact that many who are interested in high school soccer visit the site, I felt like this might be a good investment for the LHSSCA.
Many may have questions about what this may mean for the site. Scott Crawford has committed to at least one entire year to help the Executive Committee with the transition. Our current plans are to keep the message board operating as it has always operated with one addition. Scott has indicated to me that it would not be diffi- to add a “coaches only” area to the message board. The process seems simple. Once a coach pays his or her dues, and it is confirmed in our directory, our two vice-presidents will add your lahssoccer username to give you privileges to that part of the message board. Obviously, we want to maintain the confidentiality of this process, so we will expect our members not to share this information with anyone.
We do expect to update the website portion of lahssoccer.com and eventually phase out our current “home-made” website lhssca.org. For now we will link lhssca.org to lahssoccer.com. Members are encouraged to find all of the information that they need from these two sites.
We will continue to work on improving the other processes that are noted in our constitution and by-laws. Most notably we will look for ways to get more of our coaches to actually nominate and MOST IMPORTANTLY vote in our All State process. The process is pretty transparent. On the girl’s side, we seemed to be getting a lot of votes while on the boy’s side; we don’t even average 25% of our coaches voting. I encourage all high school head coaches to participate in this process.
Additionally, the LHSAA has added the sport of soccer to its Academic All State process. Be sure to contact your Athletic Director or Principal to get your soccer players recognized. The LHSSCA will NOT be conducting an Academic All State program this year.
The LHSSCA is working on a few other things to help improve our sport. If you have any ideas that would be beneficial to all of our schools please do not hesitate to contact me or your Vice President. I guarantee that no executive committee is working harder for their sport than we are.
Best of luck to all of our teams this season!
Look for more information on our websites!
Sincerely
Doug Hamilton
President, LHSSCA
October, 2010
Welcome to Louisiana High School Soccer season-2010-2011! Each year we promote high school soccer in Louisiana is another year added to the success of our coaches association. On the heels of World Cup 2010, we are sure to see our numbers surge as the popularity of our sport continues to grow.
Our high school sport grows only with the support of all of the high school coaches. I believe that the high school coaches of the last 4 years have really stepped up their commitment to improving the game for our high school student-athletes.
Each year your coaches association looks for new ways to encourage membership. Our membership percentage is one the highest under the umbrella of the LHSAA and LHSCA. This membership has translated into much credibility with the LHSAA and the LHSCA. The working relationship between the LHSSCA (our coaches’ association) and the LHSAA has never been better. Even though our associations may not always agree, we have a voice that is respected by the LHSAA.
Additionally, given the recent information and accusations involving past LHSAA leadership I along with the LHSSCA Executive committee want to assure you of our integrity and transparency of leadership. None of us are paid by the LHSAA, LHSCA, or the LHSSCA, and nor is that our desire. We are a volunteer group of people that want to give back to the sport that has given so much to us. All of the records of expenses of our organization are available at our spring meeting.
Each year in my first “Message”, I always try to announce the new things that our coaches association undertakes. This year I have a big announcement. Last spring, I was contacted about the possibility of our coaches association becoming more involved with the design and maintenance of the website and message board: lahssoccer.com (formerly laprepsoccer.com). The original designer of the message board (Scott Crawford) actually told me that when he began this site it was his vision that the coaches association would one day own and operate this website.
It is my pleasure to announce that his vision is now a reality. Last year when lahssoccer.com hosted the actual playoff pairings when the LHSAA’s website went down, it was a foreshadowing of what is now a reality. The LHSSCA now officially owns the domain(s). Throughout the years the LHSSCA has financially supported the website by helping to pay for the web hosting of the site. The current annual investment for this site is $153. Given the fact that many who are interested in high school soccer visit the site, I felt like this might be a good investment for the LHSSCA.
Many may have questions about what this may mean for the site. Scott Crawford has committed to at least one entire year to help the Executive Committee with the transition. Our current plans are to keep the message board operating as it has always operated with one addition. Scott has indicated to me that it would not be diffi- to add a “coaches only” area to the message board. The process seems simple. Once a coach pays his or her dues, and it is confirmed in our directory, our two vice-presidents will add your lahssoccer username to give you privileges to that part of the message board. Obviously, we want to maintain the confidentiality of this process, so we will expect our members not to share this information with anyone.
We do expect to update the website portion of lahssoccer.com and eventually phase out our current “home-made” website lhssca.org. For now we will link lhssca.org to lahssoccer.com. Members are encouraged to find all of the information that they need from these two sites.
We will continue to work on improving the other processes that are noted in our constitution and by-laws. Most notably we will look for ways to get more of our coaches to actually nominate and MOST IMPORTANTLY vote in our All State process. The process is pretty transparent. On the girl’s side, we seemed to be getting a lot of votes while on the boy’s side; we don’t even average 25% of our coaches voting. I encourage all high school head coaches to participate in this process.
Additionally, the LHSAA has added the sport of soccer to its Academic All State process. Be sure to contact your Athletic Director or Principal to get your soccer players recognized. The LHSSCA will NOT be conducting an Academic All State program this year.
The LHSSCA is working on a few other things to help improve our sport. If you have any ideas that would be beneficial to all of our schools please do not hesitate to contact me or your Vice President. I guarantee that no executive committee is working harder for their sport than we are.
Best of luck to all of our teams this season!
Look for more information on our websites!
Sincerely
Doug Hamilton
President, LHSSCA