Hello to all our families in the Gallatin Soccer Club!
We are approaching the start of the Fall 2017 season and I wanted to give you a few updates relative to the club as a whole and to a few specific age groups.
FIRST, and this is the reminder most pertinent to all our families, our age directors are currently securing coaches for the season. Coaches will meet on SATURDAY, AUGUST 19TH and will get their rosters then. You will not hear from a coach until the afternoon of August 19th at the earliest, and because of the Solar Eclipse Experience in Triple Creek Park on Monday, August 21st, we cannot start practices until Tuesday, August 22nd.
The schedule overview can be found here: http://gallatinsoccerclub.org/recreational/schedule/
SECOND, the Board of the Gallatin Soccer Club wants to thank and recognize Milton Madewell for his long service and deep commitment to youth soccer in Gallatin. Milton has led GSC for over two decades and this summer announced to the board his retirement from the role. We appreciate all he has done and will publicly acknowledge his contributions this Fall.
My name is Jamey Campbell and I was elected by the Board to follow Milton as President. I have previously served the GSC Board as VP for Administration, U10 Age Director, U6 Age Director and as a parent-coach. My sons both got their soccer starts in recreational soccer with the Gallatin Soccer Club and this summer have moved to the Rangers side of the GSC. As much as their Rangers schedule will allow, I will be at Triple Creek Park to observe games, talk with families, and help carry on the operation of our recreational practices and games.
THIRD, in an effort to improve player safety and increased emergency response preparedness, we will have new safety equipment in place before the first games of the season. We are completing major purchases of both an Automated External Defibrillator and a Portable Lightning Detector. Both will be housed inside the club house at Triple Creek Park and to start out, the GSC Board will be trained in the access and use of the AED. We will also purchase a few air horns to use as an indicator to stop play and clear the fields in the event of inclement weather. Please note, we do expect that both instruments will need to be housed indoors at the club house so will be primarily available on game days.
FOURTH, we are implementing a new uniform policy for this season and expect this will run with us for several years. With a primary goal of cost savings to families, and a secondary benefit of simplifying player moves when necessary, all players will receive a reversible green/gray jersey, black shorts, and matching pairs of socks in green and gray. While it will be harder to explain to visitors which field to look for, we hope that the ability to wear one jersey for three or more seasons, and to pass jerseys down to younger siblings, will be a cost savings measure families appreciate. So long as the uniform fits, or has been handed down, the family will only have to pay the registration cost season by season.
FIFTH, there are changes affecting two of our age groups we want to share with you. First, to move us inline with US Youth Soccer age guidelines, our U8 divisions will be playing 4v4 starting this season and will not include goal keepers. We had two years with that change as a recommendation, but now it is a mandate. Second, based on the numbers of registered players in the U10 division, we made a decision to combine the girls and boys to a coed group. That gives all teams an appropriate number of subs and allows for a 7-week season playing each opponent once. We will re-evaluate the decision in the Spring based on registration numbers, but this moves U10 currently in line with the coed play we have used for a while in both U12 and U15.
So, as we begin the new season and the next chapter together for recreational soccer in Gallatin, I look forward to the Fall and to being a part of your family’s lives over the next few months. I hope you will look for Board members at the fields in our red polos or black jackets as the season goes along. We appreciate your commitment to good sportsmanship on the sidelines (whether as parent or coach), and to your assistance with the improvement of your player and youth soccer overall in Gallatin!
See you at Kickoff!
Jamey Campbell
President, Gallatin Soccer Club
Full GSC Board Listing: http://gallatinsoccerclub.org/about/board-of-directors/