QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
ISSUE 2 | MARCH | 2024
PRESIDENT’s PITCH
Amy Christensen - Board President
Dear Members,
Dear Members,
Over the last nine months since I became president of the HYSA Board, the Board has heard from many of you - directly and indirectly, in emails, calls, and in person. The feedback is appreciated and welcome as it keeps the Board informed and aware of both positive experiences and areas where we can improve.
I have also noticed that at times, some comments go beyond the constructive criticism that helps us become better. Discourteous comments have been addressed to referees, field marshals, managers, staff, and others and can contribute to a negative culture that can affect the entire club. I recognize this is not exclusively an HYSA issue, but it is one over which we all have control and responsibility.
HYSA is a nonprofit, member-based organization. It belongs to all of us. We all have a responsibility to engage with each other and HYSA in a way that creates the type of positive environment we all want for our kids. This does not mean criticism is not appropriate. In fact, the opposite is true. Constructive feedback is welcome and often leads to improvement. In offering such criticism, we invite members to join us in trying to tackle the challenges that our club faces. We can do more together than we can separately.
To this end, we are creating a group within the club comprised of Board members and representatives from each program - Micro, HYSL, Academy, and Arsenal. This will allow us to obtain feedback from these programs, to hear directly about member experience, and to intentionally work toward improving club culture.
In addition, the Board will be adding a “member comment” time to its monthly meeting agenda so that we can hear from members with their feedback and ideas. The Board meetings are on the third Monday of the month at 5:30, and members can participate in person or virtually. Please check the website for location and time in case there are any changes.
Lastly, we have a few openings for on the HYSA Board of Directors, which we would like to fill by our annual general meeting in September. This is a great opportunity to become more involved and help us continue to move the club forward. Please watch for additional information about how to apply.
We welcome you to engage the club with your feedback - to help us celebrate accomplishments and experiences and to work together to address areas for improvement. HYSA is all of us, and we are all HYSA.
Let’s all participate in building the culture we want for our kids.
Amy
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’s CORNER
Pete Johnson - Director of Coaching
Our competitive seasons for our Premier, Select, and Academy teams kick off on April 6th, with our U10 & U9 teams starting as well or the weekend after.
HYSL starts playing games on April 7th.
Our competitive teams are practicing indoors at Helena High School, Helena Middle School, Capital High School CR Anderson Middle School, and the Gym at Salvation Army.
We are hosting two of the three state tournaments this year: The Montana Cup comes to town June 7-9, and then, just as we are catching our breath, the Montana Showcase comes to town the weekend of June 15-16. We can certainly use your help as volunteers to assist us in set up, clean up, and field marshaling. These tournaments benefit our entire club, helping to keep fees down for all programs.
We are excited about our Fan Gear Store that just wrapped up orders; all club members could order gear that shows our support for our Arsenal & Arsenal Academy teams. We will expand the store to include more options for our HYSL players, even our little Micro players. If you have ideas for an HYSL or Micro slogan or gear we should sell, please share them with me and our staff.
Summer Camps
Registration is opening soon...
MICRO Pre-school/Kindergarten Camp U4-U6 girls & boys; 9am - 11am
June 17-20 June 24-27 August 5-8
Arsenal Soccer Day Camp U7-U14 girls & boys 9am -3pm
July 8- 11
Challenger Soccer Camp All age levels, Girls & Boys, a visiting camp separate registration information will be sent shortly.
July 15 - 19 Creative Challenger Camp *NEW*
July 22 - 26 Core Challenger Camp
Our Director of Coaching and Academy Director are working hard to design higher-level camps for our club to round out our summer, more information to follow!
Tune into our next newsletter for updates from our Master Plan Committee which is working on prioritizing projects to expand our facilities and fields.
The Capital Campaign Committee will be looking for fundraisers.
If you know of sponsors our teams or club would benefit from, or you would like to be included in working to make our club the best in Montana, please reach out to me, and I will put you in touch with our talented board and committee members.
Regarding any need for Financial Assistance to help your child play, please email me Executive Director.
Play Fair, Be Respectful, Have Fun!
Phil McGovern
ARSENAL CORNER
Greg Bibeau - Academy Director
Our Arsenal program has been busy preparing for Spring 2024, with eight teams competing at the Premier level, hoping to win their division’s state cup and move on to USYS regional play.
Our Director of Coaching, Pete Johnson, has been busy preparing teams, placing players, and getting ready for the upcoming scheduling of the Premier League, then the Scheduling Room for our Select and MYSA Academy teams.
Starting in the Fall with Assessment Nights and evenings for all Arsenal-level teams, Pete is getting to know our players and coaches. Assessment nights saw outdoor nighttime lighting for the first time at Siebel Soccer Complex; it was exciting for the players and coaches.
Pete is building community with our teams, suggesting we attend tournaments together and holding a club day as he did in October last year for training, small-sided games, and fun and BBQ lunch.
Helena Youth Soccer Association will field eleven teams to play in the Montana Youth Soccer Association’s Spring Select & MYSA Academy (U12 & U11) Leagues.
Arsenal Tips: Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. This includes efforts during practice and games and being responsible for your player gear.
ACADEMY CORNER
Greg Bibeau - Academy Director
As we begin outdoor training and games for this Spring season, let me encourage all parents and coaches to remember why we do this. We want our kids to have fun and learn.
The game of soccer is meant to be enjoyed, and it doesn’t happen just because we win all our games. There are numerous reasons this game is pleasurable.
Learning, (or developing and improving), is the other reason we do this. It is my opinion that when we stop learning, we stop really living. It matters not how old or experienced you are in soccer, or in life, there will always be more to learn. So enjoy the process.
I’d like to encourage each parent to watch the TED Talk by John O’Sullivan called, “Changing the Game in Youth Sports.” (Only 14 minutes long). Consider adopting his five word phrase as the most important thing you say to your child(ren) during the upcoming season: “I LOVE WATCHING YOU PLAY.”
Greg Bibeau
Academy Director
HYSL CORNER
Caitlin Rivers - HYSL & Micro Director
Welcome all players and families another amazing HYSL and Micro soccer season!
As the season begins, I want to encourage everyone to play hard, be respectful, but most importantly have fun.
I am excited for my sixth season as program director and I looking forward to see all of you out there on the field!
Caitlin Rivers
HYSL & Micro Director
DIRECTOR OF COACHING CORNER
Pete Johnson - Director of Coaching
Welcome to the 2024 Spring soccer season!
As all of us are anxiously waiting to get on the field to see our players play, I wanted to send a quick update on what we have been busy doing since the Fall season.
Throughout the winter months we had numerous players playing for the Montana Olympic Development Program. All the players represented our Arsenal program well and were able to travel with their respective teams to represent Montana.
We also hosted two sessions of futsal at the Salvation Army Gym here in Helena. Futsal is the FIFA-recognized form of small-sided indoor football (the word is a contraction of the Spanish 'fútbol sala'). It is played between two teams who each have five players on the pitch at any one time, with rolling substitutes and a smaller ball that is harder and less bouncy. The small amount of space means players must have great technique and skill. It is also considered a development tool for 11-a-side football. During the two sessions we had over 175 players participate, 21 coaches, 10 referees, and multiple weekends of great futsal. I am looking forward to seeing the work that was put in on the indoor courts translate into success on the outdoor fields.
This winter we hosted 9v9 and 11v11 coaching courses for all our coaches. We had over 15 coaches take advantage of the course to get their license. In April we will be hosting US Soccer's D License Course here in Helena.
I am looking forward to watching all our teams play this spring and compete at so many different locations. I will be walking around the fields all spring to catch as many games as possible and meet all our great families.
Thank you for all you do for our club and the positive support.
Pete Johnson
Director of Coaching
GRASSROOTS FUNDRAISING
Nate McCarthy - Committee Chair
HYSA Grassroots Fundraising Update...
“We are a soccer community, and HYSA supports our players to achieve their soccer goals regardless of financial ability.”
In the previous newsletter HYSA Board President Amy Christensen discussed increasing costs and the impact on overall club expenses and player registration fees. To alleviate some of this situation the board recently created a Grassroots Fundraising Committee to develop and organize fundraising opportunities for our Club. This season, our fundraising efforts are focused on directly supporting our players in several key areas:
Player Development: We are committed to investing in the growth and skill enhancement of our players through a holistic approach to development.
Coaching Development: We will support our dedicated coaches with opportunities for development, enhancing their ability to guide and inspire our young athletes.
Team and Program Equipment Needs: Ensuring that each player has access to top-notch equipment is crucial for fostering a safe and optimal environment for player development.
Post-Season and Competitive Tournament Support: We will enable our teams to participate in post-season tournaments, providing invaluable competitive experiences.
This Committee is working on the following fundraising initiatives:
Academy and Arsenal individual team fundraising
We support teams in their team fundraising initiatives to offset some of their team fees for travel and tournaments.
Spring 2024 Raffle (see article below)
Business & Corporate Sponsorship opportunities with advertising and recognition:
2024 Spring and Fall seasons and related games
Tournaments
Thank you to those businesses already committed for the 2024 season.
Please contact HYSA if you would like to discuss this for your business.
We are excited by the response we have received to our new fundraising approach and appreciate your support of HYSA and our players! Sponsors are highlighted below.
Nate McCarthy
Committee Chair
HYSA Spring 2024 Raffle
HYSA is holding a club-wide raffle to raise funds to support player experience, coaches training, team equipment, post-season, and other program expenses!
Raffle tickets are $10 each.
Tickets are available for sale beginning March 18, 2024 and sales close April 25, 2024.
The raffle prize drawings will be held May 1st at 5:30pm at the Siebel Soccer Complex.
Prizes
Grand Prize
Seattle Sounders Prize Package, $2,750 value
Includes plane ticket vouchers valued at $750, hotel vouchers valued at $250, Sounders tickets valued at $250, $500 Visa Gift Card
Gold Prize
VRBO/Expedia Staycation Vacation Package, $1,500 value
Includes VRBO/Expedia 1 night local accommodations plus catered dinner and breakfast and game and movie package
Silver Prize
Lawn Care Package, $500 value
Sponsored by Dawn Til Dusk
Includes lawn care services of your choice – mowing, fertilization, spring treatments
Bronze Prize
Soccer Gear Upgrade Package, $250 value
Includes gift card to Universal Athletic
Team Ticket Sales Incentives
HYSL Recreation League Team Party
Each Recreation team per GotSport team roster) that sells more than 75% of their tickets will be entered (as a team) into a drawing for a team party at the Sleeping Giant Bowling Alley or Flying Giant Park. Party package up to $300.
HYSA Academy League Team Party
Each Academy team per GotSport team roster) that sells more than 75% of their tickets will be entered (as a team) into a drawing for a team party at the Sleeping Giant Bowling Alley or Flying Giant Park. Party package up to $300.
HYSA Arsenal League Team Party
Each Arsenal team (per GotSport team roster) that sells more than 75% of their tickets will be entered as a team into a drawing for a team party at the Sleeping Giant Bowling Alley or Flying Giant Park. Party package up to $300.
We are excited to offer fan gear through our HYSA & HYSL Arsenal Shop. Please look at shirts and hoodies, youth and adult, men's & women's apparel.
Everything from T-shirts to water bottles, blankets, Hoodies, and footwear.
Throughout the State, our Arsenal teams represent our club, Helena Youth Soccer Association; we are all part of the HYSA Arsenal community. Show your support by wearing the fan gear!
- Store Closes April 8 at midnight -
