The 2004 Summer soccer season is only 6 weeks
away. Preparation for the season began in October 2003. The
awards day ceremonies in October are the official season end.
Shortly after the chairs were put away and the floor was mopped
the Winter soccer programme kicked into action and the Board
of Directors looked ahead to the challenges of a new season.
Winter soccer involved about 200 players in
gyms throughout Carleton Place. Once a week from November to
the March Break a volunteer coach and the team gathered to work
on foot skills and strategy and to have fun. Fun is the real
name of the game but there is a reward of enhanced fitness and
skill.
The Soccer Club Board meets at least 12 times
a year. The topics range from new registration procedures to
ordering equipment to field maintenance and development. As
the Club has grown to over 1000 players the business of running
the Club has grown more complex. The responsibilities of the
all volunteer Board and the support personnel, such as statistician
and field scheduler, has for many become a permanent part-time
job. To assist the Board, a support position of volunteer co-ordinator
was created to involve others who wish to share the tasks involved
with running the Club.
Every year the logistical challenge to distribute
over 500 inflated soccer balls, 800 pairs of black socks, a
mountain of pylons, and over a thousand team jerseys keeps the
field manager busy. Inventory is kept and worn out equipment
is replaced and prepared for the coaches and managers.
Over the last few years the Club added several
new fields at Beckwith Park and improved the field at Beckwith
School. All of this takes the fees of members and the effort
of Board members to lobby the municipalities to be sure that
fields will be ready as the Club grows. Recently, the Club has
been involved with others in the creation of another full field
at Notre Dame Catholic High School in Carleton Place. Hopefully
the field will be ready in 2005 when growing registration is
expected to require an additional field.
The Carleton Place Soccer Club will present a
weekly article looking at the various aspects of the Club from
individual players to teams and tournament. Next week’s article
will focus on the challenges of coaching and refereeing.
