USPSA E-newsletter for September 2010

President's Letter

Dear Teams,

The new season is upon us and there is a new order of competition and a renewed priority to register. This year there will no longer be divisions but rather all USPSA teams will be divided into conferences. The objective is to develop a means to maintain the integrity of competition while adjusting for future growth of the sport. While every effort has been made to anticipate a variety of situations and questions, as with anything that is new, we will work to deal with any unintended consequences and unforeseen issues as quickly and equitably as possible.

There will be a 12 game requirement to qualify for your Conference Cup Championship Tournament at the end of the season. This is why it is important to get registered and playing games as early as possible to meet the new required number of games.

This year for the first time, you will be able to make a choice to compete or not. You may opt out of competition at the time of registration. You can still play games, however you will not be involved in a Conference Cup Championship at the end of the season.

There is also a 2 game requirement within your conference. So of the twelve games, at least two must be against another team in your conference or higher.

Team Conference alignment will be announced once registration has been completed but there is no reason to wait to start playing games. However, only games played between two USPSA teams in good standing will count towards your required games. This is why it is important to register early.

Existing teams have been tentatively placed in a conference based on their results from last season. Should an existing team "opt out" of conference play, they will be moved from that conference and placed in either the Non Conference Division or Affiliate Team. Should that existing team the following year decide to compete in conference competition, they will be placed in the lowest competitive conference.

Non-Conference Division is competition outside of Conference Cup competition.

• There is no required number of games.
• The teams will not have a Cup Championship.
• Games between Conference and Non-Conference teams will count towards the Conference team 12-game requirements.

Affiliate Team Membership is a recreational level of play.

• Teams do not plan to travel.
• Typically scrimmage amongst themselves.
• No minimum number of games.
• Will have access to 501c3 for fund raising.
• Will have access to USPSA team insurance.
• Want to support the sport and organization but do not want to compete.
• Games will not count towards Conference Cup required games.
• Reduced membership fee.
• No voting rights.

The complete Standard Operating Procedures will be posted on the website for your review.

Membership has had the opportunity to participate in the development of this new system and this is the result of that participation. Thank you to all of you for being involved in the sport and advancing it to a new level. I look forward to another great season.

Best wishes and good luck to all of you this year.

Best regards,

Dominic Russo
President
United States Power Soccer Association

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CHECK OUT THE ALL NEW USPSA WEBSITE!

After months of hard work and collaboration, The Official USPSA website has received a major facelift! In addition to a brand new layout, everything has been reorganized for a more user-friendly experience. So take a moment to visit the site and see what's new! If you have news articles or photos of events that you'd like to share, send them to itcommittee [at] powersoccerusa [dot] net and we'll find a place for them! A big thank you goes out to Jenny Mitchell, Case Calvert, and Gabe Trujillo for putting in so much time and effort to make our website look great!

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook!
www.facebook.com/powersoccerusa

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REGISTRATION and NEW SECRETARY CONTACT INFO!

Welcome to a new season of POWER SOCCER! President Dominic Russo has already told you about the changes in competition for the upcoming year, and we hope you are as excited as we are to get back on the court. But before you play any games, remember - you and your team need to register!! Registration is done online at: www.powersoccerusa.net/registration

Registration Forms

1. Team Registration
   At the time of registration, you must specify what kind of team you will be - a Conference team, or a Non-Conference team. Returning teams that register after October 31st will incur a $100 late fee. Any team that registers after January 1st will not be able to participate in a Conference Cup Championship.
    
2. Athlete Registration
   All athletes must submit the Registration, Code of Conduct, and Waiver/Liability Release forms online. New athletes also need to submit a physical copy of the Waiver/Liability Release.
    
3. Staff Registration
   All head coaches, assistant coaches, and other team staff members must submit the Registration, Code of Conduct and Waiver/Liability Release forms online. New staff members also need to submit a physical copy of the Waiver/Liability Release.

Waiver/Liability Release

New athletes and staff members must physically sign a copy of the Waiver/Liability Release form before they can participate. The Waiver is a PDF download and must be mailed or faxed to the USPSA Secretary below. IMPORTANT: Teams, please collect any necessary waivers from your members and send them in ONE packet to the Secretary at the new address below.

Registration Fees

Fees for the 2010-2011 season are $250 for Conference and Non-Conference teams. Checks for registration fees should be made out to "USPSA" and mailed to: USPSA Treasurer, P.O. Box 2322, Cupertino, CA 95015. Payment must be postmarked by October 31st. Returning Conference and Non-Conference teams whose checks are postmarked after this date will incur a $100 late fee. New teams may join USPSA throughout the season without financial penalty.

Insurance

Your team's registration is not complete unless we also have your Proof of Insurance. If your team purchases insurance through USPSA, we already have your information and we will contact you before your coverage expires. If your team purchases insurance independently, you MUST submit a certificate to prove your coverage to USPSA! Ask your insurance company for a certificate and send it to the Secretary at the new address below. (Mail, fax, or email is fine.)

Download the Team Insurance Enrollment Form at: www.powersoccerusa.net/downloads.

Team Representatives
When your team registers, you must submit the name and email address of your USPSA Team Representative. A Team Representative can be a player, coach, manager, or parent/guardian. The Team Representative is an intermediary between your team and the USPSA Executive Board. They are responsible for passing along any questions from their team to USPSA, filling out important surveys, voting at the Annual General Meeting, and keeping their team updated on everything they receive from USPSA. Time-sensitive notices are often sent out to Team Representatives, so please be sure your chosen Team Representative is aware of these responsibilities and can handle them. (An adult is preferred.)

Visit www.powersoccerusa.net/registration for more information about registration and to access all of the forms online.

Remember, to be COMPLETELY registered and eligible to play in USPSA sanctioned matches, you must submit:

1. Team registration form
2. Four (4) or more athlete registration forms
3. One (1) or more staff registration form
4. Registration Fee
5. Proof of Insurance

Please do not hesitate to email me at secretary [at] powersoccerusa [dot] net if you have any registration questions.

Referee Registration

Referees also need to register with USPSA. All referees must submit the Registration, Code of Conduct, and Waiver/Liability Release forms online. New referees also need to submit a physical copy of the Waiver/Liability Release.

Referees must also purchase liability insurance through the USPSA. Other insurance carriers, including USSF, do not cover accidents in power soccer. Insurance is $25.00 per year. Download the Referee Insurance Enrollment Form online at: www.powersoccerusa.net/downloads.

Update Your Address Books

Please note that the Secretarial P.O. Box and Fax number HAVE CHANGED. When you need to mail or fax anything in to the USPSA Secretary's office, use the new address and number. All of the forms have been updated on the USPSA website at www.powersoccerusa.net/downloads to include the new contact information, so be sure to re-download forms such as score sheets!

USPSA Secretary
Jenny Mitchell
P.O. Box 15668
Fremont, CA 94539
PH: 510-673-8326
FAX: 510-657-1750
EMAIL: secretary [at] powersoccerusa [dot] net

I am very excited to be involved with the USPSA Executive Board this year in the role of Secretary. I aim to improve communications around the league, so if there is anything you need, feel free to contact me at any time!

Jenny Mitchell

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COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS FOR THE 2010- 2011 SEASON

Barbara Peacock	Athletes Advisory Committee
Mark Pratt	Legislative and Bylaws Committee
Joe Carrow	Equipment Specification Committee
Jonathan Newman	Tournament Selection Committee
Tracy Meyer	Officials Committee
Karen Russo	Marketing Committee
Don Faria	Rules Committee
Jenny Mitchell	IT Committee

 

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TEAM USA

Team USA once again came together to prepare for the 2011 games. The training camp was held in Greenwood, Indiana in mid-August. The 3-day long, 12-hour day training camp was hosted by Community Life Center and organized by the Hayes Family. Thank you to the Turnstone Flyers who attended the camp on Friday and scrimmaged Team USA all afternoon. The event once again brought out the best in all, and the spirits are high as they prepare to defend their title of World Champions. For more information check out the Team USA website at:

www.powersoccerteamusa.org

Thank you for your continued support!

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GREAT TURNOUT AT MIDWEST CLINICS

Powerchair users in the Akron and Cincinnati, Ohio areas were introduced to power soccer in early August. Attendance was great for both clinics and the hosts of both organizations are anxious to get a program started in their area! Thanks to JC Russo, Michael Archer and Leah Lukovic for volunteering to share their passion for soccer!

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USPSA on YouTube

In a concerted effort to bring relevant video to people searching out information on the internet about power soccer and the USPSA, we are introducing a You-Tube page specific to the USPSA.

If you have power soccer videos (games, clinics, etc.) that you have taken at a recent USPSA event, or you are interested in video taping upcoming events and helping with this project, please contact Tony Jackson at: azpowersoccer [at] gmail [dot] com