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The West
Michigan Soccer Officials Association (WMSOA) is an organization Of
Metro Grand Rapids and Lakeshore Area Soccer Officials and is one of
two official Michigan chapters of the National Intercollegiate
Soccer Officials Association (NISOA). WMSOA
members include USSF, NISOA (College) and MHSAA (High School)
officials.
Purpose:
To promote soccer; to maintain a high standard of refereeing; to
encourage fair play and sportsmanship; to make available an adequate
number of well trained and capable referees; to cooperate with other
organizations in promoting soccer.
Joining
WMSOA
WMSOA
membership is open to all interested soccer officials. Annual
dues are $30. An associate membership is available for young
officials for $5 per year. All members receive the association
newsletter, while full members are eligible to receive USSF, College
and High School game assignments, if they are certified by the
appropriate organizations. If you are interested in joining
please contact the
WMSOA
Treasurer about details. More more information on WMSOA
click on contacts.
Affiliations:
WMSOA is
an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) as the
local chapter of the
Michigan Soccer Referees Association (MSRA). WMSOA is also the
local (West Michigan) chapter of the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials
Association (NISOA) and is a local organization (pending) of the
Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA).
What it means to you:
WMSOA provides instruction, written and physical testing
opportunities for its members to gain and maintain certifications
with USSF, USSF, and MHSAA. The organization provides adult amateur
USSF, high school and college game assignments for referees and
twice a year "Cracker Barrel" meetings for member input and
socializing.
WMSOA Annual General Meeting Highlights
(Updated 12-6-2005)
Our AGM was held this past Saturday at Grandville
High School. Thanks to Tom Walters and Bob Powers for securing the
room.
Elections - The Board of Directors remains
unchanged: Steve Evans was re-elected as Vice President, Jack
Wolf as Secretary, and Tom Walters, John Crumb and Frank
Warren as members at large.
USSF Report - Gerry Ouelette reported that
Michigan had 5073 registered USSF referees in 2005. Of these only 236 are
Grade 7 or higher: (163 Grade 7, 47 Grade 6, 21 Grade 5, 4 Grade 4 and 1
Grade 3). Everyone who meets the requirements for USSF is encouraged to
upgrade (click on USSF Information to get upgrade information).
Upgrade applications for 2006 need to be received by the Michigan Referee
Committee by March 15. As always, new officials are needed (approximately
31% were lost last year). USSF Reregistartion will be done electronically
starting in 2006.
There will be a Pro Referee Clinic in Michigan for
the first time ever this coming March. It will be held on March 4 in Ann
Arbor. It is mandatory for all officials working PDL, W-League and NPSL
games. This includes the West Michigan Fire (W-League), West Michigan Edge
(PDL), Grand Rapids Alliance (NPSL) and Kalamazoo Kingdom (PDL). More
information will be posted as we receive it. There will also be a USSF
advanced training workshop in Novi later in March.
John Corbett reported we now have 4 USSF assessors
in the Grand Rapids area, and that he is starting a USSF Mentoring program this
Spring. 18 mentors have signed up.
Secretary's Report - Jack Wolf reported
WMSOA has 124 full members and an additional 16 who only belong to NISOA.
Treasurer's Report - Jim Heyboer reported
we will end 2005 with a net gain of approximately $700, our third straight
surplus. Our current Cash Balance is approximately $4,300.
Assignor's Report - Keith Miller
reported our three assignors are handling 13 Men's College teams, 12 Women's, 57
High School Boys Teams and 55 High School Girls Teams. We will switch to
using online assignment (using "The Arbiter" program) in 2006.
The major complaints from schools are lack of
fitness (e.g. out of position, inactive) and lack of professionalism (e.g.
arriving late; improper dress; lack of communication during games).
The OK Red will continue to use the three man
system in the Spring of 2006, after they will decide whether to continue doing
this, or expand it to other divisions.
In the Fall of 2006 the High School Pay Scale will
change to $50 (Varsity) and $36 (JV). In addition WMSOA will ask the
schools to pay our assignor fees (saving everyone $2.50 per game assignment if
the proposal is accepted).
In addition the MIAA has been presented with a
proposed new pay scale for 2006: $140 for the Referee, $100 for the ARs
and $65 for the fourth official. This will be decided in January.
The other local colleges in the WHAC and GLIAC will then be asked to follow
suit.
This will make it very easy for us to purchase the
new NISOA Black shirts, which will be necessary for Collegiate Officials in
2006. We will place a group order for all NISOA items in May.
Official Sports will give us a 20% discount.
Training and Assessment - Andy Devries will
be working as our High School Assessor starting in 2006. Greg Pilbeam and
Frank Warren reported that we had excellent attendance (over 100 officials!) at
the Fall High School Training. They will schedule two Spring classes: one
in Metro Grand Rapids and the other along the Lakeshore. All High School
members are reminded that they will need to submit a meeting attendance log at
the end of the Spring season so that they can be a Member in Good Standing for
High School purposes. Mike Wint reported we need at least two additional
High School trainers, as he is our only one.
Ethics - Steve Evans reported that we had
only one major problem last year, which involved one of our members officiating
High School games without having recertified. He has been sanctioned by
the MHSAA.
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