Dear Centre Soccer Parents,

With Spring 2014 registration open, and the season fast approaching, we would like to take this opportunity to discuss some important achievements and future plans for Centre Soccer Association (CSA).

Important Achievements

Soccer can be enjoyed at all ages; yet most players quit soccer by age 8 and, on average,  leave all sports by age 12.  Centre Soccer’s vision is to teach players the skills of the game so they participate longer.  Youth players of all abilities are welcome and will benefit from our curriculum. At the same time, Centre Soccer is determined to become a soccer program that allows players to compete at the highest level in the state: to offer top-flight instruction, support and competition so the top players in our area can excel at home rather than driving halfway across the state several times a week.

 Since Spring 2012, Centre Soccer has adopted a vision of age-appropriate player development created by our Technical Director, Lisa Cole. Lisa is one of the best soccer educators in the game, and we have been making changes to our programs at her direction since the Spring of 2012 to reflect best practices.  
 

For the last two years, Centre Soccer has been incrementally implementing a now-familiar developmental vision.  This spring will mark the first time every age group from U5 to U19 is  reflecting this vision.   This is a remarkable achievement and has taken a great deal of effort and resources.

Future Plans

To maintain this vision, we are continuing to build our coaching staff through a combination of professionals,  licensed volunteers and parent coaches, all under Lisa Cole’s direction. Player development at all youth levels requires a priority on great coaching, and we will continue to promote coaching education and development, and retain the best coaches possible.  In addition, we are raising the level of soccer opportunities for players in the area through our ties with Penn State, PA West, and neighboring clubs in our Mountain District. 
 

To achieve our vision, we must first address our fees. Centre Soccer has operated at break-even or a loss since 2010.  Soccer may look simple, play and administer, but just like the game itself, there are many small details that are very important and increasingly complicated. 

Most people see a ball, players and a field; however, behind the scenes, we must manage registrations, insurance, coaches & coaching education, referees & referee education, uniforms, soccer goals, cones, pinnies, mowing, porta-johns, background checks and somehow schedule and coordinate it all.  Soccer is a year-round sport now, and the costs, while incrementally small, eventually add-up.

We have structured the fees logically so there is a predictable progression as players grow in the sport and require more resources from the organization. Some increased fees will be in effect with spring registration.   Our goal in setting them is to be  responsible stewards of the game. Centre Soccer is a non-profit, 501(c3) with an all-volunteer board. Our organizational structure will continue to be a hybrid between soccer professionals and volunteers. For a community as small as State College, participation from both professionals and volunteers is equally critical to fulfill our vision. 

 We recognize that higher fees may become a barrier for some players, but we will not allow costs to be a limiting factor for players who are not able to afford it.   We believe that our fees are still very competitive with programs of similar size and capabilities across the state and the nation.

 By sticking to our vision, for the good of the game, we will make the Centre Region both a source and a destination for the highest quality soccer in Pennsylvania.

Thank you for all that you do,

Centre Soccer Association

Matt Vidic- President

Tom Wilson- Vice President

Doug Loviscky- Treasurer

Carol Zeiss- Secretary

Lisa Cole (USSF “A”, NSCAA Premier Diploma) - Technical Director

Danielle McHenry- Administrator

Centre Soccer Board of Directors