MIYSC BOARD 2005

President’s Message January 2005

The Mercer Island Youth Soccer Club is pleased to welcome a new year for our children.  This autumn we will have around 1500 players participating on over 80 recreational and select teams!  We will also run a winter scrimmage and summer skills program.  And, as always, our “Sundays with Samir” practices run all year long.  As you can imagine, this amount of activity requires a great deal of organization and volunteer effort.  Our board of directors for the coming year is highly enthusiastic and motivated to make this a fantastic year.

This spring we will hold our annual walk-in registration to augment our mail in and online programs.  This is a good chance to see uniforms, meet your board of directors, and have any questions answered.   It is also a time to let us know what you like about our club and what could be improved.  Look for announcements about the specific date.

Our summer skills program continues to be very popular and a great success.  Over 150 kids age 8-12 work on the same techniques that the pros use in their games.  The program runs four or five day sessions a week for 6-8 weeks and for a flat fee the kids can come to as many days as they wish with their appropriate skill group.

The autumn season kicks off with our Pre-Season Jamboree for U8 through U12 teams.  This is a great opportunity to meet to new players on the team and break in the new cleats.  More information about this event and the rest of our club is on this Web site..  The regular season runs from early September to mid November with the option of several tournaments. 

Our club professional is Samir Bjelanoric.  He and his colleagues have many years of professional playing and coaching experience and are extremely enthusiastic and passionate about the game of soccer.  Together they run a fantastic program.  We also utilize many volunteers, from referees, to coaches and board members.  If you would like to help out please let us know.  We are always looking for more of us to help the kids enjoy and appreciate soccer and everyone has a skill that would help.

 I would like to express my deep appreciation for all the kids who make our club great.  Also, to the parents, volunteers and staff who make this all possible.  Soccer is a fantastic sport.  It is healthy and fun.  It teaches teamwork, decision making and sportsmanship.  If we can pass on these skills to our children we have all succeeded.

Dr. Chris S. Lewis, President

Board of Directors January 2005

Board Member "Bios" & Contact Information

John Addison: Development Coordinator addisonjh@comcast.net  232-4533

John was introduced to soccer by his daughter and MI Soccer Club. He is a "C" license coach with 12 years experience at recreational and select level. He helped organize Mercer Island United Soccer Club for adults so that he could play with boys his own age. In his spare time he is a physician. 

Phill Baber: Treasurer pbabercpa@gwest.net

Tracy Conway: Special Events Newsletter

Tracy was responsible for pulling together the August Jamboree a few seasons ago, and has done it so well that she's now in charge of special events. She also has fun and does a great job coaching.

Julie Crow: Fields Coordinator cnjcrow@comcast.net

Whit Hall: VP for U8, U9 and U10 wshall@hotmail.com

Whit started playing soccer in a program similar to that of MIYSC but was deprived when he moved to a community with no soccer. He is married with two children who will are now following him out onto the soccer field.

Dan Kent: Referee Coordinator dan.kent@comcast.net

Dan and wife Peggy have two kids who grew up playing on Island mod and rec. teams. He has returned to youth soccer as the referee coordinator for the past five years. In his spare time, he tries to play with the old men's team, too.

Chris Lewis: President lewis2525@comcast.net

Chris grew up on Mercer Island and played select, high school, and Washington State Men's League Soccer. He has coached all levels of youth soccer and his son Michael's team.

Monica Moline: Executive Director - Registrar  merceris@eysa.org 232-1027

Kevin Piper, VP for Select Soccer   kvpiper@alkibakery.com

Kevin grew up playing soccer and has coached youth teams for the last 8 years.  A former youth, high school and collegiate player, He and his wife Suzette have two children currently playing on teams in the MIYSC.

May Reed, Secretary, toxothurston@earthlink.net 232-3882

May has never played soccer, but thanks to MIYSC all 3 of her children are huge fans of the game with at least one playing year round for EFC. Her husband, Rich Johnson, has been an asst coach in rec for 3 years. When May is not driving her kids around, she is a UW physician scientist in gerontology/geriatrics at Harborview Medical Center.

Jeff Robinson: Equipment Coordinator jdrobnsn@hotmail.com

Jeff has been coaching soccer at the recreation level for several years, and plays the occasional scrimmage when he can.

Gary Schoenbaum: Webmaster mercerweb@eysa.org

Gary moved to Mercer Island from Connecticut where he was involved with youth soccer for 17 years, coaching boys and girls select and recreational teams and serving as VP of Development. He and his wife Kathy have three children, two boys graduated college and a daughter currently in college, all three soccer players.

Positions Available

Referees

Adults and youth over the age of 12 are invited to become licensed referees. Earn money, learn the game better, get exercise and help the club. Instructional classes offered in mid and late summer. This is a well-paid job for kids and fun for everyone. Contact Dan Kent: dan.kent@comcast.net

Coach Helpers

High school age soccer players are invited to be paid coaching assistants for the summer program. We expect about 2 hours a day, two to three days a week during July and August. Opportunities to help with recreational teams will be available. Contact John Addison: addisonjh@comcast.net

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