By Michael Russ

Grant Committee Chairman & Buffalo District Commissioner

 

Many of our member clubs have expressed a concern that one of the difficulties in transitioning to a small-sided game format for younger players is the cost of purchasing the smaller goals that are needed to make these programs work.

 

In order to address these concerns, the New York State West Youth Soccer Association, in conjunction with our partners at SCORE American Soccer Company, takes pleasure in announcing the Small-Sided Goal Grant Program. This program will make available an $800 grant for a total of up to 40 sets of Score World Cup professional style 6x18-foot or 7x21-foot goals to our member clubs.

 

New York State West has made special arrangements with Score to help offset the shipping costs. Goals will be shipped to four central locations — one each in Binghamton, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse — and member clubs will be responsible for transportation from those central locations. Each club is limited to one set of goals, and if demand exceeds the allotted 40 sets of goals, clubs will be drawn at random to receive the goals. Clubs that are either not drawn to receive a set of goals, or wish to order more than one set of goals, may still be eligible for reduced shipping costs by taking advantage of the bulk discount NYSW will be able to obtain by shipping goals to a central location.

 

If this proposal is approved, the application to order one of these sets of goals will be made available on the New York State West website — nyswysa.org — by Dec. 1, 2007. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the NYW State Office by email to office@nyswysa.org or by calling (607) 962-9923.

 

The deadline to be included in the Small-Sided Goal Grant Program is Jan. 1, 2008.

 

If needed, a random drawing to determine the grant award winners will be held in January 2008 at a location and date to be determined. Clubs will not have to be at the drawing to participate. Goals will be delivered to one of the four locations by Apr. 1. More details will follow if the membership votes to approve this Small-Sided Goal Program Proposal at the AGM on Nov. 17 at the RIT Inn & Conference Center.