Twinsburg AC History
A History of Twinsburg AC Soccer Association, Inc.
By Ron Stuver
July 9, 2004
Youth Soccer in Twinsburg is supported by several
organizations that provide complimentary programs for players from 5 to 18 years of
age. Most children begin playing soccer at an early age in a recreational
atmosphere, learning the basics of the game with an emphasis on participation,
good sportsmanship and having fun. Some children aspire to a more competitive
level of play and will tryout for competitive travel teams. As players progress,
some will tryout and play for Twinsburg school teams.
Twinsburg Athletic Club Soccer Association, Inc. is
affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and the Ohio Youth
Soccer Association - North (OYSAN) and exists for the purpose of promoting the
game of soccer at a competitive level commonly referred to as "Travel
Soccer." Twinsburg AC Soccer is a community-based club drawing from the talent
within the
Twinsburg AC (aka AC ) was originally established in 1997
by High School Boys Varsity Soccer Coach,
During 1997-1998, Mike recruited parent volunteers to take
over the administration and organization of the club, and to file the
appropriate paperwork to establish Twinsburg AC as an official not-for-profit
entity. With assistance from Twinsburg parents such as Ron Stuver and Linda
Sladick, the appropriate documentation was filed to officially create Twinsburg
AC Soccer Assoc., Inc. During the 1998 1999 timeframe, Ron drafted the club’s
governing documents, the constitution and by-laws, and Linda oversaw the state
filing, which established Twinsburg AC as a not-for-profit corporation.
In June 1999, the membership of Twinsburg AC Soccer met at
the first Annual General Meeting (AGM) and approved the constitution and
by-laws. The original AC Board Members who were unanimously approved were:
- President
Ron Stuver
- Vice
President Kathy Dinkeldein
- Secretary/Treasurer
Carole Ream
- Club
Manager Dale Kiaski
- Registrar
Lynn Krekus
The new board members immediately began the process of
establishing new teams for the Fall 1999 season, assignment of coaches and team
managers, design of a new club logo, establishing a fee structure, selection of
new uniforms, scheduling of an August soccer camp facilitated by the high
school soccer coaching staff, and many other logistical requirements to support
four boys travel soccer teams.
Twinsburg AC adopted the following mission statement in
1999:
The vision of Twinsburg AC Soccer
is to enhance the level of skill and ability of youth soccer players within the
Twinsburg School District and to provide a competitive level of play that will
enhance the future success of the Twinsburg School Soccer Program striving to
win while still having fun!
Twinsburg AC continued to field boys travel soccer teams
with success, and in the Fall 2000, registered the first Twinsburg travel
soccer team for girls. Twinsburg AC expanded its affiliation beyond the boys
league (OASL) and joined the girls travel soccer league (NOGSL) registering a
U12 girls team.
In addition to league affiliations with the OASL and
NOGSL, Twinsburg AC Soccer was the first Associate Member of the OYSAN (state
soccer organization). Previously, only soccer leagues with multiple teams were
permitted a direct affiliation with the OYSAN (aka Ohio-North). In 1998, OYSAN
modified the state by-laws to permit smaller clubs, such as Twinsburg AC, to
have a direct affiliation with the state soccer association. This relationship
with Ohio-North provides for liability coverage for Twinsburg AC board members,
and also access to the Ohio-North staff for administrative and organizational
assistance. Although Twinsburg AC has no
direct voting privileges with OYSAN, the Associate Membership permits Twinsburg
AC to attend the OYSAN AGM (annual general meeting). Through this OYSAN
Associate Membership affiliation, and direct membership with the OASL and
NOGSL, Twinsburg AC has had a visible and prominent role in youth soccer in the
state of
In 2000 and again in 2002, Twinsburg AC Soccer was
recognized by the OYSAN as the Sportsmanship Club of the Year (aka: Fairplay
League of the Year). This award is presented by the state soccer association (OYSAN)
to the league or club which best exemplifies fair play and sportsmanship as an
organization. There are over 90 leagues or clubs, which have affiliation with
the OYSAN and many more smaller clubs or rec leagues which affiliate through
these 90 leagues to the OYSAN. Almost 60,000 youth players are registered and
play soccer in the OYSAN, which has been one of the fastest growing state youth
soccer associations in the country.
At the 2003 state awards banquet and workshop, Twinsburg
AC was again recognized by the local travel soccer leagues and state soccer
association with the following awards:
- The
2003 Executive Director s Award of Excellence presented to Ron Stuver, President
of Twinsburg AC Soccer.
- Nomination
of Ron Stuver as the Administrator of the Year for 2003.
- Recognition
as the 2003 OASL League Sportsmanship Club of the Year.
The future of youth soccer in Twinsburg will depend upon
the continued commitment of those who have prepared the current path, and those
parent volunteers with younger children who have just begun the journey. The
rewards for those who help to guide, and plan, and organize, cannot be fully
measured. Volunteer organizers and administrators are typically the unseen who
are absolutely necessary to the continued success and ultimate existence of an
organization. Experienced volunteers recognize that they are making a
contribution to the community, and that the reward is found within the heart.
The immeasurable reward for a volunteer is reached during the moments when
children - who are not your own - are laughing and enjoying the benefits of the
timeless efforts of those same volunteers.
"Adults
in a youth game have one purpose and everything else comes from that - to
create a positive environment for children to play soccer." - Kay Catlett,
Executive Director OYSAN
