December 30, 2007
Dear Members:
I am writing to introduce myself as your new Club Director. I consider it a privilege (and a challenge!) to serve in such a position. There has been such good work done over these past seven years and I look forward to working towards furthering that good work. I also know that it has been an especially hard time for the club these past 18 months in a lot of respects—for players, for parents, for coaches, for administrators, for board members—however, with the New Year now upon us, I ask that we focus on looking forward. Certainly, we want to learn from past mistakes but at this point I do firmly believe that this club will only thrive again by looking forward.
Quickly about me: Because of the coaches I played for had a tremendous impact on my life and because I loved the game so much, I decided to pursue coaching as a career. Eventually, that brought me to the Inland Empire. I have coached collegiately for the past 15 years, coaching the men and women at Whitworth University for the past 11 plus years. I grew up on the west side of the state (though sorry to admit it sometimes!) playing soccer from a very early age all the way through college. I have worked for almost a decade at the state and regional Olympic Development level coaching some of the best youth players in the Western Region, many of which now play with our youth national teams and senior national teams! I also coached the Senior Shadow team for three years when some of the best talent in our area showcased their abilities...with a couple continuing to do so at the MLS level. I continue to seek ways in which to improve as a coach and to take on new challenges that this great sport can bring…so why not direct a club? ☺ I have children of my own and my oldest was one of the original Shadow members, playing in the club’s second year of existence, and my youngest is currently on the youngest Shadow team.
Being a parent in the club provided me with valuable insights into what it is like to be a Shadow Parent…and the rewards and frustrations of fulfilling that role. I have been a player; I am a coach and am a parent, all of these roles allow me to better empathize with the challenges of each as I attempt to serve you as your Director. There is no doubt that the player is the club’s first concern, and we must strive to fulfill their needs foremost. However, we are a club and a major part of our membership is the parents. I very much respect what you must go through to have your child play competitive soccer. While it does take sacrifice and commitment, I do want it to be worthwhile for you to do so and I want our coaches to be aware of just what you have to do to make this happen for your child.
I do understand that with over 200 players in our club and with an average of 2 or more parents/guardians per player that there is just no way I, nor the club, can please everyone all the time; nor do I think you will always agree with every decision we make. However, I do at least want to start, and then continually reiterate, that we as a club respect what each member has to go through to not only be a part of our club but to make us thrive. I also want to believe that being a part of our club comes with tremendous privileges and benefits and I want it to be a place where people want to be. Our mission will be to provide the best competitive soccer outlet in the greater Spokane region. This will be the place where the best players want to be because we will work to make it so.
As such, one of my main objectives is to focus our club back onto our community. I want us to be a positive soccer light in the Inland Empire. I want the overwhelming majority feeling to be that the Spokane Shadow serves its greater soccer community with humility, respect and gratitude. We will not apologize for striving to be the best in our area but we will do so in a manner that acknowledges the good work put in by other clubs, coaches and players. I wholeheartedly believe that if we do that, then we will soon be a consistent force within our state. Certainly, we have had success in the past with a flagship team winning consecutive state titles and others having good success in our state’s league and state cup. There is also no doubt that we have had some attrition and though it may take a bit of time to heal or fix wrongs or misperceptions from our recent past, we will do so IF we do so as a club (Directors, Board Members, Administrators, Coaches, Parents and Players).
Soccer is such a great sport. The United States Youth Soccer Association’s slogan is “A game for kids”; unfortunately, I sometimes must modify it a bit: “A game for kids, ruined by adults.” We want each child to experience the joys of playing…and the trials and tribulations of pushing yourself to be better. Without the latter, we cannot grow…but it should not be all misery! We want each child to feel the spirit of this great game, to know that they can get through tough times and be better for it, and to know that they are a part of a community and world that is bigger than themselves. And no, I do not live in the land of Utopia. ☺ I know we will fail some people but I do hope that will be very few and far between.
I do not want to make my first communication to you too long but I did want to say hello and convey a brief vision. Any organization needs someone to lead it. Any quality leader needs help in doing so if he/she is to succeed. I cannot always take every piece of advice and implement it, nor do I think everyone will agree with the direction that we head or decisions that are made; however, please know that I will work to make this the best possible place for your child to experience competitive soccer and the challenges that it provides. To be up front, that is going to take trust on your part in your leadership, which I recognize mostly falls on me. That trust I will not take for granted but I will need it.
May the New Year bring blessings to you and your family,
Sean BushéyClub Director
Spokane Shadow
