January 16, 2008



To all Club members,

Happy New Year!  Along with the daunting task of remembering to write 2008 instead of 2007, we arrive at a point where the ship is sailing a proper course to successfully complete one season and start the next.

We are also fast approaching a time where tryouts for next season will be overlapping with State Cup participants starting their pool play and the older age girls teams participating in their league play.  Translation…a lot of activity for the membership and staff when one would rather stay inside with a hot beverage in hand while watching a televised soccer match (or movie depending upon your preference)…or not.  After all, what could be better than gearing up and taking your hot beverage to enjoy the world’s game outside when others would consider us absolutely crazy for doing so?  Absolutely nothing!  So get out to the fields and support these daring players representing Shadow in the best possible manner!

2007 was a long but still very satisfying year for the Club.  Extended PDL play into late November taxed the resolve of younger teams, the staff and their parents.  On the other hand, the high school girls had little to do with club soccer at all this past fall and ‘waited’ until now to train for WSYSA league play.  Still, player development and successes, big and small, were present throughout the Club, some of which were even noted in our local paper.

The changes that have occurred during last year are the best thing for our players in the big picture.  Shifting schedules and other competition-related changes were fairly (?) easy to absorb and will soon be an afterthought.  The big change, the hiring of Sean Bushey as Club Director, will also be easy to absorb but will produce positive results that will long be remembered.

Shadow teams and players have experienced things this year that they will always remember, both consciously and unconsciously.  Their continued development as players, teammates, and young adults has been a product of their experiences.  The support of their coaches and parents were instrumental in providing an atmosphere in which they could harness such enrichment.
The Board simply wants to thank the entire membership for your patience and understanding during the last year.  Our governing soccer entities are pleased with our organization’s progress and we are continually taking the steps necessary to improve our relationships with them.  Bottom line, the Club is in good standing because of the membership…all of us.

Looking forward, this year will present a variety of opportunities for members to get more involved as volunteers to make Shadow an efficient and effective organization that we can be proud of.  Your expanded involvement with the Club is greatly anticipated and also appreciated in advance (hopefully that ‘hint’ was not too strong).

My wish for Shadow in 2008…we become a beacon for both the soccer and general community by being a model of sportsmanship, player development, volunteer involvement within the Club, and interaction with the community in a positive and creative way.  What the heck…it is a wish so I thought I would shoot for the moon.  Though lofty, it is definitely obtainable given the strengths of our membership and staff.

Remember to forego the warm inside activity and support all of our teams this winter including the older ones that have been continually blazing an incredible path to increased regional recognition for the Club.  Upcoming matches will soon be posted on…drum roll please…our new website to be online soon.  The problem is…now you cannot use the convenient excuse of not knowing when and where these matches are scheduled.  SEE YOU OUT THERE!

GO SHADOW!

Mike Keenan
Board President
Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club