Administrator Of The Year Awards

Happy Soccer Administrator’s Day!  Cue the fireworks and streamers.  Before we announce the winner(s) of our Administrator Of The Year awards (below), The Administrator would like to offer a few words from Blue Sombrero Cofounder Pete Santora.

“I was a force to be reckoned with.  There was no player that I couldn’t take down and no team that I couldn’t single handedly dribble through.  A goalkeeper looked more like a cone than a threat.  In a game heralded for its team play, I was a one man wrecking crew.  I was their atlas and I was just turning 5 years old. 

A lot changes from your fifth birthday.  I have been playing soccer for almost 30 years … Division I, A-League, Europe, old guy’s league.  From the players point of view the world revolves around us.  Everything that happens outside of practice and games is unimportant in the grand scheme of things because everyone is there to allow you to just think about the game and succeed.  Things change slightly for the coach, but the principle still applies.  “Give me the things that I need to succeed.  I have a team to organize and motivate.  WE have a big game coming up.”  Players and coaches don’t know anything about administration.

What makes May 9^th such an important day in the world of soccer is that without our club Administrators, we wouldn’t have soccer…period.  Coaches don’t fully grasp what Administrators go through.  They don’t understand the volume of paperwork, the volume of emails, the volume of phone calls, and the volume of organization that is needed to give the impression of a finely tuned machine. 

One day is such a small amount of time to say thank you to an unheralded group of people that give so much for other people to succeed. 

If someone hasn’t told you…YOU…Sandy Jenkins, Meg Munson, Ric Marion, Jane Olinger, Joe Zizik, David DeHoog and the thousand of Administrators around the country, you help build our kids futures. 

THANK YOU and Happy Administrator’s Day!”

Now To The Awards:
We had hundreds of essay entries for our Soccer Administrator’s Day contest.  We spent hours reading, rereading, and arguing over who deserves to be named Administrator Of The Year.  In the end we jut gave up and threw darts at our “Top Ten” list (just kidding).  In order to properly reward our top finalists we have decided to give prizes to our Winner (obviously) as well as our Co-runners Up and our Newcomer Of The Year.  Are you ready to meet the winners?

Newcomer Of The Year: 

• David C. DeHoog
• Lafreniere Soccer Club
• Nominated by Julio Paiz

Excerpt From David’s Entry Essay: 
David’s organizational skills have been invaluable to our club. He has saved the club thousands of dollars by reviewing contracts and implementing a better system of fiscal management. He has made sure the club maintains the proper documentation for all legal and financial matters. He has written several new club policies. David spends many "12 hour days" in the office working and then still continues to do so at home. He can also be found out at the fields on the weekends. Through his managerial and organizational skills, the unselfish volunteering of his time to cover areas that were not his responsibility, and self imposed high standards, David has given us an invaluable and much needed improvement to the administration of our club.

Co-runner Up:

• Jane Olinger
• Brentwood Soccer Club
• Nominated by Vicki Sanford and again by Bret Dye

Excerpt From Jane’s Entry Essay:
Under Jane's leadership Brentwood SC has tripled in size. She has served as Girls V.P., Registrar, President, and is now Ex Director. Always with her eye on the future Jane pushed to develop a great website, was the first local club to use online registration, and became involved with US Club Soccer. Jane was instrumental in the club's strategic plan, which included a new mission statement, core values, goal setting, and plans for the future. There is no soccer administrator who can hold a candle to Jane Olinger.

Co-runner Up:

• Vinnie Herczeg
• Parkland Area Soccer Club
• Nominated by Kris Campbell

Excerpt From Vinnie’s Entry Essay:
His vast knowledge of computer software and how it works has really moved our club into the current generation with all registrations being done online and using the various tools available to us for creating teams, reports, rosters, and information. Vinnie has spent countless hours working with Blue Sombrero to streamline different aspects of our website and system tools not only to help Parkland Area Soccer Club but for all groups that Blue Sombrero works with and support. Vinnie is a kind, warm, helpful, energetic soul and I could think of no one else who deserves to be recognized as "Administrator of the Year" more than he.

Administrator Of They Year: 

• Jim Kelly
• Franklin Township Soccer Club
• Nominated by Scott Ludwigsen

Excerpt From Jim Kelly’s Entry Essay:
Jim is an amazing soccer administrator and without him our Executive Board would need about five more people and that is why I nominate Jim as the Administrator of the Year! (Ironically, as I was proofing this nomination he just called me FROM LONDON to address an email I had sent him about an urgent matter for tomorrow - talk about dedication!)

Click Here to read more essays from across the country 

Congratulations to all our winners!  You are shining examples of how hard work and dedication can enhance the lives of our young athletes.  We encourage all our contestants to fully embrace Soccer Administrator’s Day… You deserve it!  Take a break, from the daily grind to reflect of the fruits of your labor.  Our sombreros are off in honor of your unending dedication to the development of youth soccer. 

~The Administrator and Team Blue Sombrero

Comments

[Thomas]

kudos to all the administrators out there in the world of youth sports! Don't we all wish we could simply play the game, but there is so much that goes on behind the scenes to enable the playing of the game. Happy Soccer Administrators Day!

[Vincent D'Antonio]

Congratulations to all, and happy adinistrator's day to all that volunteer their time and efforts to for the kids.