Board Members Present

• Alonso - President
• Anthony - VP
• Heidi - Secretary
• Alvin - Fields
• Aaron - Treasurer
• Alicia - Registrar
• Sandra - Scheduling
• Yolanda - Uniforms
• Art - Referees
• Jose - Boys Coaches
• Luis - Girls Coaches
• Nathaniel - Webmaster

1League Kickoff

• The league kickoff was discussed.
• On August 21, uniforms, player cards, and team rosters were distributed to those who had been contacted and whose uniforms were ready.
• Additional kickoff activities were scheduled for August 22.

2Financial Update

• An update on the league's current finances is needed.
• The Ways and Means position is currently open.
• The position will be used to help increase fundraising and financial resources for HYSA Soccer League.

3Coaching and Player Eligibility

• A coach whose suspension has ended has been cleared to return as a coach.
• A required player birth certificate has been verified.
• U4 Team: The coach has not been responding. The game will need to be rescheduled, and parents will be contacted regarding the change.

4Game-Day Operations

• Board members will be assigned to supervise games.
• HYSA will need to purchase or obtain walkie-talkies for communication during games.

5“Good of the Game” Recognition

• The board discussed recognizing players for positive behavior and sportsmanship.
• “Good of the Game” items will be given to children based on their behavior during games.

6Trophies

• The board discussed using existing/older trophies rather than purchasing new trophies when possible.

7Season Format

• HYSA will provide the 8 games that were promised for the season.
• Teams will not necessarily have a game every week.
• There will be no bracket play at the end of the season.
• This will allow flexibility for families who may be traveling or for players who are participating in other tournaments.

8Photos and Social Media

• Game and league pictures should be posted on HYSA's social media.
• Photos will be used to highlight players, teams, and league activities.

9Action Items

10Deadlines

• Upcoming league deadlines were discussed.
• Specific deadlines will need to be established and communicated to the appropriate board members, coaches, and families.

1Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 8:00 PM by Vice President Anthony.

2Board Members Present

• Alicia - Registrar
• Alvin - Fields
• Alonso - President
• Anthony - VP
• Art - Referees
• Heidi - Secretary
• Jair - Ways & Means
• Luis - Girls Coaches
• Nathaniel - Webmaster
• Sandra - Scheduling
• Yolanda - Uniforms

Other Guests

Parents, referees, and coaches

3Reports and Updates

A. Uniforms

• Mammba Designs has sold part of its business.
• The President reported that parents are requesting reimbursement for the 10 missing uniforms.
• Seven teams are still missing uniform orders. A replacement order was placed on September 4, 2026, but the uniforms have not yet been received.

B. Fields

• Field maintenance remains ongoing.
• The possibility of contacting the City Commission to request field improvements was discussed.

C. Referees

• The league currently has a good number of referees but is short on referee shirts.
• Concerns were raised regarding the experience and training of some referees, particularly their ability to apply yellow and red cards correctly and de-escalate conflicts.
• A former referee attending the meeting offered his time and knowledge to help improve communication and referee development.
• A representative from the state suggested that referee payment be withheld until referees have officiated three games and attended an in-person training session. This was presented as a suggestion for consideration, not an approved policy.
• The board also discussed potentially increasing pay for certified referees to encourage certification.
• It was noted that referee pay in Hobbs is among the lowest compared with other areas.

D. Coaching and Player Rosters

• A coach asked whether a player could be added to the roster if a team loses a player due to illness and no longer has enough players.
• Luis, Girls Coach Administrator, will look into the matter and provide clarification.

E. Scheduling

• Sandra reported that a GroupMe group messaging system has been created for coaches to communicate when rescheduling games is necessary.
• The board discussed the need to improve the scheduling process to better accommodate coaches' requests.
• Scheduling procedures, including the process for requesting schedule changes and the seven-day notice requirement, will be added to the bylaws.

F. Website

• Nathaniel reported that the league website is up and running.

4Proposed Bylaw Changes and Rule Clarifications

A. Bylaw Revisions

• The board discussed revising the bylaws.
• A 30-day notice must be provided before proposed changes take effect.
• The goal is to have the revised bylaws in effect for the Spring 2027 season, unless otherwise specified below.

B. Referee Authority and Training

• Proposed language will clarify that only registered or certified referees have the authority to caution players or send players off with a red card.
• Concerns were raised about non-certified referees applying rules inconsistently and lacking experience in managing conflicts.
• Referee training, certification, and compensation will be discussed further at the next meeting.
• Suggestions included requiring referees to officiate three games and attend an in-person training session before receiving payment.
• Increasing pay for certified referees was also discussed as a possible incentive. No final decision was made.

C. Standings and Points System

• The current bylaws list two points for a win, one point for a tie, and zero points for a loss.
• The bylaws will be updated to reflect the following points system:
  • Win: 3 points
  • Tie: 1 point
  • Loss: 0 points

D. Goal Differential

• The board discussed capping the goal differential recorded in the standings at 10 goals.
• Games will continue for the full allotted time even if the score exceeds a 10-goal difference.
• The proposed effective date for this change is Spring 2027.

E. Tie-Breaking Procedures

• A standardized tie-breaking system was proposed based on the procedures presented by Nathaniel.
• The tie-breaking process will be added to the bylaws.

F. Schedule Changes

• The current scheduling process does not adequately accommodate coaches' requests.
• Sandra will review the scheduling procedures and update the bylaws to clarify the process.
• A seven-day notice requirement for schedule changes was discussed.
• The procedures for requesting schedule changes will be included in the bylaws.

G. Weather and Lightning

• The bylaws need to be updated to clarify procedures for weather-related cancellations, lightning, and game delays.

H. U7/U8 Rules

• The rules for the U7/U8 age groups need further clarification to ensure consistent enforcement by all referees.

I. Referee Rules and Game Management

• A referee requested written game rules for referees to read and reference.
• The board discussed the request but will not provide a separate rules document at this time.
• Concerns were raised about games starting late, shortened playing time, and inconsistent rule enforcement.
• A parent expressed concern that a game started late and that the team received less playing time than expected.
• Concerns were also raised about referees interpreting and enforcing rules differently.
• The importance of informing referees of the rules and ensuring consistent enforcement was emphasized.

J. Coach Blackout Dates

• The board discussed an amendment requiring coaches to submit blackout dates for scheduling.
• A submission deadline needs to be established.
• The proposed amendment will also address requiring teams to play a doubleheader when necessary because of scheduling conflicts.

5New Business

The following items will be discussed further at the next board meeting:

1. Referee Incentives: Explore ways to encourage referee certification, improve training, and address referee compensation.
2. Weeknight Scheduling: Discuss the possibility of scheduling games on weeknights throughout the week.

6Adjournment

Adjournment Time: 9:20 PM