Issue 2, March 2024

Family Involvement

Our families are involved with their players in this great game of soccer. Many of you are coaches or team parents in our HYSL, and you are coaches, managers, and referees.

Let's all remember why we are out on the pitch, playing, coaching, or watching; for the fun it creates and the positive development that happens from participating.

Please check out our Academy Director Greg Bibeau’s article and link to a talk by John O’Sullivan, who has been working to make soccer and every sport a more enjoyable experience for all involved.

If you know of sponsors our teams or club would benefit from, or you would like to be included in working to make our club the best in Montana, please reach out to me, and I will put you in touch with our talented board and committee members.

Our Fields and Complex

We are working on fields and preparing them for our season of Arsenal, Arsenal Academy and HYSL/Micro.

The fields took damage last spring, and some areas took damage this spring, which occurs when melting occurs without the ground being thawed and able to absorb the water. When that can’t happen, the water pools or “ponds” on fields and returns to ice at night, which is not good for our Kentucky Blue Grass.

So bear with us as we make repairs putting sod in some areas and waiting until summer to shut down fields.

Areas have already been seeded, so April showers, except during practices and games, will be welcome!

We are working on roadways and fencing, as our twenty-year-old fence posts are starting to topple. Potholes are always a challenge this time of year; please exercise caution when driving for the safety of our players, families, and your vehicle as we work to fill in the holes.

Calendar

Our competitive seasons for our Premier, Select, and Academy teams kick off on April 6^th, with our U10 & U9 teams starting the weekend next.

HYSL starts playing games on April 7^th.

We are hosting two of the three state tournaments this year.

The Montana Cup comes to town June 7-9, and we can certainly use your help as volunteers to assist us in set up, clean up, and field marshaling. 

And then, just as we are taking a breather, the Montana Showcased is the weekend of June 15-16.

These tournaments benefit our entire club, helping to keep fees down for all programs.

Fan Gear Store

We have expanded the store to include more options for our HYSL players; our Fan Gear.

See below for infomation.

Get Involved

Our competitive games on Saturdays can always use Field Marshals; if you know folks who like to walk and have a positive outlook on sports, please send them my way!

Referees

Referee numbers are at all-time lows around the country in all sports.  

We need them here too! 

If interested, contact our Referee Assignor at hln.ref.assignor@gmail.com for information on becoming a referee.

Financial Aid

We want all youth to play regardless of circumstances.  Contact me for a confidential meeting to discuss how we can help.

  

Play Fair, Be Respectful, Have Fun!

Phil McGovern

Executive Director

Welcome all players and families another amazing HYSL and Micro soccer season!

As the season begins, I want to encourage everyone to play hard, be respectful, but most importantly have fun.

I am excited for my sixth season as program director and I looking forward to see all of you out there on the field!

Caitlin Rivers

HYSL & Micro Director

Welcome to the 2024 Spring soccer season!

As all of us are anxiously waiting to get on the field to see our players play, I wanted to send a quick update on what we have been busy doing since the Fall season.

Throughout the winter months we had numerous players playing for the Montana Olympic Development Program.  All the players represented our Arsenal program well and were able to travel with their respective teams to represent Montana.

We also hosted two sessions of futsal at the Salvation Army Gym here in Helena.  Futsal is the FIFA-recognized form of small-sided indoor football (the word is a contraction of the Spanish 'fútbol sala'). It is played between two teams who each have five players on the pitch at any one time, with rolling substitutes and a smaller ball that is harder and less bouncy.  The small amount of space means players must have great technique and skill.  It is also considered a development tool for 11-a-side football.  During the two sessions we had over 175 players participate, 21 coaches, 10 referees, and multiple weekends of great futsal.  I am looking forward to seeing the work that was put in on the indoor courts translate into success on the outdoor fields.

This winter we hosted 9v9 and 11v11 coaching courses for all our coaches.  We had over 15 coaches take advantage of the course to get their license.  In April we will be hosting US Soccer's D License Course here in Helena.

I am looking forward to watching all our teams play this spring and compete at so many different locations.  I will be walking around the fields all spring to catch as many games as possible and meet all our great families.

Thank you for all you do for our club and the positive support.

Pete Johnson

Director of Coaching

As we begin outdoor training and games for this Spring season, let me encourage all parents and coaches to remember why we do this.  We want our kids to have fun and learn. 

The game of soccer is meant to be enjoyed, and it doesn’t happen just because we win all our games.  There are numerous reasons this game is pleasurable.  

Learning, (or developing and improving), is the other reason we do this.  It is my opinion that when we stop learning, we stop really living.  It matters not how old or experienced you are in soccer, or in life, there will always be more to learn.  So enjoy the process.

I’d like to encourage each parent to watch the TED Talk by John O’Sullivan called, “Changing the Game in Youth Sports.”  (Only 14 minutes long). Consider adopting his five word phrase as the most important thing you say to your child(ren) during the upcoming season:  “I LOVE WATCHING YOU PLAY.”

YouTube link to TED Talk

Greg Bibeau

Academy Director

HYSA Grassroots Fundraising Update...

“We are a soccer community, and HYSA supports our players to achieve their soccer goals regardless of financial ability.” 

In the previous newsletter HYSA Board President Amy Christensen discussed increasing costs and the impact on overall club expenses and player registration fees.  To alleviate some of this situation the board recently created a Grassroots Fundraising Committee to develop and organize fundraising opportunities for our Club.  This season, our fundraising efforts are focused on directly supporting our players in several key areas:

1. Player Development: We are committed to investing in the growth and skill enhancement of our players through a holistic approach to development.
2. Coaching Development: We will support our dedicated coaches with opportunities for development, enhancing their ability to guide and inspire our young athletes.
3. Team and Program Equipment Needs: Ensuring that each player has access to top-notch equipment is crucial for fostering a safe and optimal environment for player development.
4. Post-Season and Competitive Tournament Support: We will enable our teams to participate in post-season tournaments, providing invaluable competitive experiences.

This Committee is working on the following fundraising initiatives:

Academy and Arsenal individual team fundraising

We support teams in their team fundraising initiatives to offset some of their team fees for travel and tournaments.

Spring 2024 Raffle (see article below)

Business & Corporate Sponsorship opportunities with advertising and recognition:

• 2024 Spring and Fall seasons and related games
• Tournaments

Thank you to those businesses already committed for the 2024 season.

Please contact HYSA if you would like to discuss this for your business.

We are excited by the response we have received to our new fundraising approach and appreciate your support of HYSA and our players!  Sponsors are highlighted below.

Nate McCarthy

Committee Chair

Fall Season Sponsor

Defensive MVPs

Offensive MVPs

 

 

HYSA Spring 2024 Raffle

HYSA is holding a club-wide raffle to raise funds to support player experience, coaches training, team equipment, post-season, and other program expenses! 

Raffle tickets are $10 each.

Tickets are available for sale beginning March 18, 2024 and sales close April 25, 2024.

The raffle prize drawings will be held May 1st at 5:30pm at the Siebel Soccer Complex.

Prizes

Grand Prize

• Seattle Sounders Prize Package, $2,750 value
• Includes plane ticket vouchers valued at $750, hotel vouchers valued at $250, Sounders tickets valued at $250, $500 Visa Gift Card 

Gold Prize

• VRBO/Expedia Staycation Vacation Package, $1,500 value
• Includes VRBO/Expedia 1 night local accommodations plus catered dinner and breakfast and game and movie package

Silver Prize

• Lawn Care Package, $500 value
• Sponsored by Dawn Til Dusk
• Includes lawn care services of your choice – mowing, fertilization, spring treatments

Bronze Prize

• Soccer Gear Upgrade Package, $250 value
• Includes gift card to Universal Athletic 

Team Ticket Sales Incentives

HYSL Recreation League Team Party 

• Each Recreation team per GotSport team roster) that sells more than 75% of their tickets will be entered (as a team) into a drawing for a team party at the Sleeping Giant Bowling Alley or Flying Giant Park. Party package up to $300.

HYSA Academy League Team Party 

• Each Academy team per GotSport team roster) that sells more than 75% of their tickets will be entered (as a team) into a drawing for a team party at the Sleeping Giant Bowling Alley or Flying Giant Park. Party package up to $300.

HYSA Arsenal League Team Party 

• Each Arsenal team (per GotSport team roster) that sells more than 75% of their tickets will be entered as a team into a drawing for a team party at the Sleeping Giant Bowling Alley or Flying Giant Park. Party package up to $300.

Complete Information

Mark your calendars and enjoy some Panda Express on April 8th !

Complete Details Here

Shop Here Now

We are excited to offer fan gear through our HYSA & HYSL Arsenal Shop. Please look at shirts and hoodies, youth and adult, men's & women's apparel.

Everything from T-shirts to water bottles, blankets, Hoodies, and footwear.

Throughout the State, our Arsenal teams represent our club, Helena Youth Soccer Association; we are all part of the HYSA Arsenal community. Show your support by wearing the fan gear!

- Store Closes April 8 at midnight -

Contact Us

Issue 1, February 2024

Dear HYSA members, I am happy to be writing my first letter to the membership since I became President of the HYSA Board last September.  The club is experiencing a time of change and growth, which...

Our competitive seasons for our Premier, Select, and Academy teams kick off on April 6^th, with our U10 & U9 teams starting as well or the weekend after.

HYSL starts playing games on April 7^th.

Our...

ARSENAL PREPARES FOR SPRING 2024

Our Arsenal program has been busy preparing for Spring 2024, with eight teams competing at the Premier level, hoping to win their division’s state cup and move on...

ACADEMY FIELDS TEN TEAMS FOR THE SPRING 2024

Academy Director Greg Bibeau is working with his group of Academy Coaches, most of whom are running two teams, to ensure technical skills are taught to...

HYSL KICKOFF

Caitlin Rivers, our HYSL & Micro Director, is watching registrations and preparing teams for the Spring 2024 season with the majority of our teams carrying over from the Fall.  Season...

On-Line Course and Helena Area In-Person Session for New Referees

Complete Information

On-Line Course: start now in preparation for In Person Session

In Person Session: Salvation Army Gym Sunday...