Mission Accomplishment Cu Soccer Club Mission Accomplishment

Mission Accomplishment CU Soccer Club

Mission Accomplishment

Provide continuing participation in higher levels of soccer after students graduate out of Cincinatti United's participant group, which will encourage retention, increase membership and improve financial performance within the league.

Action 1: Scholarship placement. The league will apply the grant applicant's between-application paid hours finding scholarships at regional colleges and universities for the first ten top-scoring applicants who do not have another post-secondary school of choice, i.e. The league will offer to find scholarships for the first ten graduating players who do not already have a college or university of choice selected, starting with the highest-performing athletes and working down the list. Whether or not the graduates will accept the scholarship or not is their choice; but the first ten starting at the top of the ranking who are interested, are eligible for the program. This will serve present and future players by helping them progress into NCAA soccer and higher education, and will enhance financial objectives 1, 2 and 3 by creating incentive for students to join and remain in the league, thus increasing membership levels and marketability, and also encourage the belief soccer offers rewarding social participation as per Cincinatti United's overall mission to provide " a full range of opportunities to enjoy and develop in soccer, at a level appropriate for their age, ability and interest" (Cincinatti United Soccer Club 2008a).

Measurement: Objective 1 will be achieved when the top ten scoring players who accept the program apply for soccer scholarships at regional colleges and universities that offer them, as described by ScoringSoccer.com (ScoringSystem, Inc. 2002-2011) for example.

Objective 2: Demonstrate how sportsmanship and respect for others can bridge sports performance and partnership off the field, through community service. Approved service with other organizations or seminar and camp coaching service will achieve CU's mission to "cultivate relationships with organizations that share a vision of partnership, which will prepare their coaches with all of the resources they need to coach recreational teams," and to "develop associations with recreational programs who want a partner that can provide a trusted avenue to select soccer for interested players and coaches, and who will communicate this to their membership" (Cincinnati United Soccer Club 2008b).

Action 2: Service component: Ranking senior players eligible for scholarships will be required as condition for that service, to mentor junior players at recreational camps and seminars. This will cut administrative cost at the same time building players' community service portfolios, enhancing scholarship application and future employment by demonstrating leadership, volunteerism and training experience for graduating players entering the workforce or higher education. This program is intended to provide training talent to fill soccer camp activity hours, and also deliver player education, recruitment and support service using existing senior players. The result will be increased team / Club identification; sportsmanship and cameraderie between players on the same and different teams; training and leadership development for senior players; and reduce staffing costs at recreational and camp seminar offerings.

Measurement: All senior players supported through the scholarship applications in Objective 1 above will participate with other interested but unaffiliated soccer leagues or teams for at least one season prior to scholarship application, or provide training and mentorship at Club seminars over the course of the year, or at Club camps during summer. Service performance will be verified by adult supervisors at other organizations or CU officials.

Objective 3: The recreational and coaching programs have their own sub-missions which expand and accomplish the overall organizational mission. The stated objective of the coaching component is to "provide a program that will offer free coaching education support that is unmatched in our region. This support will be designed specifically to accommodate the needs of volunteer recreational coaches across all of the communities in northern Cincinnati" (Cincinnati United Soccer Club 2008c). Objective 3 will improve service for prospective, potential and existing customers by recruiting volunteer coaches from within the player base, starting with the leading players not accepting scholarships or moving out of the area upon graduating high school. This also fulfills the overall mission objective of "[e]mploying top coaches and trainers in a player-centric environment that focuses on training, development and life long love" of soccer (Cincinnati United Soccer Club 2008a).