4/23/2006

Congratulations to Millard Star Soccer Association on 25 years!

25 years ago it was a dream of ours and a few other local Millard families to start an alternative sports program in the Millard area that would promote and allow the hundreds of youth, both Boys & Girls, in the quickly expanding Millard area, a chance to participate in a sports program other then the exclusive small town options that were available at that time – baseball, football and basketball.

Our goal was to make it fun and educational and hopefully make Soccer an accepted local sport and long term objective, a Millard High School Sport.  Our philosophy was to down size the field size, the goals, the size of the ball and the number of players on the field, based on age, allowing each participant a chance to touch the ball and be successful (reducing the bunch ball/bee hive effect or the one/two advanced players that would dominate the game).  We removed keeping score at the younger ages and tried to concentrate on skill levels and team play.  We had an in house sports league while also offering competitive travel teams.  We held training clinics for kids and coaches and we offered State Certification training programs for coaches & referees. 

The Association felt that it was all for the kids, we had donated fields that were mowed and striped for all games, there were donated goals which had nets on them, there were paid referees at all games and the coaches were given soccer balls so each kid would have a ball at practice.  Each kid was given a full uniform (shirts, shorts and socks), so when they showed up for a game they looked and felt like part of the team.  There were team pictures and 8 local games per season, all that for an entry fee of $17.95

To raise money, we held fund raisers…and thanks to the kids!, the money came in, to keep the Association going.  Our fund raisers were a little different; our philosophy was to give 50% of the money back to the kids in prizes, our first fund raiser. with around 450 kids registered in the Association, raised over $8K in one week and we gave back to the kids over $4K in high end prizes like, color TV’s, walkmans, radios, bikes, soccer balls and etc.  The fund raisers continued each season, the prizes got better, the kids had fun selling and the money kept coming in, allowing the Association to grow and meet the needs of being the best soccer program in the area, if not the state.      

To see where the Millard Star is today and where we started, we are beaming with pride!  We say congratulations and thanks to all those that kept the ball rolling and continued forward, where we left it some 17 years ago.  Now our grandchildren participate in the Association and we enjoy coming to the games and watching them and all the other children and parents experiencing our dream, The Millard Star Soccer Association.

I would like to take this opportunity to list some of those people that were instrumental in seeing this happen, please excuse me if I forget someone, but it has been 25 years and there were many, many people who volunteered their time, resources and money for this great program;

Thanks to all of you:

Laurie Hamell, Larry & Bobbi Hansen, Jim & Connie McDonald, Ted & Sue Jensen, Jerry & Dee Davenport, Marlin Blakely, Mike Burns, Paula Warrender (Photographer), Doug Trenerary, Bruce Skinner, John Walsh, Joe Rauth, Ralph Cummings (Logo), Howard Neuhaus (Legal Advisor), Paul Ballard – Six B Mfg. (Goals), Ron Jones – The Yard Company (Fields), Millard Public Schools (Fields & Facilities) and the Hundreds of Coaches, referees and volunteers that helped us.

I have attached a few pictures for your scrap book, enjoy;

Best Regards and Continued Success,

Bob Hamell

Past President and Founder of the Millard Star Soccer Association