How to Keep Board Members Informed?  Good governance depends on enlightened decision making. Board members in turn need to be knowledgeable about the organization's status and needs if they are to make sound decisions that advance its mission. But boards often say that the information they receive hinders rather than facilitates good governance and strong leadership.

Why They Stop  By Vince Ganzberg, Director of Education for Indiana Youth Soccer  --  "Mom and Dad, I don't want to play anymore!" After investing the time and money into any sport, this is the last thing a parent wants to hear, but it happens. Frequently.  Children quitting organized sports occurs more often than one might think. Research has shown that approximately 70-75% of children will quit playing a sport by the age of 14. Why do they want to stop? To answer that question let's look at why they start or why parents put their children into a sport in the first place.

8 Tips for Volunteer Retention  Volunteers stay in an organization when they form psychological contracts with the organization. This happens in large measure if the person believes they are heard and changes happen. There are strategies to enhance the "feedback" environment in your volunteer program.

Board Self-Assessment  An annual self-assessment of the board of directors is a helpful way to see what the board members think of their operations and what improvements are needed. It also is a diplomatic way to remind board members of some elements of their job description that they may have ignored. 

Defining the Role of Your Club’s Coaching Director  The trend to employ qualified professional coaches to run the coaching programs in youth soccer is certainly encouraging. Every club should seriously consider hiring a Director of Coaching.