A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.

You do make a difference!

The commitment and dedication of our many youth and high school coaches are incredible. As a player, parent, coach and high school principal, I have found them to be skilled, talented, and creative individuals. They care about kids and help prepare them for the challenges of the future, both on and off the soccer pitch.

As Mark Twain once said, "Great people are those who make others feel that they too can become great." It is what you do on a daily basis as a coach. You do make a difference!

Athletics provide an important developmental asset for youth. Research shows that young adults involved in three or more hours per week of school or community related programs tend to do better in school and are less likely to be involved in self-defeating behaviors. Involvement in athletic programs, such as soccer, also provide players opportunities for decision-making, conflict resolution, team building and enhancement of self-esteem.

As coaches, we all spend a great deal of time studying the role we play in the life of teenagers as mentors and role models. It is a role that has a huge influence on the players.

All young people need the support of adults and the community to be successful. High school coaches do indeed play an important role in this process.

Thank you for taking the time to make a difference in the lives of your players.

I would like to extend a personal invitation to each of you to attend the NSCAA Annual Convention in Indianapolis. The theme of this year's convention is 2001 -- A Soccer Odyssey and how appropriate it would he for all of us involved at the high school level to be a part of this odyssey. The convention program is filled with exceptional soccer clinicians, business meetings, awards recognition, hospitality, and a large exhibit hall filled with the latest in soccer apparel and equipment, books, and software. It truly is the premier soccer coaches event in the world.

Of special note this year is a focus on coaching high school soccer. Panel discussions and clinic sessions geared toward coaching the high school athlete are included throughout the convention program. You can even receive one semester hour of college credit for participation in the sessions. The high school coach is an important ingredient in the continued success of soccer in our country. Our commitment at the NSCAA is to provide growth opportunities that help meet everyone's professional needs.

I look forward to seeing all of you in Indianapolis.

Sincerely,

Jay T. Engeln

President, NSCAA

National Principal of the Year - 2000