Wednesday,
September 20
State of the Club Address
Letter from the President:
My name is Doug Hammerberg, and I would like to take this opportunity
to tell you a little bit about myself. For the last eight years
I have been involved with the soccer community in one way or
another. I started as a coach with AYSO Region 250, and quickly
became the coach administrator/trainer for the region. I worked
closely with the board for several years before my son, Kyle,
moved on to play travel soccer with the Red Arrow Soccer Club.
I followed him to RASC where I learned a great deal working as
an assistant coach to Scott Ferris.
While coaching at RASC, I received both my USSF E and D coaching
licenses. I took a board position in 2004, and eventually became
President of the club in the fall of 2005. As President (and
with the help of a very dedicated board) RASC grew almost 200
%. We went from approximately 50 players for the 2005/2006 season,
to around 150 for the 2006/2007 season. I am currently still
with the club as the head coach for the U-13 boys team.
After two years with RASC, I decided to follow my son during
his transition from travel to premier soccer. In July of this
year, I was approached to be the new TKO President. TKO having
such a rich and positive history in the area soccer environment,
made the decision to accept an easier one. How often do you get
the chance to be involved with the founding premier club in the
Kalamazoo area.
On the non-soccer front, I have been a Public Safety Officer
for the past 15 years and am currently a sergeant for the Kalamazoo
Department of Public Safety.
Where
TKO is headed
In the upcoming months, you will start to hear about some of
the changes the club is making. Here are a few things that
TKO is currently doing, as well as, the direction that the
club is moving towards for the future.
First,
we are proud to be designated as WMYSA’s Premier
Club, and we are looking forward to working closely with the
league to help strengthen soccer in our area. TKO’s goal
is to provide assistance with player/coach training in the
WMYSA area. The first step toward this goal is to host, at
no expense
to the clubs or players, a youth development academy that is
open to the U-9 and U-10 players of the area. Coaches are encouraged
to watch, and participate, in this youth development academy.
The ideas and philosophies learned during these academy sessions
can be used during their own club practices.
Our second step is the integration of TKO and Soccer Zone. Although
both entities have worked closely together in the past, the board
voted unanimously to officially integrate our partnership with
Soccer Zone to help strengthen the club. The effects of this
integration have been immediate, and are already starting to
take effect. With the help of Rich Labadie, our technical director,
and Mike Garrett, our coaching director, TKO was able to start
the youth development academy. It was also this partnership that
brought the state sponsored USSF E license course to the area
in August and the upcoming D License this spring.
Along
with volunteering time for the youth players in our area, TKO
Premier Soccer Club has taken on the challenge
to raise money
for the Soccer Kicks for Cancer program. This program is a partnership
between the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Michigan Sate
Youth Soccer Association, to help raise money and awareness through
soccer.
One of the things that TKO is working hard for the immediate
future is the development of our own outdoor training facility.
This training facility would give TKO a brand identity, and solidify
our commitment to our players, parents and community.
How You Can Help
One
of TKO’s goals is to become one of the most competitive
premier clubs in the state. The TKO board feels that we are headed
in that right direction, and are committed to the success of
the program. However, this is a very big commitment, and it can
not be accomplished without support from within the club. If
you have any special skills, and would to use them to help the
club, please contact me, or any other board member. We are looking
for people that are interested in assisting with projects such
as field development, scholarship fund development, or corporate
sponsor development.
Thank You
If you are a long time member of TKO, we truly appreciate you
for your dedication, commitment, and loyalty. If you are new
to the club, welcome. TKO is looking forward to the exciting
times ahead. With a board that is very motivated and dedicated,
we are committed to make our club the best in the area.
<< BACK TO
TKO NEWS
|
