2001 USIndoor Facility Operators’

Conference Report

September 7-9
The Soccer Spot
Grand Rapids, Michigan

USIndoor thanks its local host, The Soccer Spot (Grand Rapids, Michigan), its Roundtable Moderators, its Exhibitors, and Sponsors (All Sports Enterprises, Burley's Rink Supplies, Monument Sports Group, TST Systems, Goal Indoor, Cascadia Sport Systems, SEI, Universal Fabric Structures, Summit Structures, and AstroPlay) for making the first-ever Conference a great success.

Final Numbers: 137 Total Registrations, including 85 facility owners and managers or startups (representing 21 US states), 23 vendors, and 4 countries.

The Conference format consisted of five Roundtable discussions, occurring simultaneously and lasting approximately 1½ hour, for five Sessions over the weekend. (See Itinerary.) Topics, designed for both startups and active facilities included: Building Process, Financing, Website Management and Online Administrative Tools, Marketing, Insurance, Merchandising, Tournaments, General Operations, Alternate Uses, Rules, Referees, and Competition. Exhibitors were also invited to participate. While notes are available for some of the Roundtables, we are unable to display them here.

Comments From Confidential Feedback Forms:

"We received a complete picture from all angles for a startup."

"The networking and access to other operators was great."

"Educational sessions were well-planned. The format allowed valuable interaction between facility owners and vendors."

"The attendees were great. They were the decision makers that we exhibitors need an opportunity to talk with."

"The Conference was more valuable than the USYSA or NSCAA meetings, due to the qualified leads."

Of course, we will build on the positive feedback from the event and make adjustments where appropriate. Some suggested modifications included more Roundtables on for experienced operators, Roundtables on regional issues, and more concentrated exhibit time. Attendees who have not yet had an opportunity to send us their feedback may still do so via Email, and suggestions for 2002 are also welcome from those who were unable to attend. Until December 31, 2001, facilities may also apply to host next year's Conference by submitting a 2002 Host Application (rtf format) (Right click link to download application). Once we determine next year's Conference site, we will issue a general announcement.

Besides the wisdom and experience exchanged, which will undoubtedly have meaningful impact on almost every participant's present plans and operations, our ability to effectuate national strategies, dedicated to preserving and growing our business and our sport, will be most important in the long run. USIndoor's mission is clear: To support its members (including its corporate members) however it can and, in so doing, promote the game of indoor soccer. Thus, first and foremost, USIndoor supports the business interests of its Membership. With limited resources of its own, however, USIndoor must rely on its Membership to take an active role.

On the heels of a productive national conference, therefore, we set an agenda that depends on each Member's willingness to begin to think like a business partner and to participate, however possible, in achieving our common goals. As you will note, some of the initiatives offer immediate, as well as long-term, financial incentives. Others request your service where leadership and more active participation is required:

PLAN OF ACTION

1. Marketing: The following measures promote the development and identity of indoor soccer as a viable market niche, augmenting its attractiveness to local and national sponsors. In each case, PARTICIPATION OFFERS FINANCIAL INCENTIVES.
   1. GOAL Indoor: We created USIndoor's national magazine (a bi-monthly publication) to help build the identity and brand the sport of indoor soccer and to maximize its marketability. If successful, we will all benefit through added exposure and the creation of a saleable product. As an added incentive, USIndoor announces a SPECIAL OFFER to Facility Members: Select one or more of the following options and turn USIndoor's national publication into a revenue generator for you:
      1. Orders of 50 or More: $5.00 for each annual subscription (2/3 off regular rate). We suggest including a subscription to GOAL Indoor with registrations and setting your own price (up to $7.50, maximum). AS AN ADDED INCENTIVE: For orders of 1,000 or more, we will include up to 2 pages of local content (half of which may be ads) FOR FREE. AND THAT'S NOT ALL: Every participating facility will receive, pro rata based on its total registered subscribers, 20% of net profits from national advertising. Everyone will win as our circulation expands.
      2. Customized/Regional Issue: USIndoor will produce a Special Edition for your facility (or for your geographic region), including a special cover and local insert, subject to a minimum order of 2,000, plus printing charges. Think of this as another great way to attract local advertisers and include local content.
      3. Individual Subscriptions: 50% off the regular $15.00 annual subscription rate ($7.50/year), plus $1.00 cash back for each subscription mailed to USIndoor. Facilities, which do not want to make subscriptions mandatory (as recommended in subsection (i) above), can still take part and receive substantial benefits.

      For Corporate Members, USIndoor needs your support, too. Advertising in GOAL Indoor is a great way to show it and to reach customers. PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL US FOR DETAILS: 310-450-6955.

   2. National Marketing: As discussed at the Conference, perhaps the greatest area of financial opportunity lies in our ability to utilize unused marketing assets in national marketing (e.g., dasher boards, arena signage, naming rights, print materials, event/tournament sponsorship.) Not only would a successful national marketing plan represent "found money" to many (and possibly make the difference in our profitability), but if properly managed, begin to elevate indoor soccer to the stature of other renown youth and amateur sports (ala Little League Baseball.) Clearly, to make such a program successful, WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT: First, by believing in our industry enough to join this collective, and second, by responding promptly and accurately to requests for information. Thus, soon you will be asked about the assets that you may make available to the Program, as well as certain demographic information about the visitors to your facility. Although USIndoor cannot promise what results it will achieve or when it will achieve them, we will honor requests for confidentiality and ensure that the benefits are distributed as fairly as possible according to each member's participation. As stated, we need your support and see the potential for national marketing as enormous.
   3. Web Community: Connected with our national marketing strategy is USIndoor's decision to affiliate with YSUSA.com in building a Web Community. Besides free Websites (avoiding monthly hosting fees), YSUSA offers free administrative tools and fund-raising programs, intended not only to make your life more manageable and to improve the quality of your services, but also to increase the ways in which you and your customers can raise money. For details, please refer to the September issue of GOAL Indoor about USIndoor's relationship with YSUSA.com (or call them at 877-825-4212) and stay tuned for more information. Besides the foregoing benefits, participation in the Association's Web Community will enhance our solidarity and, consequently, the marketing capability of what we, as an industry, can offer to advertisers and sponsors.

2. National Committees: For the good of the game, USIndoor seeks volunteers to serve on and chair the following committees. The majority of funds raised through Committee actions will be utilized for their continued maintenance and programming. PLEASE CALL (310-450-6955) OR EMAIL USINDOOR TO VOLUNTEER.
   1. National Defense Committee: As many have experienced first-hand, certain state soccer organizations have attempted to use their market power to impose business practices, which have been against many of our members' best interests. Examples include pressures to participate in state-run insurance programs (whose costs exceed that which can be obtained privately), to accept outdoor referee training standards and excessive 3rd party control over referees, and to enforce state-sanctioned player registrations. In many cases, such conduct has become a serious threat and already caused financial hardship. Consequently, the purpose of this Committee will be to (1) identify and act as a reporting agency for such practices, ideally before any damage occurs, (2) support facilities against which pressures are being applied, and (3) organize protective action, where necessary.
   2. Regional Committees: Committees may be established to address regional issues. Advisory Members of USIndoor's Board of Directors may also be elected through these forums.
   3. National Intelligence Committee: This Committee will gather and organize information and data on a host of topics, from operations to financial and demographic statistics, to be assembled and provided to members via a periodic online newsletter or industry reports, and to be used in marketing.
   4. National Procurement Committee: The purpose of this Committee will be to identify products, which members may purchase more economically through group purchasing, than individually.
   5. Competition Committee: This Committee will conduct an annual review of the "Official Rules of Indoor Soccer" and develop standards for related areas, including referee certification, player discipline, tournaments, and rankings.

3. Other Ways to Contribute: Whether or not you are able to participate as described above, USIndoor suggests the following actions, which will support USIndoor in its efforts to build our identity as an important market segment and an important player in youth and amateur sports.
   1. Become a USIndoor Member or renew your membership through 2002. We will be only as effective as you allow us to be through your Membership. (For a limited time, annual membership and renewal rates will remain at $25, then rise to $50.)
   2. Adopt the Official Rules, if your have not already done so. As you may know, the Rules allow for variances (i.e., "House Rules"), depending on facility specifications and other regional concerns.
   3. Recognize USIndoor Certified Referees and adopt the accompanying Referee Training Program for your facility. By so doing, you help standardize the game, build its national identity, and improve the quality of indoor refereeing.
   4. Join USIndoor's Web Community by utilizing a free Website or by adding one of the Community's online administrative tools to your existing site. Refer to the September issue of GOAL Indoor about USIndoor's relationship with YSUSA.com (or call them at 877-825-4212), and stay tuned form more details.
   5. Respond to Marketing and Demographic Surveys that USIndoor will soon be circulating. Accurate information will enable USIndoor to propose incentive programs and attract marketing dollars in which all members can benefit.
   6. Send us news, photos, and calendar items to be included in Goal Indoor, USIndoor's national magazine.
   7. When you decide to expand or to purchase equipment, please reward USIndoor's corporate members and sponsors by giving them first consideration in the process. (See USIndoor's Facilities page.)
   8. Include subscriptions to Goal Indoor in your player registration packets. Special financial incentives apply for facility members. (See Item I(A) above.)

CONCLUSION

USIndoor has come a long way since its founding in 1998 and initiation of programming in 1999: with facility membership now over 90 (including 15 startups), cost-saving programs being utilized in Insurance and other areas, GOAL Indoor (USIndoor's national magazine), Official Rules and a specialized Referee Training Program, the broadcast of a professional game on USIndoorTV.com, plans for an International Indoor Soccer Federation, and a successful National Conference. While we build on the foregoing, we will continue to lay the groundwork for enhancing the benefits of membership: with the retrieval of information required for National Marketing, the formation of Committees requested by the Membership, the build-out of a new Web Community, and the establishment of a Corporate Membership Program. I thank you for your commitment to all that USIndoor represents and for your involvement and support where possible. Please feel free to call or write us anytime. Thank you.

Respectfully submitted,

Don Shapero
President

United States Indoor Soccer Association
P.O. Box 5044
Santa Monica, California 90405
310-450-6955
509-357-7096 (Fax)

to Facilities pages