705 B, SE Melody Lane; PMB 303, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063-4390, 816-554-2255 (www.lssa.org)
President’s Newsletter
February 2015 (Winter Edition)
by Ron Cox
Dear Fellow Members,
I am excited to say there are so many great things happening right now with your local soccer
organization, where do I start…
Winter Indoor League:
Our winter indoor youth league produced a record number of participants. Over one-thousand
players signed up to play in our indoor soccer program. Since the program’s inception in 2013,
the program has quadrupled.
Juniors (U4) Division:
The board is excited to announce a new partnership with Boost Sports Performance for the
spring 2015 season. Over the winter, our VP of Indoor Soccer worked diligently with Boost
Sports Performance, a Lee’s Summit company, to develop a fun program that will introduce
many of our future superstars to soccer for the first time. Program leadership will come from
certified staff, high school and former and current college players. Our board is enthusiastic
about the direction and growth of this program for 2015.
Awesome People:
I know I say this a lot, but I can’t help it. I feel very strongly about our group of dedicated
volunteers. In the United States, in 2015, there is over 1.5M not-for-profits. I know parents are
stretched and working harder and doing more than ever before. With that said, it makes me
appreciate our parents, coaches and volunteers even more who choose Sporting Lee’s
Summit to give their precious time.
Big Time News:
Lee’s Summit Soccer Association (LSSA) is an award winning soccer club. Recognized as
Missouri’s Volunteer Organization of the Year, home to the Missouri Youth Soccer Association
(MYSA) Coach of the Year, the programs and people are incredible. The youngest Sporting
Kansas City professional player, Eric Palmer-Brown, said it best in a recent interview, “it all
started for me in LSSA”…
No different than Eric and so many other young soccer players from Lee’s Summit, they all
dream of making their youth team, high school rosters or college programs, and their biggest
dream is ultimately playing professionally. I was no different than our players today as I also
dreamt of playing professionally at their age.
Over the winter the board directed me to execute an agreement with Sporting Kansas City to
become their “official” Affiliate Youth Soccer Club for western Missouri. With this partnership
our players will have unparalleled access to the 2013 MLS Cup Champions, Sporting Kansas
City. Over the next few months, the Lee’s Summit Soccer Association will continue to work
hard to transition and merge our two identities from LSSA or Sporting Kansas City to “Sporting
Lee’s Summit SC”.
There are several benefits for ALL of our members. Some are as subtle as discounted game
tickets, other benefits include free player camps, free coach’s clinics, access to professional
players, coaches and their unlimited resources. These are exciting opportunities that everyone
will have with the click of their keypads. Other, perhaps even larger benefits, will be to
promote some of our best players to the Sporting Kansas City First Team and help our players
realize their dreams.
I was at the grocery store last week and one of our community members said “I heard LSSA is
now becoming an Affiliate of Sporting Kansas City. I am so excited for my kids to now have
that access to our favorite team. To put this into perspective for me and my family, does this
mean that Sporting Lee’s Summit will now operate like the Omaha Royals, meaning you will
have players move to and from the Sporting Lee’s Summit teams to the Sporting Kansas City
team when they get their (Call up)?” My response was “that sounds like a great example”….
Some Upcoming Events:
In 2014 we reached a new record for participation. In 2014 LSSA held the following events at
Legacy Park:
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Spring Outdoor Season
Summer Boot Camp
Friendly Tournament
MYSA State Cup
British Soccer Camps
Adult League
USSSA Tournament
MYSA President’s Cup
Brazilian Soccer Camps
Patriot Cup Tournament
Summer 3v3 Tournament
Fall Outdoor Season
In 2015, we will again set new records for participation and new members. Come be a part of
the best youth soccer club in the country.
If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please send them to me via our website at
www.LSSA.org.
Have a safe and wonderful winter season, I’ll see you this spring at the beautiful Legacy Park.
Sincerely,
Ron Cox
Lee’s Summit Soccer Association President