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Community
a) A group of people having common interests
b) A group viewed as forming a distinct segment of society
c) Sharing, participation, and fellowship
(American Heritage Dictionary)
Well, soccer community, here "we" are -- players, volunteers, coaches, administrators, parents, staff, board and, yes, referees! What brings us together is the world's game, the best game: soccer. Even though there are long-standing club rivalries, rivalries between neighboring towns, and differences between coaches (or parents) and referees, together we are undeniably one community: Iowa soccer.
It is in this spirit that the Iowa Soccer staff and Board works on behalf of our community to foster, promote and perpetuate the sport of soccer. And we know it is in this spirit that the over 40,000 members of our community already have been, and will continue to do so. |
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Virtual Community
a) A group of people who interact via internet websites; also called online community
(Webster's New Millennium Dictionary of English)
One of the primary functions of Iowa Soccer's website is to help bring our community together by facilitating viable ways in which it can help itself. We are banking on the power of the internet, and especially on your participation, to help soccer's growth and development in Iowa.
While it may be unfamiliar for you to have a social networking page, or you're not quite sure what "blogging" is, or if you don't know how to upload video to the web, we think these "tools" are the way to help move soccer forward. Afterall, among the over 40,000 of us out there, you have to believe our community members have resources and experiences they can share that will help you -- even if the one who has it is in northeast Iowa and the one who needs it is in Lamoni! The web makes this possible, and it makes it fun.
Think about it...if you're an affiliate president whose board is trying to tackle a new issue, and you're not quite sure how to go about it, what better way to tap into the collective experiences of our community than to have a social networking page where you can connect with other presidents.
If you're a coach who has videotaped clips with exercises for first touch, or for training the first defender, or for a great finishing exercise, just think of how many other Iowa soccer coaches you could help by posting your clips on the website.
As for blogging, well, this is a way for any member of our community to share their thoughts and elicit responses, be they with an actual response to the blog, or by just making someone stop and think, and maybe look at doing it differently next time.
Stop and think about it...the possibilities the tools on this site offer for having our community help itself are endless. And we think they're fun, too!
If you are hesitant about using the tools because they're unfamiliar to you, or you're not convinced of their usefulness, please contact Jenny, jwood@iowasoccer.org, who will help get you tapped into Iowa soccer's virtual community. |
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3850 Merle Hay Rd.
Suite 524
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-252-6363 or 800-386-4692
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