For The American
OKLAHOMA CITY — Volunteer work never gets a lot of fanfair. For most community events, it just gets overlooked. But most organizors know nothing could happen without a good group of volunteers.
The Oklahoma Soccer Association looks to change that as they will recotgnize Robert Muzny and others during the OSA 18th annual workshop Feb. 1-3 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Tulsa.
Muzny is the OSA’s Volunteer of the Year. Muzny oversees the South Lakes Soccer Club fields as a volunteer and was instrumental in the success of the past summer’s rain-soaked Regional soccer tournament held at South Lakes.
The OSA workshop provides training, recognition, and participation for its 40,000 members across the state.
New for this year is a soccer tennis tournament championship final to run during the Workshop. OSA Director of Coaching Matt Fansher set up the event with over 100 teams of 3 players participating at preliminary tournaments in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Soccer tennis is played indoors on a tennis layout but a soccer ball is used instead of a tennis ball and of course, no hands are allowed.
Four state coaches have been selected to receive Coach of the Year awards at the OSA Award Luncheon.
Brian Harvey, head coach at Oklahoma City University and club coach of Edmond Soccer Club 93 Black, has also been selected as Region III Coach of the Year and eligible for National Coach of the year.
Kerry Shubert, head coach of Broken Arrow’s HFC 92 and 92 girls teams, also owns and operates Tulsa’s Soccer City indoor soccer facility.
Geron McGinnis, Broken Arrow club coach, is the state’s first Recreational Boys’ Coach of the Year and has also been selected as Region III Coach of the Year and eligible for National Coach of the Year. McGinnis coaches boys’ small-sided soccer for the B.A. club.
Jim Weir, Broken Arrow club coach, is the state’s first Recreational Girls’ Coach of the Year. Weir has coached for seven years in the Broken Arrow club and coaches both of his children in the sport.
OSA’s Hall of Fame inducts its 2008 class on Friday evening when Gayl Wilson will be honored. Wilson began her involvement with soccer as a parent and journalist covering the sport in its earliest days. Her coverage of the Tulsa Roughnecks and the US Men’s team was done from her home in Tulsa.
Keynote Speaker for the Awards Luncheon on Saturday will be Tulsa University’s head men’s coach Tom McIntosh. Coming off two back-to-back NCAA tournament invitations, McIntosh is an Oklahoma born and trained soccer player and coach.
Other offerings at the Workshop include courses for referees, administrators, and coaches. Cost to attend the Workshop is $50 and registration is available online atwww.oksoccer.
com.
