A Training Camp for the Ages
2008 Elizabethtown Camp Attendees
Written By: John Van de Vaarst with input from Joe Miller
In 1976, newly appointed Executive Director, Raymond Bernabei, tasked Mario Donnangelo and Larry Starner to locate a facility to host a residential referee training camp for NISOA. After several visits to different locations, these individuals recommended Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA. Shortly thereafter, the site was approved by the NISOA Executive Board and the training academy was born. From this point on, campers from all over the country attended the academy each year. Attendees came from as far as CA, WY, OK, NV, WA and more. Many of the individuals who attended the academy advanced to the highest levels of intercollegiate soccer and/or became top administrators for various soccer organizations such as CONCACAF and others.
In 1977, 68 individuals attended the first academy which was under the direction of Camp Director, Dick Jamison, NY. Since that time the other Camp Directors were Larry Starner, PA, Bill Fortin, CT and Joe Miller, Ct. In addition. The unsung hero of the academy for many years was Dave Steiner, PA. Dave was responsible for transporting attendees and clinicians to and from the airport. He also maintained all the supplies and materials for the academy and coordinated the printing of all needed brochures, etc. that were used. Dave was always available when someone needed any special request fulfilled. This even included doing laundry for camp staff.
Another unsung hero of the Elizabethtown program was Cindy Young. Cindy was a security officer at Elizabethtown College and each year she would devote her time to providing any first aid needed, assist with administrative duties and provide a liaison with the college staff.
Curriculum coordinators included Bob Sumpter, FL, C. Frank Jewell, FL, Kim Vieira, OH, Don Dennison, MD and Ross Meloan, KY. These individuals assigned all clinicians and their topics and ensured that all training was done in the NISOA format and by the NCAA Rule Book. When appropriate, NFHS rules were also incorporated into the training since the NISOA Constitution indicated that the mission was to support college and high school soccer throughout the United States.
The academy was self-sustaining. Since all the staff members were volunteers, the tuition charged to the attendees covered all costs related to the program. NISOA did not use any funds from its general treasury to pay for camp expenses.
In the early years, all staff and attendees stayed in one of the dormitories that did not have air conditioning. Dealing with the extreme heat brought about many great stories on how everyone survived. In later years, apartment dormitories became available that held 4 individuals to each suite and were much better accommodations.
As the academy evolved a decision was made to provide scholarships through the NISOA Foundation Fund. The first-year full scholarships were offered to all attendees. This resulted in 95 individuals registering and attending. It was quickly agreed that this class size was not manageable and it was then decided that all minority and females would receive a full scholarship and others 50%. All would have to pay a deposit to ensure attendance. The academy attendance was also capped at 50. During the same time period, John Van de Vaarst, MD met with the NCAA and requested they modify their grant program for education to include referees not just coaches. The following year the NCAA awarded NISOA $10,000 to help support the academy. This grant was renewed each year for several years. In addition, U.S. Soccer provided grants in the amount of $5,000 for a two-year period. These funds were used for the scholarships and were part of the foundation fund.
In an effort to expand training for other officials, NiSOA always welcomed potential members and high school officials as academy attendees. For two years, NISOA held an Interscholastic Camp in conjunction with the academy. The attendees at this program participated in some joint sessions with the academy and breakout sessions that focused on the high school rules. David McKee, DE served as Curriculum Coordinator and used NISOA clinicians that also worked with the academy.
Another expansion to the program is when NISOA conducted training academies at Carthage College in WI. These camps were under the direction of Joe Miller, CT as Camp Director and John Van de Vaarst, MD as Curriculum Coordinator. This allowed individuals from a different part of the country who did not want to travel to Elizabethtown a chance to attend.
All academies included physical fitness training in the morning, classroom and outdoor instruction throughout the day and attendees would then officiate soccer games during the evening and receive feedback from assessors and clinicians. This meant that the staff worked from 6:30 AM until 9:00 PM and then had a staff meeting to discuss the day and prepare for the following day. At the end of every academy there was an award session with recognition given to the best overall camper, best physical fitness under 40, best physical fitness over 40 and other awards that the staff felt were appropriate.
Each year the academy was held in conjunction with a player camp that for many years was hosted by Skip Roderick, Elizabethtown College men’s soccer coach. Each evening the players would have round robin games that the Academy’s participants would officiate. This allowed the academy attendees an opportunity to learn new officiating skill and/or practice what they learned in the classroom. Some of the attendees never had the opportunity to officiate in the diagonal system of control. This experience greatly assisted them in their overall development. Camp staff provided feedback after each game and even went on the field during the game or ran behind an assistant referee to help teach proper positioning.
The list of staff members that made these academies successful is long and distinguished. The many individuals who volunteered for countless years include but are not limited to: Ray Bernabei, FL, Mario Donnangelo, PA, C. Frank Jewell, FL, Gil Lopez, PA, Larry Starner, PA, Dave, PA, Spencer Bill Fortin, CT, Joe Miller, CT, Dave Steiner, PA, John Van de Vaarst, MD, Kim Vieira, OH, Don Dennison, MD, Ross Meloan, KY, John Kipp, OH, Jim Reuther, OH, Bill Nest, OH, Larry Gardner, WI, Roy Yarbrough, PA, Naci Dugas-Fortin, FL, Greg Dugas, ME, Charlie Lee, NJ, Jim McGoldrich, MD, Ken Andres, NJ Dave Cymerman, NJ, Hal Chappel, PA, Pierce Richardson, GA, Kelly Witt, NE, George Wescott, NJ, Manny Ortiz, Jr., FL, and many more. If you compare this list of volunteers to the NISOA Hall of Fame and Honor Award you will see many of the same individuals.
As previously mentioned, the above staff volunteered their time and talents to make the camp successful. In addition to teaching, the clinicians prepared their material (overheads, flip charts, power points) in advance and made sure any other materials they needed for a presentation were available. For many of the years, the clinicians would send their power point presentations to John Kipp, OH in advance. John would format all the power points so they would all have the same general appearance. He would also have them ready in order so that the next presenter was ready to go and the agenda would remain on schedule. Again, this was done on a voluntary basis.
Each year the academy had several memorable moments that were the result of a comment or action by a participant or a practical joke played on one of the staff members. There are far too many stories to tell. One of the most memorable is when Frank Jewell was doing the introduction and stressed that if anyone’s cell phone rang during a session, he would personally confiscate it. Immediately one of the staff called Frank’s phone and it rang while he was in front of the class. One other is when staff arranged with camp security to issue a fake ticket to Don Dennison on his corvette. It was for $100. For a moment all the staff thought Don was going to have a heart attack by his reaction. The comraderies that the staff greatly assisted in developing one of the best soccer training groups in the nation.
Every staff member and participant will always remember how much they learned, how many permanent friends they made and how much fun they had experiencing the NISOA National Academy at Elizabethtown, PA.
