So just what has the IHSSCA done?

According to Hillner, the IHSSCA has:

*Created a voting system and procedure to honor players and coaches similar to the procedures used by the NSCAA - regional representation based on membership. We currently have 15 sections for the boys and 14 sections for the girls. This procedure is continually evaluated and fine tuned. This process has been going on for the past 37 years.

*Created and expanded the awards system for boys and girls to include All State, All Sectional and Honorable Mention All Sectional. Player of the Year awards are given as well. We currently recognize 60 players as All State, more than 300 as All Sectional and more than 150 as Honorable Mention All Sectional. Each school that becomes a member of the IHSSCA is guaranteed at least one player awarded one of the above awards each season.

*Improved communication with the IHSSCA by installing a very modern and up-to-date website. The IHSSCA distributes a membership directory every two years.

*Members of the IHSSCA Executive Board serve as committee chairs for the NSCAA facilitating the recognition of Illinois HS players as All Midwest and All American. I know Ned Grabavoy and Andrew Duran have been named National Players of the Year. The IHSSCA also takes the same leadership role to recognize Illinois coaches for National Coach of the Year honors. I know Barry Jacobson, Jim Burnside and Julie Bergstrom have received that award.

*Expanded the awards system for coaches and schools to include local ( regional ) winners as well as state winners for Sportsmanship and Coach of the Year. In the past 15 years, more than 200 schools and coaches have received sportsmanship or coach of the year recognition.

*Provides a boys and girls honors banquet to recognize the award winners mentioned above. Last year, the boys banquet was attended by more than 800 people and the girls banquet was attended by more than 600 people.

*Created an IHSSCA Hall of Fame to honor deserving players, coaches administrators, referees and friends of high school soccer. A nomination process was established and a selection committee was organized. The process includes the induction of no more than one person per banquet.

*Created and continues to change and improve a Senior All Star Game. Last year, we had five games involving more 150 players. The All Star Game has anywhere from 50 - 100 college coaches in attendance each year.

*Worked along with the Chicago Fire to create and organizer a High School All Academic Team for boys and girls.

*Established various sponsorships ( Puma, Kelme, Brine, AthletiCo, Soccer Plus ) to provide various benefits to players, coaches and schools.

*Marketing agreement with the NSCAA to provide clinics, coaching licenses and reduced memberships for our IHSSCA members.

*Established an agreement with Toyota Park and the Chicago Fire to have a permanent IHSSCA Awards Area at Toyota Park. This area will recognize players, coaches and teams ( schools ).

*Has continued to work along side the IHSA to try to improve HS soccer as much as possible. The Executive Board of the IHSSCA listens to and supports its membership as much as possible when it comes to issues with the IHSA. However, the IHSA is its own entity and makes many decisions regardless of the opinions of the IHSSCA or other sources. Beth Sauser and the IHSA have been very willing to meet with the coaches at the State Tournament and with IHSSCA Sectional Coordinators and Officials at pre-arranged locations in the Bloomington or Chicago area locations to discuss the needs of coaches and to explain some of the new policies of the IHSA.

"As President of the IHSSCA, I feel my role is to oversee and maintain the mission statement of the IHSSCA which is to perpetuate and improve the sport of soccer at the high school level in all aspects," Hillner said.

Additional information regarding the IHSSCA may be found at ihssca.com.

- Joe Trost