VYSA presents awards each year at its annual Soccer Convention to honor special individuals for their service and accomplishments in soccer.  The awards presented each year are: Girls Recreational Coach of the Year, Boys Recreational Coach of the Year, Girls Competitive Coach of the Year, Boys Competitive Coach of the Year, Administrator of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Young Female Referee of the Year, Young Male Referee of the Year, and the Adele Dolansky Exemplary Service Award.

Michael Rose is the coach to U13boys ODSC Pirates.  ODSC’s main office is located in Virginia Beach.  ODSC’s club philosophy is to provide our players, parents and coaches with the best ’soccer experience’ available through a positive learning environment that breeds individual and team success. 

Coach Rose started coaching the Pirates team when it first started in the recreational level and then continued on the Select level. He is instrumental to the success of the ODSC Pirates Team.  Among ODSC Pirate team’s achievements were:  two-time  Tidewater Advance Soccer League champions (TASL), two undefeated seasons for advance level (TASL), Spring Coastal Tournament advance level second place, two undefeated seasons recreation level, and two-time Spring Fling tournament champions ­ recreation level.. 

Coach Rose believes in the total development of his players by providing the team a supportive and safe learning environment.  He always imparts to his team true sportsmanship, personal development, and academic excellence. 

Over the years, Coach Rose consistently instills in his team the values of respect, discipline, dedication and commitment to hard work.   His enthusiasm and positive outlook provides genuine motivation for the players to work harder and smarter.  He sets team and individual goals each season.  He clearly communicates his expectations of the team’s performance and provides an open dialogue that allows each player to get the necessary feedback on how they can build their skills and improve their game. He develops a special kind of partnership between the coach and the parents.

Coach Rose works very hard in maximizing and realizing the fullest potential of his players while emphasizing the importance of academic excellence.  He encourages the players to have balance between sports and academic - to be able to dream and - to think big so that they can reach newer heights for themselves.   Coach Rose has been very flexible in adjusting the practice schedules most importantly if the soccer practices are in conflict with any academic activities.  He is proud that a number of his players belong in academic honor roll.

Sports are about so much more than winning.  And sustaining youth sports programs takes more than just a parent’s and coach’s valuable time and effort.  That’s why Liberty Mutual created the Responsible Sports Community Grants.  The program helps provide precious financial resources – $2,500 grants – in recognition of local dedication to responsibility in communities across the country.  The $2,500 grant is awarded semi-annually to 20 non-profit youth sports organizations or school athletic programs that have the most participants that pass Liberty’s Responsible Sports Parenting and Coaching program.

The Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports program has given more than $200,000 back to youth sports organizations across the country since the program launched in September of 2007.  The Responsible Sports Community Grant Hall of Fame features the 80 organizations that have earned a $2,500 grant from Liberty Mutual over the past four grant seasons. 

Old Dominion Soccer Club was pleased to be selected by Liberty Mutual to receive their $2,500 Responsible Sports Community Grant earned during the Fall 2008 season.   Jennifer Hoffman and Jessica Hogan, representatives from Liberty Mutual, were on hand March 11, 2009 at the Kempsville Recreation Center to present a $2,500 check and a celebratory cake to the ODSC coaches, managers and board members.

Thank you to all the ODSC parents and coaches for participating.  And thank you to Liberty Mutual.