| It's Your Magazine, You Can Help (January 2003) |
By Jay Martin
There are three main objectives for this column. First, it is fitting that we say a word about Tim Schum, whose mantle as editor of Soccer Journal I have assumed. Second, I would like to seek input about Soccer Journal from the membership. Third, I have always wanted to know if anyone reads this column.
First, Tim Schum. The transfer of the editorial flag didn’t happen like it did in the June of 1980. That month, the first editor of Soccer Journal, Don Yonker, was asked to change the format and the number of times SJ was published each year. Since its inception, SJ had served as a newsletter-type communiqué published four times each year. The NSCAA was growing and the members of the National Advisory Board at that time believed changes were necessary.
The NAB thought that SJ should become a news magazine that should be published every two months. Yonker, who was the editor for 27 years, believed that he could not really give the time necessary to make these changes. He nominated Tim Schum as editor. The NAB concurred and the rest is soccer and NSCAA history.
For the next 22 years Tim led the Journal from a small newsletter that communicated Association business to one of the most recognized and influential forums for the game of soccer in the United States. In his first Center Circle, Tim wrote:
“In short, the Journal will hope to be a communicative force for the NSCAA as it seeks to become more participatory in scope. The NSCAA is now more than ever an organization of all soccer coaches and the Journal will seek to reflect that fact.”
In addition to covering all NSCAA events, Tim added coverage of and sought opinions about all the major soccer events in the country. He called for the membership to help him and the Journal cover important developments in high school, college, professional and amateur soccer. He called for “...further emphasis in the areas of youth and women’s soccer.” And that was in 1980!
Tim followed through on his own call to action. Under his guidance, SJ changed its format, its style and opened itself as a forum for the membership for coaching ideas, discussion of important soccer issues and as a vehicle of communication for the more than 16,000 coaches who are NSCAA members. Tim made SJ a “must read”
in our soccer world.
It is no surprise that as the association grew into the largest coaches organization in the world and one of the most influential soccer organizations in the U.S., Soccer Journal grew in stature as well. Although there have been a number of soccer coaching publications in this country, none reaches as many coaches across the land as SJ. Tim Schum is the reason. To many of our members, Tim Schum “is” Soccer Journal.
This has not always been easy. The NSCAA is a very diverse group. Each group believes more articles and space in SJ should address their specific needs. High school, college, youth, women, amateur, clubs, pros, et.al. — all want more. When each group believed that didn’t happen, Tim and the Board of Directors heard about it. Tim worked hard to cover all constituencies. And most of the time
he did. Thanks to you, Tim, for your great work with SJ over many years. Enjoy your new-found time and hit
’em straight!
As I said before, this change did not happen like it did in 1980. Tim knew a few years ago that he eventually would step down as editor of SJ. The Board is not asking for a format change or an increase in the number of the magazines each year. It wants to continue the good work started by Tim. So a few years ago Tim asked me to consider accepting the position. There have been only two editors in the history of SJ. It was not an easy decision. There is no way I can do what Don Yonker or Tim Schum did. There is no way I will be the editor for 27 or 22 years — I won’t even live 22 more years. But I will give you my best.
Which brings me to my next point: I want and need your help. The strength of this Association always has been its diverse membership. It is your turn to tell me what is good, bad and ugly about SJ. In casual conversations with many of you through the years, I have heard comments about SJ. Now is the time to be heard once again. There are no guarantees that your suggestion or comments will become part of SJ, but it is clear the Association and the sport have changed. Is it time for SJ to change? More pages? More coaching articles? Discuss serious soccer issues? More for/from women? More for/from youth?
I will guarantee that I will listen to and take seriously all ideas and comments. Of course, I have some ideas that may be implemented, but, like Tim Schum and Don Yonker, I understand that SJ is for the membership. It is your magazine. So help me — or forever hold your peace! And, of course, I want to know if anyone reads this; your input will tell me.
I will do the best I can to serve you. Thank you for this opportunity. |
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