Rainbow Responses to Questions

Q: How does the Rainbow budget work? Why do I have to pay more in 2004 than 2002? Does Rainbow lose money each year like it did in 2002-2003?

The Rainbow budget has fluctuated over the years. In general, it has broken even, as appropriate for a non-profit. In 2001-2002, because of staff increases, primarily in computer support personnel to bring Rainbow systems up to date, and to implement the online registration system, Rainbow’s operational costs were more than its income. The Rainbow board decided in 2002 to more carefully review the expense accounting so that Rainbow operational expenses could be projected on an annual basis, and expenses could be brought in line with income. We have made upgrades to the accounting procedures to better track budget items, as well as to be able to break out accounting by each league. After lengthy review and calculation of the expenses and income for 2002-2003, Rainbow decided to reduce funding of staff positions, and to make sure each league within Rainbow was not losing money. We are trying to spend as much of our income as possible directly on things that improve the soccer playing experience in Rainbow. The Rainbow board has directed that Rainbow provide annual budgets and accurate expenses, and that each league not lose money. As a result of each league's projected budgets and expenses, the player fees for leagues have all been adjusted (raised in 2003/2004). We have also added a fee to pay for the ongoing field maintenance and to help pay down the loan taken out to fund the field renovations during 2003 and 2004. Beginning in the spring of 2003 we are also placing the Rainbow income and expenses summary online ( 2003 expense summary, spring 2004 expense summary) . Rainbow’s accounting is reviewed annually as part of being a non-profit.

Q: Why were the field repairs on YF1-6 undertaken?

The fields we play on are our most valuable resource. Without the Rainbow fields, the youth leagues would be scattered across the Triangle, and fees would go up significantly to cover the rentals. It is important to us to maintain and protect these fields. Rainbow has been planning to do field repairs or renovations of the Rainbow fields for almost 15 years. The condition of the fields was far from optimal in terms of grass coverage and drainage. The drainage problems were especially evident in the heavy rains in the spring 2003 season. In the summer of 2003, it finally became possible to make repairs (YF3-6) due to planning over the previous year, hard work of the Rainbow staff, fundraising, and several volunteers who have spent hundreds of hours helping in the planning and implementation. In the summer of 2004, we took the additional step of repairing YF1-2. We are also planning to improve fields on the non-gated side; however, additional funding and overcoming the lack of power and water on that side, remain challenges.

Q: How were the field repairs on funded?

A: Planning for possible field repairs has been in discussion for many years. The initial step of repairs on YF3-6 were undertaken through a combination of prior field maintenance savings, grants obtained for field repairs, fund raising (raffle, donations), and the field improvement fee instituted beginning in 2003.  A supporter of Rainbow soccer provided an interest free loan to Rainbow to fund the remaining costs. The loan will be paid down through the field improvement fee and fundraising. Significant donations of labor and equipment work were also provided by Bravatec and Value Building Services.

Q: Who is the Rainbow Board of Directors?

The Rainbow Board of Directors is the group that sets Rainbow policy, and helps give guidance and assistance to the Rainbow Director (Vicky Brawley). There are currently seven members; which is the usual size. One of Rainbow’s directives is to try to get representation from the different groups within Rainbow. The Rainbow Director, is responsible for recruiting new members, and this year Vicky recruited two new members to fill empty positions. The present members and their backgrounds are:

Vicky Brawley: President, Director of Rainbow. Vicky is Rainbow. She has been here since the inception and has guided Rainbow through 30 years, providing an outstanding community service. She has done everything and anything for Rainbow Soccer. Jorge Izquierdo (2001), from Peru, has been linked to Rainbow for 10 years as a father and player (Wisely). Because of his Latino origin, Jorge was invited to join the Board in 2001 to act as a liaison with the rapidly growing Latino community in Chapel Hill and North Carolina; he has been in contact con Latino families of limited income to help recruiting children to play soccer in Rainbow through scholarships. Jorge has also helped with field work (spreading sand in muddy areas) in several occasions. Brad Hemminger (2002, Vice-President and acting Secretary until a new board member volunteers :-) and Pam Hemminger (2002, treasurer) have 4 kids that have played a combined 26 years of Rainbow soccer. They both coach and referee youth soccer. Pam has coached Rainbow recreational soccer (coed, most ages) for 9 years. She currently coaches the Meteorites. She has also assistant coached Chapel Hill United teams. Brad has coached Rainbow recreational soccer for 8 years (covering all the Rainbow age groups, both coed and girls), and Chapel Hill United for the 4 years. He currently coaches boys and girls CH United teams, and a Sunbow recreational team. He lead the change to 7v7 for all youth recreational leagues, and no goalies for the youngest age groups.   Mike Strand (2003) has coached competitive and recreational soccer for several years. He has made a major investment in helping develop the competitive soccer leagues within Rainbow. He helped found Chapel Hill United, he founded the Advanced Development league, and he helped bring about the integration of TFC challenge program with CH United’s. He has worked with Bill Cederberg to bring the Carolina Courage and UNC men’s and women’s teams to our fields to run clinics for our players. He also put on the first Rainbow Raffle in 2003, and the 3v3 tournament in the spring of 2004. Gary Bird (2004, long time Wisely coach and player, also heads the fundraising committee) and Bob Jenkins (2004, youth recreational coach) are recent additions to our board and bring excellent expertise.

Q: Why isn’t there more field space available for practice (or games)?

There are many soccer players in Chapel Hill, more than there is currently field space. Rainbow Soccer rents fields for practices and games at Scroggs, Lincoln, Smith, Homestead, Orange Methodist, Sewell, Ephesus and Chapel Hill High. We have to compete with several other organizations to have access to these fields, all while not exceeding our budget. We are trying to make “neighborhood” practice locations available close to families to minimize travel time. When you sign up for a team, you can indicate location as a preference. We are also moving more games for some leagues to higher quality fields away from Rainbow. Currently adult and most youth competitive games and practices have moved from Rainbow fields. Many youth recreational teams and some Wisely teams have taken advantage of non-Rainbow fields for practice. We are working closely with local organizations to develop and later utilize fields that will be coming available in the near future (Meadowmont, Southern Community Park, and the new Durham Elementary School) to offer additional choices to youth and adult leagues.

Q: I play in Wisely. The new fields (AF3-4) are really nice. I thought we were supposed to get time on them beginning this year (fall 2004)?

You're right! We are trying to give Wisely time on the new (nice!) fields. Our goal is to provide that quality of field to all our players. The Rainbow fields are our most valuable resource. That is why we have invested so much to improve them. It is also why we are so careful about maintaining them. If the fields are torn up we cannot afford the cost to repair them (over $100,000 per adult field), nor the downtime. This is what has happened at both Homestead and Scroggs. We were directed to only allow only youth on the fields the first year (2003-2004), and recommended to have adults use flats based on our high level of usage beginning the second year. Our 2003 plan was to phase in Wisely using AF4 in 2004-2005, which we are doing. Because the renovation to AF3 and AF4 was so successful, we have pushed ahead with renovating AF2, which similarly is unavailable to adults for the first year. Additionally, the Scroggs field is closed. We also have more players than ever in our youth leagues. As a result, we are facing the worst field shortage in the history of Rainbow in the fall of 2004, especially for practice times. Rainbow met with Wisely prior to the fall 2004 season to discuss this, and get input from Wisely. One of the fields we were able to secure was the Ephesus School field, which is lit. Wisely choose to utilize this field in addition to AF1. Wisely's expressed desire is for two full size lighted fields for practice (to allow later playing times). We are working hard to make additional quality fields available for Wisely and all groups. Meadowment should come on line in the spring 2005. Southern Community Park we believe will be well suited for adult play with multiple fields and lights. In the interim, though, we are having to ask many teams in all leagues to practice in different locations, or to share spaces. Gary Bird, the Wisely representative, provides the Rainbow Board with input, and each season we meet with the Wisely coaches to present options and determine the best choice of fields.

Q: I play in Sunset. We used to play on AF4. Will we play there this season (fall 2004)?

We currently do not plan to have Sunset play on AF4. We have been renting the Smith field, which is largest and one of the best available. Sunset has indicated they are happy with this field. We expect that we will continue to rent quality fields like Smith, and in the future Meadowmont and Southern Community Park for adult play.

Q: Why have the Sunset fees gone up so much?

Once Rainbow had accurate expense accounting it was realized that Sunset was losing a substantial amount of money each year. The fees were adjusted in 2003-2004 so that Sunset will break even. For more details on specific leagues and their expenses see budgets and pie chart reports in the fall 2003 open house meeting slides. Contact Juan, your representative if you have further questions.

Q: Why have the challenge (CH United) fees gone up? And why is only one tournament instead of two paid for?

Similarly, CH United's fees have been adjusted so that their league breaks even financially. Note, this league and all leagues are still excellent values compared to other soccer choices. See comparison slide in the fall 2003 open house meeting slides.

Q: Online registration seemed like a great idea; why did it have problems?

We believe the online registration system will greatly simplify the time and effort it takes for people, especially families with repeating players each year, to register. While the concept is great, implementing it requires a fair amount of technical computer skills. Rainbow was lucky to have Andrew Arnold on staff in 2002-2003 and he implemented the initial system. Unluckily, Andrew’s departure in March 2003 left us with an untested system, and when it was first used to register people for the fall 2003 there were problems. Andrew is helping to make the needed fixes to the system from Charlotte where he has moved. While we have had growing pains during the 2003-2004 seasons, we hope in the long run this will be a significant improvement to our registration and accounting.

Q: Why so many changes in 2002-2004?

Many big changes have occurred. These were due to the long range vision of Vicky Brawley, the President, and to staff personnel and new Board members. Andrew brought together the online registration and new computer databases. Dave Gunnels and Mike Strand have made Chapel Hill United (Challenge competitive) program a complete and significant program in the area. Antony Ellis has developed and enhanced the Sunbow program. New board members have brought their expertise in youth soccer development, accounting, planning, construction, and university and town politics to bear on the significant problems facing Rainbow. As result, we have a balanced budget, new field renovations, additional playing and practice fields, new youth playing formats (7v7), more complete website information, online (web) Rainbow budget and policies, and a new Advanced Development Youth Program. We feel like we have accomplished a lot in the past two years. There have been growing pains, but we believe in the long run, the changes undertaken this year will represent some of the most positive changes in Rainbow soccer’s history.

Q: I’m concerned that all the changes are helping the competitive soccer aspects, but not the recreational ones.

There have been a lot of changes, including several with respect to competitive soccer. The changes are mainly due to volunteers spending the time to make things happen. In the case of competitive soccer, several significant changes have occurred. First, “challenge” soccer officially became “Chapel Hill United” and became recognized by NCYSA. Second, Chapel Hill United has combined efforts with the Triangle Futbol Club (TFC) to offer a more substantial challenge level soccer program in Chapel Hill, while at the same time allowing TFC to continue to provide a higher “classic” level soccer program. This gives Chapel Hill players a path upwards to higher level teams if desired, while at the same time strengthening our challenge program. Third, there has been an increase in training and coaching clinics for players, and for coaches. All CH United coaches are now paid licensed coaches. Lastly, an Advanced Development League has been formed to provide high quality training for the younger ages (6-9 year olds). All these changes have occurred, however, without impacting Rainbow resources. They have been done through many hours of volunteer time, in particular by Mike Strand. CH United has a positive budget balance, and they have moved 95% of their practices, games, and clinics off the Rainbow fields (because of overcrowding, to obtain better quality fields, and to facilitate the recreational leagues).

Rainbow has also worked hard on changes for the recreational leagues. Many volunteer hours have been invested to improve the recreational situation as well. Two very significant changes occurred in the fall of 2003. First we converted all the youth games to 7v7 from 11v11 (that were not already 7v7). Second, we significantly improved YF3-6 in 2003 and YF1-2 in 2004. This is primarily to benefit the recreational leagues (both youth and Wisely) who use these fields Monday-Saturday as well as the youth competitive leagues who use them on Sunday afternoons.

Last updated 2004-09-08