MASA founder Bill Swinkey stepping away from youth soccer organization after 34 years
After 34 years Bill Swinkey is stepping down as Chairperson of the Monroe Area Soccer Association (MASA).
Swinkey, who started the program in 1989, will be retiring from his position after the fall season.
“My daughter loved the game, so when we found out the city was going to drop it, six or seven of us ran it by word of mouth to get kids,” Swinkey said.
For the first three years, the league stood alone, not belonging to any organization until 1992 when they gained recognition from Michigan State Youth Soccer (MSYSA).
The program at one point grew to as many as 1,200 kids until Ida and Dundee started their own soccer leagues, but the Monroe league still boasts impressive numbers with this year’s count being around 600 or 700 participants, Swinkey said.
Ironically, the man responsible for helping provide soccer to so many in the region never played until his later years. Swinkey graduated in 1971 from Monroe High and expressed disappointment that the sport wasn’t around when he was in school.
“Soccer wasn’t really around when I was kid, but I’ve always enjoyed the sport," he said. "I did play in an adult league and learned a lot."
Learning about the game is something he hopes has been passed on during his time as the head of MASA, but he believes there’s much more to learn from the sport.
“It teaches the game of life,” he said. “You can’t always have your way and you certainly don’t always get your way in soccer.”
The game of life sometimes includes losing and he hopes that it’s something participants learn to do amicably.
“Every kid has to learn to lose and learn how to lose graciously,” he said. “And I hope they never forget to have fun and to make new friends out there.”
Swinkey said he would encourage kids to start pickup games, especially with others that they don’t know.
“Everything is so competitive," he said. "There are no pickup games where it’s just all about enjoying the game. It’s really a shame."
Throughout the years, Swinkey and his wife Loretta have been in a balancing act looking for a happy medium between family and soccer. Loretta has been on the MASA board for 20 years and is currently the Registrar and Treasurer.
It hasn’t always been easy for the couple.
“It’s been interesting. We’ve differed on things at times,” Swinkey said. “If there was a game or a family outing, it was a big decision, but together we always worked it out.”
Those tough decisions between the sport and life will get a little easier this spring, but Swinkey admits that he is not sure what he’ll do to fill his time.
“I’m going to have to find something to do for 25 or 30 hours a week this spring,” he said. “But it was time to pass the torch.”
Swinkey wants the league to continue. He already is working to get people to fill the positions left by him and Loretta, noting there will be an election in November. Finding someone who embraces sportsmanship and puts the kids first is paramount in a successor, he said.
“It’s about the kids—boys and girls of all ages," Swinkey said. "I want them to come here and have fun while learning sportsmanship. They’re the future leaders of the world."
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: MASA's Bill Swinkey stepping away from youth soccer after 34 years
