Thank you to person who is sharing the survey mentioned in the 'VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE* ABOUT UST AND DIX HILLS SC' post...Parents,
I want to thank you for taking the time to take the survey. If you have not done so yet here is the again. Please share it.
With such a tremendous response, I would like to share some more facts with you that came from the questions that many of you have asked via email. I will lay them out in Q&A format:
1- Did UST pay for the lights at Middle Earth?
As we have for years, DHSC rents lights under an expectation that every team that uses the field pays a portion of the rental cost, this has always been the arrangement and every DHSC has paid without complaint. The fee was $35 per team per session, which only covers about half of what it costs the club. UST has not paid for any of the light usage for the 2019/2020 season and currently still owes DHSC $4,135.2- Did UST pay for the Indoor facility during the winter at Half Hollow Hills school?
No DHSC, rents the school gymnasium and pays that bill. UST trained teams there and was paid handsomely to run Intramural clinics. UST did not reimburse DHSC for the use of the gym at all.3- Did UST pay for Chestnut Hill fields or Burrs lane to run camps last year or this year?
No, in 2019 Half Hollow Hills SC charged DHSC $3,500 to allow camps to be run by UST at Chestnut Hill. UST did not reimburse DHSC for any of these fees even though they do not share any camp revenue with DHSC.4- What other disagreements is UST referring to? He tells us that DHSC would not give the players a “better environment or opportunity to play”?
There were only two disagreements that we are aware of:
a-
Uniforms – UST requested that the UST crest be placed on all shirt. DHSC instructed UST that this was not possible because the town permits the fields to DHSC as a non-profit, community club, and UST is a for-profit, private entity. DHSC compromised by allowing 2 shirts, a home shirt with the DHSC logo and an away shirt with the UST logo, to ensure that the DHSC shirt would be worn on our permitted fields. In retrospect, any compromise was a bad idea given that UST was obviously trying to build its own brand, distinct from the club, likely in anticipation of this move.b-
Summer field permits – The town charges a premium for the fields if camps are going to be run. UST asked to run camps this summer but given that UST still had not reimbursed the club for the 2019 camps, we declined to pay for the premium fees unless UST agreed to pay the difference. UST declined the option. The UST website still indicates that camps are being offered on DHSC fields when in fact that is not true.When did UST notify DHSC about the shift?
Unfortunately, never. We found out via the refund requests. In fact, on June 22nd, UST confirmed to the DHSC Board that all players would be returning in the fall, and we were asked by UST to open the Fall registration at that time, which occurred the next day. This was re-confirmed at another meeting with UST on June 29th. UST knows that all registrations are non-refundable, yet it allowed the parents to register with DHSC as they normally do, fully knowing that it planned to change directions and leave those parents dangling.
Can’t DHSC sue UST?
Possibly, but we would prefer it not come to this. Instead, many people in high places within the leagues and other clubs have come to our aid, as no one wants to encourage this sort of behavior. Given the recent consolidation of leagues in Long Island, we are very unsure where UST will end up playing given the horrible reputation they have created. We are also communicating with NY Surf, as we believe they were unaware of UST’s antics.I have paid UST already, even for last Spring, so how will I get my money back?
Unfortunately, this is a challenge. While Kozy criticizes DHSC for “only” crediting $85, this was out of necessity as we had expenses that continued to be accrued and required payment, no member of DHSC board or any of its volunteers are financially compensated. Meanwhile, during the spring season UST did not provide refunds.
If I remain with DHSC, will there be a team for my child to play on this fall?
Yes, if we get enough players. If parents let us know of their intentions, we could let you know when critical mass is reached by campaigning to the team parents as we have done already with success. If we do not get enough players return to field a team at a particular age, then DHSC will do everything in its power to obtain a roster spot on one of the neighboring clubs to ensure that you do not miss out on a season of soccer. DHSC has already been in touch with HBC, Northport, South Huntington, Deer Park and North Babylon, all of them are disgusted by what has happened and everyone is willing to help the Dix Hills community survive this.
Even if people like the training or their team, how can they agree with this?
Great question. We believe parents should reconsider the values they are teaching their children by continuing to work with and pay an organization that starts out in this way. Regardless of any of the he-said-she-said, every parent knows it is 100% true that they were sent a contract from UST under the assumption that this was a supplemental training fee and that they would play at DHSC. UST did not mention that they were leaving the club at the time the parents were asked to sign. We know parents like the training…that is why we hired them. But there are lots of trainers out there who are honest. UST is not. Martin Targett
President
Dix Hills SC
president@dixhillssoccerclub.com
www.DixHillsSoccerClub.com
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