At the May General Membership meeting, the issue of club uniforms was raised.  The use of a club uniform was voted on and approved unanimously by the general membership.

The club board formed a Club Uniform Committee to investigate the best way to incorporate a club uniform.  The committee felt a lightweight reversible uniform would be the best option.  The committee presented the board with several options, including catalog ordered uniforms and local or Tulsa based vendors of uniforms.  The board approved the use of All Seasons Sporting Goods as the vendor for the fall season with a royal blue and whit reversible top, royal blue top, and royal blue soccer socks.

All Seasons was chosen because they are local and their price was very competitive in relation to Tulsa based vendors.  A local vendor means that it is more convenient for parents.  Taxes paid be paid in Sapulpa.  A local vendor also means we are supporting a local business.  The price will be between $30 and $35 for shirt, socks and shorts.  We could have saved a few dollars per uniform by going with a catalog, but the management of club uniforms would have been a tremendous task if we went this way, whether it was run on a team level or club level.

The reasons for going to a club uniform include:

1. Reducing the cost for parents by not having to change uniforms every season and being able to hand down uniforms to other players as well as taking advantage of a bulk buying opportunity.
2. Reducing the requirments of coaches by not having to decide on and find a vendor for a uniform.  The coach also typically finances the uniform and is paid back by the parent which hopefully, but not always, happens.

So, what do you think of the club uniform?

I am glad to see Sapulpa go to a club uniform.  Not having to pick colors or possibly buying a new uniform every season is wonderful.  Also I am glad to see the club go with a local business as you said, this is a good way to support "our" community.

I agree that the uniform may not be the perfect soccer uniform.  Let me first say that the club is in no way tied to one particular uniform nor is it tied to one particular vendor.  We are tied to a color scheme and the concept of a club uniform as the membership voted in favor of this but that is all.  I will say that the vendor that was chosen went above and beyond what any Tulsa based vendor would have done in helping our club and its members end up in uniforms this fall, and I think we all should be grateful for that.

As I said in the original post, our first concern was to keep the cost as low as possible.  The last thing we want is to drive people away from soccer because of cost.  The uniform committee researched this fully and found this uniform to be the lowest cost option.  We also found that the local vendor offered the same price as Tulsa area vendors for the exact same uniform.  Additionally, we knew that we would have to offset colors when using a club uniform, and we found the reversible option was much less expensive than a 2 shirt option.  We could have done it a little cheaper if we had required target jerseys instead of a differing color, but felt it was not worth the small savings.

If there really are known options that are lower cost and at least comparable quality, please bring it to the attention of one of the board members and we will pursue it!  If the style is unaccaptable and there is a better style that is comparable in cost, do the same!  If you want a real voice in the dicisions made, we'd lovehave you on the uniform committee, just let us know.

Greg