GFR Falling apart?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You notice how all the supporters don’t comment on the other lawsuits… I guess those are made up as well?

It’s a different NM? He’s coach of the year 2018, does so much for kids? The club is more than the 4 teams he cares about. He’s supposed to support everyone in the club not just his people

It’s literally the same NM dude Total Futbol is one of the parties

Also he doesn’t pay everyone at the club??? His coaches are paid by him and that money is to support his coaches and him. The Total Futbol partnership was a contractor thing, ask any of his coaches

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:That board member is one of the people who cares about where people's money going. Some people don't care that people are making $500K+ a year to be "directors" and coach their 2-3 teams while not caring about anyone else... others are part of those 2-3 teams where they get all the perks so they love them

So it sounds like they were just jealous that someone else created a product that was a valuable commodity. Also if this was necessary, why couldn't it wait until the end of the season... AFTER TRYOUTS!!!! They did undeniable harm to the club that will take some time to undo. They seriously hurt recruitment at a time that the club was doing well and turned GFR into a laughing stock and allowed the vultures from neighboring clubs to constantly post on here trying to pick the bones of our carcass. All for what? They were upset at someone else's negotiated and approved salary (which btw, includes an ENTIRE staff of coaches, not just 2 guys).

So you think it's right for the ED to make deals and "unions" with other clubs and pay ridiculous amounts of money, and get kick-back from that as well because why not?
You're supposed to be the head of a non-profit organisation, not find ways to steal people's money for your benefit.

You are talking about rumors, nothing that has ever been proven. If you don't see how hard RS works for the community and are just making these statements based on what you've heard, you should be ashamed of yourself. If you have proof, please share. As a non profit, everything they should be available to the public so go ahead and share this information and your source for it.

I absolutely agree! All these accusations and zero proof because it doesn’t exist.

It’s fair to say that all of these claims on this blog are accusations, but I would like to think someone on the inside would know there’s truth in this. He put his full name on this opening himself up to criticism. Everyone’s asking for transparency and then get upset when they’re telling you what’s going on.

nobody is telling anyone what's going on, they are making accusations but no details or further information is provided. why would this 1 board member have more information than the rest of the board who have been around for years and if he did why didn't he discuss it with them? all board meeting minutes are public, is there record of him presenting his "findings" that he is alleging?

This is where transparency comes in. Board minutes should be public and we should be pressing them to publish them. And it’s obviously not just one guy on the board making these claims! There have been multiple instances of multiple board members coming forward saying the exact same thing. And if you think this entire situation is only a board problem, it’s certainly not. This could only happen with the knowledge and support of admin, coaches, and parents. I’m not supporting either side but it obvious that this is a club-wide problem and transparency is key in this matter.

Multiple members? You mean the Rec Bored Dads?

They have kids involved in the teams and don’t get paid unlike two other board members. This is a kids soccer club, that’s mind boggling to believe you’re more entitled to an opinion just because you’re paying for a kid in travel soccer. That’s incredibly out of touch. If you’re so concerned about your money, don’t worry it’s not going to those dads.

Didn’t these Rec Bored Duds say at the coaches meeting that there was NO financial irregularities. They assured the coaches that this was not a financial fraudulent issue…. YET now Kind Dud Super Mario has to save face because he got his a$$ handed to him. So now he backpedals and implies there is financial issues without proof provided. Just conjecture to stir the pot and sink the club further than he already has. This damages the WHOLE club (Rec and Travel). Guy is trying to save his reputation even if it means burning down the place.

I dont know man I wasn’t at the coaches meeting but if these guys have told you plenty of times after that it’s financial irregularities (via emails, zoom meetings, etc.) I don’t know why you’re holding on to one thing they said that one time. You’re dunking on a guy that resigned from the board and told you exactly why. The club has been surrounded by rumors for years. Just bc this all blew up now doesn’t mean it’s a new thing.

Just to add to the above (as I am OP): I’m not on either side just a little bit of a low blow to pin it all on a lie from one guy as if it’s something not corroborated by others in the club. I’m trying to get a full picture

Don’t play morale high ground on me. Low blow is Super Mario implying fraudulent shenanigans and never proving it. He’s the one that went out of his way to ruin the reputation of innocent people simply because he was jealous. And whether it was one time or not he said unequivocally that there was no financial irregularities. End of story.

He harmed our kids teams along the way and now we’re supposed to feel sorry for him as he still takes his parting cheap shots.

And again the story is the one thing that was said that one time that was again taken back in the board meeting and resignation letter. No moral high ground here and no need to get all bothered.

How’s he harmed the kids teams? Kids are getting offers and it’s the same number offered as last year. Seems like the same turnover for coaches as pretty much every year. I don’t feel sorry for the guy, he resigned. Talking about taking cheap shots while calling the guy names. Classy coach you are. Hope my kids not on your team.

Okay snowflake Super Mario. Clearly here stalking on the boards posting as a bystander. Who can quantify how many people turned away during tryouts because of your nonsense. Numbers could have been better than last year but now we’ll never know.

[Anonymous]

I’m not Mario but if these are the people who work for the club I don’t know about being here. You guys talk like Trump and clearly don’t care about the parents. You care about your own paychecks and that’s whole picture. I can leave knowing that my DD is going to miss out an a coach like you. Stay in your league…which is ECNL-RL? I’ll take the McLean offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not Mario but if these are the people who work for the club I don’t know about being here. You guys talk like Trump and clearly don’t care about the parents. You care about your own paychecks and that’s whole picture. I can leave knowing that my DD is going to miss out an a coach like you. Stay in your league…which is ECNL-RL? I’ll take the McLean offer.

LOL Mario is the one who tried to pull a Trump, firing people first and asking questions second.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who wasn't there:

-Board asked candidates about 501(c)(3) twice. Makes it seem like the nonprofit status might be at risk and there might be some abuse w finances.
-Board asked candidates about willingness to take swift action regardless of loyalties
-Board asked candidates about financial conflicts of interests with current board members. Specifically, if they had paid money for services like private instruction.
-RS did not post a question along with three other sitting board members. His allies?

TLDR: Lawyer is our new board member

New email out from GFR emphasizes “Board majority” so assuming a divide now on Board between “Team RS” and others, does this mean the new director is Team RS? Does new director have kid with a coach that was let go/reinstated? Otherwise, who is the “majority”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who wasn't there:

-Board asked candidates about 501(c)(3) twice. Makes it seem like the nonprofit status might be at risk and there might be some abuse w finances.
-Board asked candidates about willingness to take swift action regardless of loyalties
-Board asked candidates about financial conflicts of interests with current board members. Specifically, if they had paid money for services like private instruction.
-RS did not post a question along with three other sitting board members. His allies?

TLDR: Lawyer is our new board member

New email out from GFR emphasizes “Board majority” so assuming a divide now on Board between “Team RS” and others, does this mean the new director is Team RS? Does new director have kid with a coach that was let go/reinstated? Otherwise, who is the “majority”?

Mario resigned yesterday which is what likely tipped the scales to "Team RS" or, more accurately "Team Who Wants Functional Soccer Club"

[Anonymous]

Anyone here have Guidestar account to pull and post most recent 990 for EIN 51-0226159?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone here have Guidestar account to pull and post most recent 990 for EIN 51-0226159?

Does this work? https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/510226159/202120799349300802/full

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone here have Guidestar account to pull and post most recent 990 for EIN 51-0226159?

more recent :

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/510226159

[Anonymous]

I don't think you will find any useful information for the recent allegations if the belief is that they are based on payment to NM. He only started working with the club in 2024 at least publicly and forms for that year probably haven't even been filed yet

[Anonymous]

I am a current GFR parent, U10-U13 girl side. I know nothing about the Board conflict except the rumors circulated here. We’ve been with GFR since pre-travel and, while there’s always something to complain about, we’ve generally been happy with our DD’s development, the coaching and training, the other girls, and other parents, and we’re probably inclined to stick it out. That said,

(1) This whole mess has definitely been harmful to the players. Boys side, oldest and U-Little girls, maybe not so much except the hit to the club’s reputation. But the middle range of girls whose coaches were impacted by this have been hurt. Multiple teams are on their third coach for the season. Different training and playing styles. Lack of consistent messaging and chaos.

(2) The timing of the disruption has also been harmful. Just before the spring season begins, less than a month before tryouts. Lack of clarity on coaching slates. People from the interim regime who had little experience with the girls involved in making 2025/26 offers. The interim regime sent out offers on Sunday even though everyone knew there was at least some uncertainty about coaches until the board meeting Monday evening. Now the new/returning club leadership and new coaching slate will have to figure out how to address these pending offers. I know for a fact that several talented girls in this age range have gone to other clubs because of the chaos and uncertainty, and maybe more yet to come. I hope we have clarity on the final coaching slate going forward soon and the club can retain a solid core of players.

(3) Nothing I have heard about what happened with the ED and TF seems sufficient to justify this level of disruption. If there were some issue with the club’s arrangements with TF/NM, why couldn’t the board work that out in the off-season? The arrangement had been in place for more than a year. What changed? Why the need to blow everything up suddenly in early April? Maybe there was a reason but no information has been shared that supports this, and ordinarily the whole purpose of having a board is to work these things out together, not to make sudden and precipitous moves that will hurt the club.

(4) I have no inside information but the rumors on the board here suggest TF/NM was getting something like $480k-$500k per year. But those complaining about that amount ignore the fact that this was for 7-8 coaches covering 18-24 teams. I don’t know what coaches typically are paid or what other services the contract had TF/NM providing on top of coaching, but even if these numbers are right and it was all just for the coaches, that would just be something on the order of $20k-$25k per coach per team. Given that professional coaching is the primary thing we’re paying for and club fees per team are in the $36k-$45k range, these numbers don’t seem crazy. Since all the coaches need to be paid, I don’t see how anyone’s getting rich off this.

(5) GFR club fees are comparable to other clubs. So far we have gotten coaching and development that we were pleased with for those amounts. As long as that remains the case, why should parents care whether, on the backend, the coaches are employed directly by the club or though a contractor? I understand why there might be disagreements and jealousy among the coaching staff if some have more favorable arrangements than others, but that’s always the case in any business if some employees are more valued than others. As long as everything is legal and reasonably fair, all that seems to matter is whether the players are getting the experience that they paid for at a price that’s competitive with other clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a current GFR parent, U10-U13 girl side. I know nothing about the Board conflict except the rumors circulated here. We’ve been with GFR since pre-travel and, while there’s always something to complain about, we’ve generally been happy with our DD’s development, the coaching and training, the other girls, and other parents, and we’re probably inclined to stick it out. That said,

(1) This whole mess has definitely been harmful to the players. Boys side, oldest and U-Little girls, maybe not so much except the hit to the club’s reputation. But the middle range of girls whose coaches were impacted by this have been hurt. Multiple teams are on their third coach for the season. Different training and playing styles. Lack of consistent messaging and chaos.

(2) The timing of the disruption has also been harmful. Just before the spring season begins, less than a month before tryouts. Lack of clarity on coaching slates. People from the interim regime who had little experience with the girls involved in making 2025/26 offers. The interim regime sent out offers on Sunday even though everyone knew there was at least some uncertainty about coaches until the board meeting Monday evening. Now the new/returning club leadership and new coaching slate will have to figure out how to address these pending offers. I know for a fact that several talented girls in this age range have gone to other clubs because of the chaos and uncertainty, and maybe more yet to come. I hope we have clarity on the final coaching slate going forward soon and the club can retain a solid core of players.

(3) Nothing I have heard about what happened with the ED and TF seems sufficient to justify this level of disruption. If there were some issue with the club’s arrangements with TF/NM, why couldn’t the board work that out in the off-season? The arrangement had been in place for more than a year. What changed? Why the need to blow everything up suddenly in early April? Maybe there was a reason but no information has been shared that supports this, and ordinarily the whole purpose of having a board is to work these things out together, not to make sudden and precipitous moves that will hurt the club.

(4) I have no inside information but the rumors on the board here suggest TF/NM was getting something like $480k-$500k per year. But those complaining about that amount ignore the fact that this was for 7-8 coaches covering 18-24 teams. I don’t know what coaches typically are paid or what other services the contract had TF/NM providing on top of coaching, but even if these numbers are right and it was all just for the coaches, that would just be something on the order of $20k-$25k per coach per team. Given that professional coaching is the primary thing we’re paying for and club fees per team are in the $36k-$45k range, these numbers don’t seem crazy. Since all the coaches need to be paid, I don’t see how anyone’s getting rich off this.

(5) GFR club fees are comparable to other clubs. So far we have gotten coaching and development that we were pleased with for those amounts. As long as that remains the case, why should parents care whether, on the backend, the coaches are employed directly by the club or though a contractor? I understand why there might be disagreements and jealousy among the coaching staff if some have more favorable arrangements than others, but that’s always the case in any business if some employees are more valued than others. As long as everything is legal and reasonably fair, all that seems to matter is whether the players are getting the experience that they paid for at a price that’s competitive with other clubs.

ALL OF THIS!!!! I am an older boys parent, some teams have still not gotten offers yet. These are teams that won National and Regional titles and because of this drama with RS we don't even know who our coach is for next year. This is some of their senior year in high school and they have played for GFR since there were 4 or 5 years old and MANY have left the club over this. We are holding out hope that there will be a resolution since the email that went out this morning but so far still have not gotten offers.

I know Mario resigned but the other 2 board members that allowed this to happen should be held accountable! They either didn't know or didn't care how this would affect the club. Honestly, Mario should be held accountable in some way as well. Is he still coaching???

The amount of money they are spending on lawyers, lost income from all of this has GOT to be worse than any financial discrepancies the club might have had.

My understanding is that Mario and the other 2 never even formally confronted the BoD with these issues they supposedly found and then no-showed to the BoD meeting on Monday!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a current GFR parent, U10-U13 girl side. I know nothing about the Board conflict except the rumors circulated here. We’ve been with GFR since pre-travel and, while there’s always something to complain about, we’ve generally been happy with our DD’s development, the coaching and training, the other girls, and other parents, and we’re probably inclined to stick it out. That said,

(1) This whole mess has definitely been harmful to the players. Boys side, oldest and U-Little girls, maybe not so much except the hit to the club’s reputation. But the middle range of girls whose coaches were impacted by this have been hurt. Multiple teams are on their third coach for the season. Different training and playing styles. Lack of consistent messaging and chaos.

(2) The timing of the disruption has also been harmful. Just before the spring season begins, less than a month before tryouts. Lack of clarity on coaching slates. People from the interim regime who had little experience with the girls involved in making 2025/26 offers. The interim regime sent out offers on Sunday even though everyone knew there was at least some uncertainty about coaches until the board meeting Monday evening. Now the new/returning club leadership and new coaching slate will have to figure out how to address these pending offers. I know for a fact that several talented girls in this age range have gone to other clubs because of the chaos and uncertainty, and maybe more yet to come. I hope we have clarity on the final coaching slate going forward soon and the club can retain a solid core of players.

(3) Nothing I have heard about what happened with the ED and TF seems sufficient to justify this level of disruption. If there were some issue with the club’s arrangements with TF/NM, why couldn’t the board work that out in the off-season? The arrangement had been in place for more than a year. What changed? Why the need to blow everything up suddenly in early April? Maybe there was a reason but no information has been shared that supports this, and ordinarily the whole purpose of having a board is to work these things out together, not to make sudden and precipitous moves that will hurt the club.

(4) I have no inside information but the rumors on the board here suggest TF/NM was getting something like $480k-$500k per year. But those complaining about that amount ignore the fact that this was for 7-8 coaches covering 18-24 teams. I don’t know what coaches typically are paid or what other services the contract had TF/NM providing on top of coaching, but even if these numbers are right and it was all just for the coaches, that would just be something on the order of $20k-$25k per coach per team. Given that professional coaching is the primary thing we’re paying for and club fees per team are in the $36k-$45k range, these numbers don’t seem crazy. Since all the coaches need to be paid, I don’t see how anyone’s getting rich off this.

(5) GFR club fees are comparable to other clubs. So far we have gotten coaching and development that we were pleased with for those amounts. As long as that remains the case, why should parents care whether, on the backend, the coaches are employed directly by the club or though a contractor? I understand why there might be disagreements and jealousy among the coaching staff if some have more favorable arrangements than others, but that’s always the case in any business if some employees are more valued than others. As long as everything is legal and reasonably fair, all that seems to matter is whether the players are getting the experience that they paid for at a price that’s competitive with other clubs.

But if new to GFR, better to know before tryouts because whatever is going on, house is not stable so better to know that before lock in to non-refundable payment terms.

[Anonymous]

I think (hope?) the board instability is over and although there are, as always, some detractors, I think folks generally like NM and the group of coaches he brought over on the girls side. Can't speak to the boys side. I'm hopeful this is behind GFR and that enough girls return. But would like to see the final coaching slate. Reasonable to wait for info on that before putting down a deposit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think (hope?) the board instability is over and although there are, as always, some detractors, I think folks generally like NM and the group of coaches he brought over on the girls side. Can't speak to the boys side. I'm hopeful this is behind GFR and that enough girls return. But would like to see the final coaching slate. Reasonable to wait for info on that before putting down a deposit.

Are other tryouts still going on? Would have thought those concerned would have already left and needed to be elsewhere and signed in by now… no? Or is it if bring a whole team to another club the club is more likely to take them even if after other club tryouts?