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[ThiKuBC]

Hi all,

New to the message board. Great stuff. I wanted to let you guys be aware of some changes to the youth leagues north of you which will be directly affecting you guys. Both boys and girls.

BC is developing a HIGH PERFORMANCE LEAGUE

HPL Committee Proposal:
http://www.bcsoccer.net/bcsa/LinkCli...g%3d&tabid=243

FAQ:
http://www.bcsoccer.net/bcsa/LinkCli...M%3d&tabid=243

Proposed League Structure:
http://www.bcsoccer.net/bcsa/LinkCli...A%3d&tabid=298

Scheduling of HPL, in relation to Provincial/National Programs
http://www.bcsoccer.net/bcsa/LinkCli...8%3d&tabid=298

LINKS POSTED HERE on the HPL COMMITTEE progress: http://www.vysa.ca/

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: http://www.bcsoccer.net/bcsa/RotateNewsArticleView/tabid/243/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1378/High-Performance-League-franchise-RFP.aspx

Lengthy Discussion: http://www.takethepiss.com/forums/bc-soccer-general-discussion/16615-new-youth-hpl-league.html

Basics of the League
-HPL will be a total of 8 teams per age-per gender from u13-u18 (I fully expect all HPL teams to have u10-u12 programs playing right along with the u13+ teams, and moving away from the current winter schedule they are involved in)
-HPL teams will have to be able to field u13-u18 boys and girls teams
-HPL teams will have to have adult programs on both boys and girls sides

-HPL will replace current top league Metro (Girls) and Select (Boys)
-Remaining Metro/Select will join with the current "2nd tier" called Gold.
-Metro and Select covered an area from Abbotsford to Victoria and had 11+ teams at each age. Each league was slightly different (not all clubs put teams in both boys and girls and not at all ages)

-HPL will be a spring-summer-fall schedule
-HPL will play in the Super Y League in 2011, start a short HPL-specific league in September 2011-November 2011 before beginning its own full year in January 2012 (tryouts/assessments).
-Coaching, facility, club standards (the minimums) are all listed in the above-provided documents.


Here is where it affects you guys. There is talk of a regional champions league. Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia are all talking at the highest levels about this arrangement. British Columbia is withdrawing from Super Y League (but will keep USL PDL and USL Super 20) after the 2011 summer. It's assumed the winner of the Champions league will be part of such finals as the Super Y League finals (if USL agrees!), or the Dallas Cup, Surf Cup, Disney Showcase (or whatever its called) etc etc. A Canadian team from Ontario recently entered the Disney Tournament and went 1 win, 2 losses (I believe). So they were competitive.

Vancouver Whitecaps will field two teams and join the USSDA (as part of the MLS Academy program requirements). They will take their players from the HPL directly. HPL will select the leagues top players for the Provincial and National training program representatives as opposed to the "tryout" system that was previously in place.

You can be sure that once the province of Alberta clears up its own HUGE mess they will follow-suit (they play the same spring-to-fall schedule) so on and so forth, and sooner than later Canada will have its own USSDA-like program.

As you all are aware the Whitecaps youth programs have been very strong (not only as Whitecaps in Super Y League, but also the affiliate clubs of Mountain, Metro-Ford, and Abbotsford have been in Super Y League for quite some time) and will give your kids a proper game.

In fact, I entered a u19 team into 3 American tournaments (not big ones - StarFire, Baker Blast, and a second one at StarFire) this summer playing teams such as Crossfire and Washington Premier and only lost 2 games (1 v a Canadian Team and 1 v the defending Wash State Champs...can't recall name just now) in the 3 tournaments (mostly against 2nd tier American teams - as best as I could figure). This was just a local, small-club from these parts put together just for the past summer, players aged 14-19. It was not an "all-star" team. We played local Super Y League and Highlanders youth teams and didn't do well against them! (Though we did beat a PDL u18 reserve team from BC). So the Province of BC will be joining your sphere in the 2012 season, and give you guys some good games! I'll definitely get out and watch Whitecaps youth v. Sounders youth.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR COMMENTS.

[Squash]

Welcome aboard...... I moved your post so it would be seen more visibly by the parents of youth players in our state.

Interesting stuff and welcome to WPS-Soccer, I'm sure you will get some response to your.....more as the holiday ends and more people get back to soccer since we are in a break right now from league play.

[Islander]

Does Canada still go with a January 1 date in lieu of our August 1 date for age groups?

[soccerpride]

Very, very exciting! Welcome to WPS, and continue sharing this information. The youth soccer landscape has been changing over the years, but with the introduction of the new MLS teams in the area I suspect this is going to increase both visibility and awareness of the talent, and passion of our youth players.

[ThiKuBC]

Thank you for the greeting.

Yep, Canada Soccer continues with the January 1 to December 1.

My best guess (purely a guess) is for the regional games with the Americans the Canadian teams will adapt to match the American calendar, otherwise we'd always be at a physical and emotional-development disadvantage.

For your info I am a u11 Program Head Coach/Master Coach at one of the clubs which will be in HPL (Abbotsford). I don't expect to be one of the u13+ HPL coaches....

If anyone has questions on the u11-u12 (or younger) age ranges and league set-ups feel free to send me a private message. I've seen some interesting discussions on this board on the topic. I have recommended to my club they make a move to develop u10-u12 HPL teams and remove them from the local winter leagues all together. There are plenty of youth programs around that we could find adequate games and competition even if other HPL teams don't have u10-u12 teams. I have to believe they will as they'll want to get the kids into their programs as young as possible.

[Dragon]

Welcome to WPS, +1 Karma for you for your 1st post

[EWSoccer64]

Sort of sounds like the PDL is taking over everywhere.  Nice twist in that the clubs have to have adult teams as well.

[ThiKuBC]

Yes, I am quite excited by the fact adult teams are required. Not all suspected-HPL franchises (everyone pretty much knows which 8 clubs will be accepted should they apply) have direct adult links on both men's and women's or at all. So either they will have to create their own senior clubs (very difficult and would have to start at the bottom of the winter senior leagues or purchase Super 20/PDL/PCSL franchises), or join with an existing club (in theory the easiest and most direct route.

Not all HPL teams will feed directly into the same senior leagues (which is fair).

If anyone is interested here are the available senior soccer leagues. All of these are strictly amateur.
WINTER
Fraser Valley Soccer League (Men only): http://fraservalleysoccer.com/index.php
Vancouver Metro Soccer League (Men only): http://www.vmslsoccer.com/
Vancouver Island Soccer League (Men only): http://www.teampages.com/organizations/278
(These three are "on par" and compete in Provincial cups against each other)
Vancouver Women's Metro Soccer: http://www.metrowomenssoccer.com/
Lower (Vancouver) Island Women's Soccer League: http://www.liwsa.com/
*These include "lower levels" and u21.

SUMMER
USL Premier Development (Abbotsford, Victoria, Vancouver only)
USL Super 20 (starts in 2011, Abbotsford is only confirmed by you can be sure Victoria and Vancouver will also join)
Pacific Coast Soccer League (Men and Women - - includes u21): http://www.pcsl.org

PDL would be the top of this "ladder" as it were. However, I have no doubt the top VMSL teams would beat/compete with the u23 PDL teams. VMSL has many ex-Whitecaps, College, professional, national team players. Less-so in Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island senior men's leagues. VMSL is a superb league. Prior to going fully professional, the Whitecaps had their players play in this league over winter.

[DJones]

Sort of sounds like the PDL is taking over everywhere.  Nice twist in that the clubs have to have adult teams as well.

Yes, it is like your PDL. It's kinda like a hybred of our Select league and Super Y League, as we hope this will grow into a national league like Super Y or USSDA. Starting a version of USSDA was way to advanced for the minds of Canadian exec's. Besides, the Whitecaps hate local competition.

It would be interesting to see what people's take on PDL and whether it has progressed Washington state or not. At one time So Cal teams use to dominate region IV but not so anymore as WS teams compete quite well... from our view up north anyway.

[ThiKuBC]

Ya, DJ, I too am interested to know if Wash and OR believe these new league structures have helped improve results. The Sounders USSDA team seems to be doing quite well!...

[vusa92blue]

Does Canada still go with a January 1 date in lieu of our August 1 date for age groups?

The rest of the world goes Jan. 1...

[Squash]

Sort of sounds like the PDL is taking over everywhere.  Nice twist in that the clubs have to have adult teams as well.

Yes, it is like your PDL. It's kinda like a hybred of our Select league and Super Y League, as we hope this will grow into a national league like Super Y or USSDA. Starting a version of USSDA was way to advanced for the minds of Canadian exec's. Besides, the Whitecaps hate local competition.

It would be interesting to see what people's take on PDL and whether it has progressed Washington state or not. At one time So Cal teams use to dominate region IV but not so anymore as WS teams compete quite well... from our view up north anyway.

We have done no better than the past......in fact the 5 years before the PDL and even some the the years after the PDL started the teams doing well or winning regionals were not teams from the PDL leagues or timeframe...they were teams not part of the PDL. I think only a couple of the recent successes were so called PDL teams. So in a nut shell it has not proven to improve us at the regional level at all. In fact I would argue some of the doing better on the boys side is a side effect of the Academy teams not being allowed to play state cup/regionals in California. The top clubs in Cali on the boys side of the past are mostly Academy clubs now. On the girls side I believe they still dominate for the most part as well as at the younger ages for boys. 

[ThiKuBC]

Thank you for that Squash. Can I ask, with the new PDL, did increased coaching standards and practice-times come along with the increased playing/league competition?

[Squash]

Thank you for that Squash. Can I ask, with the new PDL, did increased coaching standards and practice-times come along with the increased playing/league competition?

I guess it depends on what you consider standards? I coached before the PDL and during the PDL and offered the same amount of training before PDL and After being in the PDL. I don't feel like it changed anything in the club i was in, which was Crossfire. The thing i personally liked most was having the two seasons instead of one like we used to have. I enjoyed having 10 or so games in the spring and 10 or so in the fall at the younger ages...with the holidays being basically 100% off. I'm not sure how they do it now because I no longer coach and the system changes year to year here it seems like.

I can say I hated the older girls ages where they only play basically a 10 game what I called more like winter season.......because of HS and our state/clubs getting stupid and short changing those ages. Some love it, but to be honest I hated it and always felt like the parents were paying a lot and not getting much because of it. The kids typically hated it too, at least on the girls team I co-coached the last 2 years. They were one of best team at their age in state and had won regionals in the past....state 5-6 times

As for coaches and has it changed some standards. That depends if you think a piece of paper makes them a better coach. I happen to know some D and C license coaches that can coach circles around B, A's ....so i value it much less than parents would. I judges coaches less on wins and more of their teams style of play, ability on the ball, ability to pass, movement off the ball, reading the game, are their heads up, do they understand what to do when under pressure, and many other things. Has it improved that? I'm not sure it has because in so many ways parents, clubs, and most coaches would rather win 1-0 ugly than lose 1-0 and control the game.

I personally would rather lose 1-0 and have control of the game 70-30 and know my players are technically better, than boot it down the field and get a break away and think we are good. It's a mentality I see too often at the fields and I think a big reason why overall american soccer is average on the world scale.

In a nutshell I don't think it has changed much.....I do however think there are more ex-players coming back now and coaching which is improving the overall talent level of coaching. Licensed or not many times they have a decent grip on tactics and fundamentals. It's just a matter of if they can teach/coach it to the players. Some can and some cannot. People tend to forget there needs to be more to a coach that drills/instructions.....it's how they get the players to understand and work for them that typically makes the biggest differences.

[ThiKuBC]

Excellent response. Thank you.

And I do agree with you re: the coaching certifications, style of play over result etc etc etc.

I guess being at Crossfire there wouldn't be much change noticed as they were already "top of the pops." But did you notice any other clubs changing as a result?

[Squash]

Excellent response. Thank you.

And I do agree with you re: the coaching certifications, style of play over result etc etc etc.

I guess being at Crossfire there wouldn't be much change noticed as they were already "top of the pops." But did you notice any other clubs changing as a result?

Well there were other clubs doing a good job before it too. I would say if anything in the early days because they shut out some of the smaller clubs from the league and it forced players to move to the bigger clubs. A bunch of clubs got better but I'm not sure I'd attribute it to coaching or the influx of players, based on players wanting to play in the top league. So some middle tier clubs improved but i think it was more a factor of getting better players from the small clubs shut out by the PDL.

There used to be some excellent coaches at some smaller clubs who lost players, and some of those coaches ended up going to bigger/PDL clubs. I'm not sure it help do anything to be honest besides screw some of the smaller clubs and areas by forcing those kids to drive in order to be in a top league club. I'm not sure overall it had the effect of making things better, because the mentality was and still is about wins and being on a winning team.

Hard to even implement a system of making better players if the club down the road beats you with the fast kid up front and the big legs at the back at the young ages. Wins at these young ages in america tend to make people flock like chickens with their heads cut off, regardless of actual quality of training and playing style. They justify it by saying or thinking in their minds that that was a pinpoint boot and run. Wow billy can really kick that ball and jake is fast...high 5's!!!!

We even made fields smaller at the younger ages and had less kids on the field..9v9, but that just means big leg Billy can score from the 50, so keep booting it!!!!! Honestly american soccer has issues way beyond coaching. Much of it has to do with americans wanting instant results...in soccer at young ages fast fast fast trumps medium and skill a lot of the time. No one here puts value on the long term ability to play a quality game by the time they hit say 14 or 15. They want to boot and win at U-10....sad!!!

[EWSoccer64]

ThiKuBC,

There was a thread on this forum devoted to discussing whether or not the PDL had made improvements (which it had promised) for Washington's teams at regionals.  Until this year, not a single PDL team had won regionals, and there are quibbles about this year.  For the previous years, the PDL teams had provenly underachieved at regionals according to the historical norms of Washington.
The Academies are seperate from the PDL/RCL, and are an outgrowth of the national aspirations of the Big Clubs.    The Sounders FC Academies really should not be viewed in the same light as the Crossfire Academy, as the Sounders have the ODP/EDP franchise and the MLS infrastructure.   That the Crossfire Academy teams are still able to be competitive in the face of this is a credit to that club.
Squash makes many very good points about coaching, standards, and credentials.  Sadly, when it comes to the PDL and even within Crossfire, he is a voice in the wilderness.

Many in this state view the PDL/RCL more as a power and money grab by "professional youth soccer coaches and administrators" than any real attempt to improve the development of the players.   The True Believers in the Piddle believe that it is the savior of all things youth soccer.  But nobody argues that relatively few new coaches have been brought in to coach.

Washington ODP teams (aka Sounders Teams) have recently done better in ODP and similar competitions than we have in recent years.   This is not really attributable to PDL/RCL or the lack of PDL/RCL.   Rather it has to do with the changes within that specific program, from the leadership all the way on down, within the organization.  (some would say with the replacement fo the existing organization and leadership).   So this as well cannot be attributed to the RCL/PDL, and indeed many of the movers and shakers behind the PDL were adamently opposed to the changes that have brought recent success to the Sounders/ODP/EDP teams.  Most astute observors look to the changes in coaching and particularly to the changes in player selection system as the cause.

Any system where there is an appointed elite and restrictions against competition based on proven merit will garner resistance.   In Canada no less than in the United States, there is a belief that the playing field should be fair and even and open to all comers.  The PDL/RCL system contravenes that in the opinion of many.  It may yet end up causing a real full division and seperation in youth soccer in this state.

[ThiKuBC]

Thanks for the excellent responses guys. I think here we will not judge the league on national club titles as our top league wins them somewhat regularly. Of course we feel we should win more often, but really it is Ontario and Quebec who should be winning more often...

Our judgement of increased standards will come from (A) how many local kids make the Whitecaps residency (youth) and other youth Whitecaps teams as opposed to picking up kids from Caribbean, USA, and eastern Canada. Which is the case right now. The second will be judging our provincial team on their national successes. Our provincial teams have been woeful because the best players have not been playing provincial team soccer. Many reasons why this is of course. Cost, distance for travel, having to choose between playing provincial team, men's, or Super Y League etc....more often than not the kids choose Men's or Super Y League. Closer to home, and similar or even higher level of play....catch 22 in many ways.

This new league is going to have provincial team breaks whereby the best from HPL are recruited into the provincial team, rather than being asked to go tryout. Also it will open it up for kids from the other regions of the province. Because currently this is almost no way a kid from outside the Greater Vancouver Region can play on the provincial team, due to distances etc.

So if the provincial team does better, than yes, the HPL has done its job. If the provincial team does better, than more of the top players should be in our National Training Centre Pacific, which means our national team should do better....or at least have BC represented on the national teams more! But in reality...I'll just want to see how many get university scholarships (keeping in mind Canada does not really give out athletic scholarships...$1000 bucks here and there, free parking for athletes etc etc....nothing spectacular. Simon Fraser University might give out better scholarships as they are NAIA....it is my understanding University of British Columbia and maybe even University of Victoria want to join the PAC10, so that would be a big help. SFU would follow them very quickly if not concurrently!).

[EWSoccer64]

No offense, but it is extremely unlikely that UBC or Univ of Victoria would consider joining, or be considered by, the PAC-10, err the PAC-12.   

They just do not have the athletic programs for it.

[ThiKuBC]

No offense to me whatsoever. I guess there are situations where a school has a program in one NCAA Div 1 program, but not in any others. I've heard UBC are very close to being accepted in the soccer PAC10 - but you are right. The only other sport they could think of competing in would be hockey, or who knows....swimming? I don't know!

I guess  PAC10 admission requirements are what would need to be looked-at. UVIC and UBC have dominated soccer for a long time here at the university level, so that wouldn't be difficult.

ALSO, Simon Fraser University is in some NAIA sports and some CIS (Canada University) sports... Anyway, just a rumour.

[Squash]

No offense to me whatsoever. I guess there are situations where a school has a program in one NCAA Div 1 program, but not in any others. I've heard UBC are very close to being accepted in the soccer PAC10 - but you are right. The only other sport they could think of competing in would be hockey, or who knows....swimming? I don't know!

I guess  PAC10 admission requirements are what would need to be looked-at. UVIC and UBC have dominated soccer for a long time here at the university level, so that wouldn't be difficult.

ALSO, Simon Fraser University is in some NAIA sports and some CIS (Canada University) sports... Anyway, just a rumour.

There are schools in the US that have only 1 sport of D1 for mens and 1 for women's ...it is possible. In the US if you have a D1 mens you have to have one for the women as well. The rest can be DII or III for that matter. It just has to be equal for mens and women's here.  I would never say it's impossible foe UBC to be in the pac10

[ThiKuBC]

The Request for Proposals has been advertised and the final decisions for acceptance is mid-February by a "non-partisan" 3-personal panel, to be named. 8 clubs will be selected. It is believed the following will be in;

1. Victoria/Vancouver Island (I believe this will be Highlanders FC - Premier Development club)
2. Okanagan (about 300KM from Vancouver)
3. Abbotsford (30 minutes north of Bellingham)
4. Surrey United (45 minutes west of Abbotsford)
5. Coquitlam-Metro-Ford (a few KM from Surrey, but crosses a bridge so about 30 minute drive)
6. Burnaby? (borders Coquitlam)  or North Shore Vancouver (I believe will link with Burnaby)
7. Richmond? (borders Vancouver to the south, very near White Rock, which has a border crossing - I believe will link with a number of other clubs)
8. Surrey FC or Vancouver FC? (I believe Surrey FC is best-positioned due to perceived-fracturing in the City of Vancouver's youth districts)

These are not only the best clubs anyway, but the "most professional." Other clubs are very ambitious and are approaching the game in the right manner and they might apply

1. North Fraser (basically shares a river-border with Coquitlam - and a club I'd support as a third alternate for entry as the 8th spot, mostly due to geography, but also the program developing there)
2. Langley (would not be accepted on own, but shares a district/border with Abbotsford and should link-up)
3. Chilliwack (too small to enter, but very progressive, and will link with Abbotsford)
4. Delta (will link with a Surrey franchise, or Richmond franchise surely if not accepted on own)
5. Guildford & Whalley (two separate youth clubs, both progressing nicely and would be a third Surrey team applying - but both currently link with Surrey United or Surrey FC at the top youth level)
6. Port Moody (progressive, but likely would have to link with Metro-Ford as they are in the same District)
7. Nanaimo (on Vancouver Island - and like Chilliwack, progressive but too small and isolated)
8. West Vancouver conglomerate (this is a 4-club group linking up in 2011 for the first time. All 4 have loads of history, develop good players, but feed directly into Vancouver FC at the highest level which Van FC provides exclusively in Vancouver - the West Vancouver conglomerate team could argue they are a more appropriate selection than is Vancouver FC, and it would be tough to disagree - I suspect the ducks would not be in order in time though)

So basically that is another 8 clubs that should link directly or apply themselves to join. I think we'll have a first and second elite division (with no promotion or relegation) after the 2nd year of the league. There are a lot of good clubs, excellent people out there, trying to play and teach the game the right way....All of these clubs give each other a good game on their day, but yes the 8 believed-to-be HPL teams are more consistently the best and/or already have all adult/girls programs in place, if not professional associations (Abbotsford with Bolton Wanderers - Pacific Centre of Excellence) and Victoria Highlanders with 3 teams in England including Sheffield Wednesday.

*It is my hope these 8 clubs form their own adult winter programs (with u21 as well) and create their own adult league separate from the current adult leagues. To keep standards high....as the adult leagues can vary significantly from club to club!

[ThiKuBC]

Applications have started to come in. No surprise applications except one Academy. Academies won't be allowed to enter (Academy teams are not in any leagues in British Columbia).

There was no mention in the most recent FAQ about a regional champions league. As most of the immediate focus is on the Whitecaps involvement and "what will happen to my son's silver team in provincial cup!?" (Silver is the third tier). That sort of thing. Will keep you updated when more discussion of a regional league comes up.

[EWSoccer64]

ThiKuBC,

Thanks for the updates from "The Great White North".   It is interesting to hear what our cousins with strong beer in their hands and Maple Leafs on their chests are up to.   

It will be particularly interesting to see if - and how - you are able to avoid the collateral damage that our similar leagues have caused down here.

[ThiKuBC]

That will be very interesting indeed!!!

Well here is a snippet of things to come

Whitecaps Residency defeat Sounders Academy 2-0. http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2011/01/residency-claim-sounders-win-washington-state

Whitecaps will be "drafting" players from the HPL for their u16 and u18 teams (Residency is u20). Are Sounders "drafting in" the best from WSYS? Whitecaps Residency is not purely Vancouver players but rather players from across Canada, USA, and even Caribbean historically. Some Europeans and Africans have also been involved.

[DJones]

That will be very interesting indeed!!!

Well here is a snippet of things to come

Whitecaps Residency defeat Sounders Academy 2-0. http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2011/01/residency-claim-sounders-win-washington-state

Whitecaps will be "drafting" players from the HPL for their u16 and u18 teams (Residency is u20). Are Sounders "drafting in" the best from WSYS? Whitecaps Residency is not purely Vancouver players but rather players from across Canada, USA, and even Caribbean historically. Some Europeans and Africans have also been involved.

The 'Caps had two over-aged players ('91's) in their line-up but also had 5 '94's as well. Arguably, their four best '94's weren't there as they're with the Canadian Under 17 team right now.

[ThiKuBC]

Ya, DJ - they have some excellent ability in the program.

Toure is an overager right?

[DJones]

Ya, DJ - they have some excellent ability in the program.

Toure is an overager right?

Yup.

I just hope that the 'Caps do the right thing and only choose local players from the HPL to develop their Academy players. They won't be able to take players from back east under their agreement with Toronto and Montreal. That way, the HPL's importance increases and players have a real reason for working hard in the league. Coaches also have an immediate and tangible reason for working as hard as they do. Success of club programs will also be exposed. I'd take moving 3 or 4 players into their program during the season and losing a provincial championship any day if that was the case.

Residency and Reserve players can and should be from wherever.

[ThiKuBC]

Absolutely agree with you DJ. It's always been my pleasure to see kids move on to metro from gold and I would feel the same if they move from HPL to Whitecaps USSDA.

[ThiKuBC]

http://www.bcsoccer.net/bcsa/RotateNewsArticleView/tabid/243/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1378/Update-High-Performance-League-franchise-RFP.aspx

11 Proposals received and posted (rumours are a few late bids came in and web page not updated). Regardless...

Of these 11 most figure 7 are locks. Quite the competition for the 8th spot though...

Locks: Island, Okanagan, Abbotsford (Regional reps)*, Surrey United, Metro-Ford, North Shore/Burnaby, Richmond/Vancouver.
*Abby also more than satisfies the requirements for entry)

Battle for 8th: Surrey-Delta Girls/Surrey FC-Revolution FC (SYL)*, South Fraser (White Rock/Peace Arch United - Ladner, Delta, Tsawwassen?), & North Fraser (Pitt Meadows/Maple Ridge, Port Coquitlam, Mission), Sportstown FC/Total Soccer Systems.
*SFC has a large girls program so this is a bit surprising to see them linked....?

My bet is on the Surrey bid getting the spot over South Fraser and North Fraser. North Fraser would struggle to compete as they'd have enough local kids to put in teams, but are not currently represented in all leagues of the top tier (metro) and would really only get castoffs from Metro-Ford and maybe some kids from Langley willing to cross a toll-bridge, who are cast-off by Surrey United or even Abbotsford. The South Fraser bid is adequately covered by Richmond and Surrey United so I see no need to enter them. Re: another Surrey bid being accepted...they more than satisfy the league requirements and the South Fraser kids could certainly go play there as well.  Sportstown/TSS don't have a chance unfortunately. Congrats though for entering a female Super 20 team! (they also have female Pacific Coast Soccer League teams...) Surrey FC/Revolution would field the strongest team in all ages of those 3 competing for 8th - they'd have teams that are "favourites" to win age groups too...

All teams must answer questions re: the adult program links.

Both Surrey's, Abbotsford, and Metro-Ford all have ready-made adult program links on both male and female sides. Even North Fraser can easily link-up with local men's club Golden Ears United (same name as youth program...same club?), but I don't know about female adult programs in that area...ALL adult "questions" are answered on the application form, so must assume anyone who applied

All very exciting, and I know once these are answered more info will come out re: the regional competition with Oregon and Washington.