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[bigb]

The PSPL doubles in size for 2011; Spring League is biggest ever
 

Registrations for Puget Sound Premier League fall and spring leagues have doubled over the previous year, continuing the trend of significant and steady annual growth for the only sanctioned US Club Soccer league in Washington state.

Total spring league registrations climbed to 308 teams for 2011 -- up from 155 teams in Spring 2010. For fall 2010, the number of teams registering jumped to 235 teams compared with 111 teams in Fall 2009.

The total number of registrations for fall 2010 and spring 2011 stands at 543 teams compared with a total of 297 teams registered for fall 2009 and spring 2010.

"This has simply been amazing growth that reflects the desire to redefine and revamp competitive youth soccer in this state. We are bracing for an avalanche of registrations for fall 2011,'' says PSPL president Stanley Holmes. "The PSPL is growing because we give all players the opportunity to try to play at the highest level they can reach without imposing unrealistic financial strain on families, teams and clubs. We are growing because we are open, we are fair, we are cost effective, we are diverse and we care about the players and the clubs. For the PSPL, it's all about the soccer and what's best for the game."

Beyond the steady growth of our leagues, the PSPL recently completed its first Pacific Coast Super Cup showcase tournament that attracted 77 teams (U14-U18) that pitted Washington, Oregon and Idaho teams in a novel, two-legged regional competition. The tournament took place over two weekends that guaranteed five games--one weekend at Starfire in Washington and one weekend in Hillsboro, Ore. The Super Cup was sponsored by the PSPL and the Oregon Premier League, a US Club Soccer league.

The tournament succeeded in attracting college coaches from Washington and Oregon schools and has led to several players receiving serious interest about playing for some local college teams.

Interests is also strong for the Washington Cup tournament that is set to kick off end of April and first week of May. The competition -- open to all Washington clubs and teams regardless of affiliation -- is contested over two legs. First round is round robin format and the second leg is the knockout round.

Dates for the Washington Cup: April 29-May 1 and May 6-8. First round matches will be played at the Recreational Athletic Center (RAC) in Lacey, Wash. and knockout round will be played in Auburn or Lacey.

[metz123]

"This has simply been amazing growth that reflects the desire to redefine and revamp competitive youth soccer in this state. We are bracing for an avalanche of registrations for fall 2011,'' says PSPL president Stanley Holmes. "The PSPL is growing because we give all players the opportunity to try to play at the highest level they can reach without imposing unrealistic financial strain on families, teams and clubs. We are growing because we are open, we are fair, we are cost effective, we are diverse and we care about the players and the clubs. For the PSPL, it's all about the soccer and what's best for the game."

Highest level they can achieve unless they want to play in the Super League, Then the traditional - Good old boy network kicks into full speed.....

    * SUPER LEAGUE STANDARDS: Entrance into the PSPL’s top league depends on clubs meeting certain standards. These stricter standards do not apply to Classic and Copa leagues. They include:
          o Affiliation with a recognized club.
          o Clubs must have a Coaching Director with a minimum "C" License or what competition committee deems to be equivalent coaching credentials and experience. Clubs have 18 months for DOC to earn a "C" license and then begin working for a "B" license, or its NSCAA or European and South American equivalent.
          o NSCAA Director of Coaching certificate also suffices until earning "B" license.
          o Club must be composed of a minimum of five teams.
          o Club must produce a recognized player development plan and/or demonstrate a track record of quality player development and/or a history of competitive excellence.
          o Clubs must meet minimum field expectations. Super League matches must be played on quality turf or grass fields. Home team must provide a full crew of officials including a qualified Referee and 2 Assistant Referees.
          o All of these factors will be considered when evaluating teams that want to play in the Super League.

[Rock27]

gee I thought PSPL was suppose to be the "great new thing"  You're right - sounds like small building blocks that will morph into something bigger.  Then can you see it coming?  It's PSPL against the RCL for a new crown.

[SoccerFlicks]

Choice seems good to me

[PSPL]

"This has simply been amazing growth that reflects the desire to redefine and revamp competitive youth soccer in this state. We are bracing for an avalanche of registrations for fall 2011,'' says PSPL president Stanley Holmes. "The PSPL is growing because we give all players the opportunity to try to play at the highest level they can reach without imposing unrealistic financial strain on families, teams and clubs. We are growing because we are open, we are fair, we are cost effective, we are diverse and we care about the players and the clubs. For the PSPL, it's all about the soccer and what's best for the game."

Highest level they can achieve unless they want to play in the Super League, Then the traditional - Good old boy network kicks into full speed.....

    * SUPER LEAGUE STANDARDS: Entrance into the PSPL’s top league depends on clubs meeting certain standards. These stricter standards do not apply to Classic and Copa leagues. They include:
          o Affiliation with a recognized club.
          o Clubs must have a Coaching Director with a minimum "C" License or what competition committee deems to be equivalent coaching credentials and experience. Clubs have 18 months for DOC to earn a "C" license and then begin working for a "B" license, or its NSCAA or European and South American equivalent.
          o NSCAA Director of Coaching certificate also suffices until earning "B" license.
          o Club must be composed of a minimum of five teams.
          o Club must produce a recognized player development plan and/or demonstrate a track record of quality player development and/or a history of competitive excellence.
          o Clubs must meet minimum field expectations. Super League matches must be played on quality turf or grass fields. Home team must provide a full crew of officials including a qualified Referee and 2 Assistant Referees.
          o All of these factors will be considered when evaluating teams that want to play in the Super League.

Metz: The Super League criteria are meant to create standards that clubs and teams can commit to over time. Deserving teams that produce solid track record will be accepted into the appropriate league/division. The criteria is not meant to restrict teams or clubs but serve as a goal to attain better standards. We all want to improve. The rules have been revised to reflect this belief in a vision to reach higher standards. The PSPL welcomes all teams -- as long as they want to compete.

[ThiKuBC]

Is there not a fear of watering down the playing field?


For example, British Columbia has just created a youth Premier League and restricted it to 8 franchises (boys and girls, u13-u18 and required to have an adult male and female program attached to each franchise). With respect of course our population is much smaller. Not sure what Washington's population is but Greater Vancouver's is only about 2-2.5 million and the rest of the province (another 2 million people) is so sparse it would not be able to compete in a premier league level.

[metz123]

"This has simply been amazing growth that reflects the desire to redefine and revamp competitive youth soccer in this state. We are bracing for an avalanche of registrations for fall 2011,'' says PSPL president Stanley Holmes. "The PSPL is growing because we give all players the opportunity to try to play at the highest level they can reach without imposing unrealistic financial strain on families, teams and clubs. We are growing because we are open, we are fair, we are cost effective, we are diverse and we care about the players and the clubs. For the PSPL, it's all about the soccer and what's best for the game."

Highest level they can achieve unless they want to play in the Super League, Then the traditional - Good old boy network kicks into full speed.....

    * SUPER LEAGUE STANDARDS: Entrance into the PSPL’s top league depends on clubs meeting certain standards. These stricter standards do not apply to Classic and Copa leagues. They include:
          o Affiliation with a recognized club.
          o Clubs must have a Coaching Director with a minimum "C" License or what competition committee deems to be equivalent coaching credentials and experience. Clubs have 18 months for DOC to earn a "C" license and then begin working for a "B" license, or its NSCAA or European and South American equivalent.
          o NSCAA Director of Coaching certificate also suffices until earning "B" license.
          o Club must be composed of a minimum of five teams.
          o Club must produce a recognized player development plan and/or demonstrate a track record of quality player development and/or a history of competitive excellence.
          o Clubs must meet minimum field expectations. Super League matches must be played on quality turf or grass fields. Home team must provide a full crew of officials including a qualified Referee and 2 Assistant Referees.
          o All of these factors will be considered when evaluating teams that want to play in the Super League.

Metz: The Super League criteria are meant to create standards that clubs and teams can commit to over time. Deserving teams that produce solid track record will be accepted into the appropriate league/division. The criteria is not meant to restrict teams or clubs but serve as a goal to attain better standards. We all want to improve. The rules have been revised to reflect this belief in a vision to reach higher standards. The PSPL welcomes all teams -- as long as they want to compete.

That was fast. I like the revised rules and guidelines. Kudos to the PSPL for showing flexibility and publicly stating that on field performance determines league placement, not aristocracy and taking continued steps to be a truly open league.

[Left Foot]

Do any of the folks on the list below get paid to run the PSPL?
Title   Name   Address
Director   Holmes, Stanley   
Treasurer   Lockwood, Dale   
Director   McDonald, Phil   
President   Lockwood, Dale   
Secretary   Parry, Ted   
Director   Hanbridge, Vance   
Director   Serpa, Scott   
Director   Maqueda, Felipe   
Vice President   Martinez, Dan   
Director   Ball, JImmy   

Do any of the folks listed above also serve on the board or as DOCs or other club officials at the club level?

[Left Foot]

Do any of the folks on the list below get paid to run the PSPL?
Title   Name   Address
Director   Holmes, Stanley   
Treasurer   Lockwood, Dale   
Director   McDonald, Phil   
President   Lockwood, Dale   
Secretary   Parry, Ted   
Director   Hanbridge, Vance   
Director   Serpa, Scott   
Director   Maqueda, Felipe   
Vice President   Martinez, Dan   
Director   Ball, JImmy   

Do any of the folks listed above also serve on the board or as DOCs or other club officials at the club level?

Looks like some of them do. Jimmy Ball stands out as someone with other soccer related business interests. Now, do any of these folks get paid for running the PSPL?Especially any of them who operate in a decision making capacity of any club sending teams to the PSPL?

Why the dead silence?

[Left Foot]

Do any of the folks on the list below get paid to run the PSPL?
Title   Name   Address
Director   Holmes, Stanley   
Treasurer   Lockwood, Dale   
Director   McDonald, Phil   
President   Lockwood, Dale   
Secretary   Parry, Ted   
Director   Hanbridge, Vance   
Director   Serpa, Scott   
Director   Maqueda, Felipe   
Vice President   Martinez, Dan   
Director   Ball, JImmy   

Do any of the folks listed above also serve on the board or as DOCs or other club officials at the club level?

Looks like some of them do. Jimmy Ball stands out as someone with other soccer related business interests. Now, do any of these folks get paid for running the PSPL?Especially any of them who operate in a decision making capacity of any club sending teams to the PSPL?

Why the dead silence?

Ok then.... bigb, PSPL any input?

[bigb]

LF,

To be honest I can't answer the question, I do not know... I would guess the Pres. and some others get some kind $$$$, I would guess nothing like Doug and Terry.   I know some of the above read WPS and I am guessing they are keeping MUM, not sure why.

[Soccer Wonk]

If as presumed they are organized as a mutual benefit non-profit corporation (where the mutually-benefited parties are the members), there is no obligation for disclosure except to each other. Washington Nonprofit Miscellaneous and Mutual Corporations Act. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=24.06.160

[Left Foot]

LF,

To be honest I can't answer the question, I do not know... I would guess the Pres. and some others get some kind $$$$, I would guess nothing like Doug and Terry.   I know some of the above read WPS and I am guessing they are keeping MUM, not sure why.

Thanks bigb. PSPL, surely you know! Why keep it a secret? Do any of the Directors or others listed above get paid? Are any of the folks that get paid, also in paid or other positions with the very clubs that have decided to join the PSPL?

Very simple question.....

[lester]

LF,

To be honest I can't answer the question, I do not know... I would guess the Pres. and some others get some kind $$$$, I would guess nothing like Doug and Terry.   I know some of the above read WPS and I am guessing they are keeping MUM, not sure why.

Thanks bigb. PSPL, surely you know! Why keep it a secret? Do any of the Directors or others listed above get paid? Are any of the folks that get paid, also in paid or other positions with the very clubs that have decided to join the PSPL?

Very simple question.....

I don't know anything about paid positions in the PSPL, either.   It never occurred to me to ask. $350 seemed like a reasonable league fee, maybe a little high, the RCL is only $250, but still reasonable.

Last Fall the PSPL had 128 teams in their U11 and older leagues; the league fee was $350 per team (not per player).  That only comes to $44,800.   I don't know what expenses there are to running a league but according to the WYS budget it cost them $8479 to put on the State Leagues in 2009.  So, using that figure, any paid employees only had $36K to divvy up amongst themselves.

Somebody does all the work in the PSPL, teams just sign up and play.  12 games for $150 less than WYS charges for 10.   Dist III is even a better deal, but the teams won't stay there.

[Left Foot]

LF,

To be honest I can't answer the question, I do not know... I would guess the Pres. and some others get some kind $$$$, I would guess nothing like Doug and Terry.   I know some of the above read WPS and I am guessing they are keeping MUM, not sure why.

Thanks bigb. PSPL, surely you know! Why keep it a secret? Do any of the Directors or others listed above get paid? Are any of the folks that get paid, also in paid or other positions with the very clubs that have decided to join the PSPL?

Very simple question.....

I don't know anything about paid positions in the PSPL, either.   It never occurred to me to ask. $350 seemed like a reasonable league fee, maybe a little high, the RCL is only $250, but still reasonable.

Last Fall the PSPL had 128 teams in their U11 and older leagues; the league fee was $350 per team (not per player).  That only comes to $44,800.   I don't know what expenses there are to running a league but according to the WYS budget it cost them $8479 to put on the State Leagues in 2009.  So, using that figure, any paid employees only had $36K to divvy up amongst themselves.

Somebody does all the work in the PSPL, teams just sign up and play.  12 games for $150 less than WYS charges for 10.   Dist III is even a better deal, but the teams won't stay there.

Not a real issue unless the very folks that are making the decision to play in the league also stand to profit financially from that same decision. If that is the case here, and PSPL refuses so far to tell us, doesn't that bother you? When someone decides to hitch their wagon exclusively to US Club Soccer, don't you want that to be a decision on behalf of the kids free from an outside profit motive?

[lester]

LF,

To be honest I can't answer the question, I do not know... I would guess the Pres. and some others get some kind $$$$, I would guess nothing like Doug and Terry.   I know some of the above read WPS and I am guessing they are keeping MUM, not sure why.

Thanks bigb. PSPL, surely you know! Why keep it a secret? Do any of the Directors or others listed above get paid? Are any of the folks that get paid, also in paid or other positions with the very clubs that have decided to join the PSPL?

Very simple question.....

I don't know anything about paid positions in the PSPL, either.   It never occurred to me to ask. $350 seemed like a reasonable league fee, maybe a little high, the RCL is only $250, but still reasonable.

Last Fall the PSPL had 128 teams in their U11 and older leagues; the league fee was $350 per team (not per player).  That only comes to $44,800.   I don't know what expenses there are to running a league but according to the WYS budget it cost them $8479 to put on the State Leagues in 2009.  So, using that figure, any paid employees only had $36K to divvy up amongst themselves.

Somebody does all the work in the PSPL, teams just sign up and play.  12 games for $150 less than WYS charges for 10.   Dist III is even a better deal, but the teams won't stay there.

Not a real issue unless the very folks that are making the decision to play in the league also stand to profit financially from that same decision. If that is the case here, and PSPL refuses so far to tell us, doesn't that bother you? When someone decides to hitch their wagon exclusively to US Club Soccer, don't you want that to be a decision on behalf of the kids free from an outside profit motive?

Its not an issue, as far as I know, for the clubs/ teams that choose to play there.   Its just a league to play in.
Now that you mention it, though, I'd like to know, but just out of curiosity and to keep track of the history for tomorrow.  I'm not going to stress out over the $350 league fee if I never know.  Its the best place for my team to play.

Look how many teams go to State Cups or State League without a thought of who is profiting from their $500 fee.  State Cup teams shell that out and only get two or three games for three months of renting lighted turf fields for practice.  Your own team did it a few years ago, over and over, did you care?  The creation of the Challenge Cup was dependent on team management ignorance or a PDL DOC that would play his B teams there.  Same difference.

Clearly the people that started the PSPL made the decisions to play their own teams there; they started it for their clubs and teams, no doubt about that.    Did they make an exorbitant profit off $12 a kid?   I'm guessing no. 

I don't see how they could have profited off each other when they paid so little per team.   The original league cost, or at least by my team entered, was $200.  A year of two later at a meeting it was discussed that with so few teams involved at $200, it wasn't enough income to pay the expenses (whatever they were, but I believed them to be honest) (sadly, I am who I am and, and with more full clubs joining with real DOCs, I haven't been invited back to a PSPL meeting).

It was a bonus that other teams chose to come to the PSPL.  They came for the same reason that it was started, a chance to play in a league judged by ability. 

The RCL can do leagues for $250; I think the PSPL should probably come down lower than that (since they don't have to kick back $100K of it to WYS) as their numbers approach the RCL numbers, of what, 450 teams?   

It may well happen by next Spring, there are so many slow learners out there.  They hold out thinking they'll be blessed as their association's RCL when there are already a dozen too many RCL clubs than are usable to build the pyramid in Gary White's 'Plan for Success'.     
Raise your hand if you think Washington can field more then six nationally recognized teams?  Or more than two?
Lol.
That's my opinion on that.

[SoccerFlicks]

When someone decides to hitch their wagon exclusively to US Club Soccer, don't you want that to be a decision on behalf of the kids free from an outside profit motive?

Lefty, Lefty....

There is more to being exclusively US Club than profit!

From a team management view, let me give you a very simple example:

My club is one of the area's big supporters of playing US Club.  For my efforts in team management, I am really enjoying the switch if anything thanks to roster rules.

US Club gives a great deal of flexibility for creating, maintaining, and updating rosters.  I can carry a very large team roster, but for individual events (tournaments, leagues and what not) I can create from that large team several traveling squads which makes a super large roster flexible.  Once the roster is created and I’ve checked the team in, the roster is set - which is the way it should be.  From what I can tell, this can’t be done elsewhere – this is said with the understanding that my experience thus far is based on dealing with WSYS vs US Club.

Thanks to this flexibility, my large baseline roster has the potential to create three traveling squads.  This means the players are fully utilized at their present potential with the possibility to change up the rosters as player potential changes.   I can enter the three squads into the same tournament at varying levels or seek out different tournaments for each of the traveling squads – this keeps the potentially benched players active and allows the most talented players access to more challenging situations. 

So far I love the flexibility that US Club rosters offer.

[wit]

For what it is worth, State Associations have that roster flexibility ability also, it just depends on whether they want to do it.

Some State Associations register just player names and then rosters are created, depending on what event you got to or what league you are in. For example if Club A has 40 U13B players, they can name 18 to a league roster, and a different 18 to another league roster or mix and match and for tournament play they can name several rosters if they want.   

They are called STATE VARIANCES And are defined within US Youth Rules

Rule 105. STATE VARIANCES
A State Association may permit variances in Rules 104 and 205 of this policy in the best interest
of developing the sport within the jurisdiction of the State Association. Those variances do not apply to
the state level of US Youth Soccer National Championship or Regional or National League competitions

Rule 104 refers to age groups and rule 205 is roster sizes.. so in other words they are telling a state "do what you want with your rosters if it helps you". The only time restrictions are enforced at US Youth level is for the NCS Series
 

[Spokane_Whistle_Blower]

The bottom line is that WSYSA has been a joke for the past 10 years.

The organization is focused more on bureaucracy and looking after the good old boys than development at every level but in particular the highest level. Outside of Seattle there are clubs and organizations that could if given the chance compete with the best of the best. The problem is that boundary restrictions and short sighted district leadership along with a bias for the old boy’s holds programs back.

Spokane County has 500,000 people. 12,000 youth soccer players and yet only one team that is allowed to compete at the highest level. I am not Shadow bashing as I believe they do a good job but the choice has been taken away from Spokane players.

The RCL was an opportunity to do things properly. Why is any club grandfathered in? Surely to ensure the Technical Directors and DOC's at the "big clubs are doing their jobs properly the membership should be assessed on an annual basis? See below:

The top 8 teams in RCL should be the top 8 teams from the previous year’s state cup

The RCL could run a seeding tournament annually for the rest of the spots and make TEAMS not CLUBS earn the right to play in the league

This is a merit based system "The Big Clubs" also have to perform to be guaranteed a spot at the highest level

Until the state takes control and stops letting "The Big Clubs" dictate the state of play WSYSA will continue to hemorrhage Clubs & teams to the PSPL.

Look at other states throughout the country the WSYSA way is clearly not working. Per Capita Washington has one of the highest participation rates of pre college players. Why then do we have only one team attending Nationals? (Crossfire Premier 95 - McCormick) on the boys side and NONE on the girls side?

[ltg]

no, it hasn't been taken away from spokane players.  any player that thinks they are at the top of their game can try out for spokane shadow and if they make the team they can compete.  the system is set up to gather the best players, not the best teams.  the best players need to get together and challenge each other like they do on the regional and national teams.  naming of a few RCL clubs, is only a gathering place for players who thing they have what it takes. "teams" need to let go of their egos and let players rise to the top.  the team and club is just a name, chosen because of ability to manage over years, high level competition.  it is really about the players finding each other in one place and challenging each other and forming a team to go out and challenge other teams of the top players.

[EWSoccer64]

no, it hasn't been taken away from spokane players.  any player that thinks they are at the top of their game can try out for spokane shadow and if they make the team they can compete.  the system is set up to gather the best players, not the best teams.  the best players need to get together and challenge each other like they do on the regional and national teams.  naming of a few RCL clubs, is only a gathering place for players who thing they have what it takes. "teams" need to let go of their egos and let players rise to the top.  the team and club is just a name, chosen because of ability to manage over years, high level competition.  it is really about the players finding each other in one place and challenging each other and forming a team to go out and challenge other teams of the top players.

And if more of the high quality players develope outside of the chartered RCL clubs, then they are forced to leave their own team and move over to the RCL club, and pay the higher prices that may be charged there, rather than continue to play for the local team and club that developed them.

This RCL system does not reward teams, clubs or coaches for developing and promoting players, it is designed to cover up the deficencies in development at the big clubs. 
If the RCL Club - with it's bevy of paid coaches and administrators, with all it's requirements and increasing beaurocracy, - actually is able to develope talent better, then why is it so afraid to face competition?   Why does the RCL have to require players and teams able to play top flight competition to leave their homes and move into them?   If the RCL club ideal is so great, they should be able to produce the top flight talent on their own, instead of pressuring and forcing it to join them. 

[ThiKuBC]

I am still wondering if anyone thinks this might water things down?

[Redkard]

Might water things down?

Soccer (sports in general) has been watered down for a while.

Only sports where individual ability (track and field, swimming, skiing for speed or any racing sports) not where others judge their ability is a true measure of one's ability.

Look at all of the leagues a player can play in and the different levels of play.  Then look a the ultimate goal; play on your countries top professional league or of your national team.  Who is responcible for watering down the sport?

Everytime we add a different organization or a different league claiming to be the same or better than the one they are competing with/against the sport is being down even more.

[Futsal]

I am still wondering if anyone thinks this might water things down?

This fall Spokane will have 12 clubs ...

[EWSoccer64]

I am still wondering if anyone thinks this might water things down?

This fall Spokane will have 12 clubs ...

Personally, I think that every team should have its own club, and every club should have its own league.   Isn't that the way things are headed?

[tripleplay]

I am still wondering if anyone thinks this might water things down?

This fall Spokane will have 12 clubs ...

Sounds like a good start. Spokane has twice the population of EYSA, which has 6 WYS clubs. Of course, there are non-wys clubs and numerous other soccer "programs" as well. Soccer isn't the world's most popular sport for nothing, but how many actually play is largely determined by the supply. You want McDonalds to have a monopoly in the restaurant business? I don't.

[Spokane_Whistle_Blower]

no, it hasn't been taken away from spokane players.  any player that thinks they are at the top of their game can try out for spokane shadow and if they make the team they can compete.  the system is set up to gather the best players, not the best teams.  the best players need to get together and challenge each other like they do on the regional and national teams.  naming of a few RCL clubs, is only a gathering place for players who thing they have what it takes. "teams" need to let go of their egos and let players rise to the top.  the team and club is just a name, chosen because of ability to manage over years, high level competition.  it is really about the players finding each other in one place and challenging each other and forming a team to go out and challenge other teams of the top players.

The choice has been taken away but not just in Spokane. WSYSA has created a system that you claim is to "gather" the best players. In actual fact it is a system influenced by the major clubs in the Seattle area that allows DOC's and technical directors at the big clubs to underperform. Lack of promotion and relegation is the scourge of the professional game in the USA and the same is true of the RCL.

Teams are prepared to let their players prosper with other clubs, the problem in Spokane specifically is that SSC Elite and River City SC can both field teams at many age groups which can compete with the Shadow teams. Both clubs have a high caliber professionally licensed coaching staff. So to "gather" the best players with Shadow you are devaluing not only 2 soccer clubs but the employment of numerous professional coaches, field maintenance staff and increasing costs substantially for 1000+ players in the Spokane area.

Your scenario makes soccer elitist in the extreme. Your scenario prices the lower income players out of the game. You clearly have a vested interest in the status quo. Is it not true that by exposing players to better competition it will breed a competitive environment and subsequently success? If that is the case then more access to the so called " top league" is needed. The RCL will only prosper if EVERY TEAM that wants’ to compete at least has the opportunity to qualify to play at the highest level.

[ltg]

i think i just look at it differently.  i have no ego involved.  we have a girl who misses our games and our big games because she goes and practices or plays with another team who did not develop her.  her present team coaches developed her, but they wish her well and off she goes to play and practice with the national team.  a gathering of really good players.  of course she'd love to take her whole team and let them play against the national team, but her teammates are not invited.  she was gathered, it really is about developing players and then letting them go when it is time to encourage them to move up, just like the rec coaches letting go of their best players and encouraging them to go select.

[Spokane_Whistle_Blower]

i think i just look at it differently.  i have no ego involved.  we have a girl who misses our games and our big games because she goes and practices or plays with another team who did not develop her.  her present team coaches developed her, but they wish her well and off she goes to play and practice with the national team.  a gathering of really good players.  of course she'd love to take her whole team and let them play against the national team, but her teammates are not invited.  she was gathered, it really is about developing players and then letting them go when it is time to encourage them to move up, just like the rec coaches letting go of their best players and encouraging them to go select.

The point is that specifically in Spokane, Shadow is not always a "move up" They flatter to deceive at most age groups. What incentive is there for Shadow to improve their product when they know from year to year they are part of the old boys club?

You mention ego repeatedly... if ego is indeed not a factor then surely by granting more clubs the CHANCE to qualify for RCL the cream will still rise to the top. Why the resistance to more competition?

[ThiKuBC]

So you agree then there are too many teams and thus it isn't really "Premier"?