I posted this on GotSoccer yesterday, but the passionate string on proposed new super premier league trying to solve problems that don't exist prompts me to post this about a problem I think does exist. Excuse me if you read it on the other site.
************************************************************************************
"OK, this is not only a GU16 topic so I feel safe to raise again some issues I have been harping on for years. Circumstances in Current GU16 P1 point out problems with current calendar. Why does WSYSA play its most important matches of the soccer year during winter in the NW?
Now that we have relegation (which I support), key games that determine the fate of up to half the teams in the top 3 premier leagues in the state are played at a time when weather conditions not only affect play, but also affect where, when and if play can even occur. I think this is dumb.
For State Cup, we stretch the most important tournament of the year out over 2.5 months in winter, forcing trips over the passes, shoveling of snow off fields or dealing with wind and deep puddles to play. Not exactly ideal for identifying State Champs. Then State Champs have tryouts, get rusty, lose focus, and usually lay eggs at Regionals versus fresh and hot teams from other states. The current situation helps no one I can see.
On top of this, either boys or girls are going to have to play their highschool seasons on top of club play because we are told we don't have enough fields or refs to play football and both school soccer leagues in the fall (but see below). This issue will probably never be fixed to everyone's satisfaction, but I suggest the following as a possible new soccer calendar for the club year that reduces the role of weather in our most important games:
July/August - soccer year begins in late June-early July after Regionals with try outs, club teams reform. Club teams play in tournaments and friendlies through summer. Family vacations. LPTs held in mid to late August.
September/November - club teams play a few friendlies and participate in local tournaments. No league play during highschool soccer, for girls at least.
November/December - club leagues play season #one (practice season) - short season with 6 weeks of games. Games cancelled for weather, kids injured from school ball? No big deal.
December/January - soccer outdoors is strictly optional, teams play in indoor leagues or friendlies outside.
Febraury - mid month perhaps a quick tournament (think Pac-10 b-ball) over one weekend for each premier league to warm up for season.
March/May - formal league play starts in March (season #two), goes through May. Figure out how to squeeze games into 3 months versus 3.5 months now.
May - shortened State Cups (get more refs*) with Champion by early June.
June/July - Regionals, Nationals, summer tournaments, and family vacations
*10,000 adults play soccer in the Seattle area alone. If 1% more of them agreed to be trained as refs to provide a community service that would be 100 new refs. Think about it. kn"
Author
Topic: Relegation and State Cup in winter? (Read 424 times)