Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Dragon]

PULSE #12



COVER



...a WPS reporter goes out to the local pitchs to find the story, and all they find is.........?




The Pulse!  No. #12




COVER STORY & LATEST HEADLINES:



"Player Passes!...is that crap on the pitch?"


Dragon sent a WPS reporter out on the local pitchs this weekend to uncover the story (if there was any), after all the talk generated here on the forum.  Here is that reporters findings:

I started out this assignment not expecting to find anything, and figured I would come to the conclusion that parents were gabbering about nothing. Instead I found a load of Crap!

OK, so we are now 3 weeks into the season and one of the hottest topics along the sidelines was this “Player Pass” deal.  It has also been a hot topic here on WPS the Pulse of Washington Soccer.  

So what the CRAP is going on?  I personally witnessed “Player Pass” violations this past weekend that makes me think that it’s "development my arse".  

Here are just a few examples I wittnessed while on assignment:

Lets see first I heard did not see that a team had 20 players on the bench only 19 played and yet one of the rules below states that all rosters must meet the State maximum even if you use a “Player Pass”. This violates Rule 3(a)(i) below.  Let’s all say it together “What the CRAP”.  

Secondly I heard that a starting “A” team keeper (OK, they need development) played on the “B” team after playing for her “A” team in the morning.  This contradicts Todd’s Lincoln statement below “The Club Player Pass is not to be used to bolster the competitive level of multiple teams within a club by sharing the higher achieving players between teams” All together now “What the CRAP”.

Also I found out that not 1 player but 2 players on different teams played in 3 separate games this past weekend.  This violates Rule 4(a) below.  But before you jump my ass lets take a closer look at this one.  I would say “HEY” we played Saturday and Sunday.  This rule sucks, half my team can’t even play if I follow this rule.  So play both of your games no problem, play in a third game that weekend and I say wrong.  How can a kid develop in their third game of the day. OK, one more time “What the CRAP”.

Anytime you give these coaches an opportunity to read into the rules to benefit them they will take advantage of it.

I even heard a coach trying to explain his reasoning on the Player Pass by saying “The spirit of the rule” states.  Wait a second!! The rules are in black and white.  There is no “Spirit” here.  “What the CRAP”.

Personally the Player Pass if used correctly would or could benefit these young superstars.  But until they tighten the rules up so the “Spirit” does not interfere, then these blatant violations of the written rules will still continue.  Will we ever see Rule 4(b) enforced?  
 
I’ve gone to the liberty of gathering the below information directly off the District 4 website.

Comments from the PDL Committee Chair - Todd Lincoln

The Club Player Pass is a unique feature to the Player Development League. It focuses on the development cycle of the individual player, allowing for shifts in level of play that match the player's progress. Ultimately this is most fair for the player, who gets more opportunities to play at the correct level, and not be forced into higher, or lower, level competition without due consideration.
Players may be moved between teams on a club to maximize their potential through play. Players are still rostered to their original team, but are given opportunities for a beneficial experience at other levels of play.
The Club Player Pass is not to be used to bolster the competitive level of multiple teams within a club by sharing the higher achieving players between teams.


Club Player Pass

This is a pilot program for the PDL only, and is effective for the
seasonal year of 2007/2008.

1) The purposes of the Club Pass System are:
a) To assist in the development of every player by providing a
variety of appropriate competitive playing levels;
b) To allow for mobility of players between teams within a club.
c) To allow for players to compete as registered and rostered
players in PDL league competitions outside of the team the player
is rostered on, but within the club the player is registered to
(Movement limited within PDL division games).
d) To allow PDL teams an additional tool for the development of the
PDL players. It is the responsibility of the each PDL Club as to
whether or not they implement this system.
2) Registration/Rostering of teams and players.
a) Players shall register with a club within an Association per the
WSYSA Administrative Handbook.
b) Teams are rostered in accordance with the WSYSA Administrative
Handbook.
c) This will be their standard and permanent roster.
d) This will also be the roster that will be used for State Cup
competitions.
i) Changes to this roster will be subject to the same rules as
WSYSA, and subject to all State and National cup rules. This
includes transfers, and transfers limits of 5 players. Only 1
WSYSA player card will be issued to each player at any given
time.
3) Movement of players using the club pass system.
a) Players may move between same age teams within their club.
i) All rosters are limited to the State maximums and must include
all Club pass players currently ‘active’ on that team.
b) Players may play up one team age within their club.
i) All rosters are limited to the State maximums and must
include all Club pass players currently ‘active’ on that team.
c) It is highly recommended that coaches communicate with individual
players and their parents/guardians about the temporary movement
of the player and that it is coordinated through the Club
Coaching Director. This will be deemed an internal club issue and
not a state issue. This movement is also not a violation of the
illegal recruitment rules as it is within a club.
d) players may be pulled from other PDL teams within their club to
allow for appropriate numbers for a match.
e) Maximum number of players that can be moved per team per game is
3 for U11 teams and 4 for U12 and up.
4) PLAYING TIME LIMITS for players using the club pass system.
a) For league competitions, there will be a maximum playing time
limit for each player using the club pass of 3 halves of soccer
per weekend.
b) Teams and coaches violating the above restriction will be subject
to disciplinary action by the PDL Committee and possible removal
from the PDL.
5) Governance:
a) Teams will provide the following at all matches:
i) A game day roster of all players the team is using for the
game;
ii) And show valid player passes for all the players the team
is using for the game;
iii) All players and their player passes must be from the same
club;
b) It is the responsibility of the PDL Clubs to ensure they meet all
National Rules on team eligibility.
c) In the case of a question on any game day roster, it must be
mailed within 48 hours of the email request by each coach,
manager, or club official to Todd Lincoln PDL Administrator at PO
Box 1462, Silverdale, WA. 98383 or email a scanned copy to
tlincoln13@wavecable.com.
6) Player Pass requirements.
a) All player passes must have a minimum of:
i) a current picture of the player,
ii) the club name,
iii) the player id #
iv) a team id #
v) must be computer generated
vi) must be signed by player
vii) must have lamination over all of the above.

Thanks for the story!  We here at the Pulse welcome any "rebuttals" to any articles printed




HEADLINES!



"Lighter side of being a youth sports parent LOL"!

Here is a funny article that one of our CP's wanted to share.  It was originally found in SI by Bill Reilly:


I went out to get my paper this morning and found my neighbor Dalton instead.
He was slumped on my stoop, looking as though he'd slept under a marching band. His eyes sported
five-pound bags, his right hand was bandaged and bloody, and his face was sunk like a bad soufflé.
"My God!" I said. "What happened to you? You look like a 20-car funeral!"
"Youth lacrosse happened to me," he grumbled. "The Competitive Elite Lacrosse League. My little
Ashley made one of those 'travel teams.' Pray it never happens to you, dude."
He explained. "See, I really never thought Ashley was all that hot at lacrosse, and she's only 14. But
when she made this competitive team, all the parents said it was a big honor. They said it's the only way to
make your high school varsity, and it's the road to a scholarship, and it looks great on your résumé.
"I'm not even sure Ashley wanted to do it. But all of her friends made it, so she just had to do it.
What was I gonna do? Tell my little girl no?
"Next thing you know, I'm writing a check for $1,500. Then it turns out, they practice or play seven
days a week on these things. And it's clear across town, so pretty soon I'm standing on the sidelines every
day of the week.
"My wife can't do it 'cause she has to take Justin to hockey every day. Why an eight-year-old
nearsighted kid needs a 42-game schedule is beyond me. What is he, Wayne Gretzky? Plus there's pylon
camp and forecheck camp and backward-skating lessons with his personal coach, Hans.
"So pretty soon I got no life. Family dinners? Forget it. Every meal is in the car--righthanded Taco
Bell. I almost never see my wife awake. When I do, I have to ask for I.D.
"Then this lunatic lacrosse coach schedules an extra 6 a.m. practice every day. It's like the old
bottle-feeding days. I'd be like, 'I got her last time. You get her.' And Denise would moan, 'I had to stay up
for Midnight Madness last night. Your turn.' Then, at night Ashley is so tired, we end up doing her dang
homework! And we're gettin' C's!
"Anyway, Ashley and I started flying to all these stupid tournaments--Dallas and Baltimore and, my
God, Ottawa!--and every one is billed as 'the recruiting event of the year!' And do you know who we see at
these tournaments? The same damn girls we used to play in our neighborhood league! Essentially, we're
flying across the country to get our ass kicked by the same exact people!
"So I start talking to these girls' parents, and it turns out they don't really want to be there either,
but their kids were saying we were going to do it, so they had to!
"But then my wife gets to talking to some other moms at Justin's slap shot workshop, and they say
we're crazy if we don't have a 'performance-enhancement specialist' for our kids. So she signs them both up
with one. Then she finds out most of these girls have 'recruiting consultants' who make highlight reels of
kids and send them to college coaches. I'm like, 'She's 14!' And my wife is like, 'You're gonna tell our little
girl no?' Then we add a rating-service guy and a sports psychologist and a webmaster.
"Well, what with me working half time and all this crap I'm paying for and all these trips, I had to
take out a second mortgage. Denise can't work because she's spending every waking moment in a freezing
ice rink, which makes her joints stiffen up. Luckily, Hans knows some New Age massage technique that
makes her feel better.
"So now I'm getting no sleep, turning my stomach into a Dumpster and having less sex than a dead
monk. But before I can put my foot down, my boss does. He fires me! And as he's firing me, he adds, 'By
the way, the average lacrosse scholarship is $1,000, you putz!' So I punch him, and now I think my hand
might be broken.
"I stomp out and go find Ashley to say, 'It's over.' And she goes, 'Whatever. I quit today anyway. My
sports psychologist says you guys push me too hard.'
"Nice. So I go home to tell Denise, but she's not there. Three days go by. I figure she's at the Elite
Competitive Hockeypalooza in Cheyenne. Turns out she moved in with Hans. Says she wants to be with
someone who 'knows' her. Oh, and she really likes massages.
"So now I get home and somebody changed the locks! Probably the mortgage company, since I'm
way behind.
"And do you know what I learned from all this, man? I learned that the most viciously competitive
sport in the world is parenting.
"Anyway, what I wanted to ask you is--you wanna buy some lacrosse sticks?"



THE DUCHESS' OF DUCKVILLE!!



The newly Crowned; "Duchess' of Duckville"!  Leading the Gold Division after this past weekend!

The new dubbed "DOD" team is on fire down in Duckville.  At best they would of been picked to be a 3rd place team at this point of the season playing in the Gold division.  Well all of Oregon is standing up and taking notice after their 6-0 start to the fall season!  They have racked up 6 wins in a row beating some great teams along the way:
vs Sunderland they won 3-2
vs Ginga they won 2-0
vs FC Will. Poss. they won 1-0
vs WSM Energy they won 3-1
vs SSC Ireland they won 2-1
vs Timbers Red they won 2-1
Over all they have 18pts now and sit 9 points ahead of the second place team.  They have also put up 13 goals for with only 5 goals against!  What a great effort from the little Duchess' living way out in the sticks of Bend!  Keep up the great work, we are all proud of you!! :mrgreen:



LEAGUE LOONEYNESS!


"League News!"

First we will look at the "highlighted" games that happened this past weekend:


PAST

Lets see how Dragon did with his GOTW picks in week #3!

BU11 - Crossfire M.  vs  NWN Red - Last two times NW has won, will this be any different? Dragon say - NWN 2-1
WOW!  Was D ever off on this one LOL.  Remind D to never pick boys games again...Final Crossfire 7-1!

GU12 - Lil' Red  vs  Crossfire T. - Think both teams are on a high right now...but..Dragon says - Thomas girls 2-0
Another big match showed that the U12's are going to be a close division this year...Final Tie 1-1

GU13 - Bend Storm  vs  Ireland - Battle of the unbeatens!!!  Could go either way. Dragon say - 2-2 tie!
As you can see in their article, the Ducthess' won 2-1!

GU14 - no games were selected last week :? :cry:


Dragon 0-3 this past week...mmmm bad ju-ju :lol:


For all other game scores go to our new STANDINGS AREA.  For recaps though, you know what to do....please look to our Recap thread for week #3:
http://washingtonpremiersoccer.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=111707#111707
and as always, If there is not enough blah blah blah there for you, then you only have yourselfs to blame :lol:


FUTURE


U11
Crossfire Dev  vs  Eagles Blue Dev - gonna go with the popular choice on this one and follow the little Developmental teams.  Great match no matter who wins!
Dragon says - Eagles 2-1

U12
Das Uberteam  vs  Crossfire T. - What can we say about this match!?  It is gonna be a knock down drag out slobber knocker LOL!  Couple of weeks ago might of had a different prediction, but knowing what D knows....
Dragon says - Crossfire 2-1

U13
NWN Red  vs  Reign Purple - This one needs no introduction.  The undefeated Big Red gals want to stay that way going into their match with Xfire.  Reign want a good showing after falling to the RR gals last weekend!  Should be a great battle!
Dragon say - NWN 1-0

U14
Timbers Red  vs  Crossfire S. - This will be a test for the Timber gals.  Can they step up their game when the #1 team comes a calling.  We will find out.  Should be a knock down, drag out for sure!
Dragon say - Crossfire 2-0


That's it for now.   Will do 4 more "highlighted gotw" next issue :mrgreen:  



WPS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK!!!





*note - had many many nominations this week (thank you).  The winners came down to the wire and was a tough call at each age bracket* :oops:


U11

#6 BLAKE - SNO-HO UNITED H.!
This young stud is the first ever POTW to win it based on his throw ins!  He arms are like canons, and 4 of his throwins lead to goals over this weekend!  Great job young one, Dragon is proud of you! :mrgreen:

U12

#24 JENNA - REIGN PURPLE!!!
Jenna had a wonderful weekend playing hard and being a beacon of team work.  Her overall play helped all her team-mates reach that Heart & Fire level!  Way to go Jenna, Dragon is proud of you little leader! :mrgreen:  

U13

#1 EMMA - CROSSFIRE PREMIER P.!
This little superstar turned into a scoring machine this past weekend, racking up 3 goals over two games in helping to lead her team over NWN Blue and EFC Red this weekend!  Great job little superstar, Dragon is proud of you! :mrgreen:

U14

NONE
Very sad indeed when no one recognizes all the talent out there at the 93 level :cry:  

Thats it for this week, keep those nominations coming in next week!! :mrgreen:  



CRAZY PARENT WATCH:



"Shout out to da newbies"

A few new posters this week that Dragon noticed!  As always lets give a shout out to all the new ones that have taken the time to post at least one post since joining recently:

This week Dragon would like to point out!

Gunner
Bad Boys Girlfriend
Mike O
4soccer
Mr. Underhill
H x C
lurkernomore


As always it is great to see so many new members here on the Pulse of Washington soccer! :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:  :mrgreen:



"A view from the Mini-Van"

Player Development League

Here are my thoughts after listening to and talking to parents over the last few weeks:
If the PDL is truly about player development, and that is exactly what your child’s coach is using it for, why are you complaining about wins and losses?  Every game my child has played in this season could have easily been won “if the starters and stronger players played the entire game,”  meaning the same parent complaining about the wins and losses would have seen their child sit most of the game on the bench, instead of trying to figure out what they should be doing on the field.  I have seen every child on this team play at least half the game if not more… lots of time for development.
Why can’t you see through to the end of the season, and the potential at State Cup Time?  I can guarantee you, your child is having more fun on the field, than if they were watching his/her team win from the bench.  Your child and someone else’s child are only going to improve with field time in different positions.   Some kid that starts out playing sweeper, may end up being that team’s best forward… but the coach won’t know that unless they try to “develop” players in different positions.
Try to sit back, watch and enjoy your kid and your kid’s team.  Think about where they were in May, and where they are now.. and the potential for State Cup Time!!!

"WPS Paparazzi"


Our Staff Paparazzi cont's to do a bang up job on his assignment down by the river.  Here are the latest pictures of the turf field:


 
Looking good for sure!


mmmmm....is this were the final's game of the RC will be played?





"...Out on the Pitch"

Please submit pictures for the newsletter to the Pulse email




young AR:   "I am really nervous, what should I do?"
Experienced Ref:   "well when I am nervous I like to put my hands under my arm pits like this...."

 :lol:  :lol:   Just messing with you Soccrtaxi


**Please continue to send pix's to the Pulse newsroom!  Anything soccer related is welcome!** :mrgreen:  



"Help!  Is there a Doctor in the house?"
*Send all medical questions for "the doctor" to the Pulse email address*

Question for the Doc: "my daughter experience's foot pain after every game.  What are we to do besides icing it?"

Dear Footpain,

The age of the DD is important and the location of the pain. Is she flat footed? Or high arches? Many young ladies get heel pain, called apophysitis. Heel pads in the shoes are helpful. Advil if no allergies. And lots of stretches. Ice after activities. Kids do outgrow this but it can last a season. Physical therapy may benefit refractory cases.
If the foot pain is in the arch or instep, orthotics may be necessary. an extra bone may be seen in some on Xray. It is called an accessory ossicle (os navicular syndrome). Again same RX as above but followup with an Ortho is needed.
Stress fractures can occur so Xrays are needed if symptoms do not improve.

Stay healthy,
The Doc


 

GIRLS U13 NORTH-CALIFORNIA REPORTS!!!

Dragon, we were rained out this weekend.

LMAO!  That has got to be (sorry CP Reporter) one of the funniest comments made ever on a Washington Soccer site...as you may know up here in the northwest, it would have to rain 40days and 40nights to have our games called off :lol:

Good luck to the ChiliPeppers next week!  We will look forward to your next report!  We all hope Maddie is recovering fine :mrgreen:




OTHER NEWS AND GOSSIP AND TIDBITS:



"COACHS CORNER!"

This weeks topic for the coach is "Captains?"

Hey everyone, I received a great question this week:

Captains?
Do you believe that the Captain role should be rotated up to a certain age?
What age is that?
What is the role of the Captain?
What are some of your expectations of the Captains?
 
Captains always sound so important, but for the most part they are pretty much in name only at the younger ages. First thing to do is list the ideal roles of a captain: 1st Leadership. 2nd be the coaches voice on the field. Pretty much anything you could think of that a captain does falls into those two categories. Ex. Coin flip (coaches voice on the field) talking to the ref (coaches voice on the field) running the warm ups (leadership). So if those are what a captain really is then what age can we really expect players to do those things? The answer isn’t a specific age, but generally you will start seeing players develop those characteristc around u15. So then why do we have captain at a young age? Well it’s the same reason that we make kids wash their hands before they eat. Do they know why they are doing it? Not really. However when they get older its natural and then they understand its purpose. Well when they are young they really don’t understand what captains roles truly are, but as they grow older and learn the game more they start to understand.
Each coach has their different philosophy as far as rotating or picking captains. I personally wait till I see the players on the team. Sometimes you have a dozen leaders so its important to rotate. On some you have 2-3 natural leaders. One thing I really look at is a player that is not misses/mister social butterfly because they tend to lose focus easily which can filter down the rest of the team. I do like to have a player which is respected, but has a great work ethic and isn’t afraid to speak up.
Hopefully that helps answer some of the captain questions. Just remember being captain is not the most important thing in the world. Instead think of captains as just a position on the field. Its no different then being a goal keeper. Think about it we put players in goal because they have good hands, don’t mind diving, and lets be honest are a little on the crazy side. We make them goal keepers because of their personal traits. That is the same way we pick captains.  

"VIEW FROM BEHIND THE WHISTLE"

Myths of the Game and other Nonsense

Over the next few weeks in Dragon's newsletter, I’d like to help clear up some common myths in soccer.  My intent is to help increase an understanding of the game and the basis of some referee decisions.  


Watch the pushing ref!

Use of hands and arms to hold or push the opponent is illegal, but hands or an arm in contact with the opponent is not enough evidence that a pushing foul has occurred.  There is no prohibition against players touching or placing their hands on their opponents during play. Players will often legally use hands and arms to cushion contact from an opponent.

The legal form of pushing is called charging an opponent and is performed “shoulder to shoulder.”  The shoulder area is defined to include the shoulder blade, the side of the body, and to some degree the front part of the shoulder.  A charge to the spinal area or rib cage is dangerous, illegal, and merits at minimum a foul and is likely misconduct.

A charge performed with excessive force is also a foul. What would otherwise be a legal charge becomes illegal when it’s done by taking a 10 yard running leap at a player.  The referee sets the bar for excessive force depending on the level of play.

Note that arms are not used during a legal charge (other than to cushion initial contact).  Use of the arms during or after a charge is the easiest way to turn a legal charge into a pushing foul.

A player shielding the ball may be legally charged from behind, but this does not mean they can be charged into their back.  As long as neither player uses excessive force, you’ll likely see both players “pushing” into each other as one tries to legally charge and move around, while the other uses their body to block the charge.

If either player uses excessive force, or uses their arms to block, push or hold the opponent, or their hip to throw the opponent, then they have committed a foul.

"Dear Eggy"




Dear Eggy,

I don't post on the site but am a frequent reader. Why is it that some parents feel the need to go out of their way to post negative things directed at specific players? Do these parents need mental counseling?

Dear Poster,
I am at a loss of words as to why anyone would post negative comments about a child. Do they need counseling? I am not an expert in that area but I believe that only they know why they spew the venom. The one thing that Eggy likes about WPS is that most of the posters are very positive in their comments.

On a personal note- Eggy was declared "Unsportman- Like" for posting the Nemesis scores on Oregon live. He was told by an oppsoing parent that "Eggy only posts so that he can brag"

So you see there is negative everywhere- Choose not to participate.

Eggy Out




"My 2 cents worth...The Posters Voice!"

A SAD DAY IN DISTRICT 6, A FEW SPOIL IT FOR MANY!

**a letter copied from the D6 Commissioner**

To all District 6 members:

It is with a mixture of anger, frustration but mostly deep sadness that I have to inform the membership that the future of District 6 league play is in doubt.  This is also a call to action for the majority who have supported our league.

My anger is a result of the fact that a minority of the membership has created enough problems that the continuation of league play past the fall season needs to be seriously evaluated.  Although the District has worked long and hard to create a league that best meets the need of the WHOLE membership, there remains that group of coaches, teams, clubs and/or Associations who seems to believe that the only thing that matters is what best suits them.

My frustration is over the fact that the District has worked hard to give the membership a chance to say how they want the league structured, abided by the feedback given and yet are criticized for the decisions.  Recognize that District decisions are not made in a vacuum.  The Board has a representative from each Association on the Board and those representatives are there to ensure that the voice of their members is heard.  Each Board decision requires a majority vote from the Board and often the decision is unanimous.  The Board has gone even further in trying to give individual members a chance to express their voice.  Town hall meetings were held throughout the District to let individual members provide their feedback.  The result?  Only a handful of you could be bothered to show up and yet those that couldn’t be bothered now seem to think that they have the right to complain, criticize and attempt to circumvent decisions.  My frustration is simple:  where were you when feedback was being sought?

My sadness is that the District has lost a dedicated, caring volunteer and put our league in jeopardy.  Our Director of Competition has resigned due to the thankless response and criticism that he received on a continual basis.  The saddest part is that the complainers & criticizers were directing their venom to the wrong person.  The Director of Competition does not set the rules.  The Board does and he was simply following the rules (apparently a foreign concept to some coaches, teams and clubs).  The Director of Competition did not set the 12 game season; the Board did and yet he received the flak and political gamesmanship that some chose to play.  The Director of Competition did not set the reschedule rule; the Board did, and yet he was forced to deal with all of the coaches, teams, clubs and Associations that were bound and determined to circumvent the rule or claim ignorance even though the deadline was communicated numerous times.  The “vocal minority” refused to abide by the established communication protocol.  Coaches, teams, and clubs are not even supposed to communicate with the Director of Competition.  They are supposed to address their concerns with their own Association.  If the Association cannot solve the problem, then the Association would communicate with the District.    Unfortunately, the Director of Competition was too nice and in an effort to provide superior customer service he would respond to the emails when he should have kicked them back to the Association.  The thanks he got for his efforts were virtually non-existent.  Rest assured, I will ensure that the next Director of Competition (if we can fill the position) sends improper communication back to the proper line of communication.
 So what does this all mean?

1)   As we now stand, District 6 has no Director of Competition.  The fall league will play out as scheduled, so DO NOT attempt to change anything since there is no one to respond to your requests (or criticism).  Unless someone steps forward to fill this position by January 2008, there will be no spring league.  If the position remains unfilled, the District may no longer offer a league.  I recognize that this seems like a harsh assessment, but frankly, unless this situation changes, I have trouble seeing why anyone would want this position and without a Director of Competition, there is no league.

2)   For all of you members who felt so free to criticize, now is your chance to prove that you can do it better.  I challenge you to be a part of the solution.  Step up and volunteer to fill this position.  If you are truly out for the best interests of the kids throughout the District, then step up and prove it.  If not, then stop your criticism and complaints.

For the majority that has supported the District, this is my call for action:

1)   Demand that your voice be heard.  If your Association has not been soliciting your feedback, then demand that they start listening.
2)   Demand that your Association abides by the decisions of the District board.
3)   Demand that your Association attend the District Board meetings.  Some Associations do not attend on a regular basis.  To me that is inexcusable.  Distance should not be an excuse since the Board meetings are held in Moses Lake.  This means that all of us have the same burden for travel (except Columbia Basin!).
4)   If you are aware of someone being the “vocal minority”, demand that they “step up or step off”.  By that I mean that they either choose to be part of the solution by working with their Association to find a solution that best meets the needs of the membership or else they remove themselves.  Lobby your Association to remove coaches or individuals that refuse to be a part of the solution.  
5)   Attend the town hall meetings and make your desires known.
6)   If you are dissatisfied with your Board (Association level or District level) then vote us out.  The key to a successful Board is a membership that holds them accountable.

 
Finally, I am taking the following action immediately:

1)   I am instructing all of the District Board members and our part time office staff to redirect all calls or emails from coaches, parents, teams, or clubs to their Association.  This is the established protocol and I intend to enforce it before we lose more Board members.
2)   I will be conducting a series of town hall meetings at the end of the season.  The intent is for you to express your desires for the league.  I will start from a clean slate and let you tell me (and the Board) how you would like the league structured.
3)   I am calling for anyone interested in filling the Director of Competition position to email me.  

It is sad that the vocal minority has brought us to this situation, but just as sadly, there are plenty of stories in Corporate America where a handful of dissidents have brought down a company.  I truly hope that District 6 can carry on with its proud tradition of quality competition for its kids, but in order for that to happen, it is time for the silent majority to speak up and reclaim this league.  

Yours in soccer,

Mike Terris
District 6 Commissioner

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO MMMMMMMMMMMMMM?


"Dragon Coachs Interviews!"



NAME: Rob Cowles
CLUB: Tri Mountain Avalanche
Team(s):  Tri Mountain Avalanche '93 GU14
AGE:  38
EXPERIENCE: 8 years.  Currently hold my National D license and would like to obtain my C someday.


Coach Rob wearing lipstick after losing a bet.....



DRAGON: Why did you decide to start coaching kid's soccer?

ROB:  Probably the same reason that most of us get involved.  My daughter wanted to play soccer 8 years ago and the team didn't have a coach.  I volunteered and now I'm stuck!  :lol:


DRAGON: What do you do for a living outside of coaching?

ROB:  Realestate agent for Keller Williams in Vancouver, WA



DRAGON: Who do you think is easier to coach, boys or girls?

ROB:  Boys. Especially at U12 - U14 age.  The girls have a lot more drama going on in their lives and they are at a very sensitive age right now.
Boys just punch each other in the arm and keep playing.
I've mostly only coached girls for the last 8 years though so I'm used to it.  Having a wife and 2 girls at home helps too.  My son and I are definitely out numbered!

     

DRAGON: What is your feelings on the WPS site? (if you have ever read it)?

ROB:  Great information.  There are a lot of great comments and ideas in here.  Some heated conversations but always interesting to read.  I'm pretty new to the site.


 
DRAGON: If you have read it, has anything you have ever read had an influence on what you have done as a coach?

ROB:  Not yet.  But I'm sure if I pay attention I will pick up some good stuff here!


   
DRAGON: What do you think your team's chances are this year?

ROB:  I think we will do great.  We are the defending D5 Champs and I think we have a pretty good shot at winning D5 again this year.
We'll see what happens in State.  I'd like to think that we should finish top 3 for our age / level.



DRAGON: What are your personal goals as a coach?

ROB:  To be a positive male role model in my players lives.  I would like them to learn how to have fun winning and to be graceful when they loose too.  
Someday, I would love to turn on the T.V. and see one of my players playing at an advanced level and think to myself, "You had a part in that."
I'm very proud of who my girls have become both as players and as young women.



DRAGON: Besides yourself (LOL), who is the best coach you have seen?

ROB:  I have a couple:

I admire Garrett Smith from UP.  I like how patient and calm he is during the game.  He trusts his players to play.  I should try that sometime.  

I have also had the privilege of coaching with John Samwel, coach for the Timbers Blue team, for about 4 years.  He's a great mentor.

Most of what I have learned about coaching at the advanced level I have learned from John and Sunny Dulai.
I have my National D license and have taken both my E and D with Sunny as the State instructor.  He's a great teacher of kids and adults.



DRAGON: How long do you feel a coach should coach a specific team?

ROB:  As long as they can keep the players interested.  I've been coaching the same girls team for about 5 years now.



DRAGON: What are your feelings on players "playing time"?

ROB:  My favorite line to my girls at practice is, "Your position is always up for grabs and you never know when I'm watching!"

Zero percent guarantee.  You need to earn it and learn to be competitive, in a positive way, to earn your spot.  Nothing is handed to you.
Another life lesson.


 
DRAGON: If you could not coach with your team tomorrow, name one team you would not mind taking over if you had your pick of any?

ROB:  GU14 Timbers Blue or Red.  Coaching with John or Sunny.

I would also like to coach a boys team from the U11 or U12 age.  Knowing what I know now, I think I would have a better foundation to start with.



DRAGON: What is some thing you would like Dragon to tell the whole world about you?

ROB:  Ok, ok.....I'm soccer12.  Look for my posts!  



DRAGON:  Thanks for the great interview coach!  I think you are the first person ever to "come out of the closet" in regards to their posting ID, in the coach's interview section!  Way to make a statement! :mrgreen:




Guest Editor's, EDITORIAL:

Character - It Starts and Ends with Parents

Soccer is a game, and games are part of life. Teamwork, competition, hard work, passion - these are things we learn as children and develop throughout our lives. While nothiing in life is black and white, there are some simple rules:

1) Respect for elders
2) Respect for rules and those that enforce them
3) Respect for peers - teammates and competitors
4) Respect for self

While many people are involved in the development of our children - teachers, coaches, public figures - it starts and ends with parents. As parents, you choose who interacts with your child. It's up to you to help your child interpret the lessons they receive every day, whether it's letting them draw their own conclusions and make their own mistakes, or making clear what is and isn't acceptable as they form their values.

So the next time you see a coach(yours or the opponent's)  showing disgust with the referee, decide how you want your child to respond to this modeled behavior. The next time you hear a spectator or player make a negative comment about an opponent - mocking their effort, their appearance, or their race - you decide what lesson your child should take away. When your child is affected by what appears to be a lack of fairness (in our out of the PDL, player passes, or whatever other latest controversy comes into the soccer community), you decide how your child can understand and respond in a positive way.

Our children are shaped by the experiences they have, and the models they see - but it starts and ends with parents...

Thank you guest Editor!  That was fun, we hope to do that again in the future!

Thats it for this weeks Issue of the Pulse, hope you enjoy it...and as always never forget to...Play with Heart & Fire, Heart & Fire Always!