November 2005
PAGE 13
Premier Development in Washington Warrants Discussion
(continued from previous page)
boys' ODP cycle, which both coincide with their
Conclusion
We hope that these ideas can be the basis of a
respective high school seasons put too much of a bur-
broader discussion that would result in improved
den on the players and therefore are an impediment to
strongest team in Washington than the State Champion-
Premier programs in our region. We want to make it
development. It is unrealistic to expect that it is pro-
ships. The league is measured over 14 games where
clear that we believe that a Premier program in soccer
each team plays the other twice while in the State
ductive for a player to play with their high school five
is not unlike an accelerated program at school or the
Championships one bad bounce in single game can
days a week and then for their club on the weekend.
advanced music opportunities that are offered. A
determine a team's fate.
We would like to emphasize the already negative effect
Premier program is for the extremely dedicated player
If the WSYSA Fall League winner (or eventually the
it is having on the girls' side where there is a huge drop
who has shown a strong aptitude for the sport; it fits a
proposed Premier League Champion) is not allowed to
off in registration at U16 and U17, as well as a greater
fairly limited group within our soccer population.
go straight to Regionals, this team at the very least
rate of serious injuries.
Regardless, it is an important subset in terms of
should get both an automatic berth in State
Our proposal is for the girl's WSYSA season to be
developing future college, professional, and national
Championships semi-finals or finals and the state's wild
moved out of the fall to a time that does not conflict
team players who we all enjoy watching and should
card spot if it is a year where Washington is awarded
with their high school season. That would most likely
therefore be thoughtfully addressed. These suggestions
one and the League Champion does not win the State
involve also moving their State Championships date.
are a meaningful step in redirecting our state's Premier
Championships. The team should also be placed in the
The demands on players' time are great and we as
soccer programs in the best interest of the player and
afore mentioned Champions League.
coaches and administrators should take it upon our-
are therefore, in our opinion, steps that should be
selves to thoughtfully come up with a schedule that has
Seasons That Do Not Conflict with
taken. We hope that they will be considered and imple-
the players' best interests at its core.
mented. s
High School
We believe that the girls' WSYSA season and the
The second issue created by the winter tourna-
ridiculous. After all, isn't the point of being a Director
By Jeff Robbins
ment dates is tryouts. This renders some teams a death
the responsibility to interact with many teams? (cur-
Executive Director, Spokane Shadow
nail when it comes to roster commitments and avail-
rently available in Y-League/US Club Soccer).
Stuart Saunders
ability of players for the Regional Championships.
*The current US Club Soccer registration system
Coaching Director, Spokane Shadow
puts the control of data input in the hands of the
Winter weather and the possible risk we place on
clubs, and the final product (cards) are emailed out
teams by asking them to travel all over the State at this
to the club which is much quicker, user friendly, and
time of year is another issue. The weather factors
Girls Premier League Schedule
saves the cost of postage incurred by the league.
increase the possibility of game cancellations and
he girls fall league schedule must be moved to avoid
T
reschedules due to poor or unplayable surfaces.
U13 Competition & LPTs
overlapping with the high school season. We are
The idea that the league champion receives a bye
negligent in our duties as representatives of the high
into the semi-finals deserves serious consideration (per-
The current league system established for the U13
school aged female players within WSYSA if we contin-
haps even the top four into the Quarterfinals) in order
age group doesn't provide the like-level competition
ue to fail to address this issue once and for all.
to add emphasis to league play, and reward consistent
necessary for maximizing the development opportuni-
It is within the control of WSYSA to address this
performance.
ties of the top players. This carries over into the LPT
issue in their players' best interest; therefore it is a
The competition should be fully seeded for U14
concept at U14, where far too many teams that are
responsibility that can no longer be overlooked.
teams and above (unless we eliminate LPTs and the cur-
recreational in nature use the current entry availability
While there are always obstacles to overcome, the
rent open ended U13 league).
as if it is just another tournament opportunity. Perhaps
benefits to moving the season far outweigh them. The
the solution here is establishing some standards for
Club Player Pass
Directors of the major clubs in Washington are all in
what a Premier club is. After all, it would be nice to see
agreement on this issue. We (the Club Directors that
soccer professionals making soccer decisions that
All players registered within a club should have the
have been involved in this discussion) are more than
directly affect the development of the top end players
ability to move between teams (A/B) or up an age
willing to take responsibility for putting forward a pro-
that they are responsible for.
group for developmental reasons without the cumber-
posal in order to finalize it for the 2006/7 season.
some paperwork and player card restrictions. A simple
Establishing Standards
club pass will solve this problem, leaving it up to the
State Tournament Calendar
club Directors to make decisions that are in the best
What is a Premier Club? Not just a club in name,
interest of the players (currently available in Y-League/
The calendar for the Washington State Champion-
where in reality it is simply a bunch of individual teams
US Club Soccer).
ships needs to be moved towards the spring for a vari-
wearing the same color uniforms. There is a need for a
ety of reasons.
dedicated Director of Coaching and Executive Director
Coaches Club Pass
First, the eventual representative at the US Youth
- a primary point of professional contact that can speak
Soccer Far West Regional Championships should be
All coaches registered/employed by a club should
for the club and quickly address issues such as sched-
flowing into the tournament within closer proximity to
have the ability to move among teams in order to cover
uling, etc. Perhaps this requires establishing these stan-
game competition. The current schedule takes place
games without separate coach's cards being issued.
dards within a new league structure where the focus is
three months prior and does not facilitate optimal team
Currently, for a Director to be able to do their job, they
on meeting the needs of those desiring to push the
readiness in the dead of winter.
game forward at the highest level. s
may find that they need ten plus cards which is clearly
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