How can SoCal league improve?

[KJR]

Spring league 2 games every weekend including on Mother’s Day at 4pm. Socal at first had a posting to allow guest players with us club cards. Two days ago they changed it to no guest players period. Keep in mind the spring league doesn’t keep track of scores or standings. Have no clue why guest players are not allowed.

We've done the ten hour days for a 12-0 game with one ref with no complaint. We've had scheduling issues that we've accepted--new league structure, growing pains, etc. And being in the middle of a city, with field space scarce (even scarcer because of Covid), we've appreciated the league's patience when we've had to scramble for permits.

When one of our younger players is racially abused by another player (and parents) at a game, it's reported to the league, and the league just...never responds? When a player from a larger club has satisfied every bylaw to be released but is denied because her coach wants to punish her for wanting to leave? And the league sides with that coach?

It's hard to run a league; I get that. Everyone complains, there are lots of plates to spin. That's why I don't run a league. But I do think that player safety and well-being are the most important thing--the thing you absolutely have to get right. So yes, let's make the brackets more competitive and change the State Cup schedule and all the other good suggestions that I'm sure the league is already working on. But if SOCAL needs more staff and infrastructure to make the soccer experience as safe and healthy as possible for the kids then I'd recommend that first.

 

[crush]

We've done the ten hour days for a 12-0 game with one ref with no complaint. We've had scheduling issues that we've accepted--new league structure, growing pains, etc. And being in the middle of a city, with field space scarce (even scarcer because of Covid), we've appreciated the league's patience when we've had to scramble for permits.

When one of our younger players is racially abused by another player (and parents) at a game, it's reported to the league, and the league just...never responds? When a player from a larger club has satisfied every bylaw to be released but is denied because her coach wants to punish her for wanting to leave? And the league sides with that coach?

It's hard to run a league; I get that. Everyone complains, there are lots of plates to spin. That's why I don't run a league. But I do think that player safety and well-being are the most important thing--the thing you absolutely have to get right. So yes, let's make the brackets more competitive and change the State Cup schedule and all the other good suggestions that I'm sure the league is already working on. But if SOCAL needs more staff and infrastructure to make the soccer experience as safe and healthy as possible for the kids then I'd recommend that first.

This hits home from years ago. Trying to get permission to leave still has me pissed off and still to this day throws me for a loop. After they say, "No, you can;t leave" and "Good luck getting your players card to go score goals for my competition" is the hardest thing a parent can go through. I went to bat for my child and went to the man. After some back and forth, I got her released. We need a simple and fair way to leave a club is my point. Yes, coach and old club are now pissed off because the goals are going away. Yes, the new team is happy and loves you but the guy who holds all the cards, that guy pisses me off and that guy needs to get the boot. Way to much control and they know everyone so basically they have you by the balls in some places.

 

[Great8]

I’ll also add it would be great if we could do away with all the driving required for Discovery games. Depending on where the team is based it can be onerous. I’d suggest one weekend a month the games be at the regional fields, Silverlakes, SoCal/Oceanside etc and the others be just home and away as with the other flights.

This is a fantastic idea! One weekend a month at the regional fields with home and aways in between seems like the perfect compromise. There is no real benefit to having families haul out to norco/oceanside every weekend other than the guaranteed field availability. It's costly, time consuming, and all that freeway time increases the chances of an accident somewhere. Not to mention the drain on family and friends time/homework time, especially for the older kids. We are losing girls because having every game at silverlakes just isn't worth it.

 

[crush]

This is a fantastic idea! One weekend a month at the regional fields with home and aways in between seems like the perfect compromise. There is no real benefit to having families haul out to norco/oceanside every weekend other than the guaranteed field availability. It's costly, time consuming, and all that freeway time increases the chances of an accident somewhere. Not to mention the drain on family and friends time/homework time, especially for the older kids. We are losing girls because having every game at silverlakes just isn't worth it.

We need to go local and play local somehow. I know many 2022s who have officially hung up their cleats because of what your talking about. To play soccer at a high level right now is full time job and college is no joke. We played out in Norco a few Sundays a go. Left our place by Leisure World around 8:15 and got back around 3pm. The worse drive for the older girls is going to Del Mar for a 11am game on a Saturday or Sunday from South OC. I hate to say it but to get nice fields, you need to suck it up. I still think were all smart enough to have local nice fields so the kids can play and stay local if we tried. I believe that can happen but lot's has to change.