Soccermom18
SILVER
I hope we aren't playing any of the teams we are playing during the fall league games for a state cup game....
state cup
- Thread starter Speed
- Start date
I think their plan would be to have you play against teams from other geo groups within a similar flight that you are playing in now.
I’d be lying if I wansnt concerned about burnout
I wonder how many other parents feel the same way for a kid that isn’t playing for one of the big clubs, for a flight 1 level team
how many parents and more importantly kids say “I like soccer , but not 2x a week practice and a game every Saturday and Sunday”
Id say 80% of the parents were for state cup, but this was before the schedule came out
how many players will quit , will we have enough players to field a team next year . Those are some of my concern s specifically
Link to accepted teams for Socal State Cup ACCEPTED TEAMS
pitchcrazy
BRONZE
This absolutely a garbage tournament. We are in RL and most of the RL teams are avoiding. 3 out of the 5 games conflict with our RL schedule and there are Europa teams in the super bracket. How on earth is this benefiting our kids? Not too mention I guarantee all the games will be 100 miles away. Another poor decision by the numb nuts at the top. I’m sure the 3 RL games are home games so we will lose more home games again this year. Covid and the leaders of all these new leagues have destroyed our soccer experience as we get closer and closer to aging out…
Is anyone excited about this "tournament" starting this coming weekend for 05 and older teams?
Not me.
The "League" is going to force a lot more kids and referees to quit the game with some of the things they've put in place this year.
But they sure did make cool new state cup sweatshirts.
Not me.
The "League" is going to force a lot more kids and referees to quit the game with some of the things they've put in place this year.
But they sure did make cool new state cup sweatshirts.
What things, for example?
ECRL has their own event & postseason/playoffs this season 21-22' in June at Oceanside where all the scouts / coaches will be in conjunction with the ECNL and those playoffs held at the same time.
If ECRL teams are entering this league cup they maybe sandbagging or thinking their team isn't good enough to qualify for the RL post season (top 2 normally for the Socal or SW groups).
Maybe the younger age groups feel differently. This is my perspective from the older side of things (07 and above)
- Discovery League is stupid. I think this was billed as a way to "have all of the top teams in the same place to make it easier for college scouts."
- Has anyone seen a college scout yet?
- The drive to Del Mar/Oceanside every weekend sucks. Im sure teams going to Silverlakes feel the same way. It's at least an hour from South OC. $12 to park and then you need a $20 car wash on Monday from the dusty parking lots.
- A club should only be allowed to 1 have team in Discovery per age group.
- Why is there a 2009 discovery league? There is 8 teams in the 2009 age group. 1 from Vegas. 2 from Beach.
- I heard from a referee that they are pissed at the league and they have screwed things up. I didn't get into specifics with him, but I did see an email come out Sunday afternoon somewhat addressing that there is an issue they are trying to fix. A few snippets (happy to post the entire letter if you'd like):
- Prior to the start of the season, the State Referee Assocation (SRA) presented a new process for assigning referees. With the shortage in referees and many not returning to officiate post-COVID, the associations are stretched thin and working at about 50% capacity. The process that was introduced was meant to streamline game assigning utilizing the officials that are available in the best way possible.
- Fast forward two weeks into the season and there are some very visable kinks in the process. The assigning process has become muddled and confusing and I am accutely aware of the issues we are dealing with in regards to referees not being assigned or not showing up to games at the wrong venues or the wrong times.
- Our schedule is a fluid schedule. There are game changes every week for various reasons. Mostly due to field permits either being double-booked by the venues with multiple sports or organizations, school districts not issuing permits or changing permits, etc. There are many reasons why games change and it's become difficult for the lead distributors to keep up with the changes each week. While everyone was hopeful (me included) that this new process would work, there are still some things to work through and I think re-visiting it and putting together a proper plan before implementing it would be best for everyonemoving forward.
- State Cup- I mentioned a few things above, but I'll add some more
- Making it Mandatory
- Starting pool play during the 3rd week of the season. And ending it in April. Our last 2 games of State Cup pool play are the 1st weekend of our districts Spring Break. I dont know how many HS players are going to be excited to play in Spring. The winning team might be the one that shows up with a full team in April.
- I have to imagine getting teams registered and scheduled for State Cup while in the beginning weeks of the Fall season hasn't been easy for the SoCalLeague staff, venues and referee associations.
- League Stuff
- The process of getting new player cards was a mess. It always is when changing to something new. I know some registrars that had to cancel weekend vacations to make sure everyone was properly registered.
- I mentioned refs above- We had 3 at our Saturday game and they were solid. We had 1 at our Sunday game.
- Thinking that players/families want "more games" during the Fall Season and continuing into Spring. Scheduling games on back-to-back days for kids that are playing 90 minute games. Our 04 team plays on 4 back-to-back weekends. For players not on ecnl/GA rosters at this age group- They are working on weekends or maybe playing another sport. They can get 1 day off but harder to get the whole weekend. (I know this isn't a new problem this year and playing 2 games in a weekend isn't unique- But that doesn't mean the league shouldn't consider this.)
- We have 12 games before the November break. 10 games would have been fine
- There are "no-play" dates for ACT testing in September, SAT test in November and again in March. Since California schools aren't requiring these tests anymore- Why not play on these days? Sure- some players might still want to take it for out-of-state schools- So let those players miss the test if they need to. This would eliminate 2 of our 4 back to back weekend games.
I'm sure there is more but the socal league has obviously "bitten off way more than they can chew" and the wishful marketing is not lived up to the promise's yet.
Using the same old CS state cup formula where you play months after the season is over means they have learned nothing or done very little to address the continuity Gap.
Teams play a fall season and should be in prime form to play a fall or winter tournaments soon after. Make it November before High school season and be done with it. League cup finishes in Nov in CSL and there are really no great reasons to drag it out besides $$.
Forget the nonsense of playing a few games in winter, spring, some new showcase that nobody really cares about and play a regular optional spring that's counts for something like qualification into a season ending tournament.
The conflicting part winter part spring schedule with another gap for a June tournament thats now on schedule doesn't make any sense for players. It's either a way for clubs or leagues to say they have year around programs and/or a $$ grab.
pitchcrazy
BRONZE
it’s all about money! Their website says no Europa teams but I think the whole bracket is in there. We get to drive 126 miles to beat a team 10-0. That is a joke.
I
I would love to see the whole email in regards to the referees. I agree with all that was stated here. we are discovery family too. Too many games in short period of time, unnecessary driving, this is going to burn kids out having to be gone every day of the weekend for 7 hours to play one game because they are traveling so far. I also can't imagine coaches are enjoying this either. we are a 05 discovery and the coach has 4 teams. this next weekend we are at silver lakes and galway. another weekend we have a 4pm game then a 8 am game both at silver lakes. Little recovery. Add the kids playing hs soccer and this is a disaster for the players and injuries.
SoccerFan4Life
PREMIER
As a parent I’ve heard every year for the past 10 years that there’s not enough games in the fall. Now we have tons and people still complain.
ECRL teams shouldn’t complain about competition because there’s some very good flight 1 discovery teams out there. I do think you will see some top coast soccer league teams participate.
Ref shortage is the biggest issue for all teams so parents and coaches need to stop acting like idiots with the refs. Nobody cares about a bad call that’s going to ruin your team’s record. It’s youth soccer not the World Cup.
Everyone just go with it. Last year you were all complaining about no games due to covid.
ECRL teams shouldn’t complain about competition because there’s some very good flight 1 discovery teams out there. I do think you will see some top coast soccer league teams participate.
Ref shortage is the biggest issue for all teams so parents and coaches need to stop acting like idiots with the refs. Nobody cares about a bad call that’s going to ruin your team’s record. It’s youth soccer not the World Cup.
Everyone just go with it. Last year you were all complaining about no games due to covid.
(Cut and paste of the email. Typos are not mine. But I make plenty of them, so no shade from me about it)
To all SOCAL Team Contacts and Club Officials
Prior to the start of the season, the State Referee Assocation (SRA) presented a new process for assigning referees. With the shortage in referees and many not returning to officiate post-COVID, the associations are stretched thin and working at about 50% capacity. The process that was introduced was meant to streamline game assigning utilizing the officials that are available in the best way possible.
To briefly summarize the plan, it required me to send our master schedule to one leader at the SRA who would distribute the games to 5 Distributors in different districts. These distributors would then spread the games out to all of the associations registered under the SRA so that more associations were involved and therefore we were working with a larger pool of available referees. Then, if referees did not show up, Club Officials could contact the Distirbutors who would track the games, referees that did not show up or problem referees that needed mentorship. In theory, it sounded like a win-win for everyone.
Fast forward two weeks into the season and there are some very visable kinks in the process. The assigning process has become muddled and confusing and I am accutely aware of the issues we are dealing with in regards to referees not being assigned or not showing up to games at the wrong venues or the wrong times.
Our schedule is a fluid schedule. There are game changes every week for various reasons. Mostly due to field permits either being double-booked by the venues with multiple sports or organizations, school districts not issuing permits or changing permits, etc. There are many reasons why games change and it's become difficult for the lead distributors to keep up with the changes each week. While everyone was hopeful (me included) that this new process would work, there are still some things to work through and I think re-visiting it and putting together a proper plan before implementing it would be best for everyonemoving forward.
So, we are going to go back to the way we were doing things in regards to assinging games. I don't need to bore you with the details but, in speaking with the assignors, this is going to be a better way of managing game assigning moving forward. For Club Officials, there is no need to call the Distributors anymore. For Team Managers and Coaches, if there is an issue at the field then please contact your Club Officials who will contact me.
However, this doesn't solve the referee shortage. We have aseembled a committee that is working on a Call to Action within our own league on how we can be part of the solution - together and we look to roll-out this Call to Action prior to games starting up again in January. Until then, for the 7v7 and 9v9 games, if there are single games at your venue, you may not have a referee so please continue to have your coaches or a parent officiate your games. For 11v11 games we are focused on having at least 1 official at each game, as long as there is more than 1 game on your field for that day. For Discovery games and State Cup 11v11 games, we are instructing the assignors to provide 3 officials for these games moving forward.
Clubs - please review your home schedules. If there are single games, send me a list of them and I'll look to reschedule them to dates where you have more than 1 team playing at home.
Teams - you will see fewer and fewer reschedules as the season goes on. We don't reschedule for coaching conflicts, special events or matters of convenience. Please do not reach out to the opposing coach and work together and then submit game changes. These create problems for assignors, they create gaps in schedules and they are impossible to accommodate for everyone that asks so please, work within your club to resolve whatever coach conflicts you have and utilize the club pass to get players to help you in games where you are short players.
I have asked the assignors to let me know, in advance, of any games they can not cover so that I can look to reschedule the game prior to the teams showing up.
Reschedules will only happen for field permit issues or positive COVID cases on a team. You may also be asked to prove this so please do not use COVID as a reason to reschedule games. COVID is a deadly disease, not an excuse to reschedule a game due to a coaching conflict.
Thank you for reading this as I hope this helps you all to understand the 'behind-the-scenes' goings on and why there seem to be more referee issues than in year's past.
We have every intention of making the rest of the season the best of the season!
Michelle
You are receiving this email because you are associated with SOCAL.
To be removed, please contact your League Administrator.
To all SOCAL Team Contacts and Club Officials
Prior to the start of the season, the State Referee Assocation (SRA) presented a new process for assigning referees. With the shortage in referees and many not returning to officiate post-COVID, the associations are stretched thin and working at about 50% capacity. The process that was introduced was meant to streamline game assigning utilizing the officials that are available in the best way possible.
To briefly summarize the plan, it required me to send our master schedule to one leader at the SRA who would distribute the games to 5 Distributors in different districts. These distributors would then spread the games out to all of the associations registered under the SRA so that more associations were involved and therefore we were working with a larger pool of available referees. Then, if referees did not show up, Club Officials could contact the Distirbutors who would track the games, referees that did not show up or problem referees that needed mentorship. In theory, it sounded like a win-win for everyone.
Fast forward two weeks into the season and there are some very visable kinks in the process. The assigning process has become muddled and confusing and I am accutely aware of the issues we are dealing with in regards to referees not being assigned or not showing up to games at the wrong venues or the wrong times.
Our schedule is a fluid schedule. There are game changes every week for various reasons. Mostly due to field permits either being double-booked by the venues with multiple sports or organizations, school districts not issuing permits or changing permits, etc. There are many reasons why games change and it's become difficult for the lead distributors to keep up with the changes each week. While everyone was hopeful (me included) that this new process would work, there are still some things to work through and I think re-visiting it and putting together a proper plan before implementing it would be best for everyonemoving forward.
So, we are going to go back to the way we were doing things in regards to assinging games. I don't need to bore you with the details but, in speaking with the assignors, this is going to be a better way of managing game assigning moving forward. For Club Officials, there is no need to call the Distributors anymore. For Team Managers and Coaches, if there is an issue at the field then please contact your Club Officials who will contact me.
However, this doesn't solve the referee shortage. We have aseembled a committee that is working on a Call to Action within our own league on how we can be part of the solution - together and we look to roll-out this Call to Action prior to games starting up again in January. Until then, for the 7v7 and 9v9 games, if there are single games at your venue, you may not have a referee so please continue to have your coaches or a parent officiate your games. For 11v11 games we are focused on having at least 1 official at each game, as long as there is more than 1 game on your field for that day. For Discovery games and State Cup 11v11 games, we are instructing the assignors to provide 3 officials for these games moving forward.
Clubs - please review your home schedules. If there are single games, send me a list of them and I'll look to reschedule them to dates where you have more than 1 team playing at home.
Teams - you will see fewer and fewer reschedules as the season goes on. We don't reschedule for coaching conflicts, special events or matters of convenience. Please do not reach out to the opposing coach and work together and then submit game changes. These create problems for assignors, they create gaps in schedules and they are impossible to accommodate for everyone that asks so please, work within your club to resolve whatever coach conflicts you have and utilize the club pass to get players to help you in games where you are short players.
I have asked the assignors to let me know, in advance, of any games they can not cover so that I can look to reschedule the game prior to the teams showing up.
Reschedules will only happen for field permit issues or positive COVID cases on a team. You may also be asked to prove this so please do not use COVID as a reason to reschedule games. COVID is a deadly disease, not an excuse to reschedule a game due to a coaching conflict.
Thank you for reading this as I hope this helps you all to understand the 'behind-the-scenes' goings on and why there seem to be more referee issues than in year's past.
We have every intention of making the rest of the season the best of the season!
Michelle
You are receiving this email because you are associated with SOCAL.
To be removed, please contact your League Administrator.
I agree it is definitely about the money, but I also think its about trying to keep kids from jumping ship before the season is over (Remember this league is run by the DOC's now) when league used to end in November and state cup was after the new year, it always created a weird dynamic when kids would leave technically before the season was over. Now I think they are trying to stretch the season, so they can hold onto cards and make it difficult for players to transfer until the end of the season. Clubs want all the power, that is why they went to U.S. Soccer
thank y
Thank you, Michelle has toned down her emails....or maybe not far enough into the season...no bold, caps, highlighting....I used to love receiving the emails because the emotion came through the email
.
Thank you, Michelle has toned down her emails....or maybe not far enough into the season...no bold, caps, highlighting....I used to love receiving the emails because the emotion came through the email
.Glad to know I wasn't the only one that APPRECIATED her serial killer style of email!!!thank y
Thank you, Michelle has toned down her emails....or maybe not far enough into the season...no bold, caps, highlighting....I used to love receiving the emails because the emotion came through the email
pitchcrazy
BRONZE
I think it’s because they saw all the money cal south was making and now want their piece since cal south won’t let them play in their state cup. I don’t see any CSL teams in there.
pitchcrazy
BRONZE
CSL teams will not compete. They got their seasons scheduled and they will not adjust to be in this stupid tournament plus their allegiance is to CAL South. SoCal broke that alliance and some clubs were rejected by cal south. This I pay back and all about money. Quantity over quality doesn’t work. We can scrimmage better teams in our own backyard