Quote: Could these issues should have been addressed long ago. Perhaps the focus will move from all-state players, nscaa all-american players, and coach of the year awards to soccer-specific reform.
wreaks of you not knowing the proper channels in how the SCHSL operates.
First, I have not commented on the error that I think has been made in the penalty handed down towards Dutch Fork HS and in particular, coach Wayne Quinlan. The punishment that was inflicted was akin to "cutting your leg off to fix a hang-nail." Coach Quinlan is one of the most upstanding and admirable coaches in our profession and this ruling is certainly unjust and unwarranted!
In regards to the comment above about utilizing the SCHSSCA to enact change is commendable, but quite honestly, the rules that are written for the HSL are allegedly supposed to govern all sports -- football and basketball (primarily) and then the so-called "Olympic" sports.
It is very, very difficult to have changes to the SCHSL rules due to the fact that the majority of those that serve on the Executive Committee are "traditional sports" folks -- football, basketball, baseball -- and are not familiar (nor care quite frankly) for the nuances of soccer. That's precisely why we don't end HS games in ties (which are quite natural and a part of soccer) or the fact that ejections (red cards/two yellows) are emphasized for soccer (due to them being part of the sport), but the same penalties equal to five fouls in basketball (no ejection) or a 15-yard personal foul in football (no ejection).
Also, the National Federation (of which the SCHSL is a member) makes changes "for the good" of all sports as well and the SCHSL largely has to accept these policies.
In short, it's just very hard to exact change within the HSL ranks, just like when we proposed for the "no penalty kick" rule two years ago only to have it voted UNANIMOUSLY down by non-soccer folks, despite 85% of the SCHSSCA membership supporting this measure.
IMO, the SCHSSCA may as well support efforts that they can influence rather than spitting in the wind!
