Now, this thread has been bothering me for a while, and after a couple of cold ones tonight, and with nothing better to do, I'm going to chime in.
With all due respect to some of those coming before me with justification for the behavior mentioned in the original post, I'm just not buying it.
I fully understand resource scarcity, etc. and the need for quality coaching but we are talking about 8 and 9 year olds here guys.
What's more they are apparently looking for second tier LSYSA competition at best. We soccer clubs should and must try harder...
Now, the club/coach could get creative with pooled players. LSYSA for one supports up to 4 floaters (dual rostered) that allows a level of flexibility to provide additional options for just this case but of course it does take a dedicated coach (trust me I know) to manage game days. This is no different really than the top level clubs where professional staff take on 2 or even 3 teams. You just have to work hard to cover as much as you can and/or recruit solid managers/assistant coaches. SCYS has provided new options for managers as well as coaches to manage games/sidelines now in part due to the scenario described.
Alternatively, the club could engage a solid volunteer to manage the second (or third) team and augment the training with professional help. Pretty sure if you posted an opening for $50 a training session on here, you'd have a few takers within hours (looking for some beer money). Offer 10 professional sessions a season to provide solid fundamental skill development needed for this age group and you (the club) need now only find $500 a team or about $50 per child. Offset this with a solid volunteer taking the helm and pretty sure that's in most budgets.
None of this is rocket science and I'm sure people will find several flaws in my line of thinking but to me, its about engaging more children in our sport, and building the base. PERIOD.
WE HAVE TO TRY HARDER
Lets take a look at SCYS registration numbers taken from the January 2011 board minutes (registrars report).
Comparing January 2010 (first number) to January 2011 (2nd number)
Total Player Count ---- 17,305 ---- 15,569
Piedmont ---- 4,914 ---- 5,103
Midstate ---- 7,959 ---- 6,907
Coastal ---- 4,431 ---- 3,559
Classic ---- 4,868 ---- 5,028
Academy ---- 1,658 ---- 1,532
Recreation ---- 10,779 ---- 8,441
Now, wake up everyone (especially our coastal district) and see what's going on.
Year over year, registration dropped
Seems to be a lot of focus and effort on Classic (to increase) and to a degree Academy.
But what about that Rec level? That's over 2,000 less players in a year. Sounds like one more to add to this sad count based on recent experience.
All of us, CALL TO ARMS...
Do whatever you can to increase that player base and support every child who wants to play (by nook or by crook - get creative).
Add that second team and play them in lower division. As many have said, some of these kids will emerge to be some of the best.
And some of the best at U9, even if they stay top of their soccer game, well...
will just as likely end up playing football, basketball, tennis, golf, volleyball, etc. anyway by 6th grade
