SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums SCHSSCA North-South Soccer Classic Update

SCHSSCA Members:

I know that there has been some speculation concerning the 2005 North-South Soccer Classic, but let me assure you that the SCHSSCA is pursuing every avenue possible to ensure that this event will be played this June 11th!

North-South Director Tom Reilly informed us in February that our title sponsor -- The Home Depot -- had pulled their sponsorship due to a changed company policy on how they award allocated funds for such extracurricular activities.

Since this time, Coach Reilly has worked fervently to keep the all-star event afloat in some fashion, but now is the time that the SCHSSCA must call on its' members and anyone interested in supporting youth/prep soccer.

As of now, a 'shortened' North-South event is in the works in order to bring the players in on Friday (instead of Thursday) and play the match on Saturday at Mt. Pleasant.

This will effectively cut out a full day experience for the players, but cost is of the utmost concern.

If you or anyone you know could contribute or assume the "title sponsor" role for the North-South Soccer Classic, please contact Coach Reilly at reillyt2@comcast.net.

Please remember that "every bit counts" and even if we cannot secure a "title sponsor", funds that are sent on behalf of the North-South Soccer Classic will go a long way to recognize the state's top boys/girls senior soccer players!

Yours in soccer,

Kevin Heise
SCHSSCA Executive Board

Coaches - This is a reminder to make sure that you get in nominations for the North-South Soccer Classic (June 11th at Mt. Pleasant). The preliminary meeting is tomorrow, Saturday, April 9th at Stratford HS (South) and Northwestern HS (North) at 10 am. Please make sure to attend this OPEN meeting. The final selection meeting will be held later this month and is a CLOSED meeting.

The preliminary meeting for the 2005 North-South Soccer Classic was held this morning at Northwestern HS (North Team) and Stratford HS (South Team).

At the South meeting, N-S Director Tom Reilly informed us that we are in need of approximately $6,000 in order to stage a two-day event June 10-11 in Mount Pleasant.

Any contributions or donations at any level are greatly appreciated and should be forwarded to Coach Reilly at reillyt2@comcast.net. Thank you for your support of prep soccer!

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE as of 4/10/05

Friday, June 10

8:00 am -- Coaches Meeting @ Moultrie Middle School Cafeteria

9:30 am -- South players report to MMS (registration/physicals/team meetings/team photos)

10:30 am -- North players report to MM (registration/physicals/team meetings/team photos)

1:00 pm -- Lunch (Outback Steakhouse)

3:00 pm -- Check-in at Sleep Inn (Mount Pleasant)

4:00 pm -- Team practice

7:00 pm -- Banquet @ Alhambra Hall (Mount Pleasant)

Saturday, June 11

8:30 am -- FCA Breakfast @ Holiday Inn (Mount Pleasant)

10:00 am -- Check-out of Sleep Inn

12:00 pm -- Girls N-S Soccer Classic @ College of Charleston soccer stadium -- Patriots Point Athletic Complex on Mount Pleasant (post-match physicals)

2:00 pm -- Boys N-S Soccer Classic Classic @ College of Charleston soccer stadium -- Patriots Point Athletic Complex on Mount Pleasant (post-match physicals)

Just a reminder to get all North-South Soccer Classic nominations in ASAP.

North-South Soccer Classic CANCELED

It is with great displeasure that the South Carolina High School Soccer Coaches Association (SCHSSCA) has to announce the cancellation of the 2005 North-South Soccer Classic at Mount Pleasant, S.C., June 10-11.

Unfortunately, as you can read in this thread, the Classic's main title sponsor the past several years, The Home Depot, had a reorganization of how they distribute funds for these types of events and instead of this being distributed at the state and local level, the corporate office at the national level is now in charge of this function.

The North-South Soccer Classic annually costs approximately $25,000 to stage the Thursday-Saturday event. At this time, even though the SCHSSCA had scaled the event to a two-day and one-night event, Classic Director Tom Reilly and State Soccer Chairman Dick Smith met yesterday and decided that funding for this year's event is just not possible.

The North-South Soccer Classic has taken place every year since 1989 for the boys All-Star game, and each season since 1997 for the girls event, which recognizes 80 of the top senior players in the Palmetto State.

Therefore, there will be no North-South Soccer Classic meeting this Sunday, April 24 at 9:00 a.m. However, the All-State meeting scheduled for 11 o'clock is still being held at Brookland-Cayce High School (1300 State Street, Cayce, SC 29033).

Again, we hate that this has occurred and the SCHSSCA Executive Board will meet Sunday at 1:00 p.m., to discuss the event's future.

I'm sure this idea was discussed but...
What about making this a one day event? Girls kick off at 5 and boys at 7. There could be a light training session in the morning and the players could use the locker rooms to shower in between training and the game. Girls could train noon-1:30 and boys 1:30-3. I understand this would not be the extensive training that the teams usually have but it would give them a chance to kick around as a team before the game.

We could use existing funds to purchase t-shirts and the players could wear the jersey of their respective school for the game. North wears light and South wears dark or vice versa. Also, concession profits could be used to offset the cost of the shirts and to pay the referees, although from what I understand, referees usually volunteered their time for these games.

I would think that players and parents would still come in the night before or, more than liely, stay the night. I would also think that players would room together thus giving everyone a place to relax in between training and the game. This would still give the players a chance to enjoy the prestige and showcase of the North/South game.

Are there any other ways that the high school league plans on to recognize the states top players? Maybe just an awards banquet for them, a medal, a t-shirt even. There should be something for these kids, especially after the hard work they have put in. I think the meetings and the voting should still be done, so the kids can at least be recognized as the best!

This decision though, regrettable, is the correct decision. It would serve no useful purpose to hold the event in less than a first-class manner. There are numerous All- Region, All-State and All-Area teams to be chosen which provide the recognition that players deserve. What is needed is a reliable corporate partnership.

NO!!! Say it isn't so??? Is there no way the game can be saved? I have been to a couple of the games the last several years and always found the game to get better and better. This is indeed sad for the kids that could be recognized this year. Are there no "deep pockets" in the state's soccer community to help out this year? Hard to believe with so many "high rollers" involved in youth soccer.

I still believe that the teams should be named. The game was the highlight of being named. Actually being named was the true honor. These 72 or so individuals deserved to be recognized. Just my thought.