WARNING - Extremely long post

Until today I had not read these current thread's on the "One Club" issue because I got kind of burned out on this topic a couple of years ago. But I made the mistake of starting to read these posts today and spent several hours on it.

These thoughts have reminded me of a proposal I made in the form of a Powerpoint Presentation in December 2000. Maybe it's time to dust it off.

I could not find a way to attach a Powerpoint file to this message board, so I am cutting and pasting it as unformatted text.

This was a proposal for an Alliance where all the girls' clubs would work together to field premier (Challenge level) teams at each age group from the entire Columbia area while still fielding classic level (rec+) teams at the local level. Since writing it I came to believe it was too idealistic. But if enough people want this type of thing, maybe....

Take a read at this and see what you think, poke holes in it, throw it out, or use what may be helpful.

It was targeted at girls clubs, but the concept should be applicable to boys and girls. Also, note that it was written nearly 2.5 years ago and some terms are no longer accurate. For example, the Challenge League was not around yet and the choices at the time for girls was the Statewide League or the Midstate League.

Here it comes...

December, 2000

CASA: COLUMBIA AREA SOCCER ALLIANCE

Proposed as an alliance of the following pre-existing clubs (girls only):
- Chapin Soccer Association (CSA)
- Columbia Soccer Association (CSC)
- Northeast Columbia Soccer Association (NECSA)
- Lexington County Girls� Classic Soccer Association (LCGCSA)
- Palmetto Girls� Soccer Association (PGSA)

Purpose:
Cooperative effort to field the most competitive teams at each age group and provide the highest level of player development

Local Boards:
- Selected by each pre-existing club
- Appoint representatives to the CASA Board of Directors (2 from each local club)
- Responsible for all aspects of local organization including local Classic level and recreational teams from within the specific geographical area

CASA Board:
- Composed of 2 representatives from each local organization (CSA, CSC, NECSA, PGSA, LCGCSA)
- Officers appointed from and by these representatives: President, VP, Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar, Director of Coaching, Administrator, etc.
- Affiliate with SCYSA under a new club number
- Responsible for selecting coaches, trainers, and managers for the CASA Challenge Teams
- Responsible for coach and player development for CASA Challenge teams
- Responsible for setting fees and other fundraising for Challenge team expenses

CASA: Local Geographical Areas:
CSA � Chapin and the surrounding area
CSC � Northwest Richland County, Lexington County North of Lake Murray (exclusive of the Chapin area)
NECSA � Northeast Richland County
PGSA � South and East Richland County
LCGCSA � Lexington County South of Lake Murray

CASA Challenge Teams
- One team at each age group selected from entire CASA area
- Coaches chosen by CASA board of directors
- Play in Statewide League and competitive tournaments
- Compete for the SCYSA Challenge Cup

Local Classic teams
- One or more teams at each age group selected from girls within each local area (CSA, CSC, NECSA, PGSA, & LCGCSA)
- Coaches chosen by the local board of directors
- Play in Mid State League and in-state tournaments
- Compete for the SCYSA Classic Cup

Challenge Teams:
- Two-Fold Purpose:
1. Provide the highest level of competition and training for player development
2. Develop teams that are competitive at the regional level
- Composed of a select group of players from across the Midlands of South Carolina

Classic Teams
- Purpose: Provide classic level competition, coaching, and training for as many players as possible at an intermediate level of commitment
- Formed in each local area at each age group or combination of age groups
- Age groups should be combined when there are not enough players in a local area (i.e. U11 & U12, U13 & U14, etc)
- Local organizations should refrain from combining teams from different local areas

Player Selection:
- Tryouts will be held within each local area for each age group (U11-U19)
- Tryout dates will be staggered so the Challenge coaching staff can participate in each area
- Each age group tryout will be jointly conducted by the Challenge and local Classic coaching staffs
- Girls will be selected by the Challenge coaching staff for the Challenge team or invited to a second, centralized tryout, if necessary.
- Girls not chosen for the Challenge team will be candidates for the local Classic teams.