>> [futbol(soccer)] Chico, I know the decision you made.... you have in the past posted what I believe to be objective threads.... Can you provide me with rationale as to why this would be good for the state and all the players not the top 18 at each age group.<<

Why is this good for all players not the top 18 in each age group?
I believe that CESA is one of the most misunderstood entities around. Not that what they're trying to do is secret -- these folks are as subtle as being hit on the head with a 2x4. The merger announcement said it, "...full range of services for youth soccer players." The web site said it "CESA was formed to offer more opportunities for youth soccer players..."

Did you notice what occurred last weekend? CESA has 6 challenge teams that are playing in the semifinals of the challenge cup. This is a big deal not for "bragging rights" or anything else like that but because it means that approximately 100 players get to play past the first weekend. Approximately 100 players can get into better tournaments next year. Approximately 100 players have developed additional skills to potentially achieve more in high school play than they would otherwise. I believe that it's a better metric in terms of CESA meeting its core mission than how many state challenge cup titles CESA wins.

For the purposes of challenge cup play, imagine CESA were two clubs consisting of the Premier teams and the Challenge teams. Here's the analysis.

Club Analysis: Semifinal Slots
------------------------------
CESA-PR - 7
CESA-CH - 6
CSC ----- 4
NECSA --- 4
Bridge -- 3
CFC ----- 1
MPSC ---- 1
LCSC ---- 1
CUSC ---- 1
Coastal - 1
NA ------ 1

Did you note the coaches associated with some of the upsets this weekend? Carlos Osorio and the U17B challenge team. Terry Archenhold and the U17G challenge team. Russel Shelley and the U15B challenge team. These are big name coaches -- and are a clear signal as to the importance of the mission.

The classic cup and American cup this weekend are likewise a big deal to CESA and are watched incredibly closely.

Is CESA "perfect"? Heck no. But to cast CESA as only focusing and servicing the premier teams is to describe an elephant as a "snake-like thing" -- while that's true for the elephant's trunk, it rather misses the point.