| Teams dropping after scheduling is begun |
| Thursday, 13 March 2008 | |
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In March 2006, after the spring league schedules were posted almost 30 teams dropped out of the league. In March 2007, after the schedules were posted only one team, excepting the Manteca teams, (not Manteca futbol club) dropped. Why the big difference? In the year between those two events NorCal had put in place policies to avoid a repetition of that 2006 major disruption – that was overcome only through the good will and cooperation of a few hundred team managers! Here are some of the reasons why teams dropped in 2006. Most of them could have been avoided if this type of memo had been sent out – as it was in 2007 and now in 2008! 1. Parents do not want their children to travel too much! Norcal makes every effort to limit the travel required to compete in NorCal events. However, depending on the home base of the team, some longer travel is unavoidable – sometimes more than a two hour drive each way, maybe, but probably not, for one game. Teams with parents who don’t want their children to travel will often not be happy in a league that encompasses an area larger than 150 smaller countries around the world, including Holland and Switzerland. 2. Coaches and managers thought they could play on Sundays. With the exception of district 2 (San Mateo county and south) home games; and when both teams agree to play on a Sunday, NorCal spring league is a Saturday league. The district 2 exception is based on their severe shortage of fields and we ask all teams to be helpful! These teams should expect to play their away games on Saturdays. 3. Teams planned to play in two leagues – one on Saturday and NorCal on Sunday. That situation requires the permission of the league manager, and for 2008 no club or team has asked for that permission. Norcal has been unable to find any club in the world where players are in leagues on both Saturday and Sunday for an extended period of time! 4. The team didn’t form as expected. If the team is in danger of not forming, please let us know now and plan to drop before the deadline. 5. Players dropped during the season and there are not enough players to continue to field a team. Player (family) management is an important function of coaches, managers and club officials. If a team is dependent on unreliable players not dedicated to improving their soccer skills and helping their team and club – that “fragile” team should not play in NorCal spring league. Any team that drops (unless with an exceptional reason) from the event after the deadline – March 21st - will not be eligible or accepted for the 2008 NorCal state cup(s) and possibly other future events. The good news and this is happening very quickly! As NorCal quickly expands in numbers, and players and teams improve their skills – the need to travel will decrease significantly. We recently heard from an academy director who told NorCal that the 9 year old players who had been with the club since seven - were noticeably “better skilled” than players new to his club at nine. |
