Daily Bulletins: NorCal State Cup U9-U13, June, July, August, 2010
Bulletin # 69, August 24th, 11am
TO: All team management and Club Officials:
Due diligence; Rosters and Game Cards:
Every team playing in the NorCal State Cup(s) can now arrive at the field knowing that the team they are playing has all of their players and their team properly registered with US Club and NorCal.
How? When you print the game card – both rosters will show. If the other team does not have a roster posted – the game should not be played; except if you received an email message from NorCal showing the team roster and explaining that “computer problems” did not allow the team to post their roster on-line.
In case of an injury, this system meets the “due diligence” requirements for NorCal and all participating teams. Please do not deviate from this standard.
It is important that NorCal specifically - and all Club and team management have an irrefutable record of abiding by the US Club and NorCal Rules concerning the participation of only players who are properly registered.
If a team does not have a roster posted; and there is not a message from NorCal with a US Club roster attached - your team should not play that game.
You should not allow any player to participate who is not on the roster unless you have received written permission from NorCal to allow that eligible player to participate.
There will never – never! - be a player penciled in a game card - except where both teams received written permission from NorCal that the player can be added for that single game.
All participants who abide by the NorCal Rules are protected by the liability insurance coverage from US Club – even if another person were to “cheat” and knowingly play an ineligible player.
However, the persons knowingly “cheating” would be open to not being covered for liability if that player was injured.
If a parent were to deceive a team and Club, everyone involved would be well covered, but the player and family might find they have lost both the medical and liability coverage.
Beyond the liability questions, the NorCal Board would begin appropriate investigations concerning any person(s) accused of cheating. If some, all or most members of a team know about "cheating" NorCal would expect someone to self-report the incident. Our young impressionable players are lucky to have highly ethical coaches and managers involved with their teams; and NorCal wants that positive influence to be not for 98% of the players - but 100%.
This system will work best if the game cards are printed a four or five days before the game. This will allow any “system glitches” to be identified and fixed on a weekday when the US Club and Demosphere offices are open.
Once the September 1st freeze is past, there will be very few changes to the rosters until the White/Blue team players can be transferred to a Red team between December 21st, 2010 to January 5th, 2011
Bulletin # 68, August 22nd, 12am
How to enter a score:
Enter your score for your game and click Save!,
1. Go to www.norcalpremier.com
2. Under "State Cups" tab, from the pull-down menu, select U11-U13 Cups (or appropriate age group)
3. On the left side click "Schedules - Preliminary rounds"
4. Find appropriate age group and click on it
5. Find your team in your flight and click on your team name
6. Log on under "TEAM LOG IN"
Bulletin # 67, August 21st, 5pm
Hello 2010 Younger NorCal State Cup(s) team Managers and Club Officials,
NorCal would like to thank the many hundreds of NorCal Managers and Coaches who have helped schedule about 70% of the Cup(s) games; or almost 900 of the 1,300 games needing to be scheduled.
With twelve days left to finish the last 400, there is a good chance that all Flights will meet the September 1st deadline. Many flights have all six of their games scheduled.
Please remember that the games that cannot be played in the evenings should have scheduling priority over local games that can be played after school.
Here are a few important items of which all team and Club Officials should be aware:
·The great majority of teams playing on or before August 29th have already posted their rosters.
·All teams that are playing a game(s) on or before August 29th and have not yet posted their roster have received an email asking them to have that roster posted on-line by Monday, August 23rd.
·If you are playing a team on or before August 29th that has not posted their roster by Tuesday AM, August 24th please let NorCal know immediately; and also ask the team if they need help.
·If, for some reason, you are unable to post the roster, please contact US Club - Linda at: region4@usclubsoccer.org and make sure your team is properly registered for a NorCal event. Please copy NorCal.
·US Club tournament teams are not eligible for this event. For liability reasons, teams and players must be registered for the whole year until August, 2011 through a NorCal Member Club.
·For liability reasons, please do not play a team that has not posted their roster on the Demosphere system (team page) - unless you have received written permission from a NorCal Administrator that the team is registered and legal.
·All members of NorCal teams are always covered by liability insurance if a mistake is made and a team is declared eligible even though not properly registered.
·However, it is important that managers and coaches understand that if they try to use a non US Club registered player under a different name; or knowingly commit any violation of the player and team registration rules – those team officials “could” lose that liability coverage.
·The rosters will be locked for the Cup(s) only on September 1st at 11:59pm PST. Until that date, players may be added to rosters from younger Club teams; or teams not affiliated with a NorCal Club - PAL, AYSO, CYSA or new players to organized soccer.
·While, for health reasons, NorCal does not recommend that teams or players be in two Leagues at the same time, it is allowed that these types of players be on a roster for emergency reasons in case a team needs players to participate in one or more NorCal STate Cup(s) games.
·A number of teams still have only one contact – sometimes with the one entered twice. It is an important NorCal rule that all teams have “at least” two contacts including an email address and telephone number.
Thank you, NorCal
Bulletin # 66, August 19th, 6pm
NorCal is currently checking the 864 teams one team at a time to make sure that each team is ready to play their first game.
1. Quite a few teams do not have the required two separate team contacts with two different email addresses and two different telephone numbers. Please add those if you are one of those teams!
3. If a team in your Flight has not yet begun to post their roster - please ask when it will begin to be posted.
4.A player can be on two NorCal State Cup(s) rosters for the same Club – e.g. the U10 Girls (real age) and the U11 Girls (playing up).
To play in a game they must be on that game card roster for any game they play before September 1st and on both rosters by September 1st – when they will be locked with no more additional players added after that time except with the permission of the NorCal Board.
Unless there is a last minute "glitch" in the Demosphere system, all eligible players will be printed on the roster. Because of a "glitch", in case a player was allowed to be penciled in that authorization from NorCal would be received by both teams by the day of the game.
If teams have everything under control at least a few days before a game, last minute "glitches" will not happen.
Bulletin # 65, August 18th, 11am
NorCal Premier Cup(s) Game Day Procedure:
With out of town teams being hosted it is recommended that a call be made to be sure that the referees are assigned to the game!
At each game - team managers should have in their possession:
1. NorCal Game Card
a. Download Game Cards
b. Login to site
c. Go to Norcal League or Cup Schedule and click on your game number
d. Click Game Card located in grey menu
2. US Club Certificate of Insurance Form
3. US Club Soccer roster of team
4. US Club Soccer passes for its players
Pre-game Procedures
Home Team Responsibilities:
1. Contacting away team to insure proposed game time works for both teams
2. Scheduling and posting agreed game time on website
3. Providing properly lined field
4. Provide and pay credentialed referee’s who must have proper refereeing
uniforms
5. Provide NorCal Referee Game Report to center referee
6. For a league match Provide a USCS roster of team to referee and
opponent. For a Norcal State Cup match provide the game card and
approved Norcal State Cup rosters for both home and away teams
7. Provide referee US CLUB SOCCER player passes for each player
Visiting team responsibilities:
1. For a league match provide a U.S.Club Soccer roster of the team to
referee and opponent. For a Norcal Cup Match provide the game card and
approved Norcal State Cup rosters for both home and away teams.
2. Provide referee US CLUB SOCCER player passes for each player
Post Game Procedures
Home team Responsibilities:
1.Both coaches, or managers, sign the game sheet following the game.
2.Coaches talk together about the sportsmanship during the game.
3.If no red card is given the home team holds onto the game report until the
end of the season.
4.If a red card is given see red card procedure below – this requires
immediate action from the center referee and manager.
5. Either team posts score on norcalpremier.com within 24 hours
Bulletin # 64, August 18th, 7am
With two weeks to go before the deadline for completing the scheduling of all First Round games, NorCal would like to thank the many teams that have helped schedule 60% of the almost 1,300 games. A number of the 216 Flights of 4 teams have finished scheduling all 6 games - many more have completed 4 or 5.
Please continue to let me know of any teams that are not communicating within the "48 hour rule". Diligent managers should not be inconvenienced by other managers who do not abide by a well publicized and needed rule.
The teams that have games scheduled for the next two week-end should enter their players onto their team page and practice printing a game card - see bulletin # 57.
Please ask the other team(s) when they will have their rosters completed. Don’t wait until Friday evening to do what can be done on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Bulletin #63, August 17th, 7:20am
(1) "Hide Roster from Team Page"
A new setting has been introduced on the Team Page. Now team managers, coaches, or anyone with access to the team page can choose to show or hide the team roster. If the roster is hidden, the public cannot see it but when logged into the team page the roster will be seen. This feature is done at the team level, so some teams can choose to show the roster while others can choose to hide the roster. Please follow these steps to show or hide the roster:
Login to the team page
Click on Settings (found at the top of the team page in admin page on the far left of the screen)
The last item under Player Options is called, Show Rosters to the Public. Choose YES to show the roster publicly or NO to hide the roster from the public team page.
Save your changes.
When a game card is printed, even though the opposing team cannot see the roster, it will be printed on the card.
Bulletin #62, August 16th
The team page roster is the official roster, but will be open to changes until September 1st, 11:59pm when they will be locked and frozen. After that the teams will be unable to make changes without the approval of the NorCal Board; and any changes allowed will be made by a NorCal Administrator.
For the teams playing early games, until the September 1st deadline any changes are ok for the teams, but once a player has participated in a game - Red, White or Blue - they must be on thatteam.
Bulletin # 61, August 16th, 2010
Bulletins #55 to #61 are being emailed to all team contacts and Club Officers.
Many less than half of the 864 teams have accessed these bulletins during the past 7 days. Please, please, please have someone - perhaps a diligent parent - access them every day and see if there is anything their team might need to know or has forgotten.
NorCal understands that team to team communications is perhaps the most important way that some teams learn the ropes, but it would be helpful if all teams had someone on the team that has a good understanding of the event and the process.
The NorCal Website Technical Support person - Eric Lafon (websitetech@norcalpremier.com) answers requests for help quickly within a day or so, but the problem sometimes requres time to communicate with Demosphers or US Club. Please don’t wait until the last minute.
Bulletin # 60, August 12th Noon
NorCal would like to thank the hundreds of managers who have worked diligently and scheduled 600 of the 1,300 games that will be played in the first round of the younger U9 - U13 NorCal State Cup(s).
Please use the instructions in Bulletin # 57 to try to print a game card that will include the rosters for both teams. The sooner you know how to do that - the better! Please don’t wait until a few days before your first game to realize that you have a problem.
The Demosphere offices are closed on week-ends so the best time to access your team page and test the process is today - not, please, the Friday before the game.
We really appreciate the managers who have someone on their team accessing the Bulletins on a daily basis. It only takes a minute or two to take a look and move to other tasks if there is no new information.
We are now able to track the number of visits to each page on our website. Since Bulletin # 55 was emailed to all contacts on Monday; less than 25% of the teams have accessed the site and read Bulletins 56 to 59 - and they include some new and important information.
Please have someone access and read the Bulletins on a daily basis!
Bulletin # 59. August 11th, 3pm
Both teams should print a game card which will include the roster for both teams. This way, even if one team forgets or has problems there will be a game card at the game.
Bulletin # 58. August 11th, 1:30pm
The score can be entered by the first team - either home or away - that logs in and posts. Please be sure that the scores are entered correctly and exactly. If you are unsure, please don’t enter.
If an error is made, NorCal Administration can correct.
Game cards should be kept by the home team in case they are needed by NorCal - which rarely happens.
If Red cards are issued, please follow the rules dealing with that situation.
Bulletin # 57, August 11th, 11:35am
HOW TEAMS SEE AND PRINT THEIR GAME CARDS - WITH BOTH TEAMS ROSTER - FROM THEIR TEAM PAGE:
For younger (U9 - U13) NorCal State Cup(s) both teams should print a game card and take it to the game!
Both teams have the responsibility to print out the Game Card and take them to the game.
To Print a Game Card, go to your Team Page and click on the ’vs’ tab of the Match you would like to print, then select ’Print Game Card PDF’. A PDF file will open with the Game Card and you will be able to print it out.
Please PRINT OUT your Game Card within 48 hours of your Game time, not earlier. This is to ensure that all disciplinary resolutions are reflected in the game card.
Bulletin # 56, August 11th, 11:30am
There are two potential reasons for changing a Fall League game.
First, In the U11 – U13 all teams that play in the NorCal State Cup(s) White/Blue will have games on December 4th, 5th, 11th and if they win on the 11th also on December 12th.If any of these White teams have Fall League games on those days, they will need to reschedule the Fall League games to an earlier date.
Secondly, if a change of a Fall league game is needed so a Flight will have all of their first round games played by the deadline – October 11th that has NorCal approval. With almost half of the NorCal State Cup(s) games already scheduled this should not be needed very much – especially by the teams that are making contact early.
Some of the scheduling problems (tightness) are caused by teams playing too many games in too short a period of time. That situation is improving, but still a noticeable situation for some teams.
Bulletin # 55, August 9th, 11am
For a few teams, the 2010 NorCal State Cup(s) will begin August 14th with the early bird teams playing the first two games!
New in 2010: No Penalty kicks will be taken at the end of each First Round game
New in 2010: Teams will earn an extra point per game for a shutout win raising to 12 the highest points possible in the 3 First Round games. Please see the complete table in the A to Z: http://www.norcalpremier.com/statecup/415177.html
The extra point for a shutout might impact the subbing of players if the score reaches 4 – 0 and the winning team decides to play defensively to protect the shutout.
In Europe, where Leagues have much more stringent rules for subbing, players who do not play in a Saturday League game often play in a friendly game during the week.
·New in 2010: Players on White teams may be transferred to a Red team within their own Club beginning December 20th, 2010 and ending January 5th, 2011. This major change will allow Clubs - as happens throughout the world - to reward the players whom greatly improve during the Fall League and Cup(s) season.
SPORTSMANSHIP:
NorCal hears that sportsmanship continues to improve at games, but as you will read below there are still some disturbing situations that make us all sad. Please make “good sportsmanship” a constant theme for the young impressionable players who are barraged with so many negative images in the media; and often at many schools among their peers.
Please have the required “sportsmanship meeting” before your first game and be sure to include the parents. Every team should consider having one or two parents picked as the persons who will monitor and compliment the good behavior that is obvious at the great majority of NorCal games; but also “give a lollipop” to the parents who are being rude to the referees; and/or “out of control” in their general behavior.
Very Important: Please have parents go on-line and read this page about the First Principle(s) of the NorCal State Cup(s): http://www.norcalpremier.com/statecup/generalprincipals/index_E.html. It will help parents put “winning” in a positive perspective; and put young players “learning soccer” where it should be – at the top of the list of goals and – overall - well ahead of winning a specific game(s).
The recent World Cup was an excellent example of obvious mistakes made by some of the highest ranked referees in the World. At the youth level, soccer is a game being learned by young children and full of mistakes.
Parents who take the long term view of “player development” will usually be more relaxed about a single game or tournament. They will have a long term viewpoint of what is important – young players enjoying our wonderful sport and improving over time.
Please do not allow players to discredit our wonderful sport through the use of foul language; or trash talk and intimidation. Immediately report any such incidents to the Tournament Director.
Within the past 6 months, there was an ugly and very hurtful incident where a young boy used insulting racial words towards a boy on the other team – who left the field understandably upset and crying. Total respect for all other soccer players and adults must be taught to all players and families.
Familiarize or remind your players about that wonderful young boy and soccer player who loved soccer so much – Jonathan Manzo Chavez. He was always an excellent sport and good example during his much too short life.
That love of soccer carries on in the soccer lives of many millions of young children all over the World!
Let’s make every NorCal game an honor to this young boy who touched the hearts of many tens of thousands of Northern California players and fans with his bitter–sweet last words – “Mom, don’t let them cut off my shirt – I have a game tomorrow”.
It is considered in very poor taste to “run up” the score. Please have a “pass before scoring” system in place before a game. The need for five or ten successful passes before shooting will almost certainly eliminate most scoring.
There might be a few one sided games between teams ranked at different levels, e.g. # 1 vs. # 48. Please ask your parents to consider the feelings of the other team in a one sided game and celebrate more quietly for a goal – and more often for good play by the losing team.
ROSTERS:
The NorCal Board has released the “freeze dates” and rules for the rosters for the 2010 Cup(s):All rosters must be submitted on-line by Wednesday, September 1st.
All rosters will be frozen at 11:59pm, September 1st.
The NorCal Board will continue to accept requests for the “emergency addition” of players after the deadline. These are most often approved in case of injuries to a goalkeeper and will be strictly monitored in 2010 – 2011.
·Teams and Clubs are encouraged to used the flexibility of the US Club 26 player rosters to think ahead; and before the deadline add the players on the roster who “might” play.
·A player on a roster who does not ever play does not create a problem, but would have been available in case of unforeseen circumstances.
·New in 2010: Players on White teams may be transferred to a Red team within their own Club beginning December 20th, 2010 and ending January 5th, 2011. This major change will allow Clubs - as happens throughout the world - to reward the players whom greatly improve during the Fall League and Cup(s) season.
The 3 First Round games may be played in any order.
All games must be scheduled by Wednesday, September 1st.
On September 2nd the on-line games will be locked and after that all changes in dates and times must be authorized by the two teams and/or the Tournament Director.
All First Round games for ages U9 to U13 must be completed by Monday, October 11th. Any games posted to be played at a later date will be deleted if they are not changed when the teams are notified..
The Under 9, U10 and U11 teams will play on smaller fields and 8 players versus 8 players.
The time-lines are all posted on line with all dates for all Central Site , Quarter-final, Semi-final and Championship games – depending on the age/gender grouping and Division.
Please take a copy of this memo and all other information to each game.
Please report any infractions concerning the “48 hour rule” to respond to requests for scheduling information.
FORFEITS AND PROTESTS:
During the past three years, the NorCal Board and the PAD Committee have been involved in only one protest and this was caused by a tie-breaking rule not being properly explained in writing.
All other protests have been decided in consultation with the two teams involved and the Tournament Director.
Please remember that forfeits do not work well with the formats used for these Championship(s). We do not want stronger teams losing points because of forfeits and then moving into the Silver and Bronze Divisions that should be won by newer teams or stronger Class 3 teams.
On the other hand, we do not want “forfeit points” to move a newer team or Class 3 teams into the State, Premier or Gold Divisions where they will little opportunity to win their Quarter-final game.
Of course, lower ranked teams that quite often earn their way into the higher groups through game results are to be congratulated.
Forfeits are not allowed except in emergencies as accepted by the Tournament Director. Teams cannot decide to forfeit a game because they don’t wish to travel.
In the First and Second Rounds, in a situation which would normally result in a forfeit – NorCal often has the game replayed as a home game for the team that was not at fault. For example, last year the referees did not show up for a game to which a team had traveled 2 hours. The game was played under protest and the home team won. The game was replayed at the home field of the away losing team with the costs paid for by the # 1 ranked team. The # 1 ranked home team was happy they did not lose the 3 points and perhaps their ability to move into the top 24 teams within the Division of 48 teams.
In another example, the # 4 ranked team in a Flight traveled 100 miles to play the # 1 ranked team. The game was terminated with 25 minites to play because a CYSA game was scheduled to begin and the teams demanded the NorCal game halted. The traveling number 4 ranked team asked for the game to be counted as a loss for them; and the # 1ranked team agreed to accept the win and pay the registration fee for the wronged team.
REFEREES:
For the U9, U10 and U11 only, a dual (2 person) Referee system may be used as long as the referees have been trained in that system.
For the U12 and above, the traditional 3 person system should be used.
All referees must be in uniform with badge.
Home teams: Please contact the referees a few days before the game to make sure they will be there.That two minute phone contact – or by email – will help catch any mistakes or oversights in the scheduling of referees; and will allow diligent managers the opportunity to double check.
FIELDS:
The fields used for all NorCal State Cup(s) games must be played on the highest quality fields available.
If you don’t have the use of good quality fields, please give up the home games and ask for the “no home games option”.
While NorCal does not encourage protests, every Club has a responsibility to insure that the teams that are traveling to play as guests of their teams and Club arrive at a site with decent fields.
Please make sure the fields used are as they should be – within the guidelines for size, in good shape and properly lined - with secure nets and corner flags.
Teams that schedule games must be ready to have the game protested and the NorCal Board reluctantly ordering that the game be replayed as an away game for the offending team with that team paying for any field costs and the referees.
GAME LENGTHS, BALL SIZE, FIELD SIZE, NUMBER OF PLAYERS
U9 play – 2 x 25 minutes | 10 minute halftime | size 4 ball | Number of players- 8 v 8 | Field size: Length: minimum 50 yards long / maximum 90 yards long. Width: minimum 35 yards wide / maximum 60 yards wide. –
U10 Goals both the same size. Maximum 14 players game day roster - two referees
U10 play – 2 x 25 minutes | 10 minute halftime | size 4 ball | Number of players- 8 v 8 | Field size: Length: minimum 50 yards long / maximum 90 yards long. Width: minimum 35 yards wide /maximum 60 yards wide.
U10 Goals both the same size. Maximum 14 players game day roster - two referees
U11 play – 2 x 30 minutes | 10 minute halftime | size 4 ball | Number of players - 8 v 8. Field size: Length: minimum 60 yards long / maximum of 90 yards long. Width: minimum 40 yards / maximum 60 yards wide -Preferred U10 goals, however will allow regulation goals provided both are the same size. Maximum 14 players game day roster – two referees
U12 play 2 x 35 minutes | 10 minute halftime | size 4 ball | Number of players 11 v 11 | Field size: Length: minimum 100 yards long / maximum 130 yards long. Width: minimum 50 yards wide / maximum 100 yards wide. Regulation goals: 8’ high X 24’ wide. Maximum 18 players game day roster - three referees
U13 play - 2 x 35 minutes | 10-min. halftime | size 5 ball | Number of players 11v11 | Field size: Length: minimum 100 yards long / maximum 130 yards long. Width: minimum 50 yards wide / maximum 100 yards wide Regulation goals – 8’ high X 24’ wide. Maximum 18 players game day roster - three referees
Please feel free to contact NorCal for any further needed help or information.
NorCal did not leave Fall League days open specifically for the NorCal State Cup(s) because all 864 teams in groups of 216 Flights of 4 are different depending on the geographical location of the four teams. To try to fine tune the almost 5,000 Fall and NorCal State Cup(s) games would have been impossible, but individual Flights will know if a team or two in their Flight needs to reschedule a Fall League game so that a day can be free for the more time sensitive NorCal State Cup(s) game.
It is important that all teams know that, if needed in a particular Flight, the NorCal State Cup(s) games have priority and that Fall League games can be rescheduled, without pemission from NorCal, and be played later in the season - perhaps early December - except in the case of the U11 - U13 White teams that will all have games the first two week-ends in December.
Bulletin # 52, August 6th, 9:30am - This important message will be sent to all team contacts and Club Officials
Hello Younger (U9 to U13) 2010 NorCal State Championship Cup(s) Teams and Club Officials,
Below are very important changes made in the scoring and rules for the younger 2010 NorCal State Championship Cup(s).
·NEW THIS YEAR: Teams will be awarded a point on the table for a shutout win. No shutout point will be awarded for a shutout draw (tie).
·NEW THIS YEAR: NO penalty kicks will ever be taken at the end of any games in the First or Second Rounds.
The new point system will soon be displayed in the A to Z section on the website and show all of the 19 possible point totals a team can have after 3 games.
To avoid unintended consequences with this new scoring system, there will be one important exception.
·Team A with no losses (2 wins; 1 draw) and 7 points (no shutout points) will be ranked ahead of team B with one loss (2 wins; 1 loss) and 8 points (2 shut out wins).
·In this unlikely, but possible situation, team A will always have beaten team B, but will have one less point due to not earning any shutout points.
The messages and questions that NorCal has been receiving recently indicate that a number of teams have not been reading the bulletins.
As we mentioned in an earlier bulletin, the NorCal State Cup(s) are much more complex than a normal 2 or 3 day tournament. Teams benefit from having at least one person on the team having a good understanding of both the process and the rules.
Everything important is, or soon will be, in the A to Z section.During the next two weeks the bulletins will highlight all of the most important ideas.
Thanks, Herb
Bulletin # 51, August 5th, 5pm
Yesterday we discovered that some of Log messages were posting on the site, but not being emailed to the other contacts. After you have sent the email, please check to make sure the message is posted on the log and an X mark tell you the email was sent.
If an email is not sent, please let me know immediately with a copy of the log.
The log now allows twice as many characters as last week; and we hope to increase that more in the near future.
Please remember that the 3 games can be played on any day at the convenience of the two teams - the set aside days are a guide, but not required. Please give preference to the away teams that have to travel a long distance for their game. Local games are often played in the evening.
Bulletin # 50, August 4th, 8am
Please continue to try to make contact with the other 3 teams in your Flight and copy NorCal ( U9_U13cupcoordinator@norcalpremier.com ) if teams have not responded within 48 hours.
The final rankings for the Girls U9 - U13 are now back on-line:
If your team has been diligent about responding to email or phone requests about scheduling the 3 games, please ignore this email and thank you for your positive help.
It is very important that the diligent teams – most teams – let NorCal know of teams that are not communicating within the “48 hour rule” – give or take a day.
NorCal is receiving messages from teams that have been waiting for over a week for a response about scheduling both home and away games. This is not acceptable and the NorCal Board has asked that we begin to keep a record of teams that are not complying with the important “48 hour rule”.
That record will be compiled beginning tomorrow!
I am enclosing the earlier bulletin that helps with the scheduling process and that has been in the A to Z section of the website since April 12th, 2010. It is important that all teams have at least one person who has spent an hour or so reading about the event – the A to Z includes just about everything alphabetized by topic.
Bulletin # 36, Wednesday, July 21st, 7am
Scheduling NorCal State Cup(s) First Round Games – Basic Rules - originally posted April 12th, 2010 in the A to Z section
The A to Z section has just about everything you need to know about the NorCal State Cup(s) and new information and any changes will always be posted there with key words in alphabetical order.
For example, quite a few managers have asked about the roster freeze date. That information has been in the A to Z section for some weeks under both Roster and Freeze. If you think something should be added, please send the suggestion to NorCal.
The goal is to have the schedules posted by July 19th:
Please respond to all scheduling requests within 48 hours.
Keep your team contact information current.
Please give priority to scheduling games that cannot be played on a weekday evening - those games requiring longer travel making a weekend game necessary.
Managers, please let me know if you are kept waiting more than 48 hours.
In the past many managers have been far too patient and have often waited until the situation reached a crisis. Pleasee be kind to yourself - wait 48 hours and give one last chance mentioning the "48 rule" and if that doesn’t work - please send me a message.
If the schedules are posted by July 19th or earlier, as planned, all first round games must be finalized and posted by September 1st, 2010
Please alert your field assignor that your team will need either one or two times for fields; and you will know exactly by July 19th. Also, once the rankings are significantly firm – many teams will know earlier if they will have one or two home games.
Please be very specific about when more information will be sent. - e.g. Do not send vague – “I will get back to you”. Please do send – “I will let you know by next Monday evening”
Away teams, please realize that depending on the Club it might take a few days or even a week to arrange for fields.
Home teams
Please make sure the fields being assigned are of high quality – properly lined.
Last year, two major and responsible Clubs had breakdowns in their Referee Assignment System causing games to be canceled after teams had made long trips to play. Please find the name of the assigned referee(s) and call to insure that they will be at your game.
Once a game has been posted, it can only be changed with the permission of NorCal and they will ask the affected team for advice. Based on comments from 2009, it is very disruptive to change games except for emergency reasons.
Try not to make October 11th your 3rd game – especially if you are playing on grass. If a storm cancels that week-end and another comes through on the next week-end, teams that played their games earlier will not have a problem.
U9 – U10 Specific “Set Aside Days”: All teams play First Round of 3 games on Sundays or any other day (Saturday or week-day) that is convenient for both teams. Specific NorCal set aside days for First Round games: Sunday, August 29; Sunday, September 19, and Sunday, October 3. The last day to schedule a game is Monday, October 11th.
U11 – U13 Specific “Set Aside Days”: All teams – Red and White - play First Round of 3 games on Sundays or any other day (Saturday or week-days) that is convenient for both teams. Specific NorCal set aside days for First Round Play: Sunday, August 29th; Sunday, September 19th, Saturday, October 2nd, & Sunday, October 3rd. The last day to schedule a game is Monday, October 11th.
For both the U9 - U10 and the U11 – U13, the emergency week-end for rain delays is October 17th. Please do not schedule NorCal Cup(s) games on that date and keep the day free in case of rain delays.
Overall, communications between teams has greatly improved during the past few years. However, there are still some complaints of unnecessary problems caused by some managers procrastinating.
Hello NorCal State Championship Cup(s) team Managers and Club Officials,
This message is extremely important for all teams. Please have someone on your team read the contents and begin to read all future messages posted in the Bulletins section and/or sent directly to the team contacts.
Please update your on-line team contact information so that all contact information is up to date and correct!
This is the first in a series of postings that during the next two weeks will highlight every important aspect of your participation in the NorCal State Championship Cup(s). Some teams are beginning the event as early as August 15th while many others are waiting until after Labor Day.
TEAM AND PLAYER MANAGEMENT:
An increasing number of Clubs and teams are using the “26 player rule” to their advantage, but many teams are still using the old rigid system that made adding players – or having players in reserve - difficult. Here is important information:
·There is a 26 player roster limit.
·For the NorCal State Championship Cup(s) all rosters will be frozen 7 days prior to your first game; or September 1st which ever date comes first.
·Many teams and Clubs are using all 26 places on the roster to have players available in case of injuries, illnesses or players leaving the team. Advanced younger players from the home Club are increasingly being added to an older team roster.
·Players may be rostered for two separate teams for the same Club as long as they are different ages.
·Players may not play on two teams in the same age group.
·Players can not play at the same time for two different Clubs.
·Other teams are adding players who might be playing on a non-NorCal team – but would also be interested in playing at a higher level.
·If a player is added to a roster and does not ever play – there is no loss except the US Club registration fee.
·It is important that all teams have a second goalkeeper in case of an injury to that “one” player.
·In the past, once the rosters have been frozen, the NorCal Board has sometimes allowed the adding of a player(s) for “emergency reasons”. However, they have asked that this message be sent out to help Clubs and teams think and plan ahead to avoid the emergencies from developing.
·NEW THIS YEAR: After the White and Blue Championships are played on December 20th, 2010 there will be a two week window for teams to transfer players from the White or Blue team to the Red teams. They can then play in the Red games in late January, 2011 and perhaps February.
IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO, PLEASE GO BACK AND READ AT LEAST THE LAST DOZEN OR SO BULLETINS:
Under 11 - Under 13 : 3 game days have been added to the NorCal State Cup(s) schedules - Saturday, October 9th, Sunday October 10 and Monday, October 11th are now available to schedule games for the First Round. October 16th and 17th are now the emergency rain-out days. All calendars and time-lines have been updated!
Bulletin # 46, Saturday, July 31st, 8:15am
NorCal has lost the ability to record and post on-line the Penalty Kicks that have previously been taken after all First Round games. Therefore, in 2010 there will be no Penalty Kicks at the end of each First Round game.
Bulletin # 45, Thursday, July 29th
Scheduling 3 games should not be a difficult task. However, if some of the other teams in your Flight are ignoring the "48 hour rule" it can become frustrating. Please do not wait weeks for a response - many managers have in the past. Wait for 48 hours and perhaps another 24 if you wish; and then contact NorCal at U9_u13cupcoordinator@norcalpremier.com . Please include your teams names, Age,Gender, Division (Red, White or Blue) and the game #.
Bulletin # 44, Wednesday, July 28th, 6pm
Under 9 - Under 10 Only: 3 game days added to the NorCal State Cup(s) schedules - Saturday, October 9th, Sunday October 10 and Monday, October 11th are now available to schedule games for the First Round. October 16th and 17th are now the emergency rain-out days. All calendars and time-lines have been updated!
DESCRIPTION OF FORMATS FOR THE YOUNGER U9 – U13 NORCAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP CUP(S)
Some new managers have asked for a narrative explanation of the basic NorCal State Cup(s) formats. Here is a brief explanation with links to the exact dates.
The teams are ranked (seeded) by the Seeding Committee – basically based on all of the input from many hundreds of managers and coaches.
Every teams is put into a 4 team Flight in Red, White or in the larger groups of teams Blue. The Flights have a team from each quarter of the total group – e.g. in a 48 team Division 1, 24, 36, 48; but the groups are modified from the exact formula to lessen the overall amount of travel.
All teams – 100% - are guaranteed 7 games in the first three rounds of games – Round 1 with games beginning as early as August 15th and a deadline of October 3rd for all 3 First Round games to be completed.
After the First Round of games, the teams will be re-ranked by First Round “game results” and put into new Flights based on their new ranking. The first and second place teams in their Flight will move into the top 3 groups in a Division (Red, White or Blue); and the third and fourth will move into the next three groups. There is no movement between the Red, White and Blue Divisions.
The calendar for the Second Round of three games differs between the U9 – U10 and U11 – U13; and in the U11 – U13 also between the Red and the White and Blue. However, all teams – 100% - are guaranteed 3 games with all 3 games in the U9 – U10 at a Central Site(s); and the 2nd and 3rd games in the U11 – U13 at many Central Sites on turf.
After the Second Round games are completed, all teams – 100% - are re-ranked for the last time and based on their game results will play a Round 3 Championship Quarter-final game – ranking from State to Bronze 5 in the 112 teams Boys Under 11.
Four teams in the Boys and Girls U9 White will play a 3 game Round Robin for the Championship instead of a Quarter-final game.
Teams that win their Round 3 Quarter-final game will play in the Round 4 Semi-finals with the winning teams advancing to the Round 5 Championship Finals.
Please Note:
The rankings used by NorCal for this event are not part of a definitive State or National ranking of teams. They are an in house NorCal method of organizing a creative, unique and complicated event that in the 112 team Under 11 Boys age group will end with 17 Championship games as compared to the one in a traditional format.
The teams that play their way into the State and Premier Quarter-finals will almost certainly be among the “best” teams in Northern California and most teams in the event would probably qualify in the top 100 or 150 out of the many hundreds of teams in their age/gender.
Here are the Championships that will be awarded in the U11 Boys:
The Initial Groups:
112 teams
Red: 48 teams: Seeded 1 through 48 –
State, State 2, State 3, State 4, Premier 1, Premier 2, Gold 1, Gold 2 &
If there are any teams in the 40 to 60 rankings that would like to switch from either Red to White or White to Red, please send that message to u9_u13cupcoordinator@norcalpremier.com along with the name of the team and the age/gender and ranking.
There is a short window of opportunity to make such a switch if two willing teams can be matched both wanting to move either to Red or White. Since no teams will be forced to move - absolutely no guarantees can be made that this will happen.
Bulletin # 38, Thursday, July 22nd, 4:15pm
If a NorCal State Cup(s) White U11 – U13 team has a Fall League game scheduled in December when either one or both have a NorCal State Cup(s) game they must reschedule the Fall League game - at their convenience.
Bulletin # 37, Thursday, July 22nd, 1pm
Teams can now begin to schedule after they have read Bulletin # 36 below.
If you need any additional help or have any questions about your team in the NorCal State Cup(s) you should be able to easily find it in the alphabetized A to Z section. If you have trouble finding informaiton please contact U9_U13Cupcoordinator@norcalpremier.com
Important Pages (sites) for Managers, Coaches and Club Officials concerning the 2010 NorCal State Cup(s):
Scheduling NorCal State Cup(s) First Round Games – Basic Rules - originally posted April 12th, 2010 in the A to Z section
The A to Z section has just about everything you need to know about the NorCal State Cup(s) and new information and any changes will always be posted there with key words in alphabetical order.
For example, quite a few managers have asked about the roster freeze date. That information has been in the A to Z section for some weeks under both Roster and Freeze. If you think something should be added, please send the suggestion to NorCal.
The goal is to have the schedules posted by July 19th:
Please respond to all scheduling requests within 48 hours.
Keep your team contact information current.
Please give priority to scheduling games that cannot be played on a weekday evening - those games requiring longer travel making a weekend game necessary.
Managers, please let me know if you are kept waiting more than 48 hours.
In the past many managers have been far too patient and have often waited until the situation reached a crisis. Pleasee be kind to yourself - wait 48 hours and give one last chance mentioning the "48 rule" and if that doesn’t work - please send me a message.
If the schedules are posted by July 19th or earlier, as planned, all first round games must be finalized and posted by September 1st, 2010
Please alert your field assignor that your team will need either one or two times for fields; and you will know exactly by July 19th. Also, once the rankings are significantly firm – many teams will know earlier if they will have one or two home games.
Please be very specific about when more information will be sent. - e.g. Do not send vague – “I will get back to you”. Please do send – “I will let you know by next Monday evening”
Away teams, please realize that depending on the Club it might take a few days or even a week to arrange for fields.
Home teams
Please make sure the fields being assigned are of high quality – properly lined.
Last year, two major and responsible Clubs had breakdowns in their Referee Assignment System causing games to be canceled after teams had made long trips to play. Please find the name of the assigned referee(s) and call to insure that they will be at your game.
Once a game has been posted, it can only be changed with the permission of NorCal and they will ask the affected team for advice. Based on comments from 2009, it is very disruptive to change games except for emergency reasons.
Try not to make October 11th your 3rd game – especially if you are playing on grass. If a storm cancels that week-end and another comes through on the next week-end, teams that played their games earlier will not have a problem.
U9 – U10 Specific “Set Aside Days”: All teams play First Round of 3 games on Sundays or any other day (Saturday or week-day) that is convenient for both teams. Specific NorCal set aside days for First Round games: Sunday, August 29; Sunday, September 19, and Sunday, October 3. The last day to schedule a game is Monday, October 11th.
U11 – U13 Specific “Set Aside Days”: All teams – Red and White - play First Round of 3 games on Sundays or any other day (Saturday or week-days) that is convenient for both teams. Specific NorCal set aside days for First Round Play: Sunday, August 29th; Sunday, September 19th, Saturday, October 2nd, & Sunday, October 3rd. The last day to schedule a game is Monday, October 11th.
For both the U9 - U10 and the U11 – U13, the emergency week-end for rain delays is October 17th. Please do not schedule NorCal Cup(s) games on that date and keep the day free in case of rain delays.
Overall, communications between teams has greatly improved during the past few years. However, there are still some complaints of unnecessary problems caused by some managers procrastinating.
The NorCal State Cup(s) schedules are on target to be posted on Monday, July 19th. At that time the final groupings into Flights will be known. With the exception of a few teams moved into Red and a few into White - there have been no major changes.
Bulletin # 34, Thursday, 7/8, 1pm
There are still 5 openings - 2 Under 10 Girls, 2 Under 11 Girls and one Boys team. These openings will be given to the first eligible teams that register on-line.
Bulletin # 33, Wednesday, 7/7, 9:30am
Hello 2010 NorCal State Cup(s) teams,
Please be sure to begin to check the Bulletins every day.
REGISTER FOR NO HOME GAMES OPTION NOW!
If your Club or team needs to accept the “no home games” option, please send your team name, Club and contact information to: U9_U13cupcoordinator@norcalpremier.com by next Monday, July 12th.
This is a valuable option for teams and Clubs that are “field poor” or those that do not have access to top Referees. Last year, at the request of the NorCal Board, we began to monitor the quality of the fields – including lining and making sure the grass was cut appropriately for the younger players.
There is no shortage of teams that would rather have two home games than one.
GROUPS NOW BEING FORMED:
For the next week, NorCal will be forming the First Round 215 groups of four that are at the heart of the event.
For the Red, the formulas are followed closely especially for the Red top 24. To make the groups more travel friendly, changes are often made in the 3rd and 4th place teams, e.g. switching the teams ranked 31 and 36 to make both groups more Regional.
For the White and Blue, the formulas are followed closely for the top ranked teams, but the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ranked teams in a group are changed to lessen travel.
NorCal knows that most teams will have a friendly schedule, but a very small number – less than 10% - will have more travel than most teams. With team stretched from Visalia to Sacramento to Sonoma County to Monterey there must be travel by some teams. However, you can rest assured that every group has been looked at, and within those groups also every team, in an effort to lessen the amount of travel for all of the teams.
MOST OF YOUR QUESTIONS CAN BE FOUND AND ANSWERED IN THE ALPHABETIZED A TO Z SECTION. IF YOU CAN’T FIND THE ANSWER PLEASE SEND IT IN AND WE WILL ADD TO THE SECTION.
June 19th, 2010: Bulletin # 29, 8am Still a few teams needed:
NorCal has recently found a company that will help organize the contact lists and avoid duplicate messages to the same person; and also minimize the mailing of messages to people who do not need to receive them. As this program is implemented, please accept our apologies for any unwanted or repetitive emails.
WANTED BY THE 2010 NORCAL STATE CUP(S):
NorCal now needs 8 specific teams to join the 850 teams already registered:
These teams can be at any level from a Club first team to a strong Class 3 team:
Under 9 Girls: Full at 52 teams
Under 9 Boys: Have 86; need 2 teams
Under 10 Girls: Have 70; need 2 teams
Under 10 Boys: Have 103; need 1 team
Under 11 Girls: Full at 100 teams
Under 11 Boys: Full at 112 teams
Under 12 Girls: Have 78; need 2 teams
Under 12 Boys: Full at 96 teams
Under 13 Girls: Full at 72 teams
Under 13 Boys: Full at 80 teams
The first eligible NorCal teams to enter will be awarded these last minute openings. Teams entering for their first event on the new site, should enter as a new team:
June 17th, 2010: Bulletin # 28, 8am Similarities and differences between the World Cup and the NorCal State Cup(s)
Have you told your team about the similarities and differences between the World Cup and the NorCal State Cup(s)?
For the Red teams with a group of 48 - the teams that come in first or second in their First Round group of 4 games have exactly the same experience as the World Cup Natonal teams for the first 6 games in two rounds.
The Red teams that come in first or second in their Second Round also have a quarter-final game just as do the National teams in the World Cup.
The big difference between the World Cup and the NorCal State Cup(s) is what happens to the teams that come in 3rd and 4th. In the World Cup the teams that don’t finish first or second in their group of 4 First or Second Round - go home!
In the NorCal Cup(s), the teams finishing 3rd and 4th in their First or Second Round move into groups of other similar teams and play for a different level of Cup. This is the creative and unique insight of the NorCal Board of Directors that has led to the huge success of the NorCal State Cup(s).
Everything above is also true for the Whtie teams except that they play at a different level of team competiton for this event.
For the Adult World Cup there is no (s) in Cup - one Cup for 32 teams. In the NorCal State Cup(s) - organized by adults for young players - for 32 teams there would be 7 Cup(s) - State, State 2, State 3, State 4, Premier, Gold and Silver.
Please have every adult involved with your team - especially parents - read the General Principles article: http://www.norcalpremier.com/statecup/generalprincipals/414760.html posted on-line so that they understand the reasoning behind the formats of this increasingly popular event.
Thanks for all of your help and patience. Please make sure that if you have more than one team in an age/gender division - the teams are ranked in their proper order.
All the teams have been counted and all alternates accepted. We now need these 14 specific teams. Alterrnates will continue to be accepted in case a team drops from a group that is full.
Age/Gender
# of
teams
Alternates
registered
Goal
Teams
Needed:
Under 9 Girls
52-Full
0
52
0
Under 9 Boys
84-
2
88
2
Under 10 Girls
69
0
72
3
Under 10 Boys
103
0
104
1
Under 11 Girls
99
0
100
1
Under 11 Boys
109
0
112
3
Under 12 Girls
78
0
80
2
Under 12 Boys
95
96
1
Under 13 Girls
71
0
72
1
Under 13 Boys
80-Full
0
80
0
Total:
840
2
854
14
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
June 10th, 2010: Bulletin # 25, 10:15am New revised rankings posted tonight by 9pm to include all messages reewceived by 9am today.
Final Count for U9 and U10 Boys and Girls NOrCal State Cup(s): Need 4 specific teams
Under 9 Boys (84) and Girls (52): Full
Under 10 Boys (103) : Need 1 team
Under 10 Girls (69) Need 3 teams for the NorCal State Cup(s)
Final count for U11 to U13 begins today and alternates should know by Monday if they have been included.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
June 9th, 2010: Bulletin # 24 New posting of Seeding list on Friday, June 11th
Christopher - the NorCal person/fan in South Africa - will introduce himself in the blog, but it should be noted that he is the younger brother of NorCal League Manager Benjamin Ziemer; and is well known for his "soccer messages" to many hundreds of his past and present soccer players and their families.
Over 700 visitors accessed the Seeding pages today and a number sent in their comments on the new rankings. The Seeding Committee will now begin to post rankings twice a week - Thursday evening and Monday morning.
Please continue to send in any comparative scores, and URL’s or copies of standings and any other data that shows a team should be moved up or down in the standings.
Important 2010 NorCal State Championship Cup(s) Information:
The new June 7th revised rankings are now posted on line. The next revision will be posted on Monday, June 14th and will include all messages received by Saturday, June 12th at 11:59pm.
Please continue to send in comparative scores that will help the Seeding Committee move teams up and down in the Rankings.
Very Important: Tomorrow – June 8th – is the last day to drop from the event and still receive a complete refund. The NorCal Board has requested that teams dropping after tomorrow be reported to the PAD Committee.
The Final counting of teams begins June 9th. There are going to be a very few openings in some age/gender Divisions. However, the exact age and genders will not be known until later this week. If you know of a team that would like to be included on the alternate list, please tell them to enter on-line and join the teams already registered as alternates. The openings will be filled on a first come, first served basis.
Please continue to send comparative scores to rankings@norcalpremier.com . All messages sent by 11:59pm PST, Saturday, June 5th will be included in the Monday, June 7th revision # 2.
Be sure to send the include and the date(s) the game(s) were played; and include your name, title, team and Club affiliation and the pertinent age/gender.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
June 3rd, 2010: Bulletin # 20
The next revised ranking will be posted on Monday, June 7th. All messages sent by Saturday, June 5th will be included.
Forty emails were not included in the June 1st revision and are now being processed.
Please be sure to watch the ranking of your team during the next month!
The Final Counting of the 850+ teams continues with very few (3) teams dropping.
There are currently 6 alternate teams teams waiting for the final count - most will be accepted by June 15th.
The Cup(s) are 99% full, but there will be room for a few more (perhaps 5 - 10 teams) late teams - with the exact age/gender openings unknown at this time. Teams will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Please let your coaching and manager friends know about these potential openings.
Tuesday, June 8th is the last day to drop without penalty and to receive a complete refund. Except in an obvious emergency, after that date, all or part of the registration fee will be used (offering a discount) to find a replacement team. Any money not needed or used will be refunded to the late dropping team.
If there is any chance that your team will not be able to complete all 7 to 9 games in the event (e.g. conflict with CYSA Cup) please drop now when it will not affect any other team(s). Drops after the event is organized and scheduled cause problems for other teams and the NorCal Board has asked that any teams dropping after the deadline be reported to the NorCal PAD Committee. Teams dropping after the deadline is extremly rare, but even once or twice is too many - especially if you are the team that does not have the opportunity to play a Quarter-final game; or you play that fresh team in the semi-finals on Sunday after a tough game on Saturday.
Here are the latest number of teams in each age/gender group:
Revised rankings will be posted tonight by midnight!
The next new lists will be posted on Monday, June 7th unless the Seeding Committee thinks they should be released earlier. Please continue to send in your comments and comparative scores.
The next lists will be posted on Friday, 6/25 and the final lists for coaches and managers will be posted on Tuesday, June 29th. Beginning June 30th, the Directors of Coaching and Club Officials can communicate to insure that there have been no serious errors caused by a team being ranked wrongly within the Club; or perhaps by a lack of communication from a team.
NorCal appreciates the many hundreds of messages that have been sent and encourage you to send more if you think it is necessary. Comparative scores from games played against other teams registered in the event are especially helpful as are standings in recent tournaments - especially if guest players were not added to the team.
It is especially important that teams that have entered since June 1st send in any helpful information.
