Preparation and explanation from state's staff
Our school system with pre-school then comes kindergarten, first 12th grades, undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. As teachers developing young players, we ought to draw an analogy from the school system. Players must be guided and encouraged to play at their proper level at all times.
To be a successful first grade teacher, you must ensure that your students learn enough to be promoted and 'survive' in the second grade! This is similar to coaching soccer. We work with our players at a certain level, develop them so they may move up to the next level if they have the abilities and witless to do so.
At present, there are four levels of league participation depending on the players. We should review these levels periodically review these levels periodically and add to them when needed.
Class 4 - The majority (80 percent) plays within their league boundaries. The commitment of these players is around 12 weeks per year. Organizationally, Class 4 focuses on "quantify". Rules are adapted to encourage as many participants as possible.
Class 3- An Intermediate level for selected players (10 percent). Players are More commitment than Class 4. They may play in some Class 3 tournaments. Flexible boundaries may exist at the discretion of the district.
Class 2- The reserve teams of each age group of the local soccer club (five- percent).
Class I- The 'A' team representing the soccer club (five- percent).
The soccer club is a local club that is the feeder to the district, state, regional and national teams, universities and professional leagues. Club players consist of the top five percent to 10 percent of all youth players. In CYSA, this translates to 7,000 to 14,000 players!
The soccer clubs will participate in the CYSA Class 1 youth leagues or if necessary, a separate league created for these clubs. This league plays with FIFA rules only - not arbitrary rules made up at the whims of local leagues and referees.
Professional, trainer's volunteers, a local following, sponsors, and a program with vision are all essential ingredients for these soccer leagues to flourish. Eventually, we will have " hubs" of well-run clubs where the top players will train. However, these players will not all belong to one club because:
a] the team rosters and resources of each club are limited;
b) we already have a large pool of players who are committed to playing Class 1 soccer.
c) transportation becomes prohibitive;
d) the pride of each local area will fuel the development of more "high quality" soccer clubs;
e) there is an increasing pool of professional trainers available.
For a club to survive, the leaders will have to ensure they are producing a "high quality" program. Free enterprise, pride and competition will be the basic driving focus for clubs to excel.
To avoid confusion, we should use "levels of soccer" instead of the words "recreational" or "competitive" when discussion youth soccer. Soccer game by design highly competitive. When played in the proper spirit and with good sportsmanship it is also highly recreational. In terms of "competitive" and " recreational" a game played by the U.S. National Team is no different than a game played by a Class 4 team in AYSO or CYSA; they are both competitive and recreational-at a different level.
Are you part of the mission to improve quality? If not now is your chance to be apart of soccer's swing to make the game "FUN and SIMPLE".
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