LFC
Active Member
- Aug 23, 2015
- 314
Div 4 should be strictly for the house players who want to play for fun.
A couple of Gold teams and a silver team folded and SFC Eagles picked up some very good players.
Cobras have also added some good players
5 District Schedules for 2016-2017?
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A couple of Gold teams and a silver team folded and SFC Eagles picked up some very good players.
Cobras have also added some good players
LFC
Active Member
- Aug 23, 2015
- 314
WOW - Dist 5 Leage results /standings updated including the latest games from the weekend 5 District U13-U18 Soccer 2016 Schedules
yes!
LFC
Active Member
- Aug 23, 2015
- 314
I,m all for teams playing at their appropriate level / appropriate ability whether they are playing to be competitive or for fun .
I would request Dist 5 to make changes and balance out the groups and have made some changes from my previous suggestion as follows:
Div 1 - 10 teams
Div 2 - 8 teams
Div 3 - 8 teams
Div 4 - 11 teams [ fun div ] - would not mind a bye as they are playing for fun
I would request Dist 5 to make changes and balance out the groups and have made some changes from my previous suggestion as follows:
Div 1 - 10 teams
Div 2 - 8 teams
Div 3 - 8 teams
Div 4 - 11 teams [ fun div ] - would not mind a bye as they are playing for fun
easoccer
Established Member
- Aug 27, 2015
- 862
Oct 30 this year.
It's illogical to balance teams based purely on numbers at the Div 1-4 level. In one age group you could have 15-16 Div 1-level teams, but in another you might only have 8 Div 1-level teams. You have to balance based on ability. And keep in mind that isn't just based on results.
LFC
Active Member
- Aug 23, 2015
- 314
I,m only trying to provide my feedback from my 8-9yrs experience of the 99 born age group.
And i fully stand by " I,m all for teams playing at their appropriate level / appropriate ability whether they are playing to be competitive or for fun "
easoccer
Established Member
- Aug 27, 2015
- 862
I think the difference between div 4 and the rest, especially at the older ages, is that it allows these kids more leeway to do other things. On my sons u18 team, they have maybe 20 players this year. But some of them work, or have girlfriends, or play other sports so at any given practice and game they may have 13-14 players present. At Coastal for example, there are many REP or higher level players that drop down to div 4 at u17 or 18 because they either down want to or cant commit as much, but still want to play.
I think they all play for fun at any age. When it stops being fun they move on to something else.
I think they all play for fun at any age. When it stops being fun they move on to something else.
4_the_kids
Active Member
- Oct 20, 2015
- 312
Exactly .regardless of the level its always about fun, when its not fun anymore they move on... The only difference from one level to one below it is the commitment levels are a little less and so are the expectations.
LFC
Active Member
- Aug 23, 2015
- 314
Keep in mind that I do not know any of the teams at U18, I coach U13. But if you want me to take a run at it, I will (also note that I did not disagree with your suggestion, just with your categorization of Div 4 as somehow different than Div1-3 vis-a-vis their level of seriousness). In looking at the tables, which, admittedly could be quite skewed this early in the season, at least 1 of the teams in Div 1 should be moved down as they have been beaten badly in their 3 games. The rest of that division appears to be at the appropriate level. Div 2 APPEARS to have 2 teams that could/should be moved up as they have handled their early opposition easily. Only 1 team in that division appears to be overmatched at this point. In Div 4 it appears that at least 2 teams should be moved up. So, that leaves 3 divisions comprised of 8/13/16. Perhaps the bottom division could be split in 2 as you have done...I don't think it really matters (that would become more clear as time moves on).
More to my point, though, is the characterization that Div 4 is just "for fun" while Div 1 is "serious". I just don't see it that way. Are the athletes better at Div 1 than at Div 4...most certainly. Is the coaching better? In some cases yes, in others not...who can really say across the board. But are Div 1 players going to accomplish something that Div 4 players will not within the game? No, they are not (there may be some exceptions, but broadly speaking...). Very few of them are going to university on a scholarship, and none of them will play professionally. There are 2 levels above Div 1 (three if you include the Whitecaps academy)...if we want to categorize levels of seriousness, THOSE are the serious levels. The rest is "just" for fun. I very much dislike the outsize attention that Community clubs provide to Div 1 teams (for example) while Div 4 teams scramble and claw for whatever they can get. Every year I have to fight to ensure that I don't have to practice on gravel while Div 1, 2 and 3 teams get 2 or even 3 spots on turf. I don't agree with that. These are Community Clubs. And this is why I advocate for private academies...the role they should be playing is in the development of the elite player. Everybody else is "just" playing various levels of "house", and I think that should be made more clear.
LFC
Active Member
- Aug 23, 2015
- 314
SU Coach -Great thoughtful post
Still need a solution after the playing for fun part , PT jobs, grade 12 studies, other sports etc.
End of the day the Divisions still need to be sorted out :
Teams/players should play at their appropriate level / appropriate ability whether they are playing to be competitive or for fun
Div 1 - 10 teams
Div 2 - 8 teams
Div 3 - 8 teams
Div 4 - 11 teams
Even after the tiering/changes , there should be an option to move the odd team up/or down
Still need a solution after the playing for fun part , PT jobs, grade 12 studies, other sports etc.
End of the day the Divisions still need to be sorted out :
Teams/players should play at their appropriate level / appropriate ability whether they are playing to be competitive or for fun
Div 1 - 10 teams
Div 2 - 8 teams
Div 3 - 8 teams
Div 4 - 11 teams
Even after the tiering/changes , there should be an option to move the odd team up/or down
Last edited:
easoccer
Established Member
- Aug 27, 2015
- 862
SU Coach. I have had kids in Div 4, Div 3, Div and Dev. As a parent I honestly enjoy all of the games equally. I agree that one is not more important than the other. If I am not involved as a coach, I cant really tell from the outside the exact level of play just from watching. I would have to ask. An in all seriousness, at all levels, there are committed players, and then there are those that just aren't.
I coached Div 3 for 3 years (u13-15), I had 1 practice on turf and the other on gravel. I said many times, I just don't see why one is treated so well and the other is the red headed step child. Traditionally there was not a difference in registration fees. Over the last year or two they are charging $50 more, maybe that is how they can justify the extra turf or alternate jersey, I don't know. It must be a prestige thing. If they focused on all players equally I think the club would have more players entering higher levels.
This year we are in Div 2 and we get those 2 turf spots. This has made a huge difference for us as we haven't had any rained out practices due to flooded fields.
And for house teams becoming better, I'm not sure how SUS works, but I can request the division my team plays in, or if you really excel, then you can be tiered. At the same time, it is kind of our job to promote players as well. Sometimes it hurts, but in the end, after the sting is gone, you can pat yourself on the back for doing your job well.
I coached Div 3 for 3 years (u13-15), I had 1 practice on turf and the other on gravel. I said many times, I just don't see why one is treated so well and the other is the red headed step child. Traditionally there was not a difference in registration fees. Over the last year or two they are charging $50 more, maybe that is how they can justify the extra turf or alternate jersey, I don't know. It must be a prestige thing. If they focused on all players equally I think the club would have more players entering higher levels.
This year we are in Div 2 and we get those 2 turf spots. This has made a huge difference for us as we haven't had any rained out practices due to flooded fields.
And for house teams becoming better, I'm not sure how SUS works, but I can request the division my team plays in, or if you really excel, then you can be tiered. At the same time, it is kind of our job to promote players as well. Sometimes it hurts, but in the end, after the sting is gone, you can pat yourself on the back for doing your job well.
Ha! You totally get my pain (in particular wrt washing out practices...I HATE that)! And I completely agree that part of my role as a Div 4 coach is to have kids move up. As yes, it hurts, and prevents us from moving up as a team, but ideally all players should find the level to which they are most suited wrt their own ability. As for playing at a different level, I imagine that SUS would support me if I wanted to move up (and had the case to support it)....I make no complaint on the front. We are probably among the better Div 4 teams, but I have no illusions that we would be a good Div 3 team (although I guess I don't REALLY know).
SU coach - don't assume Div 1 players won't go pro. I've coached one kid who is well on his way to pro soccer (having never played MSL and only a small handful of BCSPL games), and another who has been semi-pro a couple seasons also having never played MSL (BCSPL didn't exist when he was youth).
Div 1 players are, in general, more serious about the sport than Div 2-4 players. Plenty Div 1 players go on to university or college soccer. But I do agree, Div 1 is more recreational than MSL. MSL is more recreational than BCSPL. Again, in general terms.
My position is that even though BCSPL has been nominated the "elite" (note: it's not elite - only WFC academy is elite in this province) it's still filled with plenty of players who are there because a) they happen to be good enough and/or b) they can afford it. If BCSPL was free-to-play or they charged the same fees that was charged for Div 1 you would see not insignificant roster changes at each BCSPL club. Not that every BCSPL or MSL-level player chooses to play that level. Some simply want to play Div 1 for a variety of reasons - often not related to football.
Div 1 players are, in general, more serious about the sport than Div 2-4 players. Plenty Div 1 players go on to university or college soccer. But I do agree, Div 1 is more recreational than MSL. MSL is more recreational than BCSPL. Again, in general terms.
My position is that even though BCSPL has been nominated the "elite" (note: it's not elite - only WFC academy is elite in this province) it's still filled with plenty of players who are there because a) they happen to be good enough and/or b) they can afford it. If BCSPL was free-to-play or they charged the same fees that was charged for Div 1 you would see not insignificant roster changes at each BCSPL club. Not that every BCSPL or MSL-level player chooses to play that level. Some simply want to play Div 1 for a variety of reasons - often not related to football.