BC Coastal Soccer League

[RRS]

What is your proposed solution? With cities closing fields due to snow getting the games in will depend on that. More snow is predicted. When are the Finals scheduled to be played?

The league could require the home team to get the game in if the fields open in their community before the final - say no later than 3 days before the scheduled final? This would/might require week night games. This would mean fairly late kickoffs or teams losing practice times (or of course schedule the game in the usual 1.5 hours of practice time the home team has - would impact re: warm-up and the practice after the match of course - juggling would be necessary).

I believe the Final is scheduled for Mar. 9. IF the weather cooperates between then and now (no major accumulations of snow), completing the round robin (2 matches) should be possible using one or both of the weekly training session blocks for Div 1. Warm ups would generally be doable as well, as most fields have adjoining areas for this purpose. Weeknight play -- even late -- would be much more preferable (I'm talking U18 here...) to unplayed matches, as long as sufficient rest days can be worked in.

I actually like the notion of this adopted D5 scheme. I realize that the field closures throw a BIG wrench into things, but I'd like to see something fairer than a PPG solution. PPG is equitable only if you're comparing apples to apples -- i.e. everyone's played a true round robin. Perhaps some type of simplified weighting system, whereby a win over a 6th place (standings) opponent is worth less than a win over a 1st place opponent? So, if you've posted wins over two or three top teams in the current standings, it's worth more than two or three wins over lower-performing teams.

The BC soccer landscape is rife with claims of "player centricity", but at the club/administrative level I see a number of decisions rendered that seem to be more for the administrative convenience than anything else, and a PPG "solution" would be a prime example.

Part of the the issue at hand (weather cancellations) touches on the longstanding discussion of whether BC's rather unique autumn start to the season makes much sense anymore. There were certainly plenty of unhappy members of our club a couple years ago when 4-5 weeks were lost due to frozen fields, and only a $20.00 rebate was offered.

 

[hervb]

League finals are set for March 2-3rd weekend. The weekend of the 9th are reserved for District finals. The league has also posted that this date is confirmed as fields are booked.

With snow in the forecast ahead next week is also up in the air. Ideally getting all games in would be fantastic but there really is no chance of this. Can't speak for all clubs but I cant see cancelling practices that often include 6 teams on a field for a makeup game. It really is a shame they scheduled a buy week during the 3rd week for makeups.

 

[TKBC]

League finals are set for March 2-3rd weekend. The weekend of the 9th are reserved for District finals. The league has also posted that this date is confirmed as fields are booked.

With snow in the forecast ahead next week is also up in the air. Ideally getting all games in would be fantastic but there really is no chance of this. Can't speak for all clubs but I cant see cancelling practices that often include 6 teams on a field for a makeup game. It really is a shame they scheduled a buy week during the 3rd week for makeups.

The shame is that we play during winter, and the "most important games" are during the worst weather period. Change the playing season. Extend the season etc.

 

[RRS]

Sigh... Just left shaking my head at the BCCSL at this point -- it is what it is.

Our team played our BCCSL scheduled playoff match this past Saturday (Feb. 23) as the field was open. We win, and by a large enough margin to secure (on PPG and goal differential) what would be winner's position should next weekend's finals not be a go due to weather.

Following the match, a couple hours later, the result IS POSTED on the BCCSL website. But come Monday morning the league has retroactively wiped out this past weekend's results, as if the match never happened. Incidentally, one of our players suffered what looks to be longer-term injury during the match.

End result:

• We play a match that we're supposed to. BC Coastal retroactively "cancels" the game.

• A player gets injured in this now "mean nothing" game, probably ruling him out for the Final this coming weekend.

• We end up going from First in a tie-breaker (the much-vaunted PPG scenario rolled out by BCCSL) to Second.

My son's aging out of youth soccer this year, and I'll miss going to the matches. But I won't miss this kind of fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants administration one single bit.

 

[easoccer]

There has always been a clause where the games are canceled if it affect a large majority of the teams.

My son is also u18 I agree these past few weeks were a sad way to go out.

 

[RRS]

There has always been a clause where the games are canceled if it affect a large majority of the teams.

My son is also u18 I agree these past few weeks were a sad way to go out.

Yes, I'd heard something about that, but without doubt the league would have known that the majority of fields were going to be closed. Why would/could BCCSL not call off the few matches that were going ahead before they took place? I mean, what is one to otherwise think when the refs show up, as scheduled?

I realize that the weather scenario is good for next week, and the final will in all likelihood go ahead -- it's just bewildering as to how the league operates. As it was with 4D before it, communication is most definitely not their long suit.

 

[easoccer]

Its hard to react when the field reports didn't come out until Friday afternoon, and even then many were CD or club discretion. And even for us we had field time to switch the game, but then availability on both sides was poor. But then the league cancelled the games anyway.

I think the only remedy is to start a month or two earlier. But even then there are other sports that will be using the fields in those times.

We are at mother natures mercy, and luckily it isn't common to have the last 3 weeks of of the season cancelled due to weather. (My older son played 5 games due to weather in his final year 2 years ago. lol)

It just sucks our kids youth career ends that way.

 

[southsloper]

Looks like my U17 daughter's team will end up 3rd having played 2 games with 1W-1L recording a PPG of 1.5. The 2nd place team had a 3.0 PPG based on ONE LC game. To their credit, they did win their 2nd game - one of few played this past Sunday, which would've given their 2nd solid ground, but like @RRS 's son's team, it will not be counted. Coincidentally our girls defeated them handily during 2 regular season meetings.

My U15 daughter's team is tied for 2nd currently, and likely will have their LC fate determined by a coin-toss for sure (as 1st 3 tie-breakers are even). How's that for leaving it to pure luck?

 

[hervb]

Sigh... Just left shaking my head at the BCCSL at this point -- it is what it is.

Our team played our BCCSL scheduled playoff match this past Saturday (Feb. 23) as the field was open. We win, and by a large enough margin to secure (on PPG and goal differential) what would be winner's position should next weekend's finals not be a go due to weather.

Following the match, a couple hours later, the result IS POSTED on the BCCSL website. But come Monday morning the league has retroactively wiped out this past weekend's results, as if the match never happened. Incidentally, one of our players suffered what looks to be longer-term injury during the match.

End result:

• We play a match that we're supposed to. BC Coastal retroactively "cancels" the game.

• A player gets injured in this now "mean nothing" game, probably ruling him out for the Final this coming weekend.

• We end up going from First in a tie-breaker (the much-vaunted PPG scenario rolled out by BCCSL) to Second.

My son's aging out of youth soccer this year, and I'll miss going to the matches. But I won't miss this kind of fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants administration one single bit.

totally unfortunate and I sure wish we got all the games in. That being said this info was sent out and was forwarded by the club i am at. (75% of games must be played for results to count). Considering almost all fields were closed may be something to inquire within your club?

 

[TKBC]

Sigh... Just left shaking my head at the BCCSL at this point -- it is what it is.

Our team played our BCCSL scheduled playoff match this past Saturday (Feb. 23) as the field was open. We win, and by a large enough margin to secure (on PPG and goal differential) what would be winner's position should next weekend's finals not be a go due to weather.

Following the match, a couple hours later, the result IS POSTED on the BCCSL website. But come Monday morning the league has retroactively wiped out this past weekend's results, as if the match never happened. Incidentally, one of our players suffered what looks to be longer-term injury during the match.

End result:

• We play a match that we're supposed to. BC Coastal retroactively "cancels" the game.

• A player gets injured in this now "mean nothing" game, probably ruling him out for the Final this coming weekend.

• We end up going from First in a tie-breaker (the much-vaunted PPG scenario rolled out by BCCSL) to Second.

My son's aging out of youth soccer this year, and I'll miss going to the matches. But I won't miss this kind of fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants administration one single bit.

Sorry to hear that and I get your frustration. BCCSL/District 5 has been retroactively cancelling games from an entire weekend when most teams can't play their games for the past few seasons I believe.

 

[TKBC]

Its hard to react when the field reports didn't come out until Friday afternoon, and even then many were CD or club discretion. And even for us we had field time to switch the game, but then availability on both sides was poor. But then the league cancelled the games anyway.

I think the only remedy is to start a month or two earlier. But even then there are other sports that will be using the fields in those times.

We are at mother natures mercy, and luckily it isn't common to have the last 3 weeks of of the season cancelled due to weather. (My older son played 5 games due to weather in his final year 2 years ago. lol)

It just sucks our kids youth career ends that way.

It's actually quite common. My u11 team last year and u12 team this year played 3 games post-Christmas each season. CHANGE THE PLAYING SEASON!! March-June, Sept-Nov. Problems solved.

 

[RRS]

It's actually quite common. My u11 team last year and u12 team this year played 3 games post-Christmas each season. CHANGE THE PLAYING SEASON!! March-June, Sept-Nov. Problems solved.

^
I SO agree with this. This is a change that's long overdue.

 

[RRS]

Sorry to hear that and I get your frustration. BCCSL/District 5 has been retroactively cancelling games from an entire weekend when most teams can't play their games for the past few seasons I believe.

To borrow a little from teenage parlance... I had no idea this was a thing. I guess we've been lucky so far then. Had games cancelled for sure, but along with everyone else. Never experienced having played, only to see it not counted. Just doesn't make sense -- particularly when there's a PPG system instituted for the very reason that some teams might end up playing more matches than others.

 

[TKBC]

To borrow a little from teenage parlance... I had no idea this was a thing. I guess we've been lucky so far then. Had games cancelled for sure, but along with everyone else. Never experienced having played, only to see it not counted. Just doesn't make sense -- particularly when there's a PPG system instituted for the very reason that some teams might end up playing more matches than others.

I agree. If PPG then why cancel?

 

[easoccer]

I dont like ppg either. There should be some urgency to make up the games. Play mid week, etc like we used to.

I remember when my daughter was still playing, we had a game on Sunday, then trekked out to Mission for a Wednesday 8pm game.

Now games just dissapear. Cup shoukd not be like that.

 

[southsloper]

I've mixed feelings about PPG this year.

In my girl's U17 LC group, her team placed 3rd. The 2nd spot went to a team that had a 3.0 PPG based on ONE win & a BYE on a playable Sunday (i.e. 1-0-0 for 3.0 PPG) before the snow closures. My daughter's team played & split 2 games (1-1-0 for 1.5 PPG) and also had a BYE on this past cancelled Sunday.

Looking back, my daughter's U17 team had beaten the eventually-2nd-place team 3 times in recent times: Last spring in the U16 LC final, and twice this season (7-2 in aggregate). They would've played them on Feb 3rd Sunday in LC's, but the ref called off the match after 10 minutes due to snow... That Sunday counted as >75% games were played. And our coach did try to set up a make-up game...

The mixed feelings? Well my U15 girl's team may have got 2nd in their group, on a coin-flip (all other tie breakers were even AFAIK). If so, the 3rd place team should be upset...

 

[RRS]

I've mixed feelings about PPG this year.

In my girl's U17 LC group, her team placed 3rd. The 2nd spot went to a team that had a 3.0 PPG based on ONE win & a BYE on a playable Sunday (i.e. 1-0-0 for 3.0 PPG) before the snow closures. My daughter's team played & split 2 games (1-1-0 for 1.5 PPG) and also had a BYE on this past cancelled Sunday.

Looking back, my daughter's U17 team had beaten the eventually-2nd-place team 3 times in recent times: Last spring in the U16 LC final, and twice this season (7-2 in aggregate). They would've played them on Feb 3rd Sunday in LC's, but the ref called off the match after 10 minutes due to snow... That Sunday counted as >75% games were played. And our coach did try to set up a make-up game...

The mixed feelings? Well my U15 girl's team may have got 2nd in their group, on a coin-flip (all other tie breakers were even AFAIK). If so, the 3rd place team should be upset...

I can see the reason for the mixed feelings. It’s disappointing to see things turn out this way. With the current season window, BCCSL is between a rock and a hard place, with season ending just before spring break and Coastal Cup starting immediately after the break. Add to that the fact that we’ve been “frozen out” literally for several weeks twice in the past couple years, and it’s plain to see that the season structure needs to change.

 

[Admin]

It's not like this is a new thing for everyone in BC Soccer - February is traditionally our WORST month weather-wise, especially the last half dozen or so (climate change). At some point, someone smarter than me needs to pull a finger out and address this.

 

[southsloper]

Agreed, lower mainland winter soccer is a crap shoot. I remember one or more years when there was no league play for 2 months or longer because of weather closures occurring before and continuing after the Christmas/New Year break... this year with very little snow, no weather cancels during regular season, but unfortunately so for the LC's.

And possibly this weekend's finals as NAP is closed this weekend (Burnaby, NAP and Richmond were supposed to be the final match venues) so schedulers and/or teams are scrambling to arrange a field to play their final :-(

It's not like this is a new thing for everyone in BC Soccer - February is traditionally our WORST month weather-wise, especially the last half dozen or so (climate change). At some point, someone smarter than me needs to pull a finger out and address this.

 

[RRS]

Agreed, lower mainland winter soccer is a crap shoot. I remember one or more years when there was no league play for 2 months or longer because of weather closures occurring before and continuing after the Christmas/New Year break... this year with very little snow, no weather cancels during regular season, but unfortunately so for the LC's.

And possibly this weekend's finals as NAP is closed this weekend (Burnaby, NAP and Richmond were supposed to be the final match venues) so schedulers and/or teams are scrambling to arrange a field to play their final :-(

Somewhere Colin Elmes is wearing his patented grin. Indoor soccer, you say? ️