Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question for ODSL experts: I know both CCL and WAGS/NCSL let U8 aged players join and play up on U9 travel teams playing in those leagues, but does ODSL not permit its U9 teams to do this for some reason? If so, why?

Thx.

The NCSL rule used to be that a team could only have two underage players. They thought about tweaking that rule to let teams stay together with the age group change, but they decided to more or less chuck it altogether instead.

ODSL also tweaked its rules a bit to account for age group changes, and they allow club passes to call in players from other travel teams (or rec teams, which I think is terrific). But it looks like the age-8 minimum is still intact: http://www.odsl.org/about/procedures/49409.html

I worry about ODSL's survival. We have a domino effect -- elite leagues take NCSL teams, NCSL takes ODSL teams -- as well as some clubs doing YDL and whatever else. It's turning into a tiny league for a couple of dominant clubs and the very occasional D or E team from a big club. I'm not the least bit sure that's a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question for ODSL experts: I know both CCL and WAGS/NCSL let U8 aged players join and play up on U9 travel teams playing in those leagues, but does ODSL not permit its U9 teams to do this for some reason? If so, why?

Thx.

The NCSL rule used to be that a team could only have two underage players. They thought about tweaking that rule to let teams stay together with the age group change, but they decided to more or less chuck it altogether instead.

ODSL also tweaked its rules a bit to account for age group changes, and they allow club passes to call in players from other travel teams (or rec teams, which I think is terrific). But it looks like the age-8 minimum is still intact: http://www.odsl.org/about/procedures/49409.html

I worry about ODSL's survival. We have a domino effect -- elite leagues take NCSL teams, NCSL takes ODSL teams -- as well as some clubs doing YDL and whatever else. It's turning into a tiny league for a couple of dominant clubs and the very occasional D or E team from a big club. I'm not the least bit sure that's a good thing.

This same discussion took place a few months back on this forum. Ncsl and Odsl are leagues with a very similar model of promotion/relegation with ncsl being the more competitive one. At this point they should also consider merging so that all of clubs have the opportunity to play against teams of the same level. Unfortunately Odsl has some independent teams that are much better than many 4th/5th teams of the larger clubs and are probably a better match for the 2nd /3rd team of those same larger clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question for ODSL experts: I know both CCL and WAGS/NCSL let U8 aged players join and play up on U9 travel teams playing in those leagues, but does ODSL not permit its U9 teams to do this for some reason? If so, why?

Thx.

The NCSL rule used to be that a team could only have two underage players. They thought about tweaking that rule to let teams stay together with the age group change, but they decided to more or less chuck it altogether instead.

ODSL also tweaked its rules a bit to account for age group changes, and they allow club passes to call in players from other travel teams (or rec teams, which I think is terrific). But it looks like the age-8 minimum is still intact: http://www.odsl.org/about/procedures/49409.html

I worry about ODSL's survival. We have a domino effect -- elite leagues take NCSL teams, NCSL takes ODSL teams -- as well as some clubs doing YDL and whatever else. It's turning into a tiny league for a couple of dominant clubs and the very occasional D or E team from a big club. I'm not the least bit sure that's a good thing.

This same discussion took place a few months back on this forum. Ncsl and Odsl are leagues with a very similar model of promotion/relegation with ncsl being the more competitive one. At this point they should also consider merging so that all of clubs have the opportunity to play against teams of the same level. Unfortunately Odsl has some independent teams that are much better than many 4th/5th teams of the larger clubs and are probably a better match for the 2nd /3rd team of those same larger clubs.

I think it makes sense to combine both leagues. The only thing that would change would be the number of divisions within NCSL would increase and better teams in ODSL would have the opportunity to play against better teams in NCSL.

[Anonymous]

So what are the pros and cons of NCSL and ODSL merging? It's easy to say...yeah, they should merge so the more competitive teams in ODSL can move up, but what is stopping this? Usually it's $$$? But how? Is NCSL more expensive to enter and therefore, clubs/teams are happy with ODSL?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what are the pros and cons of NCSL and ODSL merging? It's easy to say...yeah, they should merge so the more competitive teams in ODSL can move up, but what is stopping this? Usually it's $$$? But how? Is NCSL more expensive to enter and therefore, clubs/teams are happy with ODSL?

The big con is independent teams would not have a league to play in if NCLS doesn't loosen its league requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are the pros and cons of NCSL and ODSL merging? It's easy to say...yeah, they should merge so the more competitive teams in ODSL can move up, but what is stopping this? Usually it's $$$? But how? Is NCSL more expensive to enter and therefore, clubs/teams are happy with ODSL?

The big con is independent teams would not have a league to play in if NCLS doesn't loosen its league requirements.

I know a few parents that went the VISTA and Dynamite FC route, their team's are competitive and there should definitely be a way of keeping them on board. With ODSL I think it's partly a branding issue where every kid and parent knows that as soon as they say ODSL other parents, kids, coaches assume they probably suck.

A merge or rebranding would fix this, also ODSL is only for mostly No. VA teams, so keeps people from traveling to W.VA or MD for league games. Something I know can be touchy in this forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are the pros and cons of NCSL and ODSL merging? It's easy to say...yeah, they should merge so the more competitive teams in ODSL can move up, but what is stopping this? Usually it's $$$? But how? Is NCSL more expensive to enter and therefore, clubs/teams are happy with ODSL?

The big con is independent teams would not have a league to play in if NCLS doesn't loosen its league requirements.

I know a few parents that went the VISTA and Dynamite FC route, their team's are competitive and there should definitely be a way of keeping them on board. With ODSL I think it's partly a branding issue where every kid and parent knows that as soon as they say ODSL other parents, kids, coaches assume they probably suck.

A merge or rebranding would fix this, also ODSL is only for mostly No. VA teams, so keeps people from traveling to W.VA or MD for league games. Something I know can be touchy in this forum.

That said, ODSL can reach pretty far west and south, including West Virginia. So that would be a pretty long haul for St. Mary's and Howard County clubs.

Ideally, they'd merge, and only the top division in each age group would have no geographical component. Maybe even D1 would have, say, 12 teams in two geographic divisions, with each team playing all five of its own division and just three in the other. At lower tiers, have two or even three geographical divisions. No need to have EPIC's C team facing the St. Mary's C team just because they're both "D6" or whatever.

But a lot of egos would have to get out of the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are the pros and cons of NCSL and ODSL merging? It's easy to say...yeah, they should merge so the more competitive teams in ODSL can move up, but what is stopping this? Usually it's $$$? But how? Is NCSL more expensive to enter and therefore, clubs/teams are happy with ODSL?

The big con is independent teams would not have a league to play in if NCLS doesn't loosen its league requirements.

What are the requirements?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are the pros and cons of NCSL and ODSL merging? It's easy to say...yeah, they should merge so the more competitive teams in ODSL can move up, but what is stopping this? Usually it's $$$? But how? Is NCSL more expensive to enter and therefore, clubs/teams are happy with ODSL?

The big con is independent teams would not have a league to play in if NCLS doesn't loosen its league requirements.

What are the requirements?

I believe that a club needs to field a minimum number of teams. Small independent teams can't do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are the pros and cons of NCSL and ODSL merging? It's easy to say...yeah, they should merge so the more competitive teams in ODSL can move up, but what is stopping this? Usually it's $$$? But how? Is NCSL more expensive to enter and therefore, clubs/teams are happy with ODSL?

The big con is independent teams would not have a league to play in if NCLS doesn't loosen its league requirements.

I know a few parents that went the VISTA and Dynamite FC route, their team's are competitive and there should definitely be a way of keeping them on board. With ODSL I think it's partly a branding issue where every kid and parent knows that as soon as they say ODSL other parents, kids, coaches assume they probably suck.

A merge or rebranding would fix this, also ODSL is only for mostly No. VA teams, so keeps people from traveling to W.VA or MD for league games. Something I know can be touchy in this forum.

Vista has teams in NCSL. Do you know if the parents are happy with Dynamite. Their style of play seems to be boot the ball to a sprinting striker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are the pros and cons of NCSL and ODSL merging? It's easy to say...yeah, they should merge so the more competitive teams in ODSL can move up, but what is stopping this? Usually it's $$$? But how? Is NCSL more expensive to enter and therefore, clubs/teams are happy with ODSL?

The big con is independent teams would not have a league to play in if NCLS doesn't loosen its league requirements.

What are the requirements?

I believe that a club needs to field a minimum number of teams. Small independent teams can't do that.

I thought they had to provide field space as well??

The monopoly of big clubs on all local fields is a problem and the main reason there aren't more small/independents.

There are some stellar small clubs we have played in NCSL. In fact, a lot of the lower divisions in the U9-U13 are more competitive since the independents have to start from the bottom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are the pros and cons of NCSL and ODSL merging? It's easy to say...yeah, they should merge so the more competitive teams in ODSL can move up, but what is stopping this? Usually it's $$$? But how? Is NCSL more expensive to enter and therefore, clubs/teams are happy with ODSL?

The big con is independent teams would not have a league to play in if NCLS doesn't loosen its league requirements.

What are the requirements?

I believe that a club needs to field a minimum number of teams. Small independent teams can't do that.

I thought they had to provide field space as well??

The monopoly of big clubs on all local fields is a problem and the main reason there aren't more small/independents.

There are some stellar small clubs we have played in NCSL. In fact, a lot of the lower divisions in the U9-U13 are more competitive since the independents have to start from the bottom.

That is a very legit comment regarding the issue with field space for the smaller clubs and how the big clubs take all the field space in their community. One of my kids is on one of these smaller clubs and we are driving all over the county for practices. I guess that's the price one pays when leaving a big club like VYS or McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are the pros and cons of NCSL and ODSL merging? It's easy to say...yeah, they should merge so the more competitive teams in ODSL can move up, but what is stopping this? Usually it's $$$? But how? Is NCSL more expensive to enter and therefore, clubs/teams are happy with ODSL?

The big con is independent teams would not have a league to play in if NCLS doesn't loosen its league requirements.

What are the requirements?

I believe that a club needs to field a minimum number of teams. Small independent teams can't do that.

I thought they had to provide field space as well??

The monopoly of big clubs on all local fields is a problem and the main reason there aren't more small/independents.

There are some stellar small clubs we have played in NCSL. In fact, a lot of the lower divisions in the U9-U13 are more competitive since the independents have to start from the bottom.

That is a very legit comment regarding the issue with field space for the smaller clubs and how the big clubs take all the field space in their community. One of my kids is on one of these smaller clubs and we are driving all over the county for practices. I guess that's the price one pays when leaving a big club like VYS or McLean.

I think the defense of that would be something like...VYS and Mclean have 2000-3000 playing families that use that field as opposed to the X number of paying families in small club. Who should the county give the permit to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are the pros and cons of NCSL and ODSL merging? It's easy to say...yeah, they should merge so the more competitive teams in ODSL can move up, but what is stopping this? Usually it's $$$? But how? Is NCSL more expensive to enter and therefore, clubs/teams are happy with ODSL?

The big con is independent teams would not have a league to play in if NCLS doesn't loosen its league requirements.

What are the requirements?

I believe that a club needs to field a minimum number of teams. Small independent teams can't do that.

I thought they had to provide field space as well??

The monopoly of big clubs on all local fields is a problem and the main reason there aren't more small/independents.

There are some stellar small clubs we have played in NCSL. In fact, a lot of the lower divisions in the U9-U13 are more competitive since the independents have to start from the bottom.

That is a very legit comment regarding the issue with field space for the smaller clubs and how the big clubs take all the field space in their community. One of my kids is on one of these smaller clubs and we are driving all over the county for practices. I guess that's the price one pays when leaving a big club like VYS or McLean.

I think the defense of that would be something like...VYS and Mclean have 2000-3000 playing families that use that field as opposed to the X number of paying families in small club. Who should the county give the permit to?

Well the small club is still paying and their members are also tax paying residents of the county so it's the county's responsibility to ensure that all of its residents have access to the available field space. Of course the bigger club will get most spaces available but the small ones are still entitled to some. I'm sure the management process is a nightmare and that they do their best. Big clubs just shouldn't hog the space especially when they are not using it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are the pros and cons of NCSL and ODSL merging? It's easy to say...yeah, they should merge so the more competitive teams in ODSL can move up, but what is stopping this? Usually it's $$$? But how? Is NCSL more expensive to enter and therefore, clubs/teams are happy with ODSL?

The big con is independent teams would not have a league to play in if NCLS doesn't loosen its league requirements.

What are the requirements?

I believe that a club needs to field a minimum number of teams. Small independent teams can't do that.

I thought they had to provide field space as well??

The monopoly of big clubs on all local fields is a problem and the main reason there aren't more small/independents.

There are some stellar small clubs we have played in NCSL. In fact, a lot of the lower divisions in the U9-U13 are more competitive since the independents have to start from the bottom.

Well if they already play in ODSL then they already produce field space so what would be the issue here? Is NCSL only looking for turf fields? Are there no NCSL clubs that play on grass fields (not bermuda) that have the occasional dry dirt spots?