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Post by docnfulton on Feb 5, 2016 13:51:32 GMT -5
Pretty significant pushback, just received this from US Club Soccer. The Working Group includes representatives from US Youth Soccer (Georgia Soccer's is part of this organization), as well as AYSO, US Club Soccer, and other organizations.
Statement from Youth Council Technical Working Group to U.S. Soccer
To: Leaders and members of U.S. Soccer From: Youth Council technical leaders Subject: Inclusion in policy discussions
CHARLESTON, S.C. (Feb. 5, 2016) - The Youth Council Technical Working Group unanimously agreed that there has been generally insufficient dialogue between the U.S. Soccer Federation technical staff and the technical leadership of the various youth membership organizations.
Substantial questions remain about the impact of the new calendar-year registration model, and the interpretation that a player's eligible competition year is determined by his/her age in the year in which the competition ends. This change results in every player moving up one age group and may not align appropriately with the mandated age appropriate play guidelines.
There are broad concerns about the efficacy of those new guidelines, which should have been addressed prior to broad dissemination of the materials.
Not only does the Federation have a responsibility to discuss such broad issues with its membership, but a transparent and inclusive process will produce better outcomes for everyone.
The Youth Council Technical Working Group would like the Federation to agree to a formal, institutionalized communications process to ensure that an ongoing dialogue is established with the youth members. Federation technical and administrative leadership should schedule approximately three meetings annually with the Youth Council Technical Working Group and other meetings as needed with ad-hoc sub-committees of the Group.
Specific issues, which should be discussed include: • Calendar-year birth date and implications • Age-appropriate play guidelines o Field sizes o Goal sizes o Team sizes o Build-out lines • Concussion protocols and practical implications • Modifications to the Laws to accommodate the above • Broad player development philosophy • Coaching education policies o Licensing philosophy o Access o Communication o CEU's It is the intention of the Youth Council Technical Working Group to cooperate closely with the Federation and support its efforts to raise the standard of development for all youth players. Through regular dialogue and a rigorous examination of these and other related issues, we believe that the best outcomes can be achieved for all interested parties.
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Post by SoccerMom on Feb 5, 2016 14:12:04 GMT -5
I have never heard of the Youth Council Technical Working Group??
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Post by Soccerhouse on Feb 5, 2016 14:15:43 GMT -5
you beat me to that! I just googled it and didn't really get any informative hits other than links to this article!
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Post by SoccerMom on Feb 5, 2016 14:16:39 GMT -5
you beat me to that! I just googled it and didn't really get any informative hits other than links to this article! hahah... yeah i googled them too and cant find any other info other than the article
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Post by zizou on Feb 5, 2016 14:23:18 GMT -5
you beat me to that! I just googled it and didn't really get any informative hits other than links to this article! There is a Youth Council that is under USSF: Youth Council to USSFThat Council evidently has a Technical Working Group
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Post by Soccerhouse on Feb 5, 2016 14:26:49 GMT -5
so maybe i'm wrong, but it looks like it is one of the affiliate members of the US soccer federation. And this council is a combination of USYSA, AYSO and US Club Soccer.
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Post by docnfulton on Feb 5, 2016 14:37:16 GMT -5
It includes the key Technical Directors of AYSO, SAY Soccer, MLS Clubs, US Club Soccer, USFF Futsal, USSA, and US Youth Soccer. These are the logos represented on the release. Here is the statement on US Club Soccer's website.
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Post by jash on Feb 5, 2016 14:51:15 GMT -5
Very interesting. So I wonder what this will mean to the whole process.
All along many of us have been saying this is poorly thought out and hastily thrown together. It's nice, at least, to see some official recognition of this.
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Post by zizou on Feb 5, 2016 17:00:58 GMT -5
Very interesting. So I wonder what this will mean to the whole process. All along many of us have been saying this is poorly thought out and hastily thrown together. It's nice, at least, to see some official recognition of this. I admit only partial knowledge of USSF actual powers, but I think it is fair to say that the Fed needs the members of the Youth Council to help fund them. The members of the Youth Council do not need the Fed as long as they could somehow agree to govern themselves. That might be expensive but not sure. I believe High School and College soccer govern themselves without any oversight by USSF. As a result one might think this could carry some weight. It might not be good for the Fed, who is a member of one of the most corrupt organizations in all of world soccer, who is short the confederation funding that FIFA are withholding from CONCACAF, and who is now sueing their own world champion USWNT, to lose the support of every youth soccer organization in the country.
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Post by jash on Feb 6, 2016 11:56:04 GMT -5
You sketch out a pretty bleak view of the US Soccer leadership, zizou. I can't say I disagree. And watching the USMNT game last night and how incredibly awful our players' touch was, I can say I don't have any idea what they have accomplished with their time.
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Post by Keeper on Feb 6, 2016 13:27:03 GMT -5
Sounds like this is going to make the AGM next weekend actually very important. Talk of not adopting any changes until Fall 2017 after all this is resolved.
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Post by fan on Feb 6, 2016 13:39:46 GMT -5
Sounds like this is going to make the AGM next weekend actually very important. Talk of not adopting any changes until Fall 2017 after all this is resolved. I'd vote for that .
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Post by Soccerhouse on Feb 8, 2016 10:00:11 GMT -5
Hum, not sure georgia soccer will have a choice, if regionals/nationals are still going to be based on birth year next year.
Its a shame that this letter wasn't sent sooner, right after the age matrix screw up that really threw everyone off and it was obviously apparent that the small sided mandate did not align with the new matrix etc.
Does GA Soccer have conversations with neighboring states on any regular basis?
Probably too late to make any impact. But, why doesn't US Youth Soccer, just come out and say, we are not switching until better discussions take place etc.
its just odd, US Youth Soccer "promoted" and had a statement on US Youth Soccer statement on U.S. Soccer’s birth-year registration mandate in Jan. Then weeks later have the above letter
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Post by zizou on Feb 9, 2016 9:09:40 GMT -5
You sketch out a pretty bleak view of the US Soccer leadership, zizou. I can't say I disagree. And watching the USMNT game last night and how incredibly awful our players' touch was, I can say I don't have any idea what they have accomplished with their time. It appears the USSF have lost their moral compass, if they ever had one. I think their actions against their players and their lack of concern for their safety support this view. It is not surprising I suppose. They sit unopposed as the recognized (by FIFA) controlling interest over soccer in the United States. What is that saying about power and corruption?
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Post by SoccerMom on Feb 9, 2016 10:03:26 GMT -5
Hum, not sure georgia soccer will have a choice, if regionals/nationals are still going to be based on birth year next year. Its a shame that this letter wasn't sent sooner, right after the age matrix screw up that really threw everyone off and it was obviously apparent that the small sided mandate did not align with the new matrix etc. Does GA Soccer have conversations with neighboring states on any regular basis? Probably too late to make any impact. But, why doesn't US Youth Soccer, just come out and say, we are not switching until better discussions take place etc. its just odd, US Youth Soccer "promoted" and had a statement on US Youth Soccer statement on U.S. Soccer’s birth-year registration mandate in Jan. Then weeks later have the above letter i agree that they waited too long to write a letter to make any kind of difference. They are just trying to save face because of all the negative comments they have gotten
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Post by zizou on Feb 9, 2016 10:14:27 GMT -5
i agree that they waited too long to write a letter to make any kind of difference. They are just trying to save face because of all the negative comments they have gotten An alternative explanation is that it took a long time for that many distinct entities to organize a meeting. And then for them to compose a response after the Coaches convention. Whatever the case, they crafted a way more thoughtful and insightful response than anything that has been distributed by USSF supporting their mandates and plans for "development". I find it interesting that all of these organizations, some of whom have clear competing interests, can be so united against the Fed and the Fed's seemingly thoughtless approach to influencing youth soccer. This joint statement also leads to the conclusion that the Fed did not consult youth soccer organizations in any kind of thoughtful and/or collaborative manner before deciding to make pronouncements that would have massive implications for youth soccer clubs. Another indication that that just do not care.
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Post by SoccerMom on Feb 9, 2016 10:20:48 GMT -5
i agree that they waited too long to write a letter to make any kind of difference. They are just trying to save face because of all the negative comments they have gotten An alternative explanation is that it took a long time for that many distinct entities to organize a meeting. And then for them to compose a response after the Coaches convention. Whatever the case, they crafted a way more thoughtful and insightful response than anything that has been distributed by USSF supporting their mandates and plans for "development". I find it interesting that all of these organizations, some of whom have clear competing interests, can be so united against the Fed and the Fed's seemingly thoughtless approach to influencing youth soccer. This joint statement also leads to the conclusion that the Fed did not consult youth soccer organizations in any kind of thoughtful and/or collaborative manner before deciding to make pronouncements that would have massive implications for youth soccer clubs. Another indication that that just do not care. not sure how "united" they have come...I'm pretty sure some entities pushed more than others. I don't think this letter any any meaning whatsoever except trying to look good to the complainers and they can say later that they tried This is all about the $$ at the end of the day. U12DA and Women's DA is less $$ for the other organizations
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Post by Soccerhouse on Feb 9, 2016 11:16:01 GMT -5
Makes ya wonder why though US Club/ US Youth Soccer and AYSO don't just come out and say that we are delaying the mandate indefinitely until the proper discussions have taken place.
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Post by zizou on Feb 9, 2016 12:45:46 GMT -5
not sure how "united" they have come...I'm pretty sure some entities pushed more than others. I don't think this letter any any meaning whatsoever except trying to look good to the complainers and they can say later that they tried This is all about the $$ at the end of the day. U12DA and Women's DA is less $$ for the other organizations You mis-spelled power. But $$ and power tend to go together. We will just have to disagree on the importance and meaning of the press release. That group is meeting again in the near future. We will see if they maintain any momentum.
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Post by jash on Feb 9, 2016 14:30:16 GMT -5
My question is whether or not that working group has the influence/power to cause a delay or revision to the policy. I think if they are representing their members AND have any influence, then they will try.
I'm afraid they have no influence.
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