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Post by Soccerhouse on Jan 22, 2020 14:15:43 GMT -5
Historic reform plan in college soccer nears final NCAA vote after 7 years of work BALTIMORE — A long-sought effort to bring dramatic change to college soccer is just a few months from potentially becoming reality. In April, the NCAA will vote on a proposal by Maryland coach Sasho Cirovski to change Division I men’s soccer from a short three-month fall season to a campaign spanning both semesters of the academic year, beginning in 2022. The number of games would drop from 25 to 23, the fall half-season would end at Thanksgiving, and the national championship tournament would move to the spring. .. ... There are 64 votes to tally, starting with 52 from the conferences. Some have more weight than others. The so-called “Power Five” (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC) have four votes each, a second tier of five FBS football conferences has two each, and the remaining 22 Division I conferences have one each. A vote of conference commissioners then accounts for eight more votes on the resolution. The remaining four votes come from student and faculty representatives. A majority of 33 yes votes is needed for passage, and Cirovski is counting every one. He has 12 guaranteed so far, thanks to the three power conferences noted above. www.inquirer.com/soccer/college-soccer-reform-sasho-cirovski-maryland-jeremy-gunn-stanford-20200122.html |
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Post by fridge on Jan 22, 2020 15:44:41 GMT -5
I think this is a bad idea. Contrary to the claim, I believe this does very little for the student athlete. D1 in season soccer is incredibly challenging and a grind. The kids sacrifice enormously time and energy due to practice, meetings, travel and games. Extending this sacrifice over the entire school year (yes, fall melds into winter that melds into summer) will cause them to compromise academics the entire school year. For those who say that the 2 games in a weekend is tough on them, then extend the fall season 2 or 3 more weeks. Having soccer "hang over their heads" for the entire school year is a major psychological burden and will not help their academics. I know kids who went very far in both men's and woman's D1 tournaments. When they lost, most reactions were relief that it was over and they would be home for Thanksgiving after a July to November grind. If you read between the lines, the coaches pretty much are saying this--a two semester season will keep the players in form and game shape.
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Post by Soccerhouse on Jan 22, 2020 15:49:02 GMT -5
Ivy league has already stated they will not vote for the change!
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Post by nani17 on Jan 22, 2020 16:03:03 GMT -5
SEC and Men’s soccer. Does not compute!
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Post by oraclesfriend on Jan 22, 2020 16:25:57 GMT -5
I think this is a bad idea. Contrary to the claim, I believe this does very little for the student athlete. D1 in season soccer is incredibly challenging and a grind. The kids sacrifice enormously time and energy due to practice, meetings, travel and games. Extending this sacrifice over the entire school year (yes, fall melds into winter that melds into summer) will cause them to compromise academics the entire school year. For those who say that the 2 games in a weekend is tough on them, then extend the fall season 2 or 3 more weeks. Having soccer "hang over their heads" for the entire school year is a major psychological burden and will not help their academics. I know kids who went very far in both men's and woman's D1 tournaments. When they lost, most reactions were relief that it was over and they would be home for Thanksgiving after a July to November grind. If you read between the lines, the coaches pretty much are saying this--a two semester season will keep the players in form and game shape. They have said that the fall season will finish before Thanksgiving. That should help the kids wanting to see family and study for finals. The Ivy League said they would vote no but Stanford thinks it is a good idea. Both are academic powerhouses, but only Stanford has been good enough recently to go deep into the tournament. A10, ACC and several other conferences plan to say yes. Will be interesting to see how it goes. |
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Post by Soccerhouse on Jan 22, 2020 16:29:20 GMT -5
If the SEC added men's soccer across the board, it would change US Soccer ~ we would become a world wide powerhouse within 2 years......
So true - will make the season a long grind. Many (the vast majority) have chosen to attend college for academic reasons, with no aspirations of being a professional.
Assuming they give them time off..
What is the current commitment for the boys for spring soccer?
Do they have most of jan off and then mostly off season workouts, pickup games and then a mini spring offseason with scrimmages.
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Post by atlfutboldad on Jan 22, 2020 18:49:01 GMT -5
The other thing they need to do is up the # of D1 scholarships to 18-20. College football has 85.
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Post by sidelinesdad on Jan 22, 2020 18:59:39 GMT -5
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Post by fridge on Jan 23, 2020 9:18:00 GMT -5
So, in scanning the article, the main focus (and I would argue false pretext) for this major initiative was player injury and the next issue related to the 1% who may go to MLS --which likely won't play when it is all said/done based on MLS historical data). There were several references in the article of sometimes the kids play 3 games in a week. This is disingenuous. IF it does occur, it is not often and occurs in this sort of sequence--Friday, Monday, Friday which is 3 games in 8 days. So, really they are playing 2 a week.
Even assuming the student athlete injury is the driving force, again, why not extend the Fall season 2 weeks or shorten the number of games by a couple/few. The season starts around 8/15 and the tourney starts around 11/16. That's about 20 games in 12 weeks. (Again, do the math, this is not 3 games a week and not even 2 games a week.) Start 2 weeks earlier and play 18 games in 14 weeks. Further, why prioritize "injury" over academics, mental health, living a normal college life (most teams are dry and can't do any social things e.g. go to football games in season), etc. There is a balance. Again, in season pressures are enormous and require the kids to be singularly focused. Making it two semesters makes them professionals for all practical purposes.
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Post by blu on Jan 23, 2020 10:51:53 GMT -5
In college I would always shift my class load to allow for a lighter schedule during the season. Something like 12hrs soccer semester and 18hrs off semester. I'd worry this change could make things more difficult for academics.
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Post by allthingsoccer on Jan 23, 2020 12:51:14 GMT -5
I like the idea. This is what we have talked about in the past, that one of the major disconnects in USA soccer is that its only 3/4 months in College. I think it can only help the overall "footprint" of US soccer. More training days fo 19-23-year-olds, I think could only help the landscape. Academics may suffer but its no different for some High Schoolers? i.e. My son trains 5 nights a week, 2 of those nights added gym training, and takes AP and Honors classes. 3.4 GPA. I think if a player wants to get good grades and perform at a high level they can make it happen.
Something has to change. Maybe this is part of the solution. As for Youth soccer, that a whole different ballgame. My vote is to take politics out of soccer (YNT) but that will never happen. i.e. so you are telling me that YNT's stick with 1-6 goalkeepers.?? Plenty of solid youth goalkeepers that are not 6.4ft. My vote would be an ODP style for each position?? Goalkeeper /Distribution wars for the top-level keepers.
Anyways, good to see some change solutions are on the plate. 7 years of politics need to change. 4 years max
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