NCYSA Challenge Council Meeting
11/21/04
NCYSA State Office
Meeting Called to order by Keith Price (VP Challenge)
Members in attendance: Jim Jenson (ABYSA), Mark Sherman (CASL), Bob Trobich (CSC), Debby Wallace (CUFC), Jim Robinson (GCCSA), Fay Binning (HCSA), Garry Norman (NTSC), Joe Pata (SCSA), Jim Braswell (CFYSA), Monty Griffith (ICRD & LNSC), Ann Todd (NMYSA), David Clark (WOW), Heather Combs (USA), Bob Somerville (WNCCL), Steve Allison (GYSA), Mary Kay King (CUFC), Tim Hubbard (CRSC), Bryan Setser (USA), Debbie Morton (NCYSA), Judy Ennis (NCYSA), Kim Zimbal (NCYSA)
A quorum was established.
Approval of June 12, 2004 Challenge Council Minutes
Motion: Fay Binning (HCSA)
Seconded: Joe Pata (SCSA)
Recap Fall Cup for Women:
31 teams participated in the Fall Cup for the U15-U18 women’s age divisions, representing 7 Associations and 2 Scheduling Leagues. Age-division winners can be found on the NCYSA website. Keith Price thanked PSA for hosting the preliminary rounds in High Point at Phillips Park and West End, and GYSA for hosting the finals in Greensboro at Bryan Park. The Cup was a success!
Bids to host Spring Challenge State Cup:
Bid packages to host the Challenge State Cup in the Spring will be sent out before the end of the year.
New Scheduling Leagues:
Three new Scheduling Leagues were formed this year: Charlotte Area Youth Soccer League (CAYSL), Down East Soccer Association (DESA) and South Eastern North Carolina Soccer Association (SENCSA). These new leagues were inserted into the seeding rotation after the previous #6 seed, but before the previous #1 seed that was to be moved to the last spot. The leagues were inserted into the three spots by a blind draw. (See attached document “Challenge Cup Seeding”)
Challenge Cup Rule Change (clarification):
The motion that was passed at the June 12, 2004 Challenge Council Meeting regarding a change to the current overtime rules does in fact state that ALL age groups in the Challenge Cup will play two (2) ten (10) minute overtime periods with golden goal.
NCYSA Registration – Judy Ennis
How young is too young?
There have been multiple instances where players who are much younger than 10 have been rostered on U10 Challenge teams. The issue is whether there should be a minimum age requirement for participation in Challenge Soccer. During the discussion that followed, Steve Allison noted that GYSA does not allow players that are not “true” U10’s to participate in their Challenge programs. However, it was noted that the Charlotte area has many teams that are made up of true U9 players, so it would be a large membership drop to only allow true U10’s into the leagues. The majority opinion was that “playing up” isn’t necessarily bad, especially at older age groups; however, at a young age it may not be in the best interest of the child. NCYSA should have a rule so that there is consistency across the state in enforcing this idea.
Proposal: “The minimum age for a player to participate in Challenge soccer must be that of a true U9 player.”
Motion: Monty Griffith (ICRD & LNSC)
Seconded: Debby Wallace (CUFC)
Vote: Passed
There have been circumstances involving multi-rostered players between Challenge and Classic teams that have created problems for registration through NCYSA involving State Cup play. When a player multi-rosters, the first team they are registered to is their “Cup team” and the second team is automatically their “non-Cup team” (unless simultaneous multi-rostering, then the player must choose). The problem arises when the player who is rostered to both a Challenge and Classic team wishes to have their “Cup team” be the Challenge team. The question then becomes ‘Should a Classic player be eligible to play in the Challenge State Cup?’ The discussion that followed noted that some associations have rules that prohibit multi-rostering, however since it is a problem, NCYSA should have a rule to eliminate the problem. By automatically making a multi-rostered players Cup team the highest level of play, NCYSA registration will be able to make the change and enforce the rule.
Proposal: “No rostered Classic players will be allowed to participate in Challenge State Cup.”
Motion: Jim Jenson (ABYSA)
Seconded: Bob Somerville (WNCCL)
Vote: Passed
The Classic council sent a proposal to the Challenge Council for their consideration regarding State Cup and whether or not the U10, U11 and U12 (in 2006) age groups should have a season-ending tournament or “Festival” instead of continuing to participate in the State Cup (See attached document “State Cup Proposal”). Much discussion followed: Steve Allison, who attended the Classic Council meeting, emphasized that the reason behind this proposal was to stay with the idea of player development at a younger age. This was the intent when the concept of small-sided games was adopted. With these younger players participating in a season ending festival, the pressure is lightened and there will be less emphasis on winning and more on playing the game of soccer and becoming better players. The point was brought up that some Challenge teams do not participate in the State Cup because they have had bad experiences with being knocked out in the preliminary rounds of a tournament, or have been “killed” by losing games 10-0 for example. If we held a festival, where there were no preliminaries, teams may be more likely to attend. It was also noted that sometimes teams go to the State Cup because of the name and the prestige that surrounds it. There may be teams that do not participate in the tournament because they want a chance to become “State Champions.” It was a majority opinion that the Challenge and Classic programs should be consistent in the way they handle this issue, however to take the U10’s and U11’s out of State Cup this Spring may not be the best course of action. The council voted on the proposal from the Classic Council, and then created a proposal to be sent to the AGM in conjunction with what the Classic Council sends after their January 8th meeting.
Proposal: “From the Classic Council: In keeping with Player Development, it is proposed that the 2004-05 NCYSA Challenge State Cup only support U12 and above age divisions; and in 2005 and beyond, it only support U13 and older. The U10 and U11 for 2004-05 and U10, U11, U12 in 2005 and beyond will play in a festival-type, end of year State Showcase.”
Vote: Failed
Proposal: “Charlotte United makes a motion that, in keeping with Player Development, the Challenge Council recommends that the NCYSA will hold a U10 Challenge Festival in 2005 in lieu of Challenge State Cup. We also move that the current U11 age groups stay in the Challenge State Cup and be phased out over a period of two years.”
Motion: Debby Wallace (CUFC)
Seconded: Steve Allison (GYSA)
Vote: Passed (3 opposed)
For the Good of the Game:
Bill Furjanic, NCYSA Director of Coaching and Player Development, will continue to hold Free Youth Modules, coaching clinics, and will do on-site team training. For more information, e mail Bill at coach@ncsoccer.org and please check the website for the latest coaching/training events.
Open Discussion/Announcements:
David Clark announced that TCL will be holding a free coaching clinic on January 29th at Glenn High School.
After the first of the year, we are hoping to hold a meeting of the Challenge Scheduling Leagues, to discuss how the leagues are running, and hopefully create more consistent guidelines across the state. This meeting time is TBD
The Council agreed that setting pre-scheduled dates for the entire year would be better because people will know at the beginning of the year when each of the four meetings will be held. This should help boost attendance.
The 2005 Southern Soccer Show and AGM will be held February 12 and 13, 2005 at the Greensboro Coliseum. Admission is free.
Motion: Fay Binning (HCSA)
Seconded: David Clark (WOW)
Minutes Respectfully Submitted by Kim Zimbal (NCYSA Asst. Director Challenge)