Here comes the NTSSA bs (and when you read that, always remember the NTSSA mentra : "Igniting the passion for the game" !!!!: "3.10.1
No coach, assistant coach, trainer, or team representative may practice any soccer related activity
with any NTSSA registered player who does not appear on his current NTSSA roster or is not
considered to be a free agent by current NTSSA Rules and Regulations except for a coach, who at
the request of another teams coach, substitutes for that coach at practice or games for the
convenience of the requesting coach. A free agent is a player in the U-11 through U-19 age
division who desires to participate on a competitive team and is not rostered to any team. A
competitive player may practice with another team if he has received a written permission letter
signed by his current coach that sets out the dates and the team with which the player will practice.
The player is to give the letter to the coach of the team with which he is practicing, and he must
keep a copy for himself."
That is true between august 1st and May 31st. Remember NTSSA : "Igniting the passion for the game" !!!

This is why unless players are paid to play, they should not be required to sign contracts, we have a terrible system in place. I can see the benefits of this for the clubs, but I honestly dont see how this is good for players.

I have been saying this all along. Our system is geared around the clubs and the NTSSA is in cahoots with them. It should be about the kids and their development but that's simply not the case. I can give you example after example, but what's the point. Until the monopoly is broken up somehow, we must live with what we have.

It has nothing to do with the contracts. That clause covers rec players too. I agree the contracting of minors is ridiculous but just simply register with NTX and this rules covers the player at any level.

Good point. The paper trail goes all the way back to the home association. Fight the tyranny of oppression by the ruling class! Top to bottom, they are in it together and we are stooges with empty wallets.

I've always hated the contracts, but, while they are in place, why not just have them all end effective the last league game for that age group in the Spring?
I understand the chaos that would ensue if we allowed kids to jump ship during the season, so, they do help from that perspective, although, how cool would it be for the top team to lose five players in week 14? That would make this forum almost worthwhile to visit.

clueless wrote:I've always hated the contracts, but, while they are in place, why not just have them all end effective the last league game for that age group in the Spring?
I understand the chaos that would ensue if we allowed kids to jump ship during the season, so, they do help from that perspective, although, how cool would it be for the top team to lose five players in week 14? That would make this forum almost worthwhile to visit.

I like the idea of ending the contract after the last game of the Spring season. It gives players and parents plenty of time to contemplate, and it dissolves the demand for additional paperwork. A forum for free thought and expression is always worthwhile to visit. I'm here for the avatars.

So how does the revolution start?

I thought people in the USA were great at organizing themselves and making sure politicians (NTTSA) listened to them... Let's do something!

Seems like the benefit of a full automatic clean release at the end of the season offers balance: The boys and the parents get the opportunity to try something else if they so desire, and it allows the club owners and coaches to keep their teams intact during the season.

Would a letter signed by a large percentage of parents to the NTTSA have some influence? From what I have read the NTTSA is almost a puppet of the big clubs, but maybe I've misread this.

How about creating the Select Football (or Soccer...) Parent Association?

What are the possibilities in the US? In the State of Texas? Any interest?

The objective would be to offer a collective front to negotiate, influence and change some of these rules that directly affect children (and of course their parents). Sounds crazy? Hey I won't deny having been called mad or insane before, but it has always been when offering ideas for the common good.

So two options:
a) Start the "SFPA" or "SSPA"... (slower, but potentially influential and more effective in the long run)
b) Circulate a letter, and have as many parents as possible sign it and send copies to the NTTSA to request an immediate change at least this idiotic late release rule. (faster, but limited). There are many ways to do this... if it looks feasible to you share and we can explore different ways to approach it.

Please note these ideas are not meant to offend anyone, if you think these are bad ideas and have better ones please do share. Ideally you have actionnable plans that parents can act on quickly.

Check that page. It is not that hard to contact the NTSSA board. How about starting by emailing ?
http://www.ntxsoccer.org/pages/contact_bod.aspx

Aswan- You obviously have someone on the otherside. I do think there should be contracts, that's the only thing that keeps things orderly and avoids complete chaos during the season. However, after the season is over kids should be able to practice and guest play with other teams. This is only fair and gives parents and kids oppurtunities to see other programs. As of right now for the most part you are "stuck" playing with the same team. If you go tryout the "8" Mon and Wed practices avaliable in June you risk offeneding your current coach. The system is all about keeping the clubs in complete power.

Aswan, if those rules seem to be geared towards the clubs,  I am sure they are also intended to protect the players. I can easily imagine that in the past some coaches aggressively tried to recruit players which is not healthy for the kids and the families. Now, and as everything else, we go through cycles. Today, that pendulum  motion went too far the other way. Look at the current situation: I want to go practice with team A on monday the 11, I need a release signed by my coach; then I go try the practice of them B on wednesday the 13 I need another signed release. Then the week after I feel like trying again team A I need another signed release !!! Come on ! That just can't work, I am sure you can admit that ...

Of all the problems here with our soccer, the contracts are the least of them. Poor level of coaching, unchecked physical play, excessive cost, etc are all issues that you can rise up against that might be for the kids. The contract issue is for parents. Kids just want to play and it is the parents that have the my kids had to play here or there issues. If the kid is good waiting the extra month with not hurt him. He will still be able to get on the team of your choice once the window opens. If his situation is that bad remember it was YOU that put him in that situation not the club.

So you have one single month to make a decision that will last one year. During that month you need to evaluate the team, the roster, the parents the coaches, the practice location; you need to check the practices but also the games situation via tournament and I guess you need to do that several times since you want to try different clubs ? Is that really the way you want it Go ?

I just think it's the wrong thing to focus on. You should already know the practice location. Nothing stops a parent from going to check out a practice and the coach. You have seen how the teams play and their style. Most people have an idea of where they would like to go and it's more of a question of where their BB can get on at. The real purpose of the early release is so they can move on to the next team sooner. If there team selection was so careful and measured, they wouldn't be looking for a new team in the first place. Basically I could care less when the contract ends, but I am not buying the altruistic, better for the kid reasoning. If we want better for the kid how about we rise up for better coaching and tougher standards. Region lock the players until they are 14 to take away the recruiting and super teams. This would also force clubs to focus on developing their player pool instead of just recruiting. Shrink the field and number of players. Then do away with the contracts completely and let the kids play. I am all for releasing a kid who is in a bad situation (playtime, emotional abuse) but not so much for a kid or parents who just doesn't want to finish. We could also teach our kids to finish what you start.

go99 wrote:Region lock the players until they are 14 to take away the recruiting and super teams. This would also force clubs to focus on developing their player pool instead of just recruiting.

What do you mean ?

Have the players play on teams within a predefined geographic area, much like a school district is. This would force the clubs and coaches to develope the players they have because they would not be able to recruit outside players. At 14 open up the regions and then allow the contracts. I will use FCD as an example. If they region locked players the teams would look entirely different. I believe FCD gold would have had the strongest team. Out of the kids that I know, many of the strongest are out of the NE which is actually figo's region. My BB would not be on Blue because he is also in the NE. Once they turn 14 the club could pool together players and make "competative" teams. It would also allow clubs to evaluate coaches. A coach who consistantly provides players to the to team would be better than one who consistantly fails too.

I see what you mean, it is an idea but that would still not work. Imagine your kid stuck with a terrible roster a terrible coach and Daddy unable to go anywhere until he is 14 ! This is america too, I don't think people are going to like socialism much...Oh well...I still think the rules are too rigid. You know kids want to play and play with their friend too regardless what team they are on. So more freedom is needed outside the club and the contracts...

Actually there would be not contract so you could just go to the next club or coach. There would be plenty of choices and it's not my idea. It's basically an idea pushed in europe to develope better players. I doubt loosening the contracts would have kids playing with their friends more. What I see is more recruiting, more building super teams, more focus on winning, less playing with your friends and developing.

gababa wrote:So you have one single month to make a decision that will last one year. During that month you need to evaluate the team, the roster, the parents the coaches, the practice location; you need to check the practices but also the games situation via tournament and I guess you need to do that several times since you want to try different clubs ? Is that really the way you want it Go ?

I agree that the contract needs to be in place during the soccer season in order to protect both player, coach, and club but I disagree that after the last CL game or after the last state cup game that they should still be locked in. The only point of this is solely in the best interest of the club and coach and not the player. After the last game, whether it be April or May, that should be the time where your player should be free to shop around wherever they want. Why wait until June? I also think if you are at the point of wanting to look elsewhere then you are not happy where you are and it's usually the end of your committment anyway. Of course if your bb is a good player the coach is going to try to stop you from looking until it's too late because that means less money in his pocket and it also makes his team and coaching credibility get questioned by others that see him losing players or having his players looking at other teams. The bottom line is that you need to be looking out for the best interest of your bb just as the coach is looking out for his own best interest and you know that means $$$$$ and not your bb.

There is just not enough balance. I like the commitment and integrity portion of your statement, but many coaches do not fulfill it and the way to offer some balance is to allow the lads more time to look elsewhere, not in the middle of the season, but when their commitment ends and that's the point, it ends much too late. This is simply not enough time. I have had the opportunity to see a brighter side in three continents and I can categorically state that this system is unbalanced - it is balanced to favor the clubs and the coaches, and the boy (and their parents) are getting the short end of the stick.

2 months free agency (eg MAY & JUN) sounds about right to me... Fortunately, for the 97 group the roster size goes up from 16=>18, so the current 1 month won't seem as restrictive for this age group (this year...)... room for > 20 (!) new players in each Divison...

Or even midMay-Mid Jul , to avoid stateCup?

What about the teams that enter chllenge games or state cup? hey still need the commitment from all players even though the season is over. I would like to see a players pass like we have in Europe, which is with the team you play and you can only switch teams during a certain timeframe in the summer AND winter.

Whether you like how bids are awarded in classic or not, challenge games with players that were not part of what got them there would make the system even less equitable.

The season doesn't always end in April. Given the weather cancellations my 94 won't be done till mid May.

If it is so not working out, waiting until June 1 to start figuring out where to go isn't caused by the "contract." Every coach in your age group plays 18 games--go watch some--you already had two opportunities at least in your division. Observe practices in May--club websites publish when and where or just call the coach or the manager. I've done it and they don't withhold the info. If you call in May and tell them your boy is looking (nothong wrong with that), you might find out there is a pretty good chance they know who your kid is and will give feedback (done that).

If you think the release requirement is a problem, think again. If things are that bad, your coach knows that too, and even without the release if they have any interest in your kid they will know where you go anyway. If you miss a practice, they know who else is practicing then and will figure it out (had that happen), and if that doesn't tip them, these guys all talk to eachother and they know a day or two later (had that happen).

If your kid is average on the team, knowing your boy is looking only makes the coach look harder at other players that come out. If he rides the pine most of the time--well, it doesn't really change the result, now does it? If he's a starter and key player, they will work harder at keeping him. Most of this is the same even if they had no idea you were looking or where you went.

Don't blame the rule--help yourself if it is that big a deal. I'm with Aswan and Go--the rule serves an important function and there are far more significant things to work on.

Happy Earth Day! Show Mother some appreciation and unplug everything around you.

Ibystander wrote:Happy Earth Day! Show Mother some appreciation and unplug everything around you.

I tried that and the vacuum didn't seem to work effectively.

They are having an Earth Day Festival in Downtown Dallas.

Complete with a bunch of gas powered generators providing power to a bunch of amps and speakers for the "Trash" band spitting out gobs of noise pollution . . . .

All the freakies will generate more methane and carbon dioxide (out of both ends) on their own than would be produced from simply plugging the equipment in.

My understanding was that the Kyoto treaty banned volcanic emmisions. I think we should sanction Iceland and restrict imports of their.....uhmm.....ice.