Its official 2011 worst soccer fields in North Texas are located Grand Prairie, TX Mountain Creek.
The worst Referees also refs at Grand Prairie, TX Mountain Creek; P.T.S really needs to do something about this…

Couldn't agree more. On the bright side, they have a pretty good concession stand.

BAFANA BAFANA wrote:Its official 2011 worst soccer fields in North Texas are located Grand Prairie, TX Mountain Creek.
The worst Referees also refs at Grand Prairie, TX Mountain Creek; P.T.S really needs to do something about this…

Fields aren't that bad, but at the same time, they're definetely just not as good as Blue Sky or ATF. I think most of the parents who live in the south would rather play there than have to drive an hour up north for pretty fields.

Refs miss calls just as much in this league as the ones from PAL, CAL or SDL...

merlin wrote:

BAFANA BAFANA wrote:Its official 2011 worst soccer fields in North Texas are located Grand Prairie, TX Mountain Creek.
The worst Referees also refs at Grand Prairie, TX Mountain Creek; P.T.S really needs to do something about this…

Fields aren't that bad, but at the same time, they're definetely just not as good as Blue Sky or ATF. I think most of the parents who live in the south would rather play there than have to drive an hour up north for pretty fields.

Refs miss calls just as much in this league as the ones from PAL, CAL or SDL...

In that regard, I am curious if there are any academy leagues out there which still use a three referee crew.

It's ironic to see FIFA move towards the inclusion of more referees and yet we are moving in the opposite direction. Next thing you know, MLS will be a dual system.

By the way, I'm sure there is a perfectly good reason that some rec games have three referees at the U9, U10 age groups and academy leagues only two or one. Definitely unrelated to profit taking.

Agree with you ocho. It makes absolutely no sense to play in SDL or any league and have only one referee. Under 7 boys (played in spring SDL and winter Blue Sky) has only one ref. There is not a human alive that can effectively (see and call offsides, out of bounds, and fouls) referee any level of game, even u7. Dont know why SDL and these leagues insist on only one. Leads to irate parents, coaches, frustrated and hurt players. And then SDL sends emails out saying we will be thrown out, why not look at one of the root causes - lack of effective management of these leagues and equipping them with enough and quality referees to be succesful.

EAL and CAL both use 3 referees. Both of those leagues are cheaper than SDL too. It seems like a much better deal, but unless many of the top teams agree to move away from SDL, then SDL will continue to rake in our money and provide less games, shorter games and less refs. EAL is almost half the cost vs. SDL. It's crazy!

See my post in the 02 section for a more detailed comparison. Just the facts heavily interlaced with my opinions

PAL in Arlington uses 3 refs.

problem is if you look at the top clubs - Solar, Texans, Liverpool, Andromeda, TFC are all based in north dallas. So leagues in Arlington, Lewisville are tough to realistically be a part of considering for majority of these teams in these clubs.

4theluvofthegame wrote:Agree with you ocho. It makes absolutely no sense to play in SDL or any league and have only one referee. Under 7 boys (played in spring SDL and winter Blue Sky) has only one ref. There is not a human alive that can effectively (see and call offsides, out of bounds, and fouls) referee any level of game, even u7. Dont know why SDL and these leagues insist on only one. Leads to irate parents, coaches, frustrated and hurt players. And then SDL sends emails out saying we will be thrown out, why not look at one of the root causes - lack of effective management of these leagues and equipping them with enough and quality referees to be succesful.

What do you guys play for U7, 7v7 or 9v9?

I have to go so far back, but we definitely were still playing small sided (7v7) at U7 and it only required 1 ref. Offside was only called if it was egregious, as in the kid was camped at the other end cherry picking (or flower picking). 3 forward/3 mids, good time for the kids.

4theluvofthegame wrote:Agree with you ocho. It makes absolutely no sense to play in SDL or any league and have only one referee. Under 7 boys (played in spring SDL and winter Blue Sky) has only one ref. There is not a human alive that can effectively (see and call offsides, out of bounds, and fouls) referee any level of game, even u7. Dont know why SDL and these leagues insist on only one. Leads to irate parents, coaches, frustrated and hurt players. And then SDL sends emails out saying we will be thrown out, why not look at one of the root causes - lack of effective management of these leagues and equipping them with enough and quality referees to be succesful.

Offsides for 6 year old kids. I honestly did not know that existed in any league.

3 refs for a 7V7 game on that small field? perhaps instant replay too?BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

4theluvofthegame wrote:problem is if you look at the top clubs - Solar, Texans, Liverpool, Andromeda, TFC are all based in north dallas. So leagues in Arlington, Lewisville are tough to realistically be a part of considering for majority of these teams in these clubs.

Yeah but isn't the best 01 Solar team from Keller/Southlake, the best 01 Texans team from Grand Prarie and Liverpool has 01 teams from Keller, Lewisville, etc... Andromeda is an exception though because they are strictly N. Dallas but it seems like many if not most clubs are all over these days.

7v7 at under 7 - and they are calling offsides just like it's an EPL game. The fields are 60 yard long by 35 to 40 yards wide. Smaller than FIFA - yes, but hardly small sided (under 7 rec in Frisco plays 25 yards long and 15 yards wide and 5v5).

As for top teams, I was referring to 04 Boys current landscape which today the top teams play in SDL.

I know we play Solar, FC Dallas, Lightning and Polaris teams in Arlington -- those are a few of the "name brand" teams.