Calgary to launch bid for NASL team

[MillerTime GFG]

Soccer is fractured at every level in Canada. Calgary soccer --> Alberta Soccer (been a joke for decades) --> National team (obviously a joke)

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by MillerTime GFG

Soccer is fractured at every level in Canada. Calgary soccer --> Alberta Soccer (been a joke for decades) --> National team (obviously a joke)

Amen to that. Canadian soccer has been fractious and broken on a systemic, wide-spread level for a long time. Jason De Vos has a great piece about how to fix it last year on TSN; I'll try to find it again and post it.

[Ozy_Flame]

Also, can someone explain why we can't get a PDL team going? Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal all have secondary teams in there, and for god sakes, even Victoria, Winnipeg, London, Thunder Bay and Kitchener-Waterloo all have teams there.

What is wrong with Calgary?

They have franchise opportunities right there, available on the website. I think we should get an Indiegogo campaign going to get a PDL team. At the very least.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by MillerTime GFG

Soccer is fractured at every level in Canada. Calgary soccer --> Alberta Soccer (been a joke for decades) --> National team (obviously a joke)

True, but at some point the governing body puts competition (read: petty bickering) aside to unify everyone and move the entire program forward as a whole.

It just doesnt happen here in Calgary. Its like a bunch of people holding irrational grudges constantly.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Also, can someone explain why we can't get a PDL team going? Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal all have secondary teams in there, and for god sakes, even Victoria, Winnipeg, London, Thunder Bay and Kitchener-Waterloo all have teams there.

What is wrong with Calgary?

They have franchise opportunities right there, available on the website. I think we should get an Indiegogo campaign going to get a PDL team. At the very least.

Umm, Calgary Foothills is trying to do just that? The PDL team is currently playing a bunch of friendlies in 2014, to launch in the PDL in 2015.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Umm, Calgary Foothills is trying to do just that? The PDL team is currently playing a bunch of friendlies in 2014, to launch in the PDL in 2015.

Oh geez, I jumped the shark. Googled it and found the news bit back from March. I'm a dolt.

However, I just don't see how this didn't happen years ago

[MillerTime GFG]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Oh geez, I jumped the shark. Googled it and found the news bit back from March. I'm a dolt.

However, I just don't see how this didn't happen years ago

It did, twice. We're 0 for 2. 3rd time's a charm???

[shermanator]

Kerr had a great interview with Tommy Wheeldon Jr of Calgary Foothills about the subject.

http://pmd.fan960.com/radio/fan960/p...528-141357.mp3

[cam_wmh]

I have a gripe:

Is there a city in a developed nation, that has worse fields than Calgary?

[browna]

Originally Posted by Locke

Oh my God, I totally forgot how much I dont miss the political BS that is soccer in Calgary.

To be honest, this latest issue is a direct result of the pie in the sky promises and money makers that have taken over in youth club soccer. With each club having an "academy" and forcing players and parents into the political game as young teenagers, if not sooner...with the promise of something bigger (hint: there isn't a clear path to anything, certainly not that an academy can perpare you for over your natural skill, talent, and work). The clubs don't want their academy's suffering at the benefit of another (Foothills), which is what the problem is here.

After community soccer, played up until 12, I played in a simpler time of club soccer. You lived in an area of the city, you played for that club. 2 transfers per team were allowed, from another quadrant.

SE - Celtics SW - Foothills NE- Eastside NW - Blizzards -South Central - Chinooks.

We practiced no more than 3 times a week (mostly twice) and games on the weekend. 3 national championship appearances in 5 years, and most of the core of the team went onto play AMSL, finally breaking through in 1999 winning Men's Nationals.

Club soccer was fun. Little politics because players lived in the area played on the team, so there was continuity and friendships. We went and played out a lot on our own because we wanted to.

Now, there are no geographical restrictions. Teams can cut players and those players can go to another club and bump someone else off potentially. This leads to politics and favoritism amongst players, coaches, and parents, and each is doing all they can to stay ahead of their teammates.

To that end, when one club starts an academy and the others have to follow suit. Practice 4 or 5 times a week because the other club is doing it (which equals more committed to soccer), as well dryland training and in class strategy sessions and personal development instructors.

A woman from my office got a personal trainer for her 14 year old daughter so she would stay in shape following a foot injury, so she could make the next tournament in Seattle....if she didn't make that trip, she'd be on the bubble for indoor next season and beyond, as two girls had that happen to them a previous year and their spot got taken after injury....14 years old.

When I played, if the tournament the parents planned in Seattle wasn't going to work with family plans, oh well, we'll pick up someone who can go and see next week...and never a thought about lack of commitment, as parents and players would be threatened with now. Our coaches were very good soccer men, but not paid or promoted as such to attract players, as is done now by clubs with a bunch of pomp and resume promoting so that they can justify fees.

Maybe I was lucky, don't know....but taking the regional restrictions off of club soccer just means continuous games of one-upsmanship and pissing contests between clubs to see who can brag about the best players and the best programs (and all the problems that sort of popularity contest brings), all while collecting money from parents who have no choice but to fork over $$.

I know probably 3/4 of the original PDL Storm team back when; there was no issue with that because it was outside of the umbrella that Foothills in this case is trying to keep to itself. AMSL and PDL lived together, and while not ideal, there wasn't infighting amongst clubs to stop players from playing, because the clubs didn't have the power (or desire) to stop player from playing at a higher level.

Now, clubs are hosting events for kids as young as 4 (kids plays community soccer until about 10). Our daughter is having fun and doing well with at 4 years old, but a shudder to think about clubs trying to recruit her (if she continues with this) as she enters Grade 3 in a few years to sik their teeth into her (and our wallets) for a outcome (nevermind having to be exposed to politics at an early age) in 15 years that can't be any better than I had growing up.

It's ridiculous, and then that sort of in fighting and popularity contests carries through into adult leagues because that's what it's been like for so long already. It takes away from the kids having fun first and developing, as they are always always looking over their shoulder at who's coming for them within their own team/club, let alone other clubs, if they don't perform up to whatever's coaches perceptions are of them, instead of a team concept....again, as young teenagers. Then you have to deal with coaches who know the power they posses etc etc etc.

Calgary's bigger now, so there would be many more clubs then there was back in the 90's, but going back to a youth club geographic system would do wonders for taking the politics out of the sport for kids, coaches, and teenagers, and all the crap it brings. Won't happen now though, too much money for those running the current clubs at stake, and someone has to try and do something more then the club next door.

It's disgraceful and a shame. There isn't a big pot at the end of the rainbow, for what these clubs try to promise to help you achieve...over the past 15 years, guys Owen Hargreaves, Kevin McKenna, Lars Hisrschfeld Christine Lathom, Stephanie O'Neill and other Calgary/Alberta products that gained National caps, came out of that youth club regional system in this city, with regular coaches and having fun playing soccer on good teams with good friends...each and didn't need academies and thousands of dollars to a club to run extraneous programs to get to where they got.

My 2c.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by browna

To be honest, this latest issue is a direct result of the pie in the sky promises and money makers that have taken over in youth club soccer.

Thanks for the insight.

Originally Posted by browna

Now, clubs are hosting events for kids as young as 4 (kids plays community soccer until about 10). Our daughter is having fun and doing well with at 4 years old, but a shudder to think about clubs trying to recruit her (if she continues with this) as she enters Grade 3 in a few years to sik their teeth into her (and our wallets) for a outcome (nevermind having to be exposed to politics at an early age) in 15 years that can't be any better than I had growing up.

[...]

It's disgraceful and a shame. There isn't a big pot at the end of the rainbow, for what these clubs try to promise to help you achieve...over the past 15 years, guys Owen Hargreaves, Kevin McKenna, Lars Hisrschfeld Christine Lathom, Stephanie O'Neill and other Calgary/Alberta products that gained National caps, came out of that youth club regional system in this city, with regular coaches and having fun playing soccer on good teams with good friends...each and didn't need academies and thousands of dollars to a club to run extraneous programs to get to where they got.

I hope to start getting my coaching badges this year. My 5 year-old nephew is playing house league right now and I've been wondering if it would be better to just start a team for him and his friends.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by browna

After community soccer, played up until 12, I played in a simpler time of club soccer. You lived in an area of the city, you played for that club. 2 transfers per team were allowed, from another quadrant.

SE - Celtics SW - Foothills NE- Eastside NW - Blizzards -South Central - Chinooks.

Great post, but we actually have FEWER clubs now than we did in the 1990s. As an old Eagles alumni (who hasn't had any reason to revisit youth soccer since I played it), I'm surprised and a little dismayed by your description of the current landscape.

If my memory serves, Eagles folded up shop in the late 1990's. It was right around the time when I was switching from youth to mens soccer, so I'm guessing 1998 or 1999. I could be wrong though.

[MillerTime GFG]

Originally Posted by browna

After community soccer, played up until 12, I played in a simpler time of club soccer. You lived in an area of the city, you played for that club. 2 transfers per team were allowed, from another quadrant.

SE - Celtics SW - Foothills NE- Eastside NW - Blizzards -South Central - Chinooks.

Club soccer was fun. Little politics because players lived in the area played on the team, so there was continuity and friendships. We went and played out a lot on our own because we wanted to.

Now, there are no geographical restrictions. Teams can cut players and those players can go to another club and bump someone else off potentially. This leads to politics and favoritism amongst players, coaches, and parents, and each is doing all they can to stay ahead of their teammates.

Maybe I was lucky, don't know....but taking the regional restrictions off of club soccer just means continuous games of one-upsmanship and pissing contests between clubs to see who can brag about the best players and the best programs (and all the problems that sort of popularity contest brings), all while collecting money from parents who have no choice but to fork over $$.

I know probably 3/4 of the original PDL Storm team back when; there was no issue with that because it was outside of the umbrella that Foothills in this case is trying to keep to itself. AMSL and PDL lived together, and while not ideal, there wasn't infighting amongst clubs to stop players from playing, because the clubs didn't have the power (or desire) to stop player from playing at a higher level.


My 2c.

A lot of good points in there. The no geographic restrictions is definitely a problem. It was the same for myself in youth - only 2 imports/team. My team just happened to have the best import in the city. (CJ Pesneker if anyone remembers him). I think the restrictions were dropped because Edmonton never had them, which gave them an unfair advantage. I remember playing them in provincials (inter mainly), they would basically put all-star teams together, yet we would still usually come out on top. While I think having the best players compete against/with the best players is a good thing, maybe they should restrict it to 4 players per team or something. No restrictions just doesn't work, as you've stated.

With the last part I bolded - "playing at a higher level", the funny thing is that these PDL teams are not at a higher level than the AMSL. Playing Villains Major a couple years back, we tied and beat Edmonton FC reserves in our two games, and probably should have faired better in the tie. This is the exact reason Foothills is going around playing MRU/U of C, because they know they will lose to the local major teams (Dinos/Villains/Callies). The AMSL is the higher level! Nothing wrong with trying to get a local PDL team together, but don't do it at the expense of the AMSL. Great exposure for these kids to play exhibition games against MEN in the AMSL. Where else are they going to get quality exhibition games without having the Whitecaps come in or going out there? Foothills/FC Edmonton don't have money to just throw around, but having the AMSL in their own province is perfect for them!

[MillerTime GFG]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

I have a gripe:

Is there a city in a developed nation, that has worse fields than Calgary?

I have yet to play on a good grass field this season. They're either too small, in poor condition, or both. Mind you I'm in division 1 now so we don't exactly get preferential fields. (Broadview/MRU).

I really don't get it - wish I could take care of a field for a year. Can't be that hard can it?!? My lawn looks good!

[Matty81]

I think the thing with the PDL is that it is supposed to be a league for kids/young men... so the local senior all star teams like Callies when they were so dominant with a bunch of ex Storm/Mustangs guys could probably work them over, but it's pretty much like comparing the Allan Cup to the Memorial Cup.

The NASL team in Edmonton is a much higher standard and hopefully Calgary can get there, but honestly I don't see it happening. McMahon is terrible for soccer, the city will never build a soccer stadium and nobody is going to build one from scratch for a team that will probably be break even, at best.

It's really sad for soccer in Calgary but I just don't see it going anywhere at the top level for a long time. Right now I think most of the fields spectator wise probably aren't even fit for a PDL team except maybe rugby park. Foothills was pretty poor for the PDL/A-League franchise. Best hope is probably that new fieldhouse at foothills if it goes forward, I thought there might be plans for moveable bleachers for a couple thousand people and the team would be playing on artificial turf.

Gotta credit the Faths in Edmonton for the small stadium they have managed to get up and running and the commitment from their city to build a bigger one if they can get the attendance. They have singlehandledly changed the game up there and I hope they stick with it, I know they are incurring pretty decent losses.

[Mango]

I'm not sure if anyone else was at today's Foothills U23 game against the Whitecaps U23, but the turnout was pretty impressive. I believe it was just over 1,200. I'm sure a lot of that had to do with it being the Whitecaps and Carducci, but regardless, nice to see. Foothills won 2:1. Having Theo Fleury there was kind of surreal.

[shermanator]

I've read online that it was a nightmare to get tickets at the gate as they were only taking cash.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by MillerTime GFG

I have yet to play on a good grass field this season. They're either too small, in poor condition, or both. Mind you I'm in division 1 now so we don't exactly get preferential fields. (Broadview/MRU).

I really don't get it - wish I could take care of a field for a year. Can't be that hard can it?!? My lawn looks good!

My elementary view, is we don't have enough fields, to ensure a healthy rotation for recovery.

I see you suggested MRU. SUrely you weren't suggesting Field 1.
That field is never used. It's bulls***t.

[Mango]

Originally Posted by shermanator

I've read online that it was a nightmare to get tickets at the gate as they were only taking cash.

I'm not sure off hand because I was there pretty early.

I'm not shocked though, because the gates at the Encana turf are pretty narrow and the little booth likely doesn't have electricity to be equipped with taking debit/credit.

[MillerTime GFG]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

My elementary view, is we don't have enough fields, to ensure a healthy rotation for recovery.

I see you suggested MRU. SUrely you weren't suggesting Field 1.
That field is never used. It's bulls***t.

Probably right about not enough fields. I was referring to MRU field 1, ya. Forgot it isn't used for CUSA/AMSL games. I played for MRU 2 season's ago and loved it. They keep the grass nice and short which is nice, although it seems as though the grass doesn't really grow there...

Those top fields aren't even a comparison, you're right. So with that said, it's sad that I had to mention a field that isn't even used for league matches. Outside of Broadview, is there another good full-sized grass field in the city? I don't think so, and that's pathetic.