Even wonder how your team gets stuck playing an opponent that should be in a rec program? How about sending your kids out to play and finding out that your 2nd level team is taking the pitch against the State Cup Champions? Ask any team manager, they will tell you that registering for soccer tournaments is a royal pain, in large part because of the fact that there is no consistency in division level identification. It is easier if your team is playing at the highest level – or conversely at the bottom level. But figuring out where to register your team so that they are pushed but not pummeled is really hard. Not only do soccer organizations allow teams to self-identify, there is NOTHING that dictates the level of players on that team. You could easily have a player – or several players – from an ECNL team / ODP Regional team (this thread is NOT about whether ECNL/ODP/Thorns are better – so don’t go there) playing with a team that placed middle of the pack in spring league. Fair? Not even close. Add to that the fact that every tournament makes up its own names for levels of play. Just because you’re having a tournament doesn’t mean you have a Premier bracket. If the best teams that are coming are 2nd level teams – then your highest bracket should be Gold.
Teams should be classified according to standardized measures at the State / Regional / National level. A team should be identified as Premier, Gold, Silver, Bronze (or whatever names suit your fancy). The players on each team should also be categorized with a level. If you are rostered on a Premier team – you are a premier level player, and you cannot play in a Gold or Silver level bracket. Period. If you are a Silver level player, you can play Gold – but no playing down. Soccer is the only sport I have ever seen that allows players to play down. If we had conformity in classifications, we would have much better competition!
Teams should be classified according to standardized measures at the State / Regional / National level. A team should be identified as Premier, Gold, Silver, Bronze (or whatever names suit your fancy). The players on each team should also be categorized with a level. If you are rostered on a Premier team – you are a premier level player, and you cannot play in a Gold or Silver level bracket. Period. If you are a Silver level player, you can play Gold – but no playing down. Soccer is the only sport I have ever seen that allows players to play down. If we had conformity in classifications, we would have much better competition!
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