U12 Girls

[Not Sure]

Dear Mr/Mrs Blackwatch parent,

GIVE IT UP ALREADY! You can't cut in line. You must earn your way to the top. MAPLE is a meritocracy and you must pay your dues!

Sincerely,

U12 Blue parents


Exactly. A great example of this "MAPLE meritocracy" would be the U11 Stars team last fall. Oh...no...wait...that wouldn't be a good example would it. In fact, that goes completely against your entire arguement in that certain clubs can "cut in line".

Did they earn it? Or, did they cut in line. It wasn't the Stars fault. MAPLE begged them to please fill that spot.

While Black Watch was "paying its dues" in the White Division, the Stars U11 team was going 0 and __ in the U12 Blue division.

Looking at what happened last fall...who benefited more from MAPLEs meritocracy, the U11 Stars team or the U12 Black Watch team?

Two wrongs don't make a right. Fall seasons "experiment" proves that teams should earn their way into higher levels of play. Go play some friendlies with higher level teams, (blue or even green) win and demonstrate how bloody good your team is. You have no credibility until you have a record to stand by.

"Has anyone played Blackwatch and/or Bolts this winter? What were the results?"

And still no answer. Why not play the Stars U-11s, smash 'em, and then you really will have something to complain about!

[FSM]

Got to say, the Blackwatch parent has a point.

I agree that two (or three, or four) wrongs do not make a right.

I also believe that Black Watch should have to earn its way to top division. I'm sure the DOC and coaches knew that this would have to be the path that would need to be taken when it was decided that they would play 8v8 at U11.

However, don't give me this "MAPLE is a meritocracy and you must pay your dues!" crap when its some other club we're talking about. Stars U11 playing U12 Blue was not an experiment. I'm certain MAPLE has analyzed and made many decisions in the past regarding the placement of teams. I'm sure they have been both correct and incorrect in their judgement.

Yes, the Blackwatch parent HAD a point. The placement of the Stars U-11 team in the blue group was "irregular." It does not follow, however, that the placement/treatment of the Blackwatch team was (or even is now) innapropriate. I very much want to see the Blackwatch team to succeed and I look forward to seeing results from matches against top teams. The truth is that it has not happened and it could have by now with a little effort and creativity. After this lapse of time, I am begginning to wonder whether Blackwatch parent "protesteth too much."

What about the 9 teams playing in Blue - did any of them receive any "help" along the way? or did they earn what they have? Would it be right to displace one of the "dues paying" teams just because some team whooped everyone else 4 levels lower?

Let's assume we all agree that the placement of the u11 team in Blue last season was, at the very least, a mistake. (There was much discussion of that on this forum when it happened.)

What about the 9 teams playing in Blue - did any of them receive any "help" along the way? or did they earn what they have? Would it be right to displace one of the "dues paying" teams just because some team whooped everyone else 4 levels lower?

Let's assume we all agree that the placement of the u11 team in Blue last season was, at the very least, a mistake. (There was much discussion of that on this forum when it happened.)

What if the 11 Stars are better than the Blackwatch team? Point being, who is to say who belongs where when none of these teams appear to have played each other.

What about the 9 teams playing in Blue - did any of them receive any "help" along the way? or did they earn what they have? Would it be right to displace one of the "dues paying" teams just because some team whooped everyone else 4 levels lower?

Let's assume we all agree that the placement of the u11 team in Blue last season was, at the very least, a mistake. (There was much discussion of that on this forum when it happened.)

What if the 11 Stars are better than the Blackwatch team? Point being, who is to say who belongs where when none of these teams appear to have played each other.

It will all be resolved in June, assuming of course that the Blackwatch team is able to play their way that far. Then there will be no more questions, just answers to a lot of rhetorical questions.

Of course the U11 Stars team is better than the U12 Black Watch team! However, that's not what this theead is discussing.

[FSM]

Yes, the Blackwatch parent HAD a point. The placement of the Stars U-11 team in the blue group was "irregular." It does not follow, however, that the placement/treatment of the Blackwatch team was (or even is now) innapropriate. I very much want to see the Blackwatch team to succeed and I look forward to seeing results from matches against top teams. The truth is that it has not happened and it could have by now with a little effort and creativity. After this lapse of time, I am begginning to wonder whether Blackwatch parent "protesteth too much."

This isn't about the clubs or teams involved. This is strictly about the league. Either they are the meritocracy they say they are or they aren't and if they are going to make exceptions in regards to team placement (like many leagues do to promote the highest levels of competition within divisions) then they need to make public the procedures being used to place teams. They haven't done this and as a result, they look as though they are showing favortism.

IMO if a club thinks their team is capable of playing in a higher division, there should be some means to petition the league and depending on the merit of their petition have a committee determine their placement. The petition probably should be accompanied by a healthy fee, to keep clubs from petitioning unless they are certain their team is competitive. So it doesn't look like the league is being paid off, that fee would be awarded to the team that might get displaced. How's that for an idea?

This isn't about the clubs or teams involved. This is strictly about the league. Either they are the meritocracy they say they are or they aren't and if they are going to make exceptions in regards to team placement (like many leagues do to promote the highest levels of competition within divisions) then they need to make public the procedures being used to place teams. They haven't done this and as a result, they look as though they are showing favortism.

IMO if a club thinks their team is capable of playing in a higher division, there should be some means to petition the league and depending on the merit of their petition have a committee determine their placement. The petition probably should be accompanied by a healthy fee, to keep clubs from petitioning unless they are certain their team is competitive. So it doesn't look like the league is being paid off, that fee would be awarded to the team that might get displaced. How's that for an idea?

MAPLE claims to be a meritocracy but they clearly state in the by laws and or constitution that at U11 and U12 they can places teams as they see fit. Whether it was an experiment or not for the U11 Stars they have the right to do as they wish and they state that in their by laws. I would agree with you if they did this with a U13 or Above but they haven't....have they??

Of course the U11 Stars team is better than the U12 Black Watch team! However, that's not what this theead is discussing.

The Stars u11 didn't ask to be in blue, they won orange by a convincing margin.They asked to be in green but where placed in blue. Don't blame the team they just played the schedule.

[Not Sure]

"Rules are fine up until they need to be broken for a good reason".

It sees the the Blackwatch team has had ideas that they belong in a higher division for some time.

They could have short circuited a lot of banter that has been exchanged had they only taken the opportunity to play some of these higher level teams. These opportunities are out there, a little effort and some field results would have allowed them to present a viable argument for placement into a higher division. Winning the lowest level of Maple by blow outs is fine, it might indicate that you have one player who can finish. This game is about fielding 11 players and being capable of sustain play for 50 minutes. Good soccer teams cannot be just thrown together like a 5 man basketball squad (a.k.a Cetilcs last to first) it takes time and patience.

Blackwatch needs to develope a history of competent competition against good teams. This is the same as the business world or the legal world, you need a track record or history to demonstrate that you are not more than flash in the pan.

Green, Blue, Orange, purple, yellow. What a bunch of type A snobs you all are. Maybe you should wear section color clothing when you stop off at the gym, or the coffee shop for your lattes! At least that way, you will know if you are talking to a fellow Blue, Orange, Yellow ,White, parent. The fact that u/12 girls thread is on pace to set a thread record says it all. I am happy to have contributed to your effort.

Green, Blue, Orange, purple, yellow. What a bunch of type A snobs you all are. Maybe you should wear section color clothing when you stop off at the gym, or the coffee shop for your lattes! At least that way, you will know if you are talking to a fellow Blue, Orange, Yellow ,White, parent. The fact that u/12 girls thread is on pace to set a thread record says it all. I am happy to have contributed to your effort.

There's a long way to go to catch up with the "Girls u14" thread, the "Hope Solo" thread or any of the many "MPS" threads.