A few thoughts on this weekend’s RR:
First, what was the real story behind the change of dates? Two likely factors emerged and both seem plausible. Mass Youth certainly felt pressure from R1 to get things done earlier and not delay the release of the Regional brackets. Apparently some of the R1 higher-ups blame that delay on the embarrassing number of teams that decided not to go to West Virginia last year. Additionally, insiders admitted that it was becoming organizationally impossible to stage the SC RR on the same weekend as prelims for the Andre and Irwin Cups. So it made sense on both fronts to move the RR up two weeks, MYSA could appease R1 and avoid the logistical nightmares of previous years in Lancaster by having U11s to U19s on the same site on the weekend after Memorial Day.
I’ll admit that logistically the weekend went off pretty flawless. There were none of the parking, weather, field space or ref issues of previous years. But the smaller participant/team numbers also meant that the event lacked that festival/tournament feel of past RRs. In fact, it felt like any other fully-scheduled weekend at Lancaster. Lots of soccer but nothing special. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking for a return of the U-littles, as I understand that it would be extremely difficult (if not practically impossible) to have everyone competing on the same weekend at this site – but those crazy days of the past did have some appeal and it was missed.
There were also lots of whispers about the growing animosity between the USYSA and the ECNL. Rumors were that the decision to require ECNL teams to not display their ECNL badges on uniforms came directly from the USYSA National HQ. Scorpions donned florescent green Ts to avoid showing their ECNL membership, Stars covered their patches with tape. Overall it was a petty decision, but the bigger issue is what that decision represents, and that is an open antagonism towards the ECNL and maybe a desire to force a show-down next year? Even if ECNL clubs do decide to continue to play in the SCs this wasn’t a good sign.
My guess is that the Stars will not send their top U15-17 girls teams into the RR next year. That is only three teams , and might represent only a single defending State Champ, but it is symbolic of the change in youth soccer. The boys divisions are already watered down by the absence of the DAP teams In any respect, this may be the end of an era for the Mass SC RR.
First, what was the real story behind the change of dates? Two likely factors emerged and both seem plausible. Mass Youth certainly felt pressure from R1 to get things done earlier and not delay the release of the Regional brackets. Apparently some of the R1 higher-ups blame that delay on the embarrassing number of teams that decided not to go to West Virginia last year. Additionally, insiders admitted that it was becoming organizationally impossible to stage the SC RR on the same weekend as prelims for the Andre and Irwin Cups. So it made sense on both fronts to move the RR up two weeks, MYSA could appease R1 and avoid the logistical nightmares of previous years in Lancaster by having U11s to U19s on the same site on the weekend after Memorial Day.
I’ll admit that logistically the weekend went off pretty flawless. There were none of the parking, weather, field space or ref issues of previous years. But the smaller participant/team numbers also meant that the event lacked that festival/tournament feel of past RRs. In fact, it felt like any other fully-scheduled weekend at Lancaster. Lots of soccer but nothing special. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking for a return of the U-littles, as I understand that it would be extremely difficult (if not practically impossible) to have everyone competing on the same weekend at this site – but those crazy days of the past did have some appeal and it was missed.
There were also lots of whispers about the growing animosity between the USYSA and the ECNL. Rumors were that the decision to require ECNL teams to not display their ECNL badges on uniforms came directly from the USYSA National HQ. Scorpions donned florescent green Ts to avoid showing their ECNL membership, Stars covered their patches with tape. Overall it was a petty decision, but the bigger issue is what that decision represents, and that is an open antagonism towards the ECNL and maybe a desire to force a show-down next year? Even if ECNL clubs do decide to continue to play in the SCs this wasn’t a good sign.
My guess is that the Stars will not send their top U15-17 girls teams into the RR next year. That is only three teams , and might represent only a single defending State Champ, but it is symbolic of the change in youth soccer. The boys divisions are already watered down by the absence of the DAP teams In any respect, this may be the end of an era for the Mass SC RR.
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