This week's R1 premier

[Unregistered]

Scorpions and Stars U14s are in Lancaster. Tough weekend for the Stars U16 as they travel south to New Jersey to face two very difficult opponents in Syosett and PDA. A little easier time for the Scorpions and Rovers as they head to Long Island and get East Meadow and STA. U17 Stars are home but have two tough opponents, PDA and Syracuse. The worst draw is for the U18 Aztecs, they get ultra strong Montclair and Albertson but also have to travel to central NJ and play at noon and 6. How are the teams that are traveling handling the trip. One day bus, stay over or everybody on their own?

[Unregistered]

In the past, the Stars U16 teams (United and Rovers) have chartered buses for trips to R1 double-headers. Rovers probably are again but the United's trip to NJ may require a sleep over on Saturday. Typically, the Scorpions will take separate cars to ENY. Not sure with the Aztecs but their schedule looks like it may require a night in Jersey.

[Unregistered]

In the past, the Stars U16 teams (United and Rovers) have chartered buses for trips to R1 double-headers. Rovers probably are again but the United's trip to NJ may require a sleep over on Saturday. Typically, the Scorpions will take separate cars to ENY. Not sure with the Aztecs but their schedule looks like it may require a night in Jersey.

Stars United are taking a bus, they play at 4pm and 7pm at PDA.

[Unregistered]

Scorpions and Stars U14s are in Lancaster. Tough weekend for the Stars U16 as they travel south to New Jersey to face two very difficult opponents in Syosett and PDA. A little easier time for the Scorpions and Rovers as they head to Long Island and get East Meadow and STA. U17 Stars are home but have two tough opponents, PDA and Syracuse. The worst draw is for the U18 Aztecs, they get ultra strong Montclair and Albertson but also have to travel to central NJ and play at noon and 6. How are the teams that are traveling handling the trip. One day bus, stay over or everybody on their own?

Very very tough for Stars U16 United to handle both Syosett and PDA with games at 4pm and 7pm. Aztecs will find it tough but have time in betweeen games to recover. Stars and Scorpions U14 should win both games. Rovers and Scorps will not find it easy on LI as it never is. Stars U17 have a up hill battle against a tremendous PDA team and an equally strong Syracuse outfit.

[Unregistered]

Stars United are taking a bus, they play at 4pm and 7pm at PDA.

Seems unfair to make a team play their two games so close together. Stars will really need to rely on their depth to win both games.

[Unregistered]

To makes things worse for the Stars, PDA will be playing Alabany in their first game so will be well rested for their 2nd game against the Stars.

[Unregistered]

PDA sets the schedule.

[Unregistered]

PDA sets the schedule.

No doubt that self-preservation does play a part in the PDA scheduling. However, the overall scheduling for the Premiership is usually a mess. The biggest problem is the simple fact that you are expecting field availability during March in areas of the country where the weather really shouts -- DON'T PLAY UNTIL MID APRIL!! You also add in numerous tournament, WNT/ regional/ ODP, coaching and Academy conflicts and you have a hard job made almost impossible. The biggest question in the U16 division has little to do with scheduling, but why is Albertson of Long Island in the South, while PDA (or at least STS) is in the south? With the rapid fall of Montclair the quality in the south is a joke compared to the north!!

[Unregistered]

No doubt that self-preservation does play a part in the PDA scheduling. However, the overall scheduling for the Premiership is usually a mess. The biggest problem is the simple fact that you are expecting field availability during March in areas of the country where the weather really shouts -- DON'T PLAY UNTIL MID APRIL!! You also add in numerous tournament, WNT/ regional/ ODP, coaching and Academy conflicts and you have a hard job made almost impossible. The biggest question in the U16 division has little to do with scheduling, but why is Albertson of Long Island in the South, while PDA (or at least STS) is in the south? With the rapid fall of Montclair the quality in the south is a joke compared to the north!!

Sorry I meant why are both NJ teams in the north? Of course I guaranty PDA ididn't ask to be in the same division as Stars, Scorps, Syosett and Rovers. When the Rovers are the least of your worries you are in a very difficult group.

[Unregistered]

Sorry I meant why are both NJ teams in the north? Of course I guaranty PDA ididn't ask to be in the same division as Stars, Scorps, Syosett and Rovers. When the Rovers are the least of your worries you are in a very difficult group.

I agree. The North is stacked. The South does have some teams in there that probably don't belong, such as Empire Buffalo and Twin County Crew. Due to high school spring soccer in VA and some parts of PA, teams such as BRYC Azul probably did not apply.

[Unregistered]

No doubt that self-preservation does play a part in the PDA scheduling. However, the overall scheduling for the Premiership is usually a mess. The biggest problem is the simple fact that you are expecting field availability during March in areas of the country where the weather really shouts -- DON'T PLAY UNTIL MID APRIL!! You also add in numerous tournament, WNT/ regional/ ODP, coaching and Academy conflicts and you have a hard job made almost impossible. The biggest question in the U16 division has little to do with scheduling, but why is Albertson of Long Island in the South, while PDA (or at least STS) is in the south? With the rapid fall of Montclair the quality in the south is a joke compared to the north!!

Applicable to U16 girls:

If I were a conspiracy theorist, I'd suggest that by stacking the North, PDA limits the ability for two Massachusetts teams to get into Region 1 Championships in WV. If you recall, last year the Scorps won the MA SC and Stars won the R1PL so both went to Maine for the Regionals; and the Scoprs advanced to the U15 Nationals.

In R1PL, only two teams from each bracket (North & South) qualify for the R1PL championship weekend in Delaware and the winner gets an at-large berth into the Regionals. Thus, if one is to assume that PDA will get one of the North Slots, then only one of the other four teams (Rovers, Scorps, Stars, Syosett) is likely to make it through....and only the winner (vs the south...likely to be a North team) advances to the Region 1 Championship.

So if I were PDA, hoping/assuming I'm going to win R1PL by stacking the schedule/travel in my favor, I'd do my best to limit MA to one team in the Regionals.

But I'm not a conspiracy therorist...................right?

[Unregistered]

Sorry I meant why are both NJ teams in the north? Of course I guaranty PDA ididn't ask to be in the same division as Stars, Scorps, Syosett and Rovers. When the Rovers are the least of your worries you are in a very difficult group.

PDA did ask to be in the north under the ruse that they found more value in playing teams like the Scorpions and Stars. But by controlling the scheduling they will have an easier trip to the finals if they eliminate from advancing one of the past 3 years R1 champions in league play. Had they played in the south like last year, they were likely to meet each in the semis and finals assuming they could advance. If their planning is successful, they will meet a weaker team from the south in the semi finals.

[Unregistered]

Applicable to U16 girls:

If I were a conspiracy theorist, I'd suggest that by stacking the North, PDA limits the ability for two Massachusetts teams to get into Region 1 Championships in WV. If you recall, last year the Scorps won the MA SC and Stars won the R1PL so both went to Maine for the Regionals; and the Scoprs advanced to the U15 Nationals.

In R1PL, only two teams from each bracket (North & South) qualify for the R1PL championship weekend in Delaware and the winner gets an at-large berth into the Regionals. Thus, if one is to assume that PDA will get one of the North Slots, then only one of the other four teams (Rovers, Scorps, Stars, Syosett) is likely to make it through....and only the winner (vs the south...likely to be a North team) advances to the Region 1 Championship.

So if I were PDA, hoping/assuming I'm going to win R1PL by stacking the schedule/travel in my favor, I'd do my best to limit MA to one team in the Regionals.

But I'm not a conspiracy therorist...................right?

Conspiracy theories are fine, but don't miss the forest through the trees. PDA did not benefit by their placement in the North (they were in the South last year). The teams that benefited are in the South, most notably Albertson. When the decisions were made about league acceptances and placements it could be assumed that nothing much had changed the status quo of this age group. The top teams were the two from Mass and the two from NJ. It is very interesting that powers in R1 decided to break up the obvious geographic split of those four teams. My guess is that this is more about incompetency and obliviousness than an evil plot. However, like all good conspiracists we need to remember that ENY carries considerable sway in the R1 hierachy? What has made things worse is that since the divisions were created, Syosett has dramatically improved by the inclusion of much of the imploded Bees and Montclair has been devestated by injuries. This left the four best teams in the same division and probably 6 of the top 7. Montclair's demise has helped PDA in that their road to a state cup championship is considerably easier than the teams from Mass or ENY. This makes the results in the Premier much more important for the Mass and ENY entrants as only the winner of the SC goes to West Virginia but the 3rd, 4th or even lower finisher in the Premier League can earn a wild-card birth . Remember that because of their Premier league performances, both the Scrpions and Stars entered last year's SC final assured of spots in the Regionals.

[Unregistered]

Conspiracy theories are fine, but don't miss the forest through the trees. PDA did not benefit by their placement in the North (they were in the South last year). The teams that benefited are in the South, most notably Albertson. When the decisions were made about league acceptances and placements it could be assumed that nothing much had changed the status quo of this age group. The top teams were the two from Mass and the two from NJ. It is very interesting that powers in R1 decided to break up the obvious geographic split of those four teams. My guess is that this is more about incompetency and obliviousness than an evil plot. However, like all good conspiracists we need to remember that ENY carries considerable sway in the R1 hierachy? What has made things worse is that since the divisions were created, Syosett has dramatically improved by the inclusion of much of the imploded Bees and Montclair has been devestated by injuries. This left the four best teams in the same division and probably 6 of the top 7. Montclair's demise has helped PDA in that their road to a state cup championship is considerably easier than the teams from Mass or ENY. This makes the results in the Premier much more important for the Mass and ENY entrants as only the winner of the SC goes to West Virginia but the 3rd, 4th or even lower finisher in the Premier League can earn a wild-card birth . Remember that because of their Premier league performances, both the Scrpions and Stars entered last year's SC final assured of spots in the Regionals.

Good Points!

[Unregistered]

Putting the decision to place PDA in the North aside, it is remarkeable how unfair the PDA created schedule is. Sure they have stuck it to the Stars with this weekend's games, and sent the Rovers on the road for 5 of 7 games, but more importantly, it is amazing that the divisions southernmost team gets 5/7 games at home and travels no farther north than Long Island. That isn't a conspiracy it is just blatent unfairness.