SZ & Sportszone

[Unregistered]

Fact: LUSC went to a member of the Rec Commission prior to allowing the Bolts into Londonderry.

Fact: LUSC went to this same board member when the Stars were coming to town.

Fact: On both occasions, LUSC was told "no problem".

Fact: LUSC was ignorant to the 60/40 rule, but this notion that something was done "illegally" is BS.

Fact: LYSA was sanctioned for rec soccer only, years ago and should never have been able to bring any travel team in.

Fact: LUSC was the only club in town sanctioned for travel.

Fact: In the end the Rec commission killed all of this. NOT LYSA...NOT LUSC...we both lost out.

Fact: LUSC was not sanctioned for premier soccer clubs

Fact: LUSC had no approval for outside clubs coming on the fields

Fact: LUSC was ignorant to the 60/40 rule

Fact: LUSC needs to be aware of the rules and follow them

Fact: LUSC has bad management if all this was going on

Fact: In the end it is LUSC's incompetence that has failed their town

FACT: LUSC wants to blame evereyone but themselves for their mistakes and blunders

[Unregistered]

Fact: LUSC was not sanctioned for premier soccer clubs

Fact: LUSC had no approval for outside clubs coming on the fields

Fact: LUSC was ignorant to the 60/40 rule

Fact: LUSC needs to be aware of the rules and follow them

Fact: LUSC has bad management if all this was going on

Fact: In the end it is LUSC's incompetence that has failed their town

FACT: LUSC wants to blame evereyone but themselves for their mistakes and blunders

LUSC was not ignorant of the 60/40 rule. There were discussions 2 yrs ago about what would happen if any Bolts teams did not meet that requirement.

[Unregistered]

If LUSC went to the Rec Commission member for approval, how did LUSC fail, regardless of what type of team was coming to town? What purpose, then, does the Rec Commission serve? They are the governing body for sports, NOT LUSC or LYSA. At least LUSC went to the Rec Commission. That can't be said for LYSA

[Unregistered]

For all of those who are criticizing both organizations, and if you are truly interested in the well being of the kids, volunteer your time to either organization. If you believe one is in dire straights, give them a call and see how you can help. Don't stand on the sidelines and heckle those trying to make a difference. If you work with one, see how you can mediate with the other to bring both sides together. If you have something positive to offer, then help!

[Unregistered]

Except many of these players didn't "happily leave Londonderry." LUSC failed to identify a coach for their team prior to tryouts. These players were afraid there wouldn't be a viable option for them through LUSC. There are certainly 2 sides to every story. Try to remember that.

I am a Coach that LUSC approached about coaching that team: That same age group had a paid coach for years. The team parents were well known high maintenance parents. They had lost some of their top players to Seacoast, the Bolts, or NHPSA. I did not want to take that challenge of dealing with the parents. I am not surprised at all that LUSC had trouble finding a coach.

[Unregistered]

Same with the Stars players. They left to go to Derryfield shiny field. Stay there with your shiny uniforms and don't come back.

I have a younger child that played for the Stars younger teams this winter at futsal at SZ. I was excited at the prospect of them coming to Londonderry. I thought they were just starting out in NH, and choosing to come to Londonderry. It sounds like a great opportunity. Tony from the Stars seems like he really is in it for all the kids. I don't think any of us left to to Derryfield, we never even played there.

[Unregistered]

Oh there is definitely a backstory. I have heard that for one of last year's LUSC teams there is exactly ONE player remaining. Maybe LUSC dropped the ball so bad players didn't have much choice. And Bolts and Stars didn't offer all age groups so maybe just maybe these players kinda had to leave unless they wanted to take a step backward.

You are misremembering the Bolts had tryouts for those age groups.

[Unregistered]

You are misremembering the Bolts had tryouts for those age groups.

Do they have teams in those age brackets? Funny, we were told before bolts tryouts that the partnership with LUSC was beginning to go sour. Didn't seem like a solid choice. Too little too late.

[Unregistered]

For all of those who are criticizing both organizations, and if you are truly interested in the well being of the kids, volunteer your time to either organization. If you believe one is in dire straights, give them a call and see how you can help. Don't stand on the sidelines and heckle those trying to make a difference. If you work with one, see how you can mediate with the other to bring both sides together. If you have something positive to offer, then help!

Oh no...can't do that. Let's just complain. We don't want the responsibility for a thankless job as proven in this thread.

It is well known that those who complain the most do the least. Ask any employer, organization, anything.

[Unregistered]

Do they have teams in those age brackets? Funny, we were told before bolts tryouts that the partnership with LUSC was beginning to go sour. Didn't seem like a solid choice. Too little too late.

If all of the boys that went to SZ went to the Bolts yes, you would have had a team. SZ United was a gamble on a new club. You weighed all of your options and you chose to go there. I guess the only cog in your choice was the SZ doesn't pay their bills, and lost their fields. They will cease to operate next year. ML has his child playing somewhere else already. I hope you are making a plan.

[Unregistered]

Great idea

I am glad we are all saving trees by using this site...Although if we used paper....we could then recycle the paper and maybe our taxes would go down...Then we could buy more fields for ultimate frisbee and dogs to foul!!!!!

[Unregistered]

Whoever is saying LUSC did something illegal: It was not against the law. Suggesting in writing that any person committed a crime when none was committed or broke the law when there was no law to break is actually libel. Even in anonymous forum.

[Unregistered]

We all may need to agree to disagree

I just recently learned about this website, and sadly I have read through most of these comments. Honestly, I cannot follow who is saying what to whom anymore. It seems to me that it is toxic to hide behind anonymity, as we are given way too much freedom to be counterproductive.

I am one of the parents on the former LUSC team that is referred to above as being "high-maintenance." And, yes, in some ways we can be. However, as a group we are being misrepresented. Personally, I did get involved in trying to fight for the SZU teams that are made up predominantly of Londonderry kids to use the West Rd. fields. I contacted LUSC, LYSA, and Rec. Committee members to request consideration, but I did so out of good intention. I may have been simple minded to believe that since we exceeded the 60% requirement that we would be allowed to use the fields. Truly I thought that was the most important factor. Clearly, there was way more below the surface that I knew nothing of. After much debate between parties, LUSC offered to have the two teams come back to LUSC, but it was not practical given the late stage. So, we moved on to other options.

Personally, I never had a problem with the Stars or Bolts using the fields. We had just hoped that we would also be given the opportunity. Simple as that. I cannot speak for anyone else, but personally I think we all lost, and I think Londonderry soccer as a whole lost. However, we can't go back and erase the unfortunate events. But we can more forward in a more productive manner than what is happening here.

What has transpired at SZU is also unfortunate, but in no way do I regret the decision to move my son there because coach Zivan is the best thing that could have happened to him as a player. Things may not work out perfectly in the end, but a lot of good will come out of it anyway. Similarly, things may not have worked out perfectly between LYSA, LUSC, the Bolts, and the Stars, but hopefully some good will come out of this, too.

This whole mess makes us all look bad, and as a town, we are better than this. We will all be cheering on the sidelines of the same school teams, so the more geniality we can find, the better off we will all be. Maybe it's just time to agree to disagree on what has led to this and begin to focus on rebuilding what we have all played a role in tearing down.

I may be overly simplistic or naively optimistic, but I do hope all this drama can end here.
Stephanie R.

[Unregistered]

SZ United parents are just unhappy *****holes.

Did you see what happened in Londonderry? because SZ United wasn't given a chance to use the fields after ML screwed everyone by not properly securing field, because he can't afford them, those SZ familes went to the town and forced a vote that is throwing all premier soccer out of town forever! Immediately the Bolts and Stars can not use the fields this Spring even though they had agreements with the town. Stupid Rec soccer got involved, and they don't know the difference between premier and travel soccer. One guy, RM got up and spoke about Maple and NEP being equal. How dumb is that. A bunch of the Bolts families that supported the Stars being thrown out got shot in the foot, because they are out on their *****es too. Guess we didn't see that coming! I don't understand why people are so shortsighted. No premier option ever in Londonderry. I guess the town wants us all just do what RM does and send our kids to Seacoast from now on. Really why is that guy such a big hypocrite?

Oh there is definitely a backstory. I have heard that for one of last year's LUSC teams there is exactly ONE player remaining. Maybe LUSC dropped the ball so bad players didn't have much choice. And Bolts and Stars didn't offer all age groups so maybe just maybe these players kinda had to leave unless they wanted to take a step backward.

YOU have no idea what you are talking about

[Unregistered]

I just recently learned about this website, and sadly I have read through most of these comments. Honestly, I cannot follow who is saying what to whom anymore. It seems to me that it is toxic to hide behind anonymity, as we are given way too much freedom to be counterproductive.

I am one of the parents on the former LUSC team that is referred to above as being "high-maintenance." And, yes, in some ways we can be. However, as a group we are being misrepresented. Personally, I did get involved in trying to fight for the SZU teams that are made up predominantly of Londonderry kids to use the West Rd. fields. I contacted LUSC, LYSA, and Rec. Committee members to request consideration, but I did so out of good intention. I may have been simple minded to believe that since we exceeded the 60% requirement that we would be allowed to use the fields. Truly I thought that was the most important factor. Clearly, there was way more below the surface that I knew nothing of. After much debate between parties, LUSC offered to have the two teams come back to LUSC, but it was not practical given the late stage. So, we moved on to other options.

Personally, I never had a problem with the Stars or Bolts using the fields. We had just hoped that we would also be given the opportunity. Simple as that. I cannot speak for anyone else, but personally I think we all lost, and I think Londonderry soccer as a whole lost. However, we can't go back and erase the unfortunate events. But we can more forward in a more productive manner than what is happening here.

What has transpired at SZU is also unfortunate, but in no way do I regret the decision to move my son there because coach Zivan is the best thing that could have happened to him as a player. Things may not work out perfectly in the end, but a lot of good will come out of it anyway. Similarly, things may not have worked out perfectly between LYSA, LUSC, the Bolts, and the Stars, but hopefully some good will come out of this, too.

This whole mess makes us all look bad, and as a town, we are better than this. We will all be cheering on the sidelines of the same school teams, so the more geniality we can find, the better off we will all be. Maybe it's just time to agree to disagree on what has led to this and begin to focus on rebuilding what we have all played a role in tearing down.

I may be overly simplistic or naively optimistic, but I do hope all this drama can end here.
Stephanie R.

This is said with respect and not to be a jerk but look at it differently. Let's say for a minute that an entire team from LUSC went to play for NHPSA. (Meets the 60% rule... or whatever it is for Londonderry players). Whatever happens there happens and suddenly they wish to come back to use Londonderry fields wearing their NHPSA shirts. And they feel as if it is within their right since the team is made up of mostly Londonderry players? They call around and are surprised when they are met with skepticism by some. Then, you try to get around all this by using the rec program as your "in". It's really no wonder that your group is seen as high maintenance (by your own definition).