Soccer Rhode Island Firing?

[Unregistered]

It may not have the reasoning behind the rule, but it is certainly the net result. JB

Good Idea, that way if I see you I can yell at you, jk.... I know where you stand and know that you are unbiased...... HJ

[Unregistered]

Good Idea, that way if I see you I can yell at you, jk.... I know where you stand and know that you are unbiased...... HJ

Hi HJ! Question; have you ever asked SM, MA or JK about the "no state cup" rule and where they stand on it? I can tell you that I recall that they voted in favor of it. JB

[Unregistered]

Hi HJ! Question; have you ever asked SM, MA or JK about the "no state cup" rule and where they stand on it? I can tell you that I recall that they voted in favor of it. JB

We haven't yet but we will.....its not in our benefit to "block" competition, what purpose would that serve our girls? HJ

[Unregistered]

We haven't yet but we will.....its not in our benefit to "block" competition, what purpose would that serve our girls? HJ

No benefit nor purpose. That's why I don't understand why JK, SM and MA would support the rule.
JB

[Unregistered]

No benefit nor purpose. That's why I don't understand why JK, SM and MA would support the rule.
JB

I will see what I can find out and let you know... HJ

[Unregistered]

Heard SRI official (head of referees?) bought a minor alcohol with SRI credit card..the underage girls (of course) bragged about it..hence all the traffic about SRI reviewing all the referee policies, etc.

If I have the wrong person, I apologize -- disclaimer I heard this 3rd party..but believe the part about SRI official using official credit card to buy alcohol for a minor at the Region 1 tournament -- that's our dues fees going to good use..

I don't know all the club affiliations, but does seem to me that SRI is not very transparent about board elections..I think everyone who is in the SRI system should get an email well in advance of (1) what positions are open, (2) how the nominations works, (3) what the commitment/responsibilities are, and (4) how the vote/AGM works. I also think members (clubs) do not do a good job about telling members what went on, how the club voted, etc.

I realize it's mostly volunteer work and I don't begrudge board members from getting some perks for all the work..After a couple of years here and having been involved in youth soccer in 5 different states, I would suggest the following:

(1) ODP is not a priority as in other states. How does RI do in Ryder cup?? ODP should be the FIRST try-outs, ahead of any club. There should be scholarships based on financial need (seems in some cases it's ability to write the check is the selection criteria) and the younger age groups U-11/12 should be technical focus. With all due respect, when I talked to one parent of a U11 ODP player, he said a lot of the "practices" were scrimmages against other club teams, he did not get any evaluation or assessment at the end, and frankly felt his club team ran "as good" practices. I'm sure the higher age groups are more selective, etc, but if ODP is the higher priority soccer for SRI, it should be treated as such.

(2) Rules restricting more competition..3 town rule should go..why is there only 1 "league" for the whole state?? I hope this doesn't counter my basic point, but I would restrict U-10 and below (non-competitive) to a different set of rules for competitive. We basically throw them in SuperLiga or Premier league and just say "no standings." USSF player development manual says U-8 should have no travel teams. Putting them in league includes all the rules that inhibit player development (moving between rosters, no flexibility for lopsided games, coaches that still focus on winning over development)...I would just run 3 or so "festivals" like they do at the end of the season during the season..clubs just bring pools of players and coaches divide them at the fields..if a game is lopsided, switch players at half time, etc.

(3) SRI needs to demonstrate it's the state association, not the playground where individuals can push individual interests. Why is there no state field(s)? There is land at Quonset to build a true soccer complex with a few outdoor and a basic (see the dome tent at WWIS in N Smithfield) indoor facility..host state and regional level events..run ODP practices instead of begging/borrowing fields..be more transparent..I get more emails and information from Little League (and my kids don't even play anymore) than I do SRI. Set some real goals in terms of performance at ODP tournament, State coaching education, etc. My feeling is SRI makes coaching education difficult.. no on-line courses? Only a select few can conduct coaching courses? D license spread out over 6-8 weeks (and you have to make every one)? If CT can do the E license over a weekend at the Mohegan convention, why can't SRI do the same -- instead of 4 weekends at Fall River??? Do we have a technical training director? State coaching director? I applaud the SRICA initiative, but look at other state's coaching pages..or have standards for club's DOC/DTT..there are some clubs where the people in charge of travel programs do not even have D licenses.

[Unregistered]

Wow. Amazing.

Steve Mauricio? WHY wasn't he fired!!!???

[Unregistered]

Note the disclaimer..don't know name.

I do note that a few weeks after Region1 tourney, SRI formed an ad hoc committee to take over referee program, etc..

SRI should be more transparent..don't need names..but should be mentioned in SRI minutes/agenda..perhaps it was talked about (I didn't attend the Aug meeting)..

[Unregistered]

Steve Mauricio? WHY wasn't he fired!!!???

No it was NOT SM.

[Unregistered]

yes it was

[Unregistered]

No it was NOT SM.

Isn't it against the rules of this site to use names? Why are we throwing names around? Because someone heard someone else say something? If it's true it'll come out. No need to destroy people.

[Unregistered]

Heard SRI official (head of referees?) bought a minor alcohol with SRI credit card..the underage girls (of course) bragged about it..hence all the traffic about SRI reviewing all the referee policies, etc.

If I have the wrong person, I apologize -- disclaimer I heard this 3rd party..but believe the part about SRI official using official credit card to buy alcohol for a minor at the Region 1 tournament -- that's our dues fees going to good use..

I don't know all the club affiliations, but does seem to me that SRI is not very transparent about board elections..I think everyone who is in the SRI system should get an email well in advance of (1) what positions are open, (2) how the nominations works, (3) what the commitment/responsibilities are, and (4) how the vote/AGM works. I also think members (clubs) do not do a good job about telling members what went on, how the club voted, etc.

I realize it's mostly volunteer work and I don't begrudge board members from getting some perks for all the work..After a couple of years here and having been involved in youth soccer in 5 different states, I would suggest the following:

(1) ODP is not a priority as in other states. How does RI do in Ryder cup?? ODP should be the FIRST try-outs, ahead of any club. There should be scholarships based on financial need (seems in some cases it's ability to write the check is the selection criteria) and the younger age groups U-11/12 should be technical focus. With all due respect, when I talked to one parent of a U11 ODP player, he said a lot of the "practices" were scrimmages against other club teams, he did not get any evaluation or assessment at the end, and frankly felt his club team ran "as good" practices. I'm sure the higher age groups are more selective, etc, but if ODP is the higher priority soccer for SRI, it should be treated as such.

(2) Rules restricting more competition..3 town rule should go..why is there only 1 "league" for the whole state?? I hope this doesn't counter my basic point, but I would restrict U-10 and below (non-competitive) to a different set of rules for competitive. We basically throw them in SuperLiga or Premier league and just say "no standings." USSF player development manual says U-8 should have no travel teams. Putting them in league includes all the rules that inhibit player development (moving between rosters, no flexibility for lopsided games, coaches that still focus on winning over development)...I would just run 3 or so "festivals" like they do at the end of the season during the season..clubs just bring pools of players and coaches divide them at the fields..if a game is lopsided, switch players at half time, etc.

(3) SRI needs to demonstrate it's the state association, not the playground where individuals can push individual interests. Why is there no state field(s)? There is land at Quonset to build a true soccer complex with a few outdoor and a basic (see the dome tent at WWIS in N Smithfield) indoor facility..host state and regional level events..run ODP practices instead of begging/borrowing fields..be more transparent..I get more emails and information from Little League (and my kids don't even play anymore) than I do SRI. Set some real goals in terms of performance at ODP tournament, State coaching education, etc. My feeling is SRI makes coaching education difficult.. no on-line courses? Only a select few can conduct coaching courses? D license spread out over 6-8 weeks (and you have to make every one)? If CT can do the E license over a weekend at the Mohegan convention, why can't SRI do the same -- instead of 4 weekends at Fall River??? Do we have a technical training director? State coaching director? I applaud the SRICA initiative, but look at other state's coaching pages..or have standards for club's DOC/DTT..there are some clubs where the people in charge of travel programs do not even have D licenses.

A few comments on your post (very good one, btw)

If you go to the SRI website, you will find that they do an excellent job of posting all of the minutes of their quarterly and special meetings. There really are no secrets - it's right there online. You may not agree with the decisions, policies, etc. that are made at the AGM's, but their not hiding much from us.

Same goes for SRI Board elections. It's pretty much out in the open and posted online. Check it out. Do some clicking and you'll be pleasantly surprised about what's on there.

To your point about local club and association prez's not informing their membership about what happened at SRI AGM's and how they voted - you are right on. I have never gotten a single bit of info on how my local town prez voted, felt or said at any SRI meeting. Nor has he ever asked our membership what we thought. I do get tons of emails, info on what's happening locally, though. My town board does a great job with that.

SRI over-regulates coaching requirements in the state. We are the only state that requires a D license for coaching U14 town travel teams. We are the only state that requires 20 hours of class time for an E license. In contrast, in Mass, one only needs an E license to coach a premier club team above U12. In Mass, the E license course only takes 13 hours. Unless you're in the soccer business, very few have the 30 hours SRI requires for a D license. It's overkill. It makes me think that SRI makes it difficult on purpose to limit the number of D coaches around, thus making "pro" coaches capable of demanding more $ from the clubs, which ultimately means more $ from us parents.

Couldn't agree more about a state soccer complex - we need it. I wish SRI officials would spend their time building our kids a facility rather than making a zillion rules regarding how, when, where, who they can play for.

Gotta go,...actually have to work today:)

JB

[Unregistered]

A few comments on your post (very good one, btw)

If you go to the SRI website, you will find that they do an excellent job of posting all of the minutes of their quarterly and special meetings. There really are no secrets - it's right there online. You may not agree with the decisions, policies, etc. that are made at the AGM's, but their not hiding much from us.

Same goes for SRI Board elections. It's pretty much out in the open and posted online. Check it out. Do some clicking and you'll be pleasantly surprised about what's on there.

To your point about local club and association prez's not informing their membership about what happened at SRI AGM's and how they voted - you are right on. I have never gotten a single bit of info on how my local town prez voted, felt or said at any SRI meeting. Nor has he ever asked our membership what we thought. I do get tons of emails, info on what's happening locally, though. My town board does a great job with that.

SRI over-regulates coaching requirements in the state. We are the only state that requires a D license for coaching U14 town travel teams. We are the only state that requires 20 hours of class time for an E license. In contrast, in Mass, one only needs an E license to coach a premier club team above U12. In Mass, the E license course only takes 13 hours. Unless you're in the soccer business, very few have the 30 hours SRI requires for a D license. It's overkill. It makes me think that SRI makes it difficult on purpose to limit the number of D coaches around, thus making "pro" coaches capable of demanding more $ from the clubs, which ultimately means more $ from us parents.

Couldn't agree more about a state soccer complex - we need it. I wish SRI officials would spend their time building our kids a facility rather than making a zillion rules regarding how, when, where, who they can play for.


Gotta go,...actually have to work today:)

JB

Good post JB

I totally agree about everything especially a soccer facility.

RG

[Unregistered]

I've been on the SRI website and to some meetings (just as an interested party).

I do agree with you I was a bit one-sided on the transparency comment. SRI does do a nice job of posting minutes. I do think the fact they rely on clubs to transmit information though is problematic as the SRI board must realize there is a wide variance on how clubs communicate with individual members. I'm not asking for SRI to default the other way, but for elections, I think SRI should email every registered member (or make it much clearer on their website). Do you think nobody challenged the current board member this year from apathy or lack of information? Heck, if you can't get Club Presidents to tell members there even was a meeting, how do you expect anyone interested to know there are board positions up for election?

I do think SRI should make its 990 on-line. Yes, by law, I could request the last 3 years and post it myself (considering that actually)..again, full transparency.

For education, I thought it was only Anchor U14 and above need the D (isn't that what Div 1 level means in the policy manual?). I'm glad the membership opened education to the NSCAA equivalent. We can disagree on strictness of the coaching requirements, but I would concur that if you are going to have coaching requirements, you have the responsibility to make obtaining them as easy as possible without compromising the standards. No reason you can't knock out an E license over 1 weekend..and even a D over 2..instead of 4 or 6. I got my National D in another region 1 state that made it very simple (although the grading was tough) to attend.

I don't know why SRI doesn't take the tact of other states. Charge a surcharge with the promise the money goes only into a fund for a complex. Look for corporate sponsorship. Talk to the Champlin Foundations..or RI Foundation. US Soccer Foundation gives grant for turf fields. Private soccer associations (and I realize there is a mix in SRI) that do not rely on state/municipal funds save the taxpayers in the long-run.