Why is League Play so inconsequential?

[Unregistered]

I am a new poster and almost new to soccer. Why does it seem that the league play and how you finish there has no effect on state cup play? What I mean is that you can come in last in the fall season and then you still get to enter for the state cup? How come it does not function like pro sports where the season seems to mean something?

I think OPL placement effects NWCL, so that is clearly one exception.

[Unregistered]

great post!

You might be new to soccer, but you obviously aren't new to clear thinking!

What, exactly, does winning your league title earn you? Shouldn't winning, for example, an 8 team Gold-level league offer up more than top seed in State Cup? Especially, as the previous poster mentioned, everyone who applies is accepted to State Cup anyway? The winner of an 8 team league is clearly the best team in Oregon since it's been dteremined over 14 games, home and away, and should be recognized as such.

How about this: winner of Gold division receives top seed in State Cup bracket AND immediate finalist in playoff for Regional berth, be it USYSA or US Club Soccer or whatever. Then, play the State Cup.. If the Gold Division league winner wins that too, they are obviously a great and worthy state representative. If somone else wins State Cup, then a 1-game playoff between the 2 for regional berth.

Anyone can have an off day and get knocked out of State Cup, but to win your league.. That is a true measure of a teams ability, IMHO.

[Unregistered]

How about this: winner of Gold division receives top seed in State Cup bracket AND immediate finalist in playoff for Regional berth, be it USYSA or US Club Soccer or whatever. Then, play the State Cup.. If the Gold Division league winner wins that too, they are obviously a great and worthy state representative. If somone else wins State Cup, then a 1-game playoff between the 2 for regional berth.

Interesting idea, and of course everyone is entitled to their opinion. It does seem however like first seed in state cup, and automatic qualification to gold is enough. A free pass to play the winner after the final seems excessive. If they are consistent they should do well in both. However with your suggestion if the league champion was the second place team, would they get a second chance? Seems a little odd.

[Unregistered]

Anyone can have an off day and get knocked out of State Cup.....

I think you nailed it with this last statement. IMO league play has too many variables. For example ODP, vacations, two sport athletes and so on. If your coach puts the 'Hammer Down' and doesn't allow vacations or athletes to play other sports, then you would stand a great chance to win league. With the current system the teams are rewarded for doing well in league by their state cup seeding. (and bragging rights! LOL!) Then in State Cup (theoretically) all teams are at full strength and playing their best.

Case in point, U14G FC Portland. Lousy league standing but comes on strong in state cup.

League is where you work the kinks out in personnel, strategy and positions, all in preparation for the almighty state cup. Again, in my opinion.

[Unregistered]

I am a new poster and almost new to soccer. Why does it seem that the league play and how you finish there has no effect on state cup play? What I mean is that you can come in last in the fall season and then you still get to enter for the state cup? How come it does not function like pro sports where the season seems to mean something?

I think OPL placement effects NWCL, so that is clearly one exception.

I believe it doesn't function like pro sports because in pro sports players are paid to play. It's like their job and they're expected to be at every game. As another poster pointed out the kids have other activities going on as well.

[eggy]

I am a new poster and almost new to soccer. Why does it seem that the league play and how you finish there has no effect on state cup play? What I mean is that you can come in last in the fall season and then you still get to enter for the state cup? How come it does not function like pro sports where the season seems to mean something?

I think OPL placement effects NWCL, so that is clearly one exception.

Good question Fandango. I'm not sure we will get a correct answer, but maybe good opinions.

[Unregistered]

eggy, you found me out! :-)
F

[eggy]

Your secret is safe with me.

[Unregistered]

Your secret is safe with me.

Fandango, I didn't say a word, but Eggy outed you. Should we change every unregistered post here to Fandango? How do you find the time to post on the "other site" with the volume of unregistered/Fandango posts here?

[Unregistered]

Interesting idea, and of course everyone is entitled to their opinion. It does seem however like first seed in state cup, and automatic qualification to gold is enough. A free pass to play the winner after the final seems excessive. If they are consistent they should do well in both. However with your suggestion if the league champion was the second place team, would they get a second chance? Seems a little odd.

Automatic qualification to Gold is a good reward, sure.. if you are u14 or below, since the older age groups never have more than one division anyway. Remember OYSA only started top 4 finishers in league receiving gold placement last year as a result of pressure to actually make doing well in league mean something.

A league title shows who's best over an entire season (and isn't that why you play a whole season?). A State Cup title shows who's best over 5 or 6 games. Each is awesome, but look to professional leagues around the world- winning England's FA Cup (knockout) is very prestigeous, but the winning of the their Premier League is regarded much more highly.

Playing 14 league matches, and traveling to 7 of them, and outpointing 6 other teams over an entire season is absolutely worthy of "a free pass" (as you put it) for a chance to go to regionals. Nothing free about earning the best. You make it seem is if winning the league is easier than winning the state cup, I disagree.

I don't follow your "if the league champion was a second place team would they get a second chance?"? That makes no sense to me. I suggested: You win your league, you play the State Cup champion for the Regional berth (perhaps if it's an "Oregon" year for wildcards, both go). You win your league AND State Cup, you obviously go anyway.

[Unregistered]

Let me be clearer...

The biggest hitchup I have about this idea of mixing the two is as follows. If team A wins the league, great congratulations to them, then they play state cup. As I read you example if team A made it to the final and lost, they would then get a second chance? That doesn't make sense to me.

Some teams focus on league, others focus on state cup. Some kids are good at Homework, others are good at Exams. I can see where the question comes from, especially if you have a team that wins league, and loses state cup. I don't agree the current model needs to change. Over the last several years of our child playing, league has been very competitive, and has seeded the correct top four. The league champion and the cup champion has been different. Probably would take a sports psychologist to tell us why, but different is OK.

[Fan-dango]

Let me pose the original question another way: what is the reward for finishing first in league play? For each league? Putting it really mercenary-like, do the kids even get medals? WHy should Podunk tournament hand out something for 4 games over a weekend and the league not do the same for 14 games? (Or maybe they do and I just don't know?)

Besides the medals, though, it appears there are other payoffs in *some* leagues. For OPL, for example, it is entrance to NWCL. For OYSA, it's (as last poster said), automatic gold placement for top 4 finishers.

Personally, I wish there was more of a connection between league play and state cup. If the state cup is the big prize that OYSA offers, then the league play should be part of the runup to that. The advantages to the league winners could be as simple a first round bye (or guaranteed exit from round robin play) and home field advantage.

--F


P.S. Yes, all those unregistered posts are me. I'm crazy that way.

[lij85438]

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