Fall 2008 Registration Dates are:
Thursday, May 29, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Haven Lutheran Church
Thursday, June 19, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Haven Lutheran Church
Saturday, June 21, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Funkstown Fire Hall

Visit us at www.haysl.org

A side question that I've always wondered. Why is Wash Co Soccer all seemingly under AYSO?

I think Wash Co has only one club that's under the more competitive USYSA with it's closer association with MSYSA and the Olympic Development Program. Seems to me that it makes it harder for our local area to support the identification and development of the best players who should be feeding into the national teams when our kids are stuck in an intentionally non-competitive organization.

Could I be mistaken? Are there any other Wash Co leagues or clubs other than Hagerstown Soccer Club that are associated with USYSA? Do the AYSO teams make efforts to refer their more talented players to HSC so they can have the opportunity for greater competitive advancement?

BMIC:

You hit the nail on the head in your observation about Washington County youth soccer. There should be an estalished system where the kids are grouped according to ability, and the competition is even, but that does not happen here. As a result many kids in the county leave the sport by the time they are 10. At one time, HAYSL had the real numbers in the area, but their overall philosophy, although well-intended, results in overall failure. They have such a variety of talent on the field at one time that it doesn't really do anyone any good. The talented kids take complete control of the game, and since they don't get much support from the other players, it generally results in a 'ball-hog' mentallity. The less talented kids rarely get to do anything with the ball during the game.
HAYSL's numbers have dropped significantly in the last five years as a result. As an example, when my son played U8 in HAYSL five years ago, there were 22 teams in that division - now there are eight (8). HAYSL's approach doesn't do much good for anybody unfortunately, and people have been leaving in droves.

There are several other alternatives in the area for youth soccer. The Hagertown Soccer Club plays at a competitive level, but this requires travel all over Maryland. Williamsport, Clear Spring and Boonsboro have internal leagues (they form a league together), and then at least Williamsport and Clear Spring have additional travel teams in the Frederick County Youth Soccer League at various levels. Smithsburg also has an internal league and also enters travel teams in the FCYSL at various levels. The YMCA has a large number of kids involved up to age 7 and then it kind of drops the ball at that point. They occassionally have enough to field a team or two in the FCYSL, but it's inconsistent and the skill level of the kids varies greatly.

Washington County needs to get all of its youth soccer leagues integrated and establish programs at specific talent levels. That way the kids on the teams are about even and the teams that they play against are the same. This would be much more benficial to everyone, and this would enable all of the soccer to be played locally too. It seems that this has been discussed int he past, but the problem lies in the establishment of the hierarchy in the county. Every league thinks that they should be the top and nobody wants to see themselves as inferior to anybody else. So the leagues remain seperate and independent and there is no established system of development for the kids. It's quite unfortunate.

Excellent detailed response. It's good to know that there are a variety of options at least. Hopefully a more healthy balance of them will develop.

If the AYSO system dominates too much, IMO it could be to the kids' detriment. It has a place, absolutely, but there should also be opportunities for the most talented kids to get identified and given advanced opportunities. Lumping them in with everyone else kind of ruins the fun for everyone.

To become better of course you have to face the best competition. That inevitably means travel. When you're among the top dozen or so players in the entire county, you have to leave the county to play against teams that will challenge you to be better - there's no way to avoid that. The same could be said at the regional (western Maryland) level. Even at the State and USYSA regional level. We need (and there are) systems that will allow the top players to grow and advance AND provide opportunities for the more casual players to enjoy the sport.

IMHO, USYSA seems to be the organization that best develops the competitive players, while AYSO seems to be geared ideally for the casual player. Neither one should really dominate, IMO. We need both to assure that there are appropriate opportunities for both kinds of players.

Of course that's just my personal take on it, based on my experience with my eldest daughter, who was a star player for a prominent club until she blew out her knee playing Varsity H.S. and club soccer simultaneously during her Freshman year. The whole family would have missed out on all sorts of great fun had her coach not reconized her talents and suggested she try out for that competetive club. Many of her former teammates went to college on at least partial soccer scholarships, many having been accepted to and active in the Olympic Development Program. I'm a big fan of competitive youth soccer, and the opportunities it can and should provide to kids of all skill levels. I'm a big believer in making sure kids get the maximum opportunitites to become the best that they can. Even if they don't make the national team one day, there's great satisfaction to be had just from doing your best in a challenging environment.

It's encouraging to hear that although AYSO seems to dominate, there are some other opportunities out there. I would just give a word of encouragement to anyone out there coaching those kids. Make yourself aware of the opportunities that are out there for the more advanced players, and don't be afraid to suggest that your best consider trying out for some of the more advanced options if it seems they would benefit from them. You'll be doing them and the sport a favor. I know that my family will be forever indebted to a certain guy who did that for my daughter.