2/17 update

The registration information for the spring season has been posted on our website www.socceralaska.com. This is another 8 week event that will take us through the beginning of May. This session tends to be smaller (around 70 teams), primarily because the youth teams are gone, as they are playing their high school season. If you don't like to chase 16 year olds around the pitch, this session is for you. Traditionally we do not have upper division this time around and play tends to be a little more recreational.

In other news, after 11 years of service, Rod Hill of the city's Parks & Recreation Department has become a victim of government budget cuts. Rod is the person that ultimately allocates the Municipal venues to the various users. This is a huge loss for everyone, including the city. Rod has been able to do, what in the sports environment is a rarity. Be fair and unbiased! Space was divvied up based on previous use and future need, rater than political clout. There is no "plan B" in the Muni for this allocation process and I foresee this spring to be a nightmare, with a number of entities from various sports positioning themselves to receive larger venue allocations, usually more than they require. Nick and I will do what we can to continue to provide improved playing conditions for our membership, but we could be in for a step back, before the Kincaid venue comes online in the summer of 2010.

Lastly, I have heard that there is an attempt by the youth organization to raise the minimum age allowing players to compete in the adult league to 17. At the end of the day, we don't care, but really?? You think forcing U-17 through U-19 divisions to play in their own league, against players who are sometimes 3 years younger is a step in the right direction? First and foremost, the US Soccer bi-laws specify that it is the adult league that creates and implements age restrictions, not the youth. Yes, you can continue to threaten players with sanctions and loss of youth eligibility to enforce the new rule, but why not invest this energy into researching why age divisions beyond the U-15 often times only have 2-3 teams in the state? I say if the system is broken, fix it. Don't implement rules to accommodate it.