Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Dear YRSA Board of Directors,
Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) is aimed at developing young players properly to their full potential by putting player-development first. The majority of coaches, parents, and players can agree that most of the changes associated with LTPD have been overwhelmingly positive. Smaller fields and fewer players have ensured each player touches the ball much more. The retreat line compels teams to work on control and passing. Having players switch positions is a long overdue change that benefits all players. The game is more skill-based and the players are more involved. Nobody could dispute the worthy aims of LTPD and we applaud the YRSA for taking these bold steps.
However, we believe that the YRSA has overreached in one important area—banning tournaments. The YRSA website states that “Our commitment is to make the game more fun than ever before for the recreational player and to provide better development opportunities than ever before for those with aspirations for a future in the sport.” Preventing teams from playing in tournaments limits the opportunities for player development. Tournaments provide a bonding experience for individual players on a team, which is an essential aspect of team sports and enhances players’ social skills. Tournaments also teach young players that they have to work hard to achieve and that in sports, just as in life in general, you will often lose more than you win. Presenting all players with a medal is overly tokenistic and devalues the medal by delinking it from any real accomplishment. Most importantly, tournaments are focused around games—and all young players want to play games. Players cannot reach their full potential without testing their newly acquired skills at real game speed.
We urge you to reinstate tournaments as soon as possible: if not this season, then certainly for next year’s campaign. We suggest a compromise whereby each season features 1-2 of the festivals as they are currently structured and 2-3 tournaments within the regional boundaries (as in the 2013 season). Allowing 2-3 tournaments per season would not diminish the objectives of LTPD and it would ensure that soccer remains affordable and accessible to all while providing for more game time for players.
Yours in Soccer,
More like this
Allow Competitive Welsh Mini-Football Tournaments
Time To Focus On The H & S In IHSA - Health & Safety For All Players!
Updates
July 27, 2014
I have spent this week reading through your comments and thinking about the role that high stakes competition plays in a child's development. It is clear that many parents share the view that tournament play offers lessons in resilience that simply cannot be replicated in a standard league game. I am currently compiling these experiences to present a more formal request to the board regarding their policy.
July 27, 2014
Reaching this level of engagement suggests that many families share the desire to see a more balanced approach to our children's sporting experience. It is heartening to see how clearly this issue resonates with those who want to foster both development and competitive spirit in these young players.
13 Comments
This format may work for younger kids but it has effectively killed tournaments for 10 yr old and up. No one wants to put it in the extra effort to practice when the end result is a 2 game tournament with no meaning.
I signed up for REP soccer. not house league. bring back the competitiveness!!!!!
I feel that tournaments is part of stepping stone in competive soccer. Scores and standing work well in the Canadian game Hockey and it starts at a early age. The Retreat line is great when it used for it's purpose. Not the way some team's train there players to use retreat line to benifit them to attack. Which feels like cheating when the team takes their on cool time and kick the ball toward the other teams net.
I agree with the statements also...why have festivals wherein some team are unevenly matched and create lopsided results (or non results as foolishly thought of)
I agree with the statements within this petition, further stressing the need to create more balance with the teachings of LTPD and the need for competitiveness. this is a way of creating better players for the future of soccer in Canada!!!
Let them play the game
Give them something to look forward to.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Dear YRSA Board of Directors,
Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) is aimed at developing young players properly to their full potential by putting player-development first. The majority of coaches, parents, and players can agree that most of the changes associated with LTPD have been overwhelmingly positive. Smaller fields and fewer players have ensured each player touches the ball much more. The retreat line compels teams to work on control and passing. Having players switch positions is a long overdue change that benefits all players. The game is more skill-based and the players are more involved. Nobody could dispute the worthy aims of LTPD and we applaud the YRSA for taking these bold steps.
However, we believe that the YRSA has overreached in one important area—banning tournaments. The YRSA website states that “Our commitment is to make the game more fun than ever before for the recreational player and to provide better development opportunities than ever before for those with aspirations for a future in the sport.” Preventing teams from playing in tournaments limits the opportunities for player development. Tournaments provide a bonding experience for individual players on a team, which is an essential aspect of team sports and enhances players’ social skills. Tournaments also teach young players that they have to work hard to achieve and that in sports, just as in life in general, you will often lose more than you win. Presenting all players with a medal is overly tokenistic and devalues the medal by delinking it from any real accomplishment. Most importantly, tournaments are focused around games—and all young players want to play games. Players cannot reach their full potential without testing their newly acquired skills at real game speed.
We urge you to reinstate tournaments as soon as possible: if not this season, then certainly for next year’s campaign. We suggest a compromise whereby each season features 1-2 of the festivals as they are currently structured and 2-3 tournaments within the regional boundaries (as in the 2013 season). Allowing 2-3 tournaments per season would not diminish the objectives of LTPD and it would ensure that soccer remains affordable and accessible to all while providing for more game time for players.
Yours in Soccer,
Updates
July 27, 2014
I have spent this week reading through your comments and thinking about the role that high stakes competition plays in a child's development. It is clear that many parents share the view that tournament play offers lessons in resilience that simply cannot be replicated in a standard league game. I am currently compiling these experiences to present a more formal request to the board regarding their policy.
July 27, 2014
Reaching this level of engagement suggests that many families share the desire to see a more balanced approach to our children's sporting experience. It is heartening to see how clearly this issue resonates with those who want to foster both development and competitive spirit in these young players.
13 Comments
Winnable tournaments are a great way for the kids to test whether they can apply what they've learned in practice and during league games. They're a reward for all the hard work. And the kids LOVE striving to reach the finals and the satisfaction they get from making it out of the group stages. Bring 'em back for the older ages!
This format may work for younger kids but it has effectively killed tournaments for 10 yr old and up. No one wants to put it in the extra effort to practice when the end result is a 2 game tournament with no meaning.
I signed up for REP soccer. not house league. bring back the competitiveness!!!!!
I feel that tournaments is part of stepping stone in competive soccer. Scores and standing work well in the Canadian game Hockey and it starts at a early age. The Retreat line is great when it used for it's purpose. Not the way some team's train there players to use retreat line to benifit them to attack. Which feels like cheating when the team takes their on cool time and kick the ball toward the other teams net.
I agree with the statements also...why have festivals wherein some team are unevenly matched and create lopsided results (or non results as foolishly thought of)
I agree with the statements within this petition, further stressing the need to create more balance with the teachings of LTPD and the need for competitiveness. this is a way of creating better players for the future of soccer in Canada!!!
Let them play the game
Give them something to look forward to.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
Winnable tournaments are a great way for the kids to test whether they can apply what they've learned in practice and during league games. They're a reward for all the hard work. And the kids LOVE striving to reach the finals and the satisfaction they get from making it out of the group stages. Bring 'em back for the older ages!