OYSL

[Chid]

Greetings fellow posters.
Has anyone heard how the OYSL meeting on the 23rd turned out? Any nuggets you'd care to share?
Wondering if the rumours of one large division of 12 teams and therefore a brutal 22 game schedule are fact or myth.

[Dudley]

I am not sure what they are going to do, I am not a fan of the east west unbalanced model but you have to wonder about the ability of the league to get a 22 game schedule done.

Several years back there were a number of 18 game schedules but not for a while now.

Municipalities are also a great deal more protective of their facilities than in days gone by so it really makes you wonder about the logistics of getting the games in.

Last year the Lasers ended up playing 6 league games in the month of September while weeks in the early season went begging. I commented last year about the ridiculous schedule Brams ended up playing. Part of the difficulty is self imposed by the OYSL allowing too many blackout opportunities.

It will prove a very interesting schedule if the O goes with the single division, some teams may think of expanding their rosters or keeping an extra body on the roster to deal with the pressures of the extra games.

[4theKidz]

Not to be the forever whiner from the East, but a 22 game schedule would mean a minimum of 6 trips to the great TO at double game weekends.

Thus yet another obstacle to overcome.

[Emerald Links]

4thekids. it might be 6 potential trips to TO but you know it will be more than that. At the moment its 3 trips if the OYSL can get it organised and avoid Gloucester/Nepean or Kingston meeting in the opening weekend and you know thats going to happen. so 16 games or maybe 22 but that gets desided after everyone make plans for ontario cup. maybe theyll let everyone know before we pick rosters cos with 22 games youre maybe going to need a long long bench.

[shakeirish]

The OYSL meeting date has come and gone and still nothing??
It appears that the East West format is alive and well according to the list on their website.
Can anyone confirm 1 or 2 divisions this year.
Obviously communication is not one of the O's strong suits

[giddyup]

Looks like a lot of O teams are gearing up for the upcoming season by attending the Crossroads of America Showcase including Pickering, Newmarket, London, Ajax and Burlington.
Good luck ladies-Lets Own the Podium
http://www.gotsport.com/events/?eventid=7659

[Dudley]

Lasers topped this tournament last year winning three very close games. As far as quality and depth of field there are very few tournaments around that can match the Crossroads.

32 teams with all of them ranked highly in their respective State or Region and most of them ranked on a national level. Web links will allow interested observers to check out the rankings and results of the competing teams.

For those who think soccer doesn't really exist outside the GTA check it out and see just how many quality teams there are south of the border. If this doesn't drive home just how big an uphill climb Canada faces to reach the upper echelons of this sport then nothing will.

[soccerparent1]

Dudley, what do you think of the PDA tourney in New Jersey? I heard they have a lot of highly rated teams at that tourney as well. My older daughter's team attended that last year and the competition was quite good at the U17 level. Our coach is considering that tournament.

[Dudley]

I don't have any first hand knowledge but from what I hear the PDA is one of the biggies. They are certainly well organised down south something they have is a national ranking system, sort of a terra ranking on steroids. All teams of a certain level are ranked in their state region and nationaly. The teams can boost their ranking by knocking off higher ranked teams at these high profile tournaments.

Unlike Canada with only a few provinces the country is just too large for a national championship. Now the down side of this is the team you play have to be ranked in order for you to score points.

I have it on very good authority that the Lasers had requested a head to head with the host team from Carmel a team ranked near the top in national rankings. There was some thought that having come out on top of the tournament last year there may have been some willingness, but at this level its probably about racking up ranking points and win or lose a game against Newmarket wouldn't produce any points as a result the Lasers will play some very good teams but probably not the second best team in the tournament.

I guess the second best team from Carmel didn't fancy playing the number one team from Newmarket

[giddyup]

Too early to start an Ontario Cup thread, but our friends outside of the GTA should be happy with the list of OC sites.
Only 3/7 are within an hour of the Big Smoke.

Brantford
Innisfil
London
Newmarket
Oshawa
Ottawa
Sudbury

When was the last time the Lasers had to travel for the OC Tournament Round

Good luck to all-can't wait to see the draw.

[Dudley]

........

When was the last time the Lasers had to travel for the OC Tournament Round

Good luck to all-can't wait to see the draw.

The answer to the question is NEVER. Lasers have hosted every year since U12. The cost of the bribe to the OSA is minimal especially when compared with the benefit of not having to travel. There is some work in hosting but its not onerous and I can't for the life of me figure out why more teams don't apply to host.

From what I understand there is rarely if ever an appliction that is refused.

[Chid]

I think the Lasers have friends in high places or pictures of OSA execs
Seriously ,some have applied and not been accepted, how many or often I don't know but Dudley is right about one thing.
The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.
Early advantage to Nmkt, Nepean and North London on the trek to Nationals

[Dudley]

I think the Lasers have friends in high places or pictures of OSA execs

You're right Chid its all economics, sometimes the pictures are just cheaper than the cash

[giddyup]

Hey Dudley,

I heard that the Lasers and their 92 cousins are hosting an exhibition series in Vaughan again this May 1-2.
Care to enlighten us as to teams invited and prelim schedules. There was some good soccer played there last year including a Pythons Laser clash, lots of spectators and a good event for the girls.

[Dudley]

It was something pulled together by MR last year and we are hoping to build on last years success.

We have invited most of the top '94 & '93 teams and a few '95's

Last year we had about 25 college coaches in attendance .

We are hoping to grow the event this year, perhaps 30 odd coaches a mix of Ontario and several stateside. With only two fields at St. Joan of Arc, it ensures that the players are far more visible to the coaches than they would be at a major US showcase event. Its also a little more financially friendly than traveling south.

Also given that many of the coaches are from local schools it is an opportunity for girls who are looking at playing soccer in the Ontario School system.

Hopefully it is a win win alround a couple of good games for each team to stretch out the legs, an opportunity to see the opposition and a chance to get showcased.

Invites have been sent out to all the teams but some are a little tardy in RSVP'ing, so we are not yet in a position to announce schedules, but teams will play two full 90 minute games over the weekend.