soccer37830

See, that is a real problem for me. TSSAA has been determined to be a "State Actor," by the U.S. Supreme Court in Brentwood vs. TSSAA. In other words they are commissioned by and act on behalf of the Tennessee State Board of Education. As a consumer of state tax dollars both directly (in that TSSAA employees participate in the State Teachers Retirement Fund) and indirectly through membership fees paid by our local school boards, they should be responsive to reasonable inquiries from the taxpayers in this state. They are NOT a private membership organization as they would want you to believe. That has pros and cons, the pros for TSSAA are that they enjoy a measure of sovereign immunity and exemption from antitrust laws. The cons for them are that they are responsible to the taxpayers of this state.

Actually, the reason that college coaches recruit almost exclusively from club teams and club tournaments is because there is a higher quality of player there and higher quality ball is played by club teams. Coincident seasons have nothing to do with the issue on a regional basis. Every college coach I have spoken with (and there are many) will tell you that HS is alot of fun for the players, but that is about it. I am afraid that TNHSsoccer is more right than wrong here.

They could not play highschool soccer until they were done with club. Can anyone tell me the reason that TSSAA has such a rule?? I have sent letters to TSSAA and inquired (politely) as to the need for the rule and have not received an answer to the question other than an insolent, "That's the rule." I don't see the need for a rule that prohibits club play concurrent with HS play. Club play is not a school activity and is not played on school property. I do not see it as any different from going to the mall or bowling or playing club volleyball (which would be allowed while playing HS soccer). Therefore the issue at hand cannot be "overtaxing" the kids as some have indicated. Actually, Virginia has eliminated the rule as has Maryland as well as several other states that I cannot recall offhand. The reason for the repeal of this rule is that it interferes with player development and puts the kids at a disadvantage for being seen by college coaches compared with kids from states without this rule. In Tennessee key tournaments such as the Surf Cup and WAGS are not available to the girls because of this rule. These are important events if you want to get seen by the top schools. So, what's up with this?

You are kidding, right? It is common knowledge that the OR HS team members are "encouraged" to play with the Krossfire....and has been for quite some time. The OR coach games the system and has for years. Coach club during HS season? Naaa. Just "advises." The facts are pretty straight on this one.

I have an idea. How about if TSSAA keeps their nose out of my family business after school hours? What my child does on their own time outside school and off school property is really no concern of theirs anyway. Has anyone thought of how TSSAA is going to enforce this proposed new rule? How about if they put this energy, time and resource into 1. training referees; and 2. providing HS coaching staffs training. A while back, I phoned the TSSAA offices in Lebanon and asked about the former point above and was told that TSSAA knew better when it came to raising kids. Amazing, isn't it? As a state agency they should be brought to heel thorugh our elected reps (and they ARE as state agency according to the U.S. District Court in the Brentwood case).

Oh if it were only true! You can't sue TSSAA on the "right of association" complaint because you kid can choose not to play the sport and do what he or she likes. They already infringe on the kids rights by banning them from practicing with their club team during the HS season. Sure that is bogus, but it is sure hard to sue on that point. You have to find where they have violated the kids civil rights through discrimination of some sort then you can take them down. That will take time and money and most folks run out of interest after 4 years of HS and money, well who will mortgage their house to pay the attorney fees. Don't get me wrong, I agree with your point in both substance and spirit. It is just not practical.

By the way, where was 13 minutes expended during the second half anyway? 2, 3 maybe 5 minutes of stoppage time, but 13?

Hmmmmm..... Let's see here...."SMACK" goes the cleat on the achilles tendon, then the knee to the back of the thigh......down goes the player. I was standing right there on the 6 when it happened. Not one but two contacts were made and dangerous ones at that. If the ref was keeping up with the game..... well we know about the bad officiating. It is a wonder she got up at all. Now to the "taking the dive" comment. If any ref ignores serious and career ending fouls like that, they should be banned from officiating, period.

Sorry your Club experience was unrewarding. I too have watched both and club is by far the better display of skill. Its all in the competition....and there is little of that in HS soccer. That is not to say that HS soccer is not fun, it really is with the school spirit and all....but lets not say it is a "team development" experience... well maybe if you are talking about the social aspect of HS athletics. The only players that learn anything in HS season are those that don't play decent club ball.

Gotta agree with papa-k on this one. HS coaches just cannot compete with professional club coaches. Where do you think the talent comes from for the HS teams? Do you think the HS coaches develop it? Take Farragut, for example. The best thing the coach can do there is not interefere with the club players on the pitch. All he can do is screw it up. The more he lays off, the better they play. The same is true for most HS teams in the state.

Absolute nonsense. All the preliminary games are just preparation for the big event. But every game does mean something - preparation and discipline leading to the final three. chances r has it right. Don't like the outcome and call for a rules change? Why is it so hard to be a good sport here?

But....it is the first time for this group of girls in grades 9-12 to ever SEE a championship match.

Yea, what a waste of time and money. That Bradenton gig is overrated. Its a cash machine for the owners.

PKs are a terrible way to decide a match. A better way I have seen used is to remove a player from each team from the last lineup on the field present at the whistle. This process is repeated every 5 minutes until a goal is scored. I know FIFA sanctions the PK process, but I don't like that either.

Gee that is bad! As to complaining to TSSAA, don't waste your time. They really do not care to communicate or correspond with anyone but their membership - so they say to anyone who calls them. They do not consider themselves responsible to the parents of the players they regulate nor the taxpayers of this state. They are arrogant, insolent and irresponsible managers of youth sports, as far as I have seen in the 15 years I have watched HS sports in TN. The answer to the problem of poor reffing is to require that TSSAA refs sit for classes on how to officiate and be assessed for competence periodically. Look at the USYSA model for a start. Not the best, but FAR more professional than TSSAA.

Two other interesting notes are that Amy Porter was clipped from behind and taken down in the Greenville box in the first half.....no call. And Mary Alex Rochester was hauled down in the Greenville box from behind in the second half....no call. I agree that the "handball" was questionable at best, but the box takedowns by Greenville were cards with the Porter takedown a red card offense (she had an obvious goal scoring opportunity). So, I guess it all evens out in the long run. I agree the reffing was poor, but I have come to expect it -- especially with TSSAA events. Competent officiating is occassional but rare. The ref called most of the game 20-30 yards from the play for the entire game.

Sure sounds like a knock to me. I have been to every game this year and I have to say that the best team won the state tonight. Farragut is a good team to be sure and a great competitor no doubt, but PKs in to decide the district champion? Come on! If PKs are to be used to decide (instead of removing a player from each team every 5 minutes until someone scores), luck becomes a big determiner. Fact is Bearden - because they came into the tournament in the 2nd place spot got the hardest draw. They had to beat the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams in the state to win. That is the equalizer right there. They beat the team that Farragut lost to for the championship. That sure sounds fair to me. Believe me, I have no love for TSSAA and how they run their business, but they are no different than any pro sport. In boxing you can lose to Joe Smith every bout, but if you beat the champ and Joe can't you get the belt. Simple fact is Bearden got it done and deserves the championship.

Actually, its the girls that made the season successful. In the last five years, they have never been more cohesive as a team. Freshmen, sophmores, juniors and seniors worked as a unit and made this happen. Kudos to the girls for their believing in themselves!