As you know, before each season, the league holds a meeting for captains to get everybody organized. This is a well-oiled machine right now with Sanjay at the helm, so it's getting easier and easier. The only truly bad news right now is that fees went up by $100 for each time. Because they held them static for about 4 years, I am ok with that. But I will not want to see another increase for several years.
Ally and I attended the meeting. Here are some notes, if you're interested:
The tables
The table of teams in each division is set. There was less movement up and down this season because we lost 3 teams. Thus, the league had to find the right way to insert the new teams. They couldn't all start at the bottom in D3. We lost DC Chillin' from D1, and Team X from Premier, and a team from D3. Incoming teams are the Replacements (Premier) and Our Kicks Don't Lie and Unathletic DC (D3).
Our division sees a lot of movement. Two teams were relegated from last season (DC Divided and Celtic, I believe). One team was promoted - Taz Devils, the regular season and playoff champion. Thus, we will have three new teams. Armory is coming down from 1st and Geezers and Buena Vista Social Club are coming up. So, our division is:
Armory
Geezers
Little Urban Achievers
Tsunami
Goleros
DC Thunder
Lost Tourists
Buena Vista Social Club
Diplomats
Reffing issues
Six of our 36 teams still have not provided a ref, and are subject to the potential $500 fine at the end of the season. The Exec Board is now granting leniency to teams who supply a member of the team on the exec board - it's a way of encouraging more volunteer participation.
Refs have to make themselves available for 5 games to avoid the team fine.
Refs will get paid $40 per match for ARs and the 4th official, and CRs will get $55 per match. Refs are paid twice a season.
Carlos is our designated ref. Thanks man!!!!
Registration
We'll be doing an online process at some point in the future. This is actually getting closer. It will have advantages and disadvantages. I'm not too excited about it. But prepare yourself, you will probably have to register for a website.
Our final rosters are due to the league on April 17th. We have an allocation of 25 players. Each additional player up to 30 costs us $25 per player.
Our old commissior, Jim, is quite active in the state and national associations (the state assn - MDCVSA, the national adult assn - USASA, and the national association, USF). There's a continuing fued going on at the state level. Essentially, CCSL and other leagues are tired of paying what they view as unnecessary costs to support the state association, while extracting such little value. The state association costs approximately $9 per player per season, and for that you get some limited health coverage. The league is hoping to axe the health coverage, because 90% of players allegedly have personal insurance that is substantial, and achieving further savings. Maybe I'll do a more comprehensive update. My steam-of-consciousness writing style in this post isn't really getting the job done on this complicated issue.
Schedule
Full schedule to be posted soon.
Fields
We've got great fields, although I'm not crazy about the location personally. Fine though. Several are metro accessible. They'll be in DC mostly. You've been to most of them. Our field guru in the league, working with the commish and the scheduler, has done a great job.
No summer league
The league is no longer making money at summer league, and it's becoming an administrative pain. So it's off for this year unfortunately. We may do a tourney instead.
Discipline
Captains are again being asked to help keep the players calm. It's a key element to making this volunteer league work.
Social
The league is looking for a new social chair.
