League news

Here is an email sent to team captains concerning the upcoming season.  Some of this I've shared by email or previous post.  Some will be covered later.  For those who are interested...

Captains,

I trust that everyone had a wonderful holiday season and that the New Year will bring you much joy and success. Apologies for the long message but we have a lot of important information to distribute.

It is a privilege and an honor to be your new league commissioner.  I have some pretty big shoes to fill but I am confident that your executive board will continue to provide you with the premier coed soccer league in the region.

It is hard to believe but we will be back on the pitch in eight weeks and we have a lot of work before then.  Our Spring 2012 season will start on Sunday, March 18^th.  We will not play on Easter or Memorial Day Weekend. 

Once again, we will be playing a majority of our games on turf fields.  We will continue to use Trinity College as well.  I regret to inform you that our league has been operating at a deficit over the past few seasons.  The increase in rental fees for the turf fields has been a major factor.  As a nonprofit league ran by volunteers we need to meet our operating costs in order to maintain the level of fields and officials that you are accustomed to.  Therefore, we will raise our team fees to $1,950.00 starting this season.  This modest increase in team fees may not be sufficient to balance our books.  We are exploring alternate sources of income (such as sponsors).  Any opinions or suggestions about raising more income will be welcomed.

Our second order of business is to work on our schedules.  Please reply to me and confirm that you will be returning in the spring and whether you are interested in promotion (if applicable).  I would like to hear from each team no later than January 31^st.  Our proposed tables are as follows:

Premier
1	Conquistadores
2	FC Benchwarmers
3	Booters FC
4	Washington Wanderers	Returning
5	Rocklands FC
6	Good N Bad	Returning
7	Replacements
8	Ugly Mug Hooligans FC
9	Backdraft	Promoted
D1
1	Itchy & Scratchy	Returning / Relegated
2	Buena Vista Soccer Club	Returning / Does not want promotion
3	Flirting With Sobriety	Returning
4	Postgame FC
5	Painkillers
6	Hoover FC
7	Taz Devils	Returning
8	Capital Crew	Not Relegated (Lost Tourists not going up)
9	Little Urban Achievers	Returning / Promoted  ? ? ?
D2
1	Team Arnold & Porter	Relegated
2	Lost Tourists	Does not Want Promotion
3	The Diplomats	Returning
4	Geezers
5	Celtic
6	Tsunami Naranja
7	Prism	Returning
8	FC Arlington	Returning / Promoted
9	Our Kicks Don’t Lie	Returning / Promoted
D3
1	DC Thunder	Relegated
2	Gang Green	Relegated
3	Goleros	Returning
4	DC Divided	Returning
5	Far Post	Returning
6	UnAthletic DC
7	Funky Town
8	Red Devils
9	Two Left Feet

Please confirm your team's return if you have not done so directly with me already at your earliest convenience. 

We will continue to do online registration this season.  If you are interested in using this system, please let me know as soon as possible.  We are using the system on a trial basis with teams interested in volunteering.  I would like to start online registration in early February.  You will be able to pay team dues through our website as well.

2012 CALENDAR
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January 31^st – Deadline for returning teams to confirm participation in Spring 2012.

February 6th - Early Registration Opens. 

February 7th - Team schedule requests due to Lou. 

March 5th - Captains Meeting.  Location:  Tenley Friendship Library, 4450 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016 (across the street from the Tenleytown Metro (red line).  Meeting will start promptly at 7 PM (need to clean and leave the room before 9 PM).  Pizza will be offered.  Please let me know in advance if you have any items that you would like to have added to the meeting’s agenda.

March 5th - Schedule release.  This is a firm date.  Make sure you have your request in to Lou by the 7th of February to ensure you get full consideration. 

March 18th – Spring 2012 Season Kick Off.

April 21^st – Roster Freeze date.

July 30^th – Fall 2012 Captain’s Meeting.  Location: TBD

August 19^th – Fall 2012 Season Kick Off

League will not play on Easter and Memorial Day Weekends
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We have several new board members and I will provide you with more details at a separate date.  We are updating our website and you will also find the email addresses for your board members there.

I have also met with our new DC United account representative.  We are working with the team to organize a couple of tailgates as well as discounted tickets.  I will cover United in more detail at the Captain’s Meeting but I encourage anyone attending DC United games to purchase tickets through our account new account representative.  There will be no processing fees if you buy tickets through her and there will be an additional $8.00 discount per ticket.

Look forward to your comments.  See you around the pitch!

Ricardo