Perspective from the parents of two ECFC graduates - Open letter from Jim Rogers and Pam Kulin
To SYSA BOARD: "On Monday June 1, the SYSA Board of Commissioners approved a change to the bylaws that prohibits Emerald City FC from fielding any SYSA sanctioned teams at U-14 or below in 2010/2011, and completing disbanding ECFC by 2014."
This proposed bylaw change creates an awkward and destructive action involving a large number of dedicated and talented Seattle youth soccer players. This action will cause a great deal of disruption and consternation for all the parents who have diligently volunteered and worked to facilitate a strong Emerald City Football Club, that competes locally, regionally and in national tournaments each and every year since its inception. The strength of this program is obviously its young players who continually develop because of skilled coaching and innumerable hours of parental involvement. This organization has functioned effectively for greater than 30 years, and because of its longevity has established a branded Name recognition ECFC and has fielded a generation of talented soccer players many of which have continued in their love of the game at the college level and have returned to coach and share their passion with the next generation of young players.
As a parent of two previous girl ECFC players ECFC83 and ECFC84(played college) and now a U12 ECFC boy, I am familiar with both the ups and downs of youth soccer organization. Emerald City has changed a lot over the years, and has developed an improved central organization with a democratically elected board which is responsive to parental and player opinions. Emerald City has molded a clear policy focusing on the importance of player development which over shadows the concept of winning soccer games . Emerald City has a large group of talented professional coaches who are continually improving Seattle Youth Soccer. The peril in disbanding Emerald City for the SYSA organization is the loss of large pool of dedicated parents and the loss of a large contingency of talented youth soccer players who will find other organizations that have an established track record and a brand name that allows them to seek their goals and enjoy their love for the game. It will truly be a sad day for SYSA to loose its Premier Soccer Club. The goal of improving Neighborhood Select soccer teams is not mutually exclusive to the continuation of Emerald City representing a Premier Soccer venture for the players who desire a highly competitive environment with an organization structure that facilitates those needs. |
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It would be naive to assume a new fledgling organization such as a new SEATTLE UNITED will attract and retain the talented youth soccer players that are competing today to advance to the next level in soccer skills and training. The potential loss of the majority of players currently playing U14 and below to other Puget Sound Programs will severely compromise the potential success of Seattle Youth Soccer. As a parent I urge you to reconsider this proposal to disband Emerald City FC. Your goals to expand Seattle Youth Soccer Select Programs can be achieved with Emerald City as a continued backbone of the Premier Seattle Youth Soccer Programs.
Sincerely Yours,
James Rogers
Pam Kulin
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