New Webmaster

Pernilla Erikson is TOFC's new Webmaster. She recently moved to Kelowna from Sweden. Here she isstarting up her own Graphic Design business. After yearsof working with Design in all forms, as well as playing soccer professionally in Sweden, she decided to move to Kelowna with her defaco and fellow Kelowna United U21 PCSL-coach Jan Prochazka.

SUPER Y LEAGUE UPDATE
January 30, 2010

Preamble
Over the past 6 months, the Thompson Okanagan SYL Development Committee (consisting of key individuals from each TOYSL club) has been working hard to provide players from the TOYSL Region with the opportunity to play in the Pacific Northwest Division of USL’s Super Y League. As the highest level of club play currently available to youth playing in the Interior of B.C., Super Y represents a tremendous development opportunity for our select players. To provide our top players with this opportunity, we have registered 8 teams for the coming SYL season (ages U13 – U16), under the club name THOMPSON OKANAGAN FC (TOFC).

There has been much discussion amongst the group as to what the goals of the program should be and how best to meet those goals. The overriding theme was player development and how best to achieve this given our geographic location and lack of local competition for our higher-level players. Concerns voiced were time and expense inherent in travelling over an extended season (both for practices and games) and local Districts losing key players and coaches thereby diluting the level of play in their own programs. It was thought that if we could develop a SYL program that complements the local programs, buy-in by players and parents would improve.

Based on the above, key parameters in developing the SYL program this year were as follows:

• Players were to have the opportunity to play for their District teams as well as their regional SYL team
• District team’s practices and games were to be respected by SYL players and coaches during the TOYSL season
• Winter travel to practices was to be eliminated.
• An attempt was to be made to reduce conflicts between the two levels of play.
• Program costs were to be reduced.

Recent Events

TOFC representatives recently attended a number of meetings with the other six clubs that make up the Pacific Northwest Division. These meetings were held to determine common ground amongst the clubs and to initiate development of a long term plan that would see the SYL teams (or a variant thereof) become the 2nd level of play in the BC Soccer pyramid of play. Our last meeting, which was held in Delta on January 28th, had Whitecap’s representatives come in and discuss the long-term viability of the league and their support of it going forward. The Whitecaps have made it clear that they support and encourage this level of play. They have indicated that they would look favorably to the SYL group coming to them with a fully supported plan to develop the league as the primary scouted BC youth program for the Whitecap’s Residency programs and pro teams. This is very positive for the league and its players as it will lend clarity to the development paths available to high-level players.

As part of their on-going support for the league, the Whitecaps are continuing to make their brand available to SYL teams and provide SYL program information on their website. Teams can choose to operate as Whitecaps “partners”, allowing them to sport a Whitecap’s logo on their uniform sleeve. We are pleased that we have been able to build a good relationship with the Whitecap’s expanded youth development arm, as this relationship will be important to both our club and the league in general. With their intent to focus on the development of their Residency programs, feeder programs such as SYL will be important to the success of the Whitecaps youth programs. TOFC’s SYL players are well positioned to benefit from this relationship.

CURRENT PROGRAM STATUS

Budget
We have produced a budget for the league, a copy of which is attached. Based on the budget, fees will be $1450 per player.

Website
We have revived the old TOFC website. The address is: http://www.thompsonokanaganfc.com/

Staffing
Technical Director

• Shaun Flanagan has agreed to the position of Technical Director for TOFC for 2010. Shaun is the TD for Kelowna United and has extensive past experience as TD for the SYL platform. We are extremely pleased that he has stepped forward and feel his assistance will take this program to the next level.

Coaches

• We have worked hard to hire high-quality, professional coaches for the SYL teams as we know that the success of this program hinges in large part on the level of coaching available. At present we have firm commitments from 6 extremely capable coaches and hope to fill the remaining spots in the very near future. With this in mind, if there are coaches in the region who are capable of coaching at this level, we would ask that you consider becoming a part of this exciting program.

Tryout s

• Tryout dates have been set for April 10, 17 and 24th. Times will be announced as we get closer to the scheduled dates.
• Tryouts will be held at the Marshall complex in Vernon (on 25th Ave. beside the Airport).
• Interested players will be asked to pre-register for tryouts. Registration forms will be made available to all players in each District’s select program. Distribution will be via email, through each District’s select coaching and management staff and off the TOFC website. There will be a $20.00 tryout fee due when registering.

Practices

• One practice per week (Wednesday evenings) during the TOYSL season (May and June) to be held at the Marshall complex in Vernon
• Two practices per week during July to be held in the Kelowna area (site to be determined)

Game Schedule
Teams will play a total of 12 games, six at home and six away. While final scheduling will not be complete until March 24, we are working towards a schedule, which will minimize conflicts with the TOYSL schedule. This will be done by minimizing the May/June game schedule. We are currently working towards having teams play two games the May 29/30th weekend, another two games June 12/13, with the remaining games being played in July and early August. Preliminary scheduling talks with the other clubs indicate this should be doable.
Summary
As you can see, we are moving forward. Based on the correspondence we have received to date, there continues to be strong interest in the league. It is our hope that the changes we have made to the program have addressed concerns voiced by players and parents. We are confident that we have improved access to the program and expanded overall development opportunities. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Bill Nimmo @ tofcmanager@gmail.com. See you on the pitch.

 
YOUR SYL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

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Super Y continues under regional guidance in 2010

The Thompson-Okanagan FC will continue to offer players an opportunity to compete at the highest level.

Representatives from all five TOYSL clubs have agreed to work together to ensure SYL continues in the Thompson Okanagan and does not interfere with each club’s ability to field “Select” teams. Clubs from Kamloops, Vernon, Salmon Arm, Kelowna and Penticton have agreed to support the Super Y program and to encourage player involvement in both Select and SYL play.

Changes to Expect in 2010 Include:

• A restructuring of the season to allow players to play on both Select and SYL teams. The 2010 Super Y season will run from April to July

• Tryouts to be held in the spring of 2010 rather than in the fall of 2009

• Player registration fees that will be lower than those paid in 2009

Read on for more details.