The EA Sports BC Soccer Premier League’s eight founding franchises recently completed their pilot mini-season as part of the next step towards the opening of the league’s first full season of competitive play in late February 2012.
******************************
BC Soccer Award HPL Franchise to Lower Island Soccer Association/Upper Island Soccer Association
The eight founding franchises for the League are:
- Magnusson Ford Mariners (Abbotsford Soccer Association);
- Mountain United FC (Burnaby/ North Shore);
- Coquitlam Metro Ford Soccer Club;
- Vancouver Island Wave (LISA and UISA)
- South Fraser Soccer Club;
- Surrey United Soccer Club;
- Thompson Okanagan Football Club;
- Fusion FC (Vancouver/Richmond).
Seasons:
Evaluation dates in May, teams to be picked in June.
Pre/Mini-Season is September to November 2011 (training to begin in August, first game September 17).
Full Season is March 2012 to November 2012.
Players will stay in the same age category through November 2012.
We believe that because of this league’s links to the provincial and National team programs and the Vancouver Whitecaps the league will offer our athletes the best opportunities. There are many rumours about the league but everyone in the game agrees that this is a positive change to the landscape of elite soccer in our province. We have had many conversations with college coaches and current and past National team players about this league and here are some of the things they have to say:
I feel this new league will be the top place to recruit talent for University level soccer players and the league can only help to prepare players for the jump to the next level. Bill Merriman, Head CoachVancouver Island University
I believe that players who are looking to continue developing for opportunities at the Provincial, National or University level should be playing and training at the highest level possible which the BCPL has been created to provide. Mark Rodgers, Head Coach UBC Women
The standard will be raised and it will be a great vehicle in the recruiting process. I will definitely be watching games to keep my finger on the pulse. Alan Errington, Head Coach Men’s Soccer University of Fraser Valley
If you want to be the best you have to compete with the best. I think this league gives players an opportunity to play at an elite level in BC and to train with and against some of the top players in the province. Emily Zurrer, Canadian National Women’s Team and LISA Alumni
I always want to play at the highest level possible and this league gives girls the best chance to play with and against the best in the province. Abigail Raymer, U17 National Team player of the Year 2009, and LISA Alumni
What we are excited to explain:
- Balanced travel so our teams are not at a disadvantage. Play every 2 of 3 weeks. Travel only half of the schedule (this is because mainland teams have to travel to us more). NOW CONFIRMED
- Break in August, family can still take normal summer vacations. NOW CONFIRMED
- Anticipated fees have not changed since our meetings, approx $1100 for mini-season and $2500 for full season (March 2012 to November 2012)
- Much stronger Vancouver based teams and therefore excellent competition (see Emily Zurrer’s quote above)
- Anticipate two training sessions for most teams in mini-season
We intend to reveal the new club name and logo along with he coaches at the Metro banquet on May 4. It is our intention to announce the evaluation schedule shortly after and to try to have the teams selected by the end on May. The first games in the new league are scheduled to take place on the weekend of September 17 and we will begin our pre season preparation 4 weeks prior to that date and continue our programming through to the end of November.
Travel:
Full season is 21 games, with 12 home games and 9 away games. This is an improvement over travel with Super Y and Metro combined.
