Change in State High School Soccer Rule or Clarification?

The Star Tribune reported on Monday in John Millea’s prep blog that the Minnesota State High School League amended some rules on Monday concerning soccer.

The rule change was approved 45-0 by the State High School League to change the no contact rule. The rule was supported by the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (MYSA), and will take effect this year. According to the Tribune, It makes it a violation for high school soccer players to also play on a non-school team once the high school season begins. That means players must end their participation on non-school teams by Aug. 16 this year, because the first day of practice for high school soccer is Aug. 17. Without the rule, coaches and administrators fear that players will not have sufficient time to rest and recover.
The other change — the no-contact period from July 1 through July 7 – will be implemented in 2010.

Evidently the rule change was to clarify a supposed loophole that had been left in the last ruling by MSHSL concerning the same issue and revolved around some language that denoted Labor Day for the last day of contact.

IMS contacted Bill Vance, the successful Totino Grace Boys soccer coach. Vance is also President-elect of the Minnesota State High School Soccer Coaches Association (MSHSSCA). I asked Vance for clarification on the rule, knowing that a similar rule had been passed previously.

“The long and short of it is that while many MYSA coaches are involved in high school coaching, the demands of club ball caused numerous clubs to conduct tryouts during the first weeks of the high school season,” stated Vance. “MYSA and the MSHSSCA met to discuss what is best for the players.  Overuse injuries are a concern for all soccer coaches and this is an example of student-athletes having to sometimes decide how hard to work at a given try-out or training session be it club or school.  Both the MYSA and the MSHSSCA decided it was best to make a clear date regarding the end of the club and beginning of the high school season.”

Vance went onto say, “I think this points to a larger issue of student-athletes being forced to choose club ball over high school ball or vice-versa.  Throughout the country many clubs are no longer allowing their players to play high school soccer and both the MYSA and the MSHSSCA want to work together so such ultimatums don’t happen in Minnesota.”

IMS has reported previously that new rules do not allow members of the Development Academy teams to participate in high school soccer. There are also some competitive club fall leagues springing up like the Midwest Regional League.

IMS acknowledges that high school soccer is a far cry from the quality of competitive club soccer, and that the highest level soccer player might be well served not playing for his high school team. However, IMS also believes that high school soccer in the US has become an important part of American culture and that it gives many players a chance to be seen by their peers and large numbers of fans. These players often work for months with no fan support giving hours of effort for their clubs.

Where else can a player who devotes countless hours a year to the sport finally get the recognition that he/she receives in high school when their name is called on the PA system the morning after the game announcing the goal they scored or the save they made? Where else during the year will they play in front of and be supported by hundreds of their classmates? High school soccer is also a chance for players that may not be the stars on their club teams to shine and be leaders on their high school teams.

Choosing club soccer over high school soccer may be a decision that will need to be made more and more in the future and it will take some tough decisions by the players and their parents.