An interesting read I found on the BC soccer web.
TSSS commencing an action against the BCSA
May 3, 2006
The following is an unedited copy of an email sent to players and parents by Total Soccer Systems:
Sent: May 2, 2006 1:37:39 PM
Subject: TSS commencing an action against the BCSA
Dear Players and Parents,
Total Soccer Systems has been in existence since July 1997. In the nine years that we have been providing support to the soccer community the climate in our game locally has gone through some pretty significant changes. The idea that a player can choose to pay for "extra soccer" from professional coaching environments such as TSS has become common place. We have close to 800 registered players in our program this year from 1988 born to as young as 2000 born. We have also, since our inception, been significantly involved in the community based club system.
We are currently Technical Directors/Head Coaches of the following Clubs/Associations:
Richmond Girls Soccer
Tsawwassen Soccer Club
Ladner Girls Soccer
We are currently providing Technical Support to the following organizations as well:
Richmond Youth Soccer Association
Surdel Girls Soccer
Vancouver Richmond Girls Soccer Association
Vancouver Youth Select Soccer Association
Nelson Youth Soccer
In these relationships we support coaches, teams and individual players in a variety of environments.
We are also endorsed by the Richmond School Board and run a Soccer Academy environment within the school curriculum at RC Palmer Senior Secondary.
TSS, on a number of occasions over the years, has attempted to become affiliated with BC Soccer as an Associate Member without success. It still remains an important goal of our organization to become part of the BCSA Player Development Model which will also likely address our Membership status. We believe that we are already in this Model, somewhat by default, due to the extensive nature of our involvement in the local soccer scene over the last 9 years. A significant number of our current attending players (48 in total), from U13 to U17 have been chosen to represent our Province. And although we would never claim to be the sole reason why these athletes have attained such accolades, we do believe that we have assisted in their development to the extent that many of these players have a significant desire to maintain their involvement with us year after year. This freedom of choice is on the verge of being removed from these individuals. This leaves us where we are at today and why this email is being sent to you, our customers.
Recent initiatives by the BCSA have made it necessary for our organization to protect the continuity of our program and some of our more significant and established business interests. Please find below a summary of a letter from our legal counsel, dated April 4, 2006, that was seeking a response from the BCSA and its Directors on a number of concerns that in our view can no longer be ignored.
Summary of letter to BCSA
Communication from the BCSA to the Washington State Youth Soccer Association (WSYSA) relating to our participation in tournaments there ( which we have been doing since 1997 and until recently WITH permission from the BCSA - precedent has been set by them with these prior approvals). In turn the WSYSA has advised the tournaments not to host our teams. We have long-term relationships with these tournaments and their Directors and they are astonished that we can no longer participate there. This is seen as an intentional interference with our contractual obligations with these tournaments. The Associations role in this matter pertains to establishing travel rules and to give approval for teams from BC to travel - such powers do not allow the BCSA to communicate in the manner done with Associations in foreign jurisdictions.
We are looking for the opportunity to become Members of the BCSA first and foremost.
We believe that the BCSA's recent partnership/affiliation with the Vancouver Whitecaps smacks of a commercial preference (as the Whitecaps are also a business for profit) and we feel that there is ample room for our organization to be part of this plan.
Resolution - we are looking for an opportunity to affiliate and looking to have the sanctions on our organization in regards to Washington State Tournaments removed.
As of May 1st, there has been NO response from the BCSA or their Directors. This has made it necessary for our organization to raise the stakes and advise our counsel that it is time to commence an action against the BCSA which we are currently putting together.
This action was always something that we wanted to avoid, but the situation has become so compelling that we cannot avoid it any longer.
We believe it is important to inform you of this current situation with an explanation right from the source. It is important to us that you understand the issues at hand because what happens here in the next several months will shape our future programs that the majority of you will be involved in.
How can you help?
Hopefully you have a clearer understanding of what the issues are now. If you would like further clarification on anything regarding this matter please feel free to contact me at the numbers/email below. If you feel the need to contact the BCSA Board of Directors their email addresses can be found at www.bcsoccer.net . If you do correspond with the BCSA office we would certainly appreciate receiving a copy of what you have sent.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Yours in Soccer,
Colin Elmes