V ANCOUVER C LUB H ARMONIZATION /M ERGERS January 2011.

VANCOUVER CLUB HARMONIZATION/MERGERS

January 2011

OPTIONS 1. Joining the Westside Soccer Club, currently being considered by Kerrisdale Soccer Club, Dunbar Soccer Association and Point Grey Soccer Club.2. Forming an East/Central Club with Grandview Legion Soccer Club and Vancouver Girls Soccer Association, and possibly other interested parties, yet to be confirmed.3. Remaining as an independent club

DPSC NUMBERS (2010/11)

• HOUSE (Under 10s): 415 players

• U11 and U12: 142 players

• DIVISIONAL (U13 and up): 185 players TOTAL: 742 (254 Girls, 488 Boys)

THE CASE FOR MERGING• Larger pool of players to allow all to play at the appropriate level.• More opportunity to keep recreational level (‘bronze’) players playing• Efficiencies of scale; purchasing and advocacy

THE CASE AGAINST MERGING• Loss or dilution of current ‘club identity’• Further travel to home games/practices may be required

THE PROPOSED ROADMAP• Create a new Association• Retain House play locally, but under the umbrella of the new Association• Harmonize budgeting, coach and player development, fees etc.• Transitional Board of Directors with members from each of the member clubs

THE TIMELINE• As team formation for the 2011/12 season is almost upon us (March/April 2011, for Divisional teams), formal amalgamation is likely to be for the 2012/13 season.• We may be able to consider other forms of collaboration in the interim, e.g.: 1) ‘Ad hoc’ combined teams from 2 or more clubs 2) More formal joint assessments

HOUSE SET-UP• Functionally, House (U10 and under) play will remain more or less unchanged. These children will continue to play locally, and in a Douglas Park uniform; as a ‘chapter’ of the larger organization

DIVISIONAL SETUP• Divisional teams (U13 and up) will be formed from the pool of all the players in the merged club, and will play under the name of new club

8-A-SIDE (U11/12) SETUP

• Will most likely follow the ‘fully merged’ model of the Divisional teams but may depend on numbers

PROS AND CONS (ASSESSMENTS)Pros Cons

Larger pool of players provides better opportunity for all to be placed at an appropriate level

Loss of existing Club or team identity, potential for existing teams ‘that work’ (e.g. the older Divisional teams) which remain stable, with the same coach over several years

PROS AND CONS (COACH DEVELOPMENT)

Pros Cons

Dependent on the philosophy and set-up of the partner clubs

Dependent on the philosophy and set-up of the partner clubs – we would seek to ensure a major role of our current Head Coach

PROS AND CONS (PLAYER DEVELOPMENT)

Pros Cons

Depends on the partner clubs’ player development philosophy, and is uncertain. DPSC would seek to drive a strong player development process as a priority

There will be ‘dilution’ of the time currently offered by the DPSC Head Coach to DPSC players.

PROS AND CONS (FEES)

*The impact of a merged club on the overall lottery funding is unknown

Pros Cons

Admin efficiency and purchasing power for equipment may provide financial efficiencies in a merged club; may be possible to keep fees lower

Some of the other clubs currently have significantly higher fees than DPSC, and the new club would require consolidated fees; fees may rise in a merged club

*Plus a capital fee of $40, plus uniform purchase; §Plus $75 Gold/Silver fee

MINIEarly [Late]

HOUSE Early [Late]

DIVIS. (U11-U18) Early [Late]

Douglas ParkKerrisdaleDunbarPoint GreyKillarneyKLM

Grandview

MarpoleVancouver Girls

same as house$145 [145] U6/7$135 [135] U6$160 [190] U6*$150 U6$150 U6

Same as house

$99 [120] U6/7$100 U5/6

$150 [180]$175 [200] U8-10$195 [215] U7-10$195 [225] U8-10*$165 U7-10$175 U8-10

$100 U5-10

$150 [170] U8-12 $175 U7-10

$195 [$225]$220 [$245]$250 [$270]$250 [$280]*§$200 $230 (U11/12)$250 (U13-18)$135 (U11/12)$150-170 (U13-18)$180 [215] (U13-18)$200 (U11-12)$250 (U13-18)

PROS AND CONS (FIELDS)Pros Cons

More selection of practice times and locations

More turf time may be available for home games

More political clout (advocacy)

Less control over allocation of fields for individual teams

May have to travel farther (e.g. UBC)

None anticipated

PROS AND CONS (PLAYER RETENTION)Pros Cons

More opportunity to be able to find a place on a team at the right level for all players from Bronze to Gold, due to the larger player pool: Lifelong soccer

None or very few. Existing teams ‘that work’ may end up with some attrition as groups of friends get broken up

TEAMS 2010/11 (BOYS)   Total U13-U18 U12 U11 Selects

Point Grey 23 16 6 1

Dunbar 22 16 4 2

Kerrisdale 22 14 6 2

Killarney 14 10 3 1

KLM 12 10 2 0

Douglas Park 10 6 3 1

Grandview Legion 10 7 3 0

ICSF 10 5 4 1

Marpole 6 3 1 2

129 87 32 10

TEAMS 2010/11 (GIRLS)  Total U13-U18 U12 Selects

Dunbar 22 20 2

Point Grey 11 10 1

Kerrisdale 8 8 0

VGSC 7 6 1

Douglas Park 5 5 0

Killarney 5 4 1

KLM 4 4 0

Marpole 2 2 0

Grandview Legion 1 1 0

ICSF 1 1 0

66 61 5

TOTAL REGISTRATIONS: DPSCCurrent Season Past four SeasonsBoys: 492Girls: 258 Total :755

2007 2008 2009 20100

100

200

300

400

500

600

Boys Girls

DISTANCES FROM DPCC Point Grey: 4.1 km Andy Livingstone: 4.7 km Memorial Park: 5 km Trillium Park: 5 km Van Tech: 7 km Jericho: 7.8 km UBC turf: 9.5 km

WESTSIDE MERGER Have a large player pool Are already at an advanced stage of merger discussions Intent on having joint assessments in the spring of 2011, and forming Divisional and U11/12 teams out of a combined “Westside Soccer Club at the start of the 2011/12 season Include locally based House play, along similar lines to those advocated by DPSC Well organized, and they are serious about the success and timeliness of this process.

EASTSIDE MERGER Up to six clubs could be involved in a merger with DPSC It would then operate as a second large club in Vancouver, and as an alternative to the Westside merger. This could then form a focus for two medium- to large-sized clubs in Vancouver, both achieving the benefits of a larger player pool, while keeping some regional identity within the city. DPSC is the largest club in these merger discussions, not the smallest, but the east side is currently a little more fractured, and is at a less advanced stage of discussion. There will be less impact on home fields and training venues, as many of these (Van Tech, Memorial and Andy Livingstone) are already being shared by the clubs being considered for this merger.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Douglas Park is currently not to be included in the planned merger of the Westside club for 2011/12 Douglas Park may opt to join the Westside organization in the 2012/13 season, though this is by no means certain Douglas Park is taking the lead with the Eastside clubs, with Grandview Legion and Vancouver Girls; others may be encouraged to join

PHASED APPROACH May have joint assessments with certain (Eastside) clubs at certain age groups; teams to be formed around largest number of players / coach availability Lead into more formalized mergers in the 2012/13 season. Opportunities to share resources (referees, nets etc.)