Lake Highlands - is it worth it?

At what point are clubs, coaches and parents going to finlly say enough is enough?

I’m a firm believer that if there is a league that would compete with LH most people would choose anything but. The easy answer is “well just play ECNL, JDL, DA, DPL, etc” bit what about the kids that fall in the middle. Clearly superior to PPL but not at the DA,ECNL level. These kids get caught in the middle. Does that make them less?

This past year in select plus the past weekend during qualifying is clearly evident that they’re priority is not getting games in, etc.

I know everyone is going to say “duh” but I have an older kid who has been through this so I’m not trying to state the obvious. I’m simply trying to understand what the breaking point is for coaches and parents to say LH isn’t worth it.

$900 Q tournaments plus $1800+ league reg fees. I don’t feel like the clubs, teams and families are getting their bang for the buck.

I know this will create much debate but I’m honestly looking for other folks opinion. There are many parents that feel the same way. We Q for LH really because there is no other choice, not because we “want to”.

You are correct
LH is no bueno. Change is needed for sure. Just need another viable option. Hopefully another league comes along in the near future and clubs ditch LH. Luckily - My DD doesn’t play in the league anymore.

258 teams in LHGCL last year x 15 girls per team =

3,870 girls x 2 parents =

7,740 ideas to run a soccer league.

07soccerdad wrote:You are correct
LH is no bueno.  Change is needed for sure.  Just need another viable option.  Hopefully another league comes along in the near future and clubs ditch LH. Luckily - My DD doesn’t play in the league anymore.

Minor challenge in your wish coming true.

LH is the way it is because their primary customers (The Major Clubs) want it the way it is.

You can never bet against the house. They always win. People flock to Vegas and lose their houses.

You have quality alternatives. They are called PPL and APL. At one time in the distant past, those leagues actually competed with LH for teams and superiority.

Nothing says that the top teams must try to qualify and play in LHGCL. Pretty sure PPL and APL won’t turn away teams because they “should” be playing in LH.

They way to change any of this, is for parents to step up and speak collectively with their $$$, but don’t expect that to happen anytime before you’re in the grave.

Where would a new league play their games? Which large complexes are not already home to LH, boys Classic, or recreational leagues?

Golden Rule: He who has the gold (fields) makes the rules.

With all the league now are any of them worth paying for is the real question?

Boot it and Run wrote:$900 Q tournaments plus $1800+ league reg fees. I don’t feel like the clubs, teams and families are getting their bang for the buck.

Games get canceled due to weather in all leagues. I can’t wait to hear parents complaining when their NPL game gets cancelled right after they drove to OK, AR, KS or LA . Or when their DPL game gets cancelled in CO. Then let me know if that cost is worth it.

There is no perfect league, never has been, never will be. I too have my complaints with LH but I don’t see a better alternative. I believe an open league with promotion/relegation and a qualifying tournament is the best format. Plus it’s a lot close to home when those cancellations occur.

In our experience traveling, we have noticed that everyone else plays in the rain. My DD played in sleet in Arkansas with no problem. Everyone got their games in that day. We have played in the rain in many places and notice that our players can be at a disadvantage because they aren't used to playing in those conditions. My husband who grew up playing in North Texas played many games in this area, on muddy fields. It was some of his best memories. There were times last year in LH where every single other field in the entire metroplex was open and everyone was playing except UTD. I am so happy my DD isn't playing in LH this year, but I see where it has its value and will continue to run the way it is, because it serves a purpose.

I also grew up playing classic and don't remember them closing fields for a little bit of rain. I wonder how much of this is about liability. organizations are probably terrified of a kid getting hurt then the parents suing the fields for their condition. turf is even worse. they used to play games at UTA and that astro-turf was awful. took the skin off your leg.

I don't think it is LH making the decisions as to the fields. I think it is UTD. But I could be wrong.

Second, it is not very often that you have lightning in a sleet storm, so playing in sleet can be ok v. playing in a thunderstorm. I doubt they are playing in thunderstorms elsewhere. As for playing after rain, maybe their fields drain better. At UTD, the 9v9 fields are always worse than the bigger fields across the street -- they played quite a few games on the 11v11 fields last weekend.

When I played many years ago, the fields were not nearly this nice, so if we played in the mud and destroyed the field, nobody would notice -- they were dirt fields anyway. Now, if the fields are destroyed, people would be on this board complaining about all the holes and muddy footprints and the awful goal mouths.

UTD definitely does not drain well. I assume they cancelled, in part so Plano and Arlington could do their thing in timely fashion.

Lots of leagues to play soccer. Obviously people value them it's better than kids not doing anything.

Remember when Girls Classic used Moss, which until they replaced the bridge over White Rock Creek, used to completely flood out, leaving a layer of clay silt on the fields?

smugrr wrote:Remember when Girls Classic used Moss, which until they replaced the bridge over White Rock Creek, used to completely flood out, leaving a layer of clay silt on the fields?

Ah yes, Moss...Mosquitos and empty bottles for everyone.

Moss still does that.