PLAYING ALONGSIDE THE PROS..........NCAA change of heart will help talented amateurs
2009-11-26 (from CSL news release)
Amateurs may play with pros soon and keep U.S. college eligibility
Amateur players will soon be able to play alongside the pros without jeopardizing U.S. college entry if a move being considered by the NCAA goes through. And that, says the CSL's Italia Shooters' owner Tony De Thomasis, is exciting news for exceptional young Canadian soccer players.
Presently, amateurs will jeopardize their U.S. college entry, including scholarships, by merely playing on the same team as a professional player. That is considered by many to be just outright unfair to the player who has remained loyal to the amateur code while possessing enough talent to play at a higher level.
De Thomasis is at times the head coach of the professional team, which he launched in 2002. The pro team was added to an already successful Vaughan Shooters Soccer Club, an organization of strictly amateurs.
The formula was perfect. The well-coached more promising young players would move up to play alongside professionals. Talent would emerge.
And talent has emerged. The Vaughan-based organization has produced a string of players who ended up overseas, including the talented Atiba Hutchinson, presently with FC Copenhagen and a regular on the Canadian men's team. A recent announcement out of Singapore reveals Italia Shooters player Murphy Wiredu will re-sign for a second season with top club Senkang Pungol and will be joined by another recent Shooters' player, Jordan Webb.
The blend of pros and young amateurs hit their peak when in 2006 Shooters won the CSL Championship. A talented young amateur, 18 year-old Anthony Bahadur, struck the winner.
But some young players hold back to keep their options open and De Thomasis considers this number to be significant.
"A change to allow exceptional young soccer players a chance to play alongside the pros, then play on an NCAA team, would advance the player's technical skills and could revolutionize soccer in North America," said De Thomasis on learning of the NCAA's intentions recently. "It's done in Europe and that gives the developing player over there a very big edge in advancing to the big clubs. They can play with the pros, and attend the teaching institution of their choice".
Stacey Osburn, the NCAA's director for public and media relations explains the change means a teaching institution would no longer be required to determine whether a team is professional, but rather the focus would be on the individual's specific circumstances.
Not all sports agree. Men's ice hockey is one and the Men's and Women's Skiing Committee has taken an official position to oppose the proposal. But most sports, including soccer, appear to welcome the change.
The vote by the Legislative Council and Board of Directors of the NCAA will probably take place at the annual Convention in January and if approved would go into effect August 2010.
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