Post by johnny99 on Mar 10, 2014 15:48:19 GMT -5
I've heard and read a lot of people say that LIJSL is losing teams to NYCSL and that LIJSL is dying. I looked at the number of teams in both leagues in the Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 seasons, in the U9, U10 and U11 age groups.
LIJSL
U9: 68 -> 85 (+17)
U10: 201 -> 205 (+4)
U11: 230 -> 232 (+2)
Total: 499 -> 522 (+23)
NYCSL/NYPL
U9: 142 -> 138 (-4)
U10: 128 -> 110 (-18)
U11: 111 -> 110 (-1)
Total: 381 -> 358 (-23)
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A few things:
Gary Grossman has done a tremendous job of attracting teams to his leagues in just a few years. He had a headstart on LIJSL in the U9 age group, but even in U10 and U11 he has built up his leagues quickly. Most of these teams that joined his league would otherwise have joined LIJSL, so it can't be said that he has not hurt LIJSL.
I only looked at the numbers from one season to the next, which is a small sample. It's hard to say if this is a trend or just a one season anomaly. However, the fact that LIJSL is adding teams in these age groups while NYCSL/NYPL is losing teams has got to put a smile on the faces of the people in Ronkonkoma, and has got to concern Gary G. Do these numbers suggest that people have gotten a taste of NYCSL and find it no better than, or maybe not as good as, LIJSL? Only time will tell.
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A few other things:
I didn't look at older age groups because it gets more complicated in the older age groups, where LIJSL (and NYCSL/NYPL) have competition from ENY Premier, NERP, Region 1, NPL, EDP, ECNL and USSDA. My guess is that, in the older age groups, LIJSL is losing teams, but not so much to NYCSL/NYPL.
I didn't factor in the new 5 Borough League because that competes more with the CJSL than with LIJSL.
The numbers for the Spring 2014 season came from the Alignments posted by both LIJSL and NYCSL/NYPL about a month ago. I saw that NYCSL was advertising for teams to fill out age groups after the alignments came out, so NYCSL/NYPL may actually have a few more teams this spring than I counted. However, I don't think that this will change the point that LIJSL is now doing a little better than it's competitor in the younger age groups.
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One last thing:
I'm not here to shill for LIJSL. I've coached in LIJSL and have kids who have played in both LIJSL and NYPL. Personally, I think they are both good leagues. They both have advantages and disadvantages. I have found LIJSL to be a little beaurocratic at times and to lack common sense. On the other hand, I cannot stand the "flexible scheduling" that Gary Grossman promotes for his leagues (and I think coaches take advantage of the ability to reschedule games) and my son had more forfeit wins in two seasons of NYPL than both of my kids had in about 20 LIJSL seasons.
LIJSL
U9: 68 -> 85 (+17)
U10: 201 -> 205 (+4)
U11: 230 -> 232 (+2)
Total: 499 -> 522 (+23)
NYCSL/NYPL
U9: 142 -> 138 (-4)
U10: 128 -> 110 (-18)
U11: 111 -> 110 (-1)
Total: 381 -> 358 (-23)
------------------------------------------
A few things:
Gary Grossman has done a tremendous job of attracting teams to his leagues in just a few years. He had a headstart on LIJSL in the U9 age group, but even in U10 and U11 he has built up his leagues quickly. Most of these teams that joined his league would otherwise have joined LIJSL, so it can't be said that he has not hurt LIJSL.
I only looked at the numbers from one season to the next, which is a small sample. It's hard to say if this is a trend or just a one season anomaly. However, the fact that LIJSL is adding teams in these age groups while NYCSL/NYPL is losing teams has got to put a smile on the faces of the people in Ronkonkoma, and has got to concern Gary G. Do these numbers suggest that people have gotten a taste of NYCSL and find it no better than, or maybe not as good as, LIJSL? Only time will tell.
------------------------------------------
A few other things:
I didn't look at older age groups because it gets more complicated in the older age groups, where LIJSL (and NYCSL/NYPL) have competition from ENY Premier, NERP, Region 1, NPL, EDP, ECNL and USSDA. My guess is that, in the older age groups, LIJSL is losing teams, but not so much to NYCSL/NYPL.
I didn't factor in the new 5 Borough League because that competes more with the CJSL than with LIJSL.
The numbers for the Spring 2014 season came from the Alignments posted by both LIJSL and NYCSL/NYPL about a month ago. I saw that NYCSL was advertising for teams to fill out age groups after the alignments came out, so NYCSL/NYPL may actually have a few more teams this spring than I counted. However, I don't think that this will change the point that LIJSL is now doing a little better than it's competitor in the younger age groups.
------------------------------------------
One last thing:
I'm not here to shill for LIJSL. I've coached in LIJSL and have kids who have played in both LIJSL and NYPL. Personally, I think they are both good leagues. They both have advantages and disadvantages. I have found LIJSL to be a little beaurocratic at times and to lack common sense. On the other hand, I cannot stand the "flexible scheduling" that Gary Grossman promotes for his leagues (and I think coaches take advantage of the ability to reschedule games) and my son had more forfeit wins in two seasons of NYPL than both of my kids had in about 20 LIJSL seasons.
That's not right. Find some finds.....don't cancel the season! Kids will be extremely disappointed.