Can I pose the question out there? I attended much of the mens cup last year and applaud the champions as well as all the final 8 out there as it was a tough battle and some great games........however I guess it got me thinking of this. Why exactly is the BAS Cup a Mens only event? Why isn't there a womens cup? I'm just wondering because after all the fees that I pay personally to play on the numerous and various teams both in and outside the BAS.....I would love to play some free soccer especially if it is run by the BAS.

Just wanna hear the reason..........and if it's interest that you are looking for I am sure the women in the division can reply to this message to let you know there is indeed interest......the men who coach and follow (if you are big enough to admit it ) should also reply if they would like to show admin there is some interest and to show your support.

I mean I know it's free soccer to the men....but I am willing to push up the TA TA'S and sell some beer and hotdogs at the mens tourney to raise some funds. Maybe my opinion is only my own and maybe the discussion has already been had......but I want a womens cup for the 09 outdoor season!

What do you think the odds are?

There would be no problem putting this together IF the support existed. Thus far, the support for a Women's Cup has been "fringe" at best. Here's why (bearing in mind that I'm not a psychologist): It would appear that the average lower level men's team is tickled silly at the prospect of playing a team in a higher division. I'm sure I don't have to tell anyone on this forum about the illustrious run* the 35+ Brewers had in the Cup last season. Us old boys looked forward to playing teams who were much younger and supposed to be fitter, stronger, better. The average women's team does not share this attitude (AND I'M STRESSING THE WORD, "AVERAGE" HERE, SO PLEASE SAVE YOUR "ADMIN, YOU'RE A SEXIST" COMMENTS FOR SOMEONE ELSE). I receive numerous complaints(?) that start something like this, "My name is Jane Doe and I play for XYZ in [some lower division] and I don't think it's fair that Sally Smith who used to play rep is playing in this division because...". I've never once received such a written complaint from a men's team. I've concluded from this that women's IIC teams and 35+ teams are not that interested (on average) in playing higher calibre teams. Am I wrong? Wouldn't be the first time, but I know that when the idea of a Women's Cup was tabled a the kick-off meeting last year (and the the year before that), there was interest from the high level teams only (with the odd "maybe" from the lower level teams). If a women's event is going to be staged, it would have to be represented by all levels; otherwise, it just turns into another Div IIA playoff.

*we were actually beating the 2007 Cup Champs, 2 - nil at the interval in the Q-finals 2 hours after having played a FULL 90 minute playoff Championship match. During the interval, we lads realized that we wouldn't all be able to attend the reception at the White House following our Cup victory and since we are an all-or-nothing kinda team, we decided to throw the match to avoid the conundrum.

Sorry did someone say Ta Ta's????

Yes, yes. Ta-ta's were mentioned. But i am pretty sure that the deal only stands if the same goes the other way. The girls need some male support aswell as lower team participation. The cup situation should not be something that people should have to think about in my eyes. If "lower league" and "masters" are thinking they cant run with some of the higher place teams then people have to remind them about all the shocks that happen in cup games around the world. The biggest teams in the world are defeated by teams that are 1-3 divisions below there level of play and it all comes down to being to cocky. I am not going right into this but you all know what happens when you think you are going to walk an easy victory over anybody.
Question for admin- Although the cup games are bonus games(free games). If team A does not show up for a game without letting the BAS know about it but just decides that they have no chance of beating team B is there still fines although these are seen as free games?

Deek, you are only fined in these cup games if you have Rangers fans playing or coaching
the team.

Or any on the bench making silly faces , that have been up drinking all night!

FTBL GIRL / DEEK - forgive my ignorance but I always thought that the girls had cup games. That said, Admin, since the captains meetings are coming up, maybe this could be discussed and see what kind of interest & volunteer group can be put together. Is there time to construct some sort of playoff tournament for the girls this year??? (although I'm sure I already know what your answer will be on this... field availabilities etc).

CurtisCooper wrote:

FTBL GIRL / DEEK - forgive my ignorance but I always thought that the girls had cup games. That said, Admin, since the captains meetings are coming up, maybe this could be discussed and see what kind of interest & volunteer group can be put together. Is there time to construct some sort of playoff tournament for the girls this year??? (although I'm sure I already know what your answer will be on this... field availabilities etc).

OK, let's be clear here...the ladies already have intra-divisional playoff Championships. What FTBL GIRL is referring to is an inter-divisional Cup. No prob as long as ALL divisions are represented. If we do a "show of hands", all the top teams will want to do it (which I get). Do the bottom teams who chance a sound thrashing want to partake? Probably not. At least that's what history has indicated. So, we are typically left with a "IIA CUP"...a replay of the playoffs. Not gonna do that.

If that is the case admin, you must be fielding the proposal the wrong way to the lower league teams. Make it a fun weekend for both the teams and there families to attend. Its free soccer, start with that. Have it as 25min halves and do the whole thing in one weekend at either Sandalwood/creditview or 407/Dixie. Set up some tents for food and beverages. Have some fun and do a raffle or a 50-50 draw. Make some money as well as giving the ladies there cup.

The point admin is making is the humility of the whole thing for women. Men will take the 'thrashing' because they just want to get out there and play. Ladies, (as admin put, we are going with the average) do not feel the same way about taking the 'thrashing'.
It is pointless and it is a waste of admins time to put together a 'repeat' tournament for the ladies.
If you want the fun with the bbq, raffles and all that you can put that together for the interdivisional playoffs which is a good idea.

	mb7 wrote:
	The point admin is making is the humility of the whole thing for women. Men will take the 'thrashing' because they just want to get out there and play. Ladies, (as admin put, we are going with the average) do not feel the same way about taking the 'thrashing'.

BINGO. We can create as big a circus as you want, but the "humility" may still discourage most.

I am just coming into all of this but of what I am understanding it looks like the Admin does not even want to try again and see if the teams want to have this cup. The proposal should be put out there in a fun way and that it is not a competitive weekend. It also should not matter if we are men or women, the men should not have the advantage over the women of free soccer time. I bet there are a lot of teams out there that would want to play. This is also a chance for the teams to become a better team by challenging themselves against teams that are better than them and this can only make the team better. I feel this needs to be visited in a more positive way and in not such a negative way.

Jennie10 wrote:

I am just coming into all of this but of what I am understanding it looks like the Admin does not even want to try again and see if the teams want to have this cup. The proposal should be put out there in a fun way and that it is not a competitive weekend. It also should not matter if we are men or women, the men should not have the advantage over the women of free soccer time. I bet there are a lot of teams out there that would want to play. This is also a chance for the teams to become a better team by challenging themselves against teams that are better than them and this can only make the team better. I feel this needs to be visited in a more positive way and in not such a negative way.

EXCUSE ME, "JENNIE 10"

If you're "just coming into all this", have you read what has been written here??? Proposals have been made at (at least) the last 2 Kick-Off Meetings. The response (from the lower tiered teams) has been lukewarm at best. Perhaps what you and some others are looking for is Admin to force this upon teams. Is that the "positive way" you are referring to???

But I guess I've been going about this all wrong, so you are hereby cordially invited to the Kick-Off Meeting on May 3rd to make your "positive proposal" to the womens teams. I will dutifully record the names of all the teams interested. As stated above, IF there is representation from ALL divisions, it will be done.

maybe im missing something here, but people keep referring to it as "free soccer" I dont beleive that it is free?? isnt the cup games reflected in the cost that a BAS mens team pays?

Okay so the way I look at is like this.......it must be free soccer as my team fees are the same as the mens team fees and we get the same amount of league games and the same playoff tourney at the end of the season. The only difference is the Cup. We just don't get the Cup........fancy that since we have what fills the cups!

I understand all of the points, made by all the MEN above, that we may not have the same drive to beat the 1st division teams in women's soccer as there is generally a bigger difference between the leagues on our side of the fence however I think that it may be time to revisit this. Maybe we approach it differently for the women having it over a weekend or something like that. Not making it optional as it defeats the purpose however maybe we can at least send out some communication about the Cup and the fact that there might be a vote with a little bit of information before we all meet on May 3rd. Cause if I just threw a team together and showed up for the captains meeting and walked into a vote that wouldn't be very fair on me making a uneducated decision for my team. I know how you all look at it as my team was one that was going up a division last year mid season and I did everything short of offering admin my first born in order to stay put.......I get it (I won't tell you what I had to do either to stay where I was ). We all get it! What I think needs to be done is simple.......admin needs to send out a communication on what the vote will be about to all of the women's teams registered for this upcoming session, have a vote May 3rd and then decide. Otherwise I think the women should have some money knocked off their fees.....plain and simple. If this was reversed your bet your ars that the men would have something to say......I mean they are the only ones talking now.

Look I am not trying to be difficult, the women's rights advocate of the BAS or anything like that. I just want to play....I actually want to see if any of the over 35 could knock us out. I would love to step up and play against the likes of KP and see how the vixens and Maguire's would do against my team or any for that matter. So what harm would there be in order to put a quick communication together and send it out prior to the meeting and then vote???