FanPost

ASU Soccer: Decision time coming for ASU FC

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

For Arizona State’s men’s club soccer team, or ASU FC, a decision looms.

The spring season is quickly approaching and the club needs to choose which league it will be playing in.

"For the spring, we are looking to either join the UPSL (United Premier Soccer League) again or join the WCSA, West Coast Soccer Association," club president Jason Johnston said. "We have not officially decided which league we are going to join, but there will be ASU FC soccer this spring."

Not only do the two leagues differ in opposition, but they also differ when it comes to rules. As the UPSL is affiliated with FIFA, the world governing body of football, they operate by the same general rules as FIFA, which are generally stricter than those of the WCSA. The WCSA is an association strictly made up of college teams, and is not affiliated with FIFA.

Deciding which set of rules ASU FC wants to play by will be a big factor in its decision. An example of a big difference is that the WCSA will allow teams to reschedule a game if it is in the best interests of the clubs. However, the UPSL and FIFA will not allow for rescheduling, simply stating that "the league schedule shall be played as released".

In FIFA, players and teams are allowed to protest a ruling if they so choose. For example, if a player receives a suspension for a questionable tackle, and the team believes the penalty is too harsh, they may appeal the ruling and have it looked at further by the UPSL and U.S. Soccer. However, in the WCSA, everything is final. The WCSA website also has specific regulations as far as what warrants a suspension and how long said suspension would be.

Another difference in regulation is that in the WCSA, all that a team needs to do is apply, and then the association will add them in to the schedule. However, with a more official organization like the UPSL or FIFA, that is not the case. Teams must register with many different databases and organizations before they can step onto the field.

Teams that join the UPSL must be registered through the California Soccer Association and the United States Soccer Federation. All players must also register themselves through the Cal South Soccer Association and the USSF.

For the Sun Devils, this decision could be a very important one, as joining different leagues for the spring can affect their exposure and reputation. The WCSA would provide a more college athletics-type atmosphere and would be a little bit more relaxed in competition. The UPSL would offer ASU FC a chance to get its name out within U.S. Soccer, and if they win enough, could grant them a chance to play in the U.S. Open Cup, an annual competition which includes teams all the way up through MLS.

The differences in rules could go a long way towards determining which teams ASU FC will be suiting up against this spring, and the team will be looking to get back to its winning ways after an up-and-down fall season.

This post was brought to you by a member of the House of Sparky community.

Recent FanPosts