OT: Proposed Legislation in Virginia Could Kill Travel Soccer

[bigredfutbol]

This could kill travel soccer in Virginia if it passes. It could also set a bad precedent in other states.

You can get a summary, and a link to the proposed legislation, from the Virginia Youth Soccer Association's website:

http://www.vysa.com/

Basically, any homeowner within 65 yards of any athletic field can nix any use of that athletic field before 8 AM, after 6 PM, and all day Sunday. Troubling.

[Sachin]

Hell, that could kill high school football, and we all know that must never happen. Travel soccer...eh...

Edit to note: He's a Democrat from Fairfax. Must... not... make.. snarky.. comments....

Sachin

[IASocFan]

Incredible. And probably suggested by someone who moved into an area with public fields next door!

The football boosters should be able to kill this quickly. Just list all the fields that could be effected!

[Mr. Bee]

That's restrictive as hell. The local racetrack where I race has neighborhood restrictions prior to 10am and after 5pm... but its a racetrack, not a regular athletic field. The noise levels arent even comparable - and, we can race all day on Sunday.

[Thomas A Fina]

This could kill travel soccer in Virginia if it passes. It could also set a bad precedent in other states.

You can get a summary, and a link to the proposed legislation, from the Virginia Youth Soccer Association's website:

http://www.vysa.com/

Basically, any homeowner within 65 yards of any athletic field can nix any use of that athletic field before 8 AM, after 6 PM, and all day Sunday. Troubling.
Are they talking 65 yards to touchline or to the beginning of the property?

No one in Va (or America for that matter) would dare go up against the might that is High School football if they wanted to live.

This is really gonna hurt immigrant pick-up games more than anyone else.

(I couldn't imagine them even trying this in NY.)

[Th4119]

Load of crap if this goes through.

[owendylan]

Interesting Bill. I don't know if it would kill travel soccer, it might kill rec soccer instead. The really question is how many fields could be potentially affected if a homeowner wanted to enforce this. From my coaching days, I can't think of a single field my team played on in Fairfax county that meet this criteria. Doesn't mean there aren't, but how big could that number be? I can see fields located at schools being affected the most since they are by and large in residential areas. I wonder what the likelihood of this passing is. Sounds like this rep was bothered at his home by some sporting activity. Does this bill contradict any existing county laws? If so I could see a lawsuit coming from the Park Authority or from a school district that may get extra funds from renting out their fields to leagues. I thnk this more like caveat emptor, you buy a house near a park with athleti fields, you're going to have to live we people actually using it. Lastly where does he get 65 yards from? That seems to be an arbitrary number. I'm guessing it's the distance from his house to the field that is bothering him.

[owendylan]

Incredible. And probably suggested by someone who moved into an area with public fields next door!

The football boosters should be able to kill this quickly. Just list all the fields that could be effected!
Actually baseball seems to hold even more sway. Do not get the ire up of the baseball leagues they can kill anything.

[Th4119]

This is really gonna hurt immigrant pick-up games more than anyone else.


No, one of the largest groups of victims with this would be the rec kids that typically play on Saturdays now. There's no way travel soccer gets nixed, and with the vast majority of those games on Sundays, I imagine they'll get moved to Saturdays.

The kids who play rec soccer that aren't as good but still enjoy the game will be told to piss off because there won't be any room for them to play.

I just don't understand how one jackass who probably moved in knowing the fields were there from the start can wield so much power over a bunch of kids having a good time and exercising.

[Mr. Bee]

I just don't understand how one jackass who probably moved in knowing the fields were there from the start can wield so much power over a bunch of kids having a good time and exercising.

They should be inside like the other kids, looking at internet porn

[Th4119]

I thnk this more like caveat emptor, you buy a house near a park with athleti fields, you're going to have to live we people actually using it.

A-********ing-men.

[SteveWWJ]

I have a public park within 65 yards of my townhouse (albeit a stand of older trees lie between my back fence and the fields), but there's no way in hell this should ever pass if they mean 65 yards from the edge of the property as opposed to the field itself. No games after 6pm is just flat out ridiculous. Imagine how many adult and youth leagues (across all sports) would have to cancel their entire seasons because of this shite.

There's enough tension already when comes down to scheduling fields in Norhtern Virginia, imagine how many fights (actual) over field time could come about if this was enacted.

[Th4119]

They should be inside like the other kids, looking at internet porn

They can't take an hour break for fresh air and excercise?!






;)

[superdave]

Why Sunday and not Saturday?

Well, we know why, which makes me wonder if it's constitutional.

[SteveWWJ]

Also, my friend's back yard (and many of his neighbors) is basically right up against the Herndon HS stadium. They could never have any night games for (football or soccer) if this thing were to be passed.

[Mr. Bee]

Why Sunday and not Saturday?

Well, we know why, which makes me wonder if it's constitutional.

Is it unconstitutional that I can't buy beer on Sundays before 12pm at my house in Michigan or AT ALL at my condo in Miami?

I know what you're getting at, but I dont think there's anything to do about it.

[SteveWWJ]

Why Sunday and not Saturday?

Well, we know why, which makes me wonder if it's constitutional.
Exactly, that's partially why the Virginia "Blue Laws" were struck down in Virginia in the first place (other than the economic reasons).

[Th4119]

Also, my friend's back yard (and many of his neighbors) is basically right up against the Herndon HS stadium. They could never have any night games for (football or soccer) if this thing were to be passed.

Ha, doesn't Herndon already have trouble with nighttime football games? :o

[aueagle1]

I don't think that this would face any serious constitutional issues regarding endorsement of religion, but I would think about this as a possible takings clause issue. Especially for private schools that only make money by using their fields at night, this economic regulation could completely deprive them of their economic viability. Actually, I just think it is a stupid law that will not make it through. Or, because it is Virginia it will probably get passed and then there will be a special session of the legislature to overturn it.

[owendylan]

So far there aren't any co-patrons to the bill. Also it was referred to the Committe for Courts of Justice. That seems pretty odd I guess. So far it hasn't made it onto the docket. It is also one of over 100 other bill that are currently in committee. This is a list of the Reps. on this committee
Albo (Chairman), Griffith, Kilgore (Vice Chairman), McQuigg, Hurt, Athey, Janis, Bell, Cline, Fralin, Iaquinto, Gilbert, Waddell, Johnson, Melvin, Armstrong, Moran, Barlow, Watts, Toscano, Marsden.

Also there is no corresponding Senate bill, although in VA it looks like one chamber passes the bill before it is sent to the other chamber for consideration, or at least that's how I followed the How a bill becomes law explanation on the website.
If you want to track this bill on your own go to http://leg1.state.va.us/lis.htm