MVLA:

I am getting many inquiries about what to expect for Spring fields. Here is:

1)  a general outlook
2)  advice on what to do

1) SPRING FIELD OUTLOOK

--the last field-negotiation meetings occur next week, unfortunately after the AGM.  I will have a better feel for our capacity after all negotiations are completed  and will update you all.

--Spring training will start in March as usual.  As always, highest priority for training will be to State Cup teams, then Assoc CUp, then High level tourneys, then class 1 leagues, then class 3 leagues, and finally everyone else.  A team cannot expect a third day if it means a team has to go without even one day of training.  Any exceptions need to be taken up with the Board.

--Many of the Association and State Cup elder teams reserved space for Feb and/or March at Foothill back last November. Other teams got on the field because they were willing to fill gaps that no one else wanted. 

--Any team that did not rent Foothill will be faced with the challenge of waiting for our field owners to open the grass fields for Spring.

--Typically, our Spring permits start beginning of March.  However, this always depends on the weather. 

--I already have been told that Hillview will NOT open on March 1.  They expect it to open sometime late March.  This has happened to us the last two years, so don't be surprised.  This why I reserved Foothill in March.

--If the weather remains wet, I expect the following additional fields will remained closed in March:  Grant, all MV fields, Blach, Egan.  That would leave us with day to day monitoring of Egan patch, Blach patch.

--We lose any field with a diamond to baseball effective March. This includes Cov, Almond, Egan softball, Critt, Cooper, Callahan, Stevenson, Rosita, Graham grass, etc.

--We share Santa Rita South and possibly Blach with LAX.  I hope to keep them off of Hillview.  I do not know if LAX has asked for any MV field as of now.

--it remains to be seen if we get access to Monte Loma this Spring.  We lost the Spring permit last year.  Hopefully we can earn it back in part or in full.  MVLL is the primary priority group.

--we will have some access to Graham AWT, but I may have to share with other groups possibly, so I cannot predict how much I will get.  The MV mtg is one of the last field meetings.

--we will have one slot per day at LAHS AWT as long as I can once again get the Track and Field coaches to relent.  We will be off the field on any Track Meet Day or special event.  The throwers (discus, hammer, shot) at LAHS tend to train very late and they want at least half the field pretty much until dark.  Our slot will start at one hour (60 minutes) in length and extend to 90 minutes after DST commences.  If I can get the throwers to move off the field or end by 6pm, I may be able to get the whole field.  LAHS will not issue Spring permit until late Feb.

--we no longer have any priority to gain access to DAC AWT.  I will ask once again, but expect the answer to be no.  DA Force, USL SuperY, CYSA Far West Regional league, FROGs, and DA classes, have absorbed all the capacity since we decided not to rent last year due to increasing field rates there.  

2)  WHAT SHOULD YOU DO FOR FIELDS IN MARCH??

--First, make sure I have your Spring request on file.  Use proper Subject line:  "MVLA:Spring field request <teamname>"  Include as much flexibility as possible. 

--Make sure you let me know if you are in any of the high-priority activities listed above. 

--Consider training on weekends.  In March, I will have much more AWT capacity on weekends than on weekdays.

--It was unfortunate that we declined the Friday permit at Foothill in March, but I had to do it since not enough teams were willing to train on Friday.  If I can get six (6) teams to use the slots at Foothill on Fridays (two teams each 4-5:30, 5:30-7, and 7-8:30), then I can approach Foothill, see if the capacity is available, and arrange a permit. Let me know if you are interested.

--I will work hard to get you access top grass fields as soon as possible.  Youngers will go on first since they are smaller and lighter.

--Start investigating your own alternative training sites/mechanisms: 

        *OTWS, City Beach, and other indoor AWT and gym-floor venues, including for-pay fitness gyms.  I may be able to get some access to Egan multipurpose room ("small gym") on off hours that basketball doesn't use.  The Large City Gyms are fully utilized. You will have to pay fully for any fees; no MVLA subsidy has been approved at this time.

        *dry blacktops including Blach, Egan, Almond, Santa Rita, etc.  We have NO permits to any blacktops, so this is first come first serve and you cannot interfere with any City or School Recreation programs.  Do NOT use blacktops or tennis courts at any high school, nor at Cuesta or other community parks.

        *tracks for fitness training; do not use balls and cleats on any track, even if dirt.

        *I am not recommending unpermitted parks since we are subject to scrutiny and complaint from neighbors and park rangers for any organized use.

        *if any of you have access to any school or private field, MVLA may subsidize some or all of your fees, but all insurance requirements must be met and formal permissions must be received for your use.  Let me know if you would like to leverage such access.

Hope this helps with planning,

Jeanine
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