Sounders fans, your off season will fly by quickly

November 10, 6:56 AMSeattle Soccer ExaminerDavid Falk

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Sigi Schmid and assistant coach Brian Schmetzer won't have much 'down time' between seasons, and neither will Sounders FC fans. (File photo from historic first-ever SSFC practice, January 2009) (Rick Morrison)

Take it from a guy who eats, drinks, sleeps and breathes local soccer, your off season is going to fly by quickly, Sounders fans.

These are not the old days of the USL when that Sounders club called it a wrap in September and got together six months later in March. Our new Sounders of Major League Soccer are much closer to the world game's familiar European six week break between seasons. The Sounders will begin 2010 training the third week in January. That means roughly nine weeks will have passed between the playoff loss in Houston and the first practice of 2010.

In that nine week time local soccer fans can turn their attention to the closing of the NCAA soccer tournaments and its numerous levels for men and women's clubs. Our area has a few clubs going in to post season play, including the women of UW, WSU, UPS, SPU and the men of Whitworth. Meanwhile state high school soccer for young women in entering the playoff phase. For those that like to take things indoors, the Tacoma Stars begin training for matches in a few weeks before their season starts in December.

Most Sounders fans will likely follow the English Premier League action more closely over the coming weeks for their soccer fix. We'll be posting photos, videos and results from around the globe in our "World Football Update" features.

Of course the Major League Soccer season is far from over for Seattle fans. We are hosting MLS Cup 2009 at Qwest Field on November 22nd. The 'final four' are down to Chicago v. Real Salt Lake for one spot, and Los Angeles Galaxy v. Houston Dynamo for the other. Most fans seem to agree that the impartial observer's dream match would be Chicago and Blanco / McBride against Los Angeles and Beckham / Donovan. Who knows when Seattle will next get to host this prestigious event...so we still have some supporting and celebrating to do for our new league, Seattle!

The Sounders are constantly on the hunt for new talent, and the off season break is a time when fans talk about this search with renewed vigor and also when rumors of player trials, trades and loan deals start flying. Already today in the Times we see hints about the kind of players the Sounders want to bring in.

The Sounders will be part of the 2010 expansion draft for the new Philadelphia Union, as will all MLS clubs. So Seattle will decide on eleven players to 'protect' and we will know a few days after MLS Cup if we've lost a player to the Union. The Sounders and Union open the 2010 MLS season March 25th at Qwest Field.

Then of  course there is also the gathering of thoughts about the just-completed season that fans, writers, and club officials will go through. Sort of an 'exit interview' about the best and worst of 2009. I'll have more to say about this season as I build the GOALSeattle.com Museum Page for the 2009 Sounders. Some local writers are already typing away at the topic.

The off season is also a time to get involved with supporters groups. Sounders FC have a group of supporters under the "Emerald City" banner. Check out www.WeAreECS.com. Northenders can visit www.NorthEndSupporters.com. Let's not forget www.GorillaFC.com, either! In West Sound a group is forming to support the Kitsap Pumas. Check out their website at www.Hellcats.us. Hey, we need some action for Seattle Wolves FC and Tacoma Tide FC! Fans near those clubs should spend some off season time organizing for their locals, too! (Send me news about supporters groups at goalseattle@gmail.com)