We've all seen a "You Know You're A Football Fan When..." style question floating around on Twitter, Facebook or somewhere else online.
For me, one of my answers is always when you plan your vacation around the fixture list. Done it for years and can't see me stopping that any time soon.
The result is I get to see some great games and my wife and dog get some nice family holidays. It really is a win-win.
Getting the MLS schedule earlier and earlier is fantastic and a good starting point, but I can't plan our trips till I get to see the Whitecaps U23's PDL one as well.
That day has now come. The Caps' PDL schedule is now out and it throws up some great games, nice potential double headers, fun away days, groundhopping opportunities and even a new team (or two depending on how you look at it) to visit this summer.
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For those that don't know, Vancouver Whitecaps U23s play their matches in the Northwest Division of the USL PDL Western Conference, which also includes the U23 teams from Seattle and Portland. Cascadian derbies at every level of the game here in the Pacific Northwest.
This season the Division will house eight teams, including new side Lane United who play out of Springfield, Oregon.
There is another new name on the schedule in the Puget Sound Gunners. It may be a new name, but it's an old club. The North Sound SeaWolves have been rebranded and are sadly moving 34 miles southwest from Edmonds in Washington to Issaquah.
We say sadly because we enjoyed our <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?4788-Groundhopping-Edmonds-Stadium-Home-to-North-Sound-SeaWolves" target="_blank"><u>groundhopping trip</u></a> there last season, but that is just selfish reasons and the move should prove to more beneficial to the club.
The Whitecaps kick off their 2014 PDL campaign with a trip to Victoria to play the Highlanders at Royal Athletic Park on Sunday May 4th. It's Star Wars day, so hopefully the afternoon kick off will see a number of Caps fans head over for the game and the team will have the force with them.
The game will also mark the first match of the season in the <a href="http://www.juandefucaplate.ca/" target="_blank"><u>Juan De Fuca Plate</u></a>. Vancouver have won the plate for it's first two year of existence and Victoria will be out for revenge.
They only have two games to do it in this season and not the three as in previous seasons, with the second match being played at UBC Stadium on Friday May 23rd, in what will be Vancouver's first home game of the season after starting the season with three games on the road.
Vancouver's second game of the season throws up the first fun doubleheader possibility for fans. Or we should make that a triple header!
The Caps U23s head down to Bremerton to take on the Kitsap Pumas at 2pm on Sunday 11th. The day before this match, Vancouver's U18s and U16s Residency teams take on Seattle at Starfire, starting at noon. Now that's a fun weekend, especially as the Caps' MLS side are away in Columbus.
Cascadian derbies are always looked forward to, no matter the level.
Just look at the joy of the Caps U18s and U16s as AFTN presented them with the Cascadia Cup after beating their Portland counterparts in November.
With Portland and Seattle's U23s sides also in the PDL, the rivalry between the sides is just a fierce.
Vancouver travel to Portland on Thursday May 15th for an early 11am kick off.
The Timbers do great initiatives with their local schools for their PDL matches and have had five figure crowds at some of their games. This one is the day after TFC come a calling to BC Place in Voyageurs Cup action, so unfortunately I think I'll be missing this one.
The return match at Thunderbird Stadium is on Friday June 6th, with a 7pm kick off.
All of Vancouver's home matches are currently scheduled up at UBC this season. Not ideal at getting crowd numbers in, but hopefully we can see a little better than last year's numbers where they were firmly stuck in double digits.
The Caps U23s travel to Tacoma to play their Sounders U23 counterparts on Friday 30th May at Curtis High School.
For Whitecaps fans heading down to the MLS game in Portland the following day, heading off the night before, avoiding the border line ups and staying in Tacoma overnight let's you see two great Cascadian derbies and makes fantastic sense logistically. I'll see you there!
Vancouver wrap their season up with a home and away series against new boys Lane United on Friday July 4th at UBC and away on Tuesday July 8th.
Lane United are based out of Springfield in Oregon and will play their games at Willamalane Centre. They're having open tryouts over the next two months so you have to feel they will be somewhat of a weak team in their first season.
Great for Vancouver who could/should be able to pick up six points to close out their season and these could be vital to get into the playoff mix.
Last season Vancouver lost out in the playoffs to Portland and will be looking to go at least one better this time around and make, if not host, the Western Conference tournament.
There's been no announcement yet as to whether the Caps' side will feature professionals again this season, but we did hear a rumour that they may switch back to an amateur basis, which would allow their NCAA players the chance to play.
The PDL games are great fun both on and off the pitch. Try and get out and support the guys if you can.
Support the local guys and support local soccer. You may even see some future MLS stars in the process.
You can see the complete Whitecaps' PDL schedule on the <a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2014/8986445.html#SCHEDULE" target="_blank"><u>USL PDL website</u></a>.
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