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Trouble with Oldest Academy Team

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    Trouble with Oldest Academy Team

    As many people here predicted, tryout numbers were good for all academy teams except the 99's/00's. That age group is so close to graduating and there were not enough skilled takers in a new and unproven program that requires giving up so much.

    So now coaches are scrambling trying to figure out which 01's get the honor(?) of playing up. It's an unsustainable solution because taking too many 01's this year (enough for the 01/02 team and enough to fill the substantial gaps on the 00/99 team) mean many 01's will do academy this year and not have a spot next year. It will be interesting to see if coaches fill the 99/00 team with the strongest 01's, as is traditionally done with playups, or if they keep their very strong 01/02 team intact and fill the 99/00 team with girls who would have otherwise been cut. Sources say the 01 families from last year are pretty loud about not wanting to play up (understandable considering the 02's are the strongest players on that team).

    A bit of a shaky start for academy. Remember they are mandated to field four teams. So one way or another they have to pull it together with that oldest team.

    #2
    The turnout for the two older ages was frustrating. But as in life you have to play the cards you are dealt so making the best of the situation will be important to keep in mind. Getting discouraged won't do any good.

    Comment


      #3
      GDA will be fine. It is not about winning or losing. It is about development. They will just develop whomever makes the team. If you think it should be any more than that, than you are already delusional. No one is going to turn into an National Camp player overnight, if ever from this area.

      Comment


        #4
        If boys want to be recruited by top colleges, what choices do they have other than Timbers Academy?

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          #5
          Who cares. Wrong thread.

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
            The turnout for the two older ages was frustrating. But as in life you have to play the cards you are dealt so making the best of the situation will be important to keep in mind. Getting discouraged won't do any good.

            We tried to bring a few players out but honestly the commitment level was just too high. Not sure why but girls like high school sports. Seems not smart but whatever.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
              We tried to bring a few players out but honestly the commitment level was just too high. Not sure why but girls like high school sports. Seems not smart but whatever.
              Academy will be successful at younger ages this year. The 99's and 00's are either finished with the recruiting process or locked in with their old teams or committed to finishing high school doing other sports and activities they love. The plan is to build a strong 01/02 team and then next year the older team (in theory 00/01) will be mostly 01's. It'll be fine although the 01's who get shipped to the older team probably won't be too happy this year.

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                We tried to bring a few players out but honestly the commitment level was just too high. Not sure why but girls like high school sports. Seems not smart but whatever.
                For most people having more balance in life is a good thing. If you get obsessive about something young there's a very good chance that you will crash and burn at some point.

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                  #9
                  Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                  We tried to bring a few players out but honestly the commitment level was just too high. Not sure why but girls like high school sports. Seems not smart but whatever.
                  You "seems not smart"

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                    #10
                    Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                    We tried to bring a few players out but honestly the commitment level was just too high. Not sure why but girls like high school sports. Seems not smart but whatever.
                    Who's "we"? Fact: most of the quality at the 99/00 age group resides at FC Portland. These players all play for quality high school programs and didn't see the need or benefit of giving something up for no gain. When you give up something for nothing additional back that's commonly referred to as a sacrifice. In this case the sacrifice was not worth a couple of thousand dollars difference.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                      Who's "we"? Fact: most of the quality at the 99/00 age group resides at FC Portland. These players all play for quality high school programs and didn't see the need or benefit of giving something up for no gain. When you give up something for nothing additional back that's commonly referred to as a sacrifice. In this case the sacrifice was not worth a couple of thousand dollars difference.
                      I think this is true and one thing the academy model overlooks. If your kid is happy where she is and you can afford to stay, you will not switch. You can't put a price on your kid being happy, well coached, with friends, and improving at something she loves. I know this will cue the "ECNL coaches and teams are terrible!" crowd, to which I say - no problem. Don't do it then. But understand that many, many families, especially families of older girls, are happy right where they are, and making another option cheap won't change that.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                        I think this is true and one thing the academy model overlooks. If your kid is happy where she is and you can afford to stay, you will not switch. You can't put a price on your kid being happy, well coached, with friends, and improving at something she loves. I know this will cue the "ECNL coaches and teams are terrible!" crowd, to which I say - no problem. Don't do it then. But understand that many, many families, especially families of older girls, are happy right where they are, and making another option cheap won't change that.
                        Well said, I think this will actually be true clear down to 04's. The DA ignores the social and friendship elements of girls soccer at their own peril.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                          Well said, I think this will actually be true clear down to 04's. The DA ignores the social and friendship elements of girls soccer at their own peril.
                          No, I disagree. The 01/02 team from last year almost entirely joined academy before starting high school. They already had a year of missed school and travel. Along with a year of the coaches telling them high school sports will ruin their chances of a pro career. They are indoctrinated. If their roster is ever posted it'll be interesting to see if anyone jumped off because of HS sports. Many of the top players on the 01/02 team are multi sport athletes who are successful in XC, basketball, and track. I wonder if part of the delay posting the roster is parents negotiating and saying their kid won't take a spot if they have to give up whatever HS sport is their favorite.

                          The 03 team will be all 7th and 8th graders. Again most will have spent a year hearing ODP coaches tell them their only shot of success at the next level is academy and giving up HS sports. And since they aren't in high school yet they don't know what they're missing.

                          I think the only skeptics are 99's and 00's.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                            No, I disagree. The 01/02 team from last year almost entirely joined academy before starting high school. They already had a year of missed school and travel. Along with a year of the coaches telling them high school sports will ruin their chances of a pro career. They are indoctrinated. If their roster is ever posted it'll be interesting to see if anyone jumped off because of HS sports. Many of the top players on the 01/02 team are multi sport athletes who are successful in XC, basketball, and track. I wonder if part of the delay posting the roster is parents negotiating and saying their kid won't take a spot if they have to give up whatever HS sport is their favorite.

                            The 03 team will be all 7th and 8th graders. Again most will have spent a year hearing ODP coaches tell them their only shot of success at the next level is academy and giving up HS sports. And since they aren't in high school yet they don't know what they're missing.

                            I think the only skeptics are 99's and 00's.
                            as the parent of an 03 8th grader I can tell you many still want to play for their HS teams, even thought they don't start HS until the fall. They have older siblings and friends who play, they want to play with their old town friends, get the team swag....it is still very appealing

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                              GDA will be fine. It is not about winning or losing. It is about development. They will just develop whomever makes the team. If you think it should be any more than that, than you are already delusional. No one is going to turn into an National Camp player overnight, if ever from this area.
                              Wrong. Thorns and their minions tried to sell everyone on a pathway to the pros.

                              Now look how practical you idiots sound.

                              Thorns lying to get players? Not surprised.

                              Comment

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