I fail to see the point to this list. I'm so confused as to what it is or what it is intended to identify.

it is intended to be an article with a lot of pics so that there are a lot of clicks. that leads to more advertising money.

that said, it's an interesting list to look at, just to say, "so these are the kids who are playing high school, soccer huh?" and then.. idk, go back to reading about Nora (the loneliest polar bear).

Interesting how so many of the boys turned down TA to play for their high schools.

Turned down, or were cut?

I noticed that too. It's a glimpse of the future of GDA.

60 of the state's top soccer players. Hmmm, pretty exclusive.

A future? State's best already turned down GDA.

That's not true and we all know it. The 01/02 team has some very talented players. The issue is the sacrifice versus payout. These girls are sacrificing not only HS soccer - they are giving up other sports, extracurriculars, time with family and friends, homecoming....and some of them are barely playing. I guess you can make the argument that for the ones who routinely play 60-90 minutes per game it's worth it - but really is it? Are their families in a financial situation where they can't afford ECNL? Are more college scouts going to GDA events than ECNL events? Will the national team blackball players who choose ECNL over GDA, and not choose a player for national call up solely based on not doing GDA? I think we all know the answers to these questions. So for now, for this year, the sacrifice of GDA does not appear to be worth the payout. And that's what many boys have discovered - and no it's not just boys who would have gotten cut. Boys do DA and some decide after a year that the sacrifice isn't worth the limited benefits. The same thing will happen on the girls side and some very talented players are already telling their HS teams they will be back next year. Time will tell.

You don't realize the only 'payout' is the cost of useless travel and the parents get to foot the bill. The outcomes for all Oregon girls remain constant over the last 5 to 7 years, most that desire to play after HS go to NAIA and DIII Schools. There are a handful that walk on at D2 and D1 schools. Then their is a group of 15-25 girls in every graduating year that get awarded class book monies and small athletic grants and end up at lower to mid level D1 schools. The outcomes present day for girls from Oregon are far worse than a decade ago when their was no travel league (ECNL) or US Development Academy program in Oregon. Top 20 schools were actually placing Oregonian girls onto college side. That doesn't happen anymore.

Bottom line today it's an easy choice to play in the Thorns GDA if you're talented enough vs playing at the local travel club and HS program, they(Thorns) pay for your travel. This isn't rocket science folks.

On the other hand our local boys have figured out that they will never be pros, cannot compete with the best Academy teams and are relegated to the bench. They don't return after a year or two riding the pine and opt to be decent HS players, which they always were. They get a dose of reality(Timbers Professional Academy) and choose a platform that better fits their desire to at least play. Which again isn't rocket science either.

Sadly, our local clubs on the girls side of things don't have the same common sense that irrelevant local boys do in the MLS Timbers Academy. They instead continue the incredible race to nowhere and the parents pay the freight.

We don't have to worry on the girls side of things about being blacked balled for selection to the USWNT program. We don't have any talent that approaches that standard.

In the end, waste as much money as you want on travel it's your coin, or save as much money as you want playing GDA and give up recreational HS soccer. The outcomes for Oregonian girls will not change anytime soon until the best talent is consolidated at every age group at local clubs, provided they have outstanding coaching and appropriate competition. BTW, that ain't happening any time soon. It's a mess right now.

Interesting how you generalize a group, but don't really know the facts.

There is a group of between 7 to 15 girls every year from Oregon who do end up going to D1 schools and do receive athletic money > 50%.

Outcomes for girls today is not any worse than a decade ago. The players are better now than before. The landscape is different now with different options nationally. The top 20 girls 10 years ago were not any better off than the top 20 now. You have special players that come up every now and then as well as some special classes. For the most part everything is pretty much the same.

Consolidation is not going to happen.

You just repeated the op thoughts on outcomes about consolidation. Do some research and realize that prior to the GDA and the creation of the OPL Oregon girls did in fact get placed at more prominent colleges than present day.

You strangely had no reply on the boys situation in Oregon.

What proof do you have that any girls are better today than 10 years ago. Please provide some examples with comparisons. that might help you support your nonsense statement. Also the only national choice the girls have added in Oregon DA which is a national choice, all other choices are still local clubs.

Agree with most of what you say, but we had to make the choice and it was easy for us. Thorns GDA was a no go because of giving up HS Soccer. My kids will play in College and they are strong players but giving up the HS experience was just to much to ask for us.

So what to do then? Assuming the earlier post about outcomes being the same regardless, that is, which I tend to agree with.

GDA = Money savings for parents. No high school sports. Extensive travel. Giving up other extracurriculars like non-sports clubs, church activities, homecoming, etc. Unknown if college coaches will scout games but my guess is they will for larger events.

ECNL = Expensive. Freedom to do high schools sports including soccer. Potentially less travel because of playing 2 games/weekend, but still a lot of travel. Freedom to do HS non sports activities. Proven track record of college scouts attending even league games.

TA and other Oregon clubs = Cheaper but can be expensive if it's a successful team. League games much more local but there can be travel if the team is strong. Freedom to participate in all HS sports and activities. College coaches probably not showing up unless team gets to Surf or attends Vegas or Crossfire or Mustang.

So it's up to each family. What can you afford? Where are your priorities? What is your kid willing to sacrifice? What are YOU willing to sacrifice (ECNL and GDA teams currently have players from Bend, Medford and Eugene on rosters - that is most certainly a sacrifice for the entire family). Each family will hopefully make the decision that works for their family. And each year girls will hop back and forth between GDA, ECNL and neighborhood clubs.

The platform (HS, Club or GDA) has little to no impact on whether Oregon girls end up playing in college or not.

All that should matter is finding a quality club, quality parents, quality players and of course quality coaching.

Since no club or DA can approach to check all the boxes listed above: it's is very difficult to make a club or DA choice these days, you are left rationalizing choices based on worthless acronym(s) & marketing stunts by clubs (TT/OYSA leagues/Cups/ODP & ECN-League/showcases) now throw into the mix the subsidized NWSL Thorns DA it becomes even messier.

Especially, since none of them have qualitatively separated themselves from each other you can actually make the argument that you want to play in HS & Club or give up HS and play DA, as the outcomes will be the same regardless. i

It's really sad how diluted and insignificant our club landscape has become with the advent of the unemployed millennial coaches payroll feature. Which forces this ilk of coaches who want to continue to make barely a living wage they are forced to convince paying members to stay in their desire achieve a living wage. All the while you get to hear about how great staying with them is when it comes to your chances of going to college yet their results on the pitch are simply abysmal.

Gone are the days where if you played at 'x' club and you were on a regionally and national relevant club team, many doors to college would be opened.
Based on just one thing 'on field performances'.