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To many leagues to much money

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    To many leagues to much money

    Looking at the landscape of girls youth soccer it is clear there is to many Elite leagues driving up the cost and lowering the quality in Oregon. Now I am seeing that boys could be heading in this direction too.

    Reviewing the 2019/2020 Northwest Conference of the ECNL you basically have the top four teams in Seattle and the top two teams in Portland (you can now add in Westside/Portland Thorns) and Boise. We used to call this the USYS Regional League.

    Add in the GAL. I have heard Eugene Timers, Harbor FC, Vancouver Timbers and Bridge City (who have never played a league game anywhere) will be joining. Other teams ISC Gunners and Spokane. These clubs historically have been second tier state league clubs, sometimes getting into the regional league, with exception of Bridge City who have never done anything.

    Lets not forget about the Elite Academy League. Northeast's Portland's United PDx is playing in the league I have head. Not sure what the club requirements are for entrance but United have not been an elite club, they really do not even have U15 and above programs that are fully developed.

    Last not an Oregon thing but a "Don't Let Oregon In" the BENCL in Washington. Again this is just the old state league not sure what is Elite.

    Of course there should be a conversation about access to showcases. Wait no there shouldn't, Nothing really new, showcases have been around forever.

    My conclusion and I think the only conclusion is we are seeing the fleecing of the American Soccer Parent. Not worthy of an episode of American Greed but at least a local news special. If they called it the "Several Times A Year Vacation With My Friends League" I could go for that.

    Oh please don't bring up women's D1 players come from these leagues. There are so many more soccer D1 spots for women. 205 men's teams to 333 women's teams. With an average roster of 28 that is over 9,300 players compared to 5,700. Women's team can also award up the 14 scholarships compared to 9.9 for men's. You really don't have to play in an elite league to play women's soccer especially when you add in D2, D3, NAIA and Juco's. Many team can't even fill the rosters.

    It is your money, but when you are doing your budget and 10% of your disposable income is going to fly your kid around the country to player soccer, you might consider what else that money could be used for. For example if you put that money monthly into a saving account from U13 to U18 and then didn't touch the balance for 30 years, just let interest do the work it could be worth upwards of $250,000. Something to think about when you are a long ways away from home and look over at your kids soccer coach drinking a cold beverage on your dime.

    This of course is just my opinion, I really want to hear back from the soccer community.

    #2
    Then don’t play. Not that hard. If you don’t want to hear back from the soccer community then don’t post a 500 word essay to a message board.

    Comment


      #3
      If you are chasing a league you’ve already been fooled.

      Facts will tell you that. Your lying coach telling you that abcdnl elite bs whatever is the way, they are lying to you.

      Comment


        #4
        Please read again

        Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
        Then don’t play. Not that hard. If you don’t want to hear back from the soccer community then don’t post a 500 word essay to a message board.
        The post says I can't wait to hear from the community. I want feedback.

        Regarding your response, then don't play. I am not playing, nor have I have ever had a child player in one of these league. As someone that is involved in the process I just thought I would send a buyers beware post.

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          #5
          Not that I really care about this post, but really, if you are an adult or even a grade school graduate, you should know some basic grammar and spelling.
          Too many leagues, too much money.

          Comment


            #6
            Bridge City is playing in OYSA and has been since last year. Not sure what the original poster is talking about.

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              #7
              Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
              Not that I really care about this post, but really, if you are an adult or even a grade school graduate, you should know some basic grammar and spelling.
              Too many leagues, too much money.
              Check your grammar. I find it humorous when some yahoo is calling out bad grammar while using bad grammar.

              Comment


                #8
                The Thorns Academy and Pre-Academy teams are moving towards a partially, if not fully funded program over the next 5 years. It sounds like the goal is to draw the best players to one club and get out of the pay-to-play system. In the first season of the Pre-Academy progam both teams won the OYSA Premier Gold Division (U11 & U12). THE U11 team went undefeated and had a goal ratio of 36 points for, and only 1 goal against for the season. That's a pretty solid foundation to build on.

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                  #9
                  Oh boy, here we go again.

                  They tried that before with the thorns academy. Then the costs started creeping up. The coaching quality was not great in my opinion.

                  How do they plan to fund the thorns? Money they are making from OYSA? We all know there is very little money in women's soccer and I doubt they are doing it for charitable purposes.

                  Most of the players that went through the thorns programs didn't seem to improve much.

                  I think they will really struggle to get the elite players. But if the plan is to just have a girls program like Eastside or Corvallis, it will be fun for the kids.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                    Oh boy, here we go again.

                    They tried that before with the thorns academy. Then the costs started creeping up. The coaching quality was not great in my opinion.

                    How do they plan to fund the thorns? Money they are making from OYSA? We all know there is very little money in women's soccer and I doubt they are doing it for charitable purposes.

                    Most of the players that went through the thorns programs didn't seem to improve much.

                    I think they will really struggle to get the elite players. But if the plan is to just have a girls program like Eastside or Corvallis, it will be fun for the kids.
                    The best part of the Thorns Academy in the past was that at NWSL Thorns games they would ask the players to stand up and be recognized and it was fun for parents to get to stand up too. And sometimes they would have autograph sessions with pro players. Other than that, it was just kids soccer but if you were lucky enough to get Tobin Heath's autograph that might be worth something on Ebay someday.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      They are treating it from the top down as one program, beginning with the U11 team up through the "first team" NWSL. All of the teams have training sessions at Providence Park, and they have had several virtual sessions with Mark Parsons. As far as the funding is concerned, the club just raised close to $150,000 through an online entertainment event and auction. I'm guessing corporate sponsorships are next.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                        The best part of the Thorns Academy in the past was that at NWSL Thorns games they would ask the players to stand up and be recognized and it was fun for parents to get to stand up too. And sometimes they would have autograph sessions with pro players. Other than that, it was just kids soccer but if you were lucky enough to get Tobin Heath's autograph that might be worth something on Ebay someday.
                        This is funny. And sad.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                          Oh boy, here we go again.

                          They tried that before with the thorns academy. Then the costs started creeping up. The coaching quality was not great in my opinion.

                          How do they plan to fund the thorns? Money they are making from OYSA? We all know there is very little money in women's soccer and I doubt they are doing it for charitable purposes.

                          Most of the players that went through the thorns programs didn't seem to improve much.

                          I think they will really struggle to get the elite players. But if the plan is to just have a girls program like Eastside or Corvallis, it will be fun for the kids.


                          Hard pass for me. I wish they would stay out of youth sports.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                            Hard pass for me. I wish they would stay out of youth sports.
                            So you are saying that one of the arguably greatest and well branded teams in the history of women's sports shouldn't promote and help drive the future of young women's soccer...?

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                              So you are saying that one of the arguably greatest and well branded teams in the history of women's sports shouldn't promote and help drive the future of young women's soccer...?
                              That's exactly what I think.

                              I think the local women's soccer franchise should stick to professional soccer and selling overpriced Hefes and burrito bowls on game day.

                              Developing young female soccer players has no overlap with running a pro sports team and selling concessions.

                              Comment

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