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All major clubs in Oregon subsidize players!

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    #31
    [QUOTE=
    Free isn't a good value if your kid never gets to play.
    You can be ripped off in more ways than financially.[/QUOTE]

    GDA is "supposed" to be an elite program. If you're kid doesn't get to play, then you've probably over estimated their ability. There are many ways to handle this: identify the weaknesses and improve, b1tch, or quit. A few of those choices won't win you the "parent of the year award".

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      #32
      Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
      Funny, TA does the same thing on the boys side. They actually believe they are doing the kids and community a service. If they would quit putting players on their roster based on checkbook size and friendships the team would have the requisite talent to be on the field. THEY ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS YET they need to see the field for game time to keep developing if they are on the roster.

      Did anyone else here David Beckham on cowerd yesterday? He talked about being committed to building a world class youth academy in Miami that the community can be proud of and ultimately to develop and keep homegrown talent for their MLS franchise. He spoke about its importance and their dedication to it. TA could stand to take a few minutes to listen to the interview and change the heap of chit we have currently. They should have some pride and integrity and they would actually benefit from it rather than it be the hinderance and necessary evil as they currently view it
      I am not sure the Timbers care honestly. They have formed a decent MLS franchise and a good NWSL franchise with a 2nd rate academy. At this point it isn't much more than public relations.

      It is expensive and it may be they offload the GDA or BDA like they did with the u23s.

      But as long as they have a decent first team and they can convince the fan base that everything is fine in the Academy, no problema. Telling that they have recently hired former soccer writers to join their PR team - watch for more articles in the coming years about how the academy is turning the corner.

      Separately, other clubs in town don't like subsidizing the Academy and that things like recruiting rules that most clubs are subject to, seem not to apply to the Timbers. So you will continue to hear club frustration . . . however their willingness to do anything about it died when the OPL died.

      So we all pay the timbers' tax, bitch about it, and go on our not so merry way. Occasionally we vote out OYSA officers who have their heads too far up the Timbers ass, but that takes energy and coordination.

      Before I get flamed for what is above - I don't endorse the status quo at all. The Timbers have the exclusive MLS franchise in this market, which gives them wide leeway. Don't like it, don't buy tickets or beer.

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        #33
        Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
        GDA is "supposed" to be an elite program. If you're kid doesn't get to play, then you've probably over estimated their ability. There are many ways to handle this: identify the weaknesses and improve, b1tch, or quit. A few of those choices won't win you the "parent of the year award".
        Totally agree. And if you can't gather 18 elite players across two full birth years, your program is not elite.

        Comment


          #34
          Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
          I'll say it again. So several players are getting free trips to California (less their $2125 in fees), for the privilege of sitting on the bench while their teammates play - and you think this should be celebrated? Really? The 01/02 team brought 18 to Cali last weekend which means 7 didn't even get to travel. Of the 18 that travelled, 10 played the full game Saturday (1-1 tie), which means 4 girls got zero minutes and the other 4 got to share 80 minutes of play. And you think this is great because it's FREE? Are college coaches now making offers based on how enthusiastically you sit on the bench?

          If nothing else, we have learned two things from Thorns GDA:

          Free isn't a good value if your kid never gets to play.
          You can be ripped off in more ways than financially.
          If you are paying to play then you should go do something differently.

          You pay $2K and put in the the time to try to get better. The coach should put the players that give them the best opportunity to win a game. You need to earn your playing time.

          If you are doing above and not getting playing time then you should re-evaluate your abilities and willingness to continue investing in dollars and time.

          Comment


            #35
            Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
            Thorns pay for ALL the athletes travel costs after it exhausts the revenue it collected (2k +125 x # athletes on the roster).
            Parents pay the first quarter of a million dollars of travel then thorns kick in some money.

            Unfortunately some of the games aren't very good so you wouldn't pay for them anyway.

            Comment


              #36
              Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
              Totally agree. And if you can't gather 18 elite players across two full birth years, your program is not elite.
              Exactly! TA and ECNL both have trouble getting a solid 11, let alone 18

              Comment


                #37
                Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                I'll say it again. So several players are getting free trips to California (less their $2125 in fees), for the privilege of sitting on the bench while their teammates play - and you think this should be celebrated? Really? The 01/02 team brought 18 to Cali last weekend which means 7 didn't even get to travel. Of the 18 that travelled, 10 played the full game Saturday (1-1 tie), which means 4 girls got zero minutes and the other 4 got to share 80 minutes of play. And you think this is great because it's FREE? Are college coaches now making offers based on how enthusiastically you sit on the bench?

                If nothing else, we have learned two things from Thorns GDA:

                Free isn't a good value if your kid never gets to play.
                You can be ripped off in more ways than financially.
                Same for all the Academy teams. Some on the 00/99 team didn't travel, some didn't play at all, a couple only played 6 minutes and the usual strarters played all game. While girls are never thrilled to not get to play in games, it's no surprise to anyone in the Academy. The bench sitters are good players too. They know the deal and are working hard to improve at practice to earn the chance to play & travel in a very elite group. At least they all paid the same subsidized reasonable fees up front and didn't have to pay extra for travel and then not play like happens on club teams. The GDA non-travelers and bench players also get to practice alongside the elite players and will benefit from being in that environment. A couple might even move up to earning playing time. Winning matters so that Thorns can make it into the DA playoffs and have a good record so only the girls they think are the best get to play the majority of the time. If that Thorns team had played everyone, they probably lose instead of tie. Thorns isn't being mean and isn't trying to fool anyone. GDA has been up front about its purpose from the get go. Academy is for soccer first, serious elite soccer players. Academy isn't about equal playing time, playing multiple HS sports, a trophy for every player rec soccer and shouldn't be judged on those terms. Thorns Academy already got one YNT call up (a 2001 goalkeeper from Eugene) - that is their purpose and that is what they should be judged by. That is a big success for Thorns. If Thorns isn't for you, don't try out. If you're in it and want out, try out for a different team. Same for Ecnl! My kids chose not to try out for either GDA or ECNL but we know plenty of girls that are happy at both. I also know players that have switched out of both and also players that have switched into both GDA & Ecnl. Tired of folks bashing programs that are doing exactly what they advertised. No program is perfect but pick the best one for you, do the best you can and move to a different program if one doesn't work out as planned. Wish we could all work together to make all three paths better instead of fighting against each other and bashing the other programs.

                Comment


                  #38
                  Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                  Parents pay the first quarter of a million dollars of travel then thorns kick in some money.

                  Unfortunately some of the games aren't very good so you wouldn't pay for them anyway.

                  Beggars can’t be choosers

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                    #39
                    Talking soccer

                    GDA has been a real disappointment. Will they be back next year? Dumped on Westside?

                    Comment


                      #40
                      Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                      GDA has been a real disappointment. Will they be back next year? Dumped on Westside?
                      Hopefully Eastside Timbers!

                      Comment


                        #41
                        Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                        GDA has been a real disappointment. Will they be back next year? Dumped on Westside?
                        Is your daughter playing on the GDA team?

                        Comment


                          #42
                          Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                          Hopefully Eastside Timbers!
                          Westside or Eastside would be good but Washington Timbers perhaps the best spot for Thorns Academy

                          Comment


                            #43
                            Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                            Westside or Eastside would be good but Washington Timbers perhaps the best spot for Thorns Academy
                            Trying to figure out which fart smells the least....

                            Comment


                              #44
                              Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                              Hopefully Eastside Timbers!
                              That would be the logical choice to hand off the thorns academy teams given the history of development of female players.

                              Comment


                                #45
                                Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                                That would be the logical choice to hand off the thorns academy teams given the history of development of female players.
                                I think Eastside would fit with the thorns academy nicely.

                                Comment

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