Cross the Country, for this outcome? It S#cks

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Most of the country--and the world--considers artificial turf to be an unacceptable playing surface for the game of soccer, under any circumstances or conditions.

We in Orygun are kinda weird.

And most parts of the world don't have rainfall like Oregon has. Sometimes conditions dictate the playing surface.

[Unregistered]

Do you feel the same about the Oregon thorns and ODP players who dealt with the same weather issues in Arizona a few years back? One “game” they played was just a PK shootout - to determine who advanced in the ODP finals. Are you okay with that?

The big difference is that Oregon ODP teams are competitive when they play in Arizona. ECNL games being cancelled just eliminates additional negative goal differential for the Oregon teams.

[Unregistered]

Do you feel the same about the Oregon thorns and ODP players who dealt with the same weather issues in Arizona a few years back? One “game” they played was just a PK shootout - to determine who advanced in the ODP finals. Are you okay with that?

The scope of my thoughts were directed at the local 501c3 neighborhood clubs.

Programs like ODP & the NWSL Thorn DA are connected to the USNT & US Soccer are not to be be confused with a local community club decision.

Apples & Oranges.

[Unregistered]

Big difference..my parents footed the bill for NJ.

Thorns covered all travel costs in your case, and its not your dime.

In college school pays all the travel cost and many girls never get off the bench.

Local clubs have to answer to parents due to the insane optional travel cost like last weekend's fiasco in NJ.

Dear StopWatch,

20 minutes per game is an acceptable allocation of playing time for a bench player. This isn't basketball when you sub players every few minutes. Players on the pitch require time to build game chemistry and most good coaches will use the 30 minute 1st team and 10 minute substitution method half to half or simply play the bench the final 20 minutes of either first or second half depending on game flow.

Signed,

Life Isn't Fair

[Unregistered]

WTH, my DD went to NC and played 61 minutes in 3 games. And she wasn't the low minutes champion. The coaches have destroyed GDA thats why the U15s have to bring up several U14s after the debacle. Aint a party. I'm trying to support it but....

Dear StopWatch,

20 minutes per game is an acceptable allocation of playing time for a bench player. This isn't basketball when you sub players every few minutes. Players on the pitch require time to build game chemistry and most good coaches will use the 30 minute 1st team and 10 minute substitution method half to half or simply play the bench the final 20 minutes of either first or second half depending on game flow.

Signed,

Life Isn't Fair

[Unregistered]

The big difference is that Oregon ODP teams are competitive when they play in Arizona. ECNL games being cancelled just eliminates additional negative goal differential for the Oregon teams.

Ok Yeah BTDT with 2 DDs, They generally beat Alaska and New Mexico and get stuffed by AZ and CA.

[Unregistered]

Theres a certain level of 'locked in' that comes with the territory. And they know if she tries out for another team and doesn't make it...lots of pressure. There is still some hope with all the openings that occurred at the last transition, just frustrating and I'm not alone.

Lots of non-rostered players now due to injuries and complacency. Something has to give as well on the high school front. If you're averaging less than 40 minutes a game, high school at least offers a little more reward. Kids like to play! That applies to both club, ECNL and DA. ECNL and OYSA by most accounts offers more playing time to non-starters than the GDA without compromising internal competition.

Wait wait wait here and back up the truck. Are you telling me that you, an alleged grown human being, are being held hostage by a soccer club? What do you mean by "locked in?" Are you telling me that a player currently rostered to Thorns academy might try out for, say, Westside, and not make it? And then if she had to go crawling back to Thorns they might retaliate by what - playing her even less?

I'm not sure if you are a troll, pulling our legs, or are legitimately this crazy. But here's my advice since you posted your troubles on here.

If your kid is rostered to Thorns academy but can't make every other team in the state as a starter, she has no business playing on Thorns academy.

If your kid is rostered to Thorns academy, giving up high school, and getting 20 minutes or less per game, AND is unhappy about this situation, you are failing as a parent by letting/making her stick with Thorns.

If your kid is rostered to Thorns academy, getting less than 20 minutes playing time per game, and is perfectly fine with it, and YOU have the problem, you need to get a life.

If you are allowing a club to dictate what is best for your child simply because it's cheap, has the Thorns patch on the jersey, or tells you that they are the best, you are failing dreadfully as a parent. Be the parent. Figure out what your kid wants. Help her to understand if what she wants is reasonable (hint - not every girl is good enough to be a starter on a Thorns team, and for some girls, no amount of training will change that). Help her set reasonable goals and help her figure out what path will get her there. And stop airing your unseemly dirty laundry on TS because the picture you are painting is UG-LY. Thorns gets enough bad press as it is.

[Unregistered]

Theres a certain level of 'locked in' that comes with the territory. And they know if she tries out for another team and doesn't make it...lots of pressure. There is still some hope with all the openings that occurred at the last transition, just frustrating and I'm not alone.

Lots of non-rostered players now due to injuries and complacency. Something has to give as well on the high school front. If you're averaging less than 40 minutes a game, high school at least offers a little more reward. Kids like to play! That applies to both club, ECNL and DA. ECNL and OYSA by most accounts offers more playing time to non-starters than the GDA without compromising internal competition.

I'm not at all sure what "internal competition" means but there is little question that as soon as you replace starters with bench players in a game or practice you "compromise".

[Unregistered]

The scope of my thoughts were directed at the local 501c3 neighborhood clubs.

Programs like ODP & the NWSL Thorn DA are connected to the USNT & US Soccer are not to be be confused with a local community club decision.

Apples & Oranges.

ODP has 0 connection to the USNT.

[Unregistered]

ODP has 0 connection to the USNT.

we were told the best ODP players are the reserve NWSL Thorn DA and thus connected at least in theory

[Unregistered]

we were told the best ODP players are the reserve NWSL Thorn DA and thus connected at least in theory

You were lied to.

[Unregistered]

we were told the best ODP players are the reserve NWSL Thorn DA and thus connected at least in theory

Well since the Thorns DA has no connection to the national team it would stand to reason being a reserve of the DA (OPD member) wouldn't get you any closer.

[Unregistered]

ODP has 0 connection to the USNT.

click here to learn young padawan.

https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/about-odp/


Purpose
The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program was formed in 1977 to identify a pool of players in each age group from which a National Team will be selected for international competition; to provide high-level training to benefit and enhance the development of players at all levels; and, through the use of carefully selected and licensed coaches, develop a mechanism for the exchange of ideas and curriculum to improve all levels of coaching.

[Unregistered]

Well since the Thorns DA has no connection to the national team it would stand to reason being a reserve of the DA (OPD member) wouldn't get you any closer.

Not according to US Soccer, wrong again.

The U.S. Soccer Development Academy (DA) is an American soccer league, considered the top tier of youth soccer in the United States. Formed in 2007, the league features youth academies and youth clubs from various organizations, including Major League Soccer, the North American Soccer League and the United Soccer Leagues. It succeeded the Super Y-League as the premier youth soccer league in the U.S. The DA's mission is to provide education, resources, and support to impact everyday club environments in order to develop world-class players.

As of the 2016-17 season, the Academy has 149 total clubs, in five age groups: U-12, U-13, U-14, U-15/16, and U-17/18. The Academy is currently in the process of expanding their programming to include a Girls' Development Academy that will consist of 74 clubs and will begin in the fall of 2017.

History
The U.S. Soccer Development Academy was founded in 2007, after a comprehensive review of elite player development conducted by the USSF, to serve as the top tier for youth soccer in the United States and provide an elite everyday environment for player development. The organization was created as a partnership between U.S. Soccer and top level clubs across the country, emphasizing increased training with more competitive games versus more games in general, with the ultimate goal of producing world-class players.

The league serves to connect national team coaches at all age levels directly with elite youth players, while also serving as a venue for advanced coaching and referee development.

The league is unique among other professional soccer leagues domestically, as it runs on a winter-based schedule. The season generally begins in September and ends in June or July. There is usually a hiatus in January and February, and players have the summer off. Most of the clubs are associated with professional teams, either in North America through MLS, the NASL or the USL, or with European clubs. The professional teams cover most, if not all of the fees, while the academies offer a pipeline of talent to the professional club.

The league also welcomed two Canadian teams, the respective academy sides for the professional clubs of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the Montreal Impact of MLS. The only MLS club whose youth teams do not participate in the league is Toronto FC.

The DA celebrated its 10th season, and recently unveiled a new logo. The logo features an inextricable link to the U.S. Soccer crest, and features the letters "DA", for Development Academy. The forward and upward motion of the logo's shape signifies the strategic growth and direction of the program. The four stripes represent the four pillars of the Development Academy: excellence, pride, tradition, and education.

[Unregistered]

Not according to US Soccer, wrong again.

The U.S. Soccer Development Academy (DA) is an American soccer league, considered the top tier of youth soccer in the United States. Formed in 2007, the league features youth academies and youth clubs from various organizations, including Major League Soccer, the North American Soccer League and the United Soccer Leagues. It succeeded the Super Y-League as the premier youth soccer league in the U.S. The DA's mission is to provide education, resources, and support to impact everyday club environments in order to develop world-class players.

As of the 2016-17 season, the Academy has 149 total clubs, in five age groups: U-12, U-13, U-14, U-15/16, and U-17/18. The Academy is currently in the process of expanding their programming to include a Girls' Development Academy that will consist of 74 clubs and will begin in the fall of 2017.

History
The U.S. Soccer Development Academy was founded in 2007, after a comprehensive review of elite player development conducted by the USSF, to serve as the top tier for youth soccer in the United States and provide an elite everyday environment for player development. The organization was created as a partnership between U.S. Soccer and top level clubs across the country, emphasizing increased training with more competitive games versus more games in general, with the ultimate goal of producing world-class players.

The league serves to connect national team coaches at all age levels directly with elite youth players, while also serving as a venue for advanced coaching and referee development.

The league is unique among other professional soccer leagues domestically, as it runs on a winter-based schedule. The season generally begins in September and ends in June or July. There is usually a hiatus in January and February, and players have the summer off. Most of the clubs are associated with professional teams, either in North America through MLS, the NASL or the USL, or with European clubs. The professional teams cover most, if not all of the fees, while the academies offer a pipeline of talent to the professional club.

The league also welcomed two Canadian teams, the respective academy sides for the professional clubs of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the Montreal Impact of MLS. The only MLS club whose youth teams do not participate in the league is Toronto FC.

The DA celebrated its 10th season, and recently unveiled a new logo. The logo features an inextricable link to the U.S. Soccer crest, and features the letters "DA", for Development Academy. The forward and upward motion of the logo's shape signifies the strategic growth and direction of the program. The four stripes represent the four pillars of the Development Academy: excellence, pride, tradition, and education.

Please don't regurgitate sales literature and old pyramid scheme brochure fodder like it still applies today. That's old news. The soccer landscape has changed ten-fold since this path was first introduced. 3/4 of the current USWNT came through the ECNL platform. US Soccer can provide all the drivel they want to give credence to their new little league but USNTs will always find and take the best players. No top players are partaking in ODP any longer and haven't for the last half decade.