Future of OR Soccer

[Unregistered]

Rumors and innuendos have been rampant, but one thing is clear.........there is a battle for the control of the future of soccer in Oregon. Please read the following and go to www.oregonpremierleague.com for further details.

"The Oregon Premier Council invites all who are interested in learning more about the current state of competitive soccer and the plans for strengthening the future of soccer in Oregon through the Oregon Premier League to a public forum Sunday, April 18, at 7:00pm at Lake Oswego High School (Multi-Purpose Room).

Please read this PDF with more details on this forum.

Representatives from each of the eight OPC clubs will be on hand to speak on behalf of their clubs and to answer your questions and address each of your concerns, with facts and without innuendo. We will present our plans and our programs to you and will gladly answer all questions you have.
We want as much openness and transparency as possible. We also understand that change brings some apprehension. We trust that your questions will lead to a great discussion about our vision for soccer in Oregon as we head into the near and long term. "

[Unregistered]

Is anyone else planning on attending this? I personally would like to hear what some of these people have to say. This does not mean I agree with them, nor do I disagree. I would just like to see more open forums to discuss what appears to be a battle for the direction of soccer in Oregon.

[Unregistered]

I don't know much about what's going on with OYSA vs. OPL. How bad are those of us that live outside of the Portland area going to get screwed by OPL's proposed changes?

[Unregistered]

I don't know much about what's going on with OYSA vs. OPL. How bad are those of us that live outside of the Portland area going to get screwed by OPL's proposed changes?

What 'proposed changes' are you referring too?

[Unregistered]

What 'proposed changes' are you referring too?

"battle for the control of the future of soccer in Oregon" ie proposed change in leadership.

[Unregistered]

"battle for the control of the future of soccer in Oregon" ie proposed change in leadership.

And you would consider this a bad thing why?

[Unregistered]

Sorry, I guess I should have been more clear:

I live outside of the Portland area
This means:
1. I haven't heard many specifics about what an OYSA to OPL transition would mean.
2. From what I have heard, for those of us living outside the Portland area, all games would be away games.

Given that the only specific thing I've heard is (2), OPL would be a downgrade from OYSA. But given (1), there's probably more to the story so please enlighten me.

[Unregistered]

Sorry, I guess I should have been more clear:

I live outside of the Portland area
This means:
1. I haven't heard many specifics about what an OYSA to OPL transition would mean.
2. From what I have heard, for those of us living outside the Portland area, all games would be away games.

Given that the only specific thing I've heard is (2), OPL would be a downgrade from OYSA. But given (1), there's probably more to the story so please enlighten me.

All I can comment on is what I heard from others since my daughters are both older than U12. I had heard that things ran smoothly, communication was open and updated quickly. Things seem to run without a hitch.

I personally am going to attend the meeting referred to so that I can find out first hand before I pass judgement one way or the other. I also feel that the push for such change may be fueled by OYSA's past performance record. Not stellar IMO.

[Unregistered]

I also feel that the push for such change may be fueled by OYSA's past performance record. Not stellar IMO.

Certainly the impression that I get in talking to other soccer parents is that OYSA is not that well-run. However, I haven't really had much problem with them. Sure, they take forever to post schedules for tourneys and league play but that's not that big of a deal (is there more?). I'm happy to put up with some minor inconveniences rather than moving to a "Portland" Premier League. But as is often the case, the little guys get the shaft.

[Unregistered]

I'm happy to put up with some minor inconveniences rather than moving to a "Portland" Premier League. But as is often the case, the little guys get the shaft.

If you look at who participated in the OPL fall league (link from their site) you will see there are considerably more than just "Portland" clubs. Given that breadth of involvement I would assume the league would not be limited to just Portland.

[Unregistered]

If you look at who participated in the OPL fall league (link from their site) you will see there are considerably more than just "Portland" clubs. Given that breadth of involvement I would assume the league would not be limited to just Portland.

My understanding is those non-Portland clubs are basically forced to play in OPL if they want the competition. Correct me if I'm wrong but that's one part of this deal. The Portland teams are saying "why should we have to travel to any games when the competition's good enough here?" "If you wan't to play in our league then you're welcome to, but we're not going to travel outside of the area" That's a "Portland" premier league if you ask me and it's unfair.

[Unregistered]

How is that unfair? It's driven by demand, as everything in life is. OYSA and the smaller remote clubs will find that they don't really hold the power. The power is in the numbers, which resides in the Portland Metro area. Look at the U-11 state cup brackets, it is a joke. But if OPL makes a break, that is what every age level will look like for state cup. If OYSA wants to oversee competitive soccer, it sounds to me like they have dropped the ball by not listening to the needs and issues of the competitive clubs. It sounds like a mess they could have prevented.

[Unregistered]

How is that unfair? It's driven by demand

What is fair is certainly open to debate, but just because something is driven by demand doesn't mean that it's fair. You're confusing two different things. In fact, you go on to talk about who holds the power and how that power should be wielded. Your argument isn't about fairness but about (ab)using power.

Fairness is something else. I believe that it is fair that if two teams are in a league that they should play twice, once on each team's home pitch. You are saying, screw fairness, we have the power.

[Unregistered]

What is fair is certainly open to debate, but just because something is driven by demand doesn't mean that it's fair. You're confusing two different things. In fact, you go on to talk about who holds the power and how that power should be wielded. Your argument isn't about fairness but about (ab)using power.

Fairness is something else. I believe that it is fair that if two teams are in a league that they should play twice, once on each team's home pitch. You are saying, screw fairness, we have the power.

I remember when OYSA qualifiers were in Corvallis. This caused a tidlewave of people traveling to Corvallis. Given the current environmental concerns worldwide, picking a location where 95% of the teams participating would have to travel is not fair, it is just stupid.

We are not talking about fairness as much as a business decision. If you want to join OPL to get better competition for your team then you can, but with the understanding you will travel to portland for all games. This is not a state mandated sports league. These clubs are run like businesses and as such they can make decisions based on what a majority of their customers want (e.g. no travel). For example, if you wanted to buy an audi and the only dealership was in Portland, would you expect them to open a audi dealership in your town so you can buy it.

Bottom line: Club soccer is a business and as such listens to its customers.

[Unregistered]

I remember when OYSA qualifiers were in Corvallis. This caused a tidlewave of people traveling to Corvallis. Given the current environmental concerns worldwide, picking a location where 95% of the teams participating would have to travel is not fair, it is just stupid.

We are not talking about fairness as much as a business decision. If you want to join OPL to get better competition for your team then you can, but with the understanding you will travel to portland for all games. This is not a state mandated sports league. These clubs are run like businesses and as such they can make decisions based on what a majority of their customers want (e.g. no travel). For example, if you wanted to buy an audi and the only dealership was in Portland, would you expect them to open a audi dealership in your town so you can buy it.

Bottom line: Club soccer is a business and as such listens to its customers.

Are you kidding me?! What a disgusting attitude, clear abuse of power, and an incredibly short sighted approach. I am no fan of OYSA, but if the powers that be of OPL have opinions that are consistent with the above, then very little good will come of this power grab. And now this talk of wanting "transparency." After the fact?