OPL Club Finances

[Unregistered]

Interesting point of view. I think you are on to something. It is still in line with the political feel of the last two post.

OPL is for the advancement of the skilled or elite, which leads to some losses along the way.


OYSA is for everyone else and we all are winners.

I like this idea a lot. This makes the most sense. OYSA is the state organization that involves all. Kind of like U of O and OSU. OPL is like Reed College or Willametter University. Something different for the elite. Something for everyone. If I am elitist, I join OPL and play at that level. If I don't want to deal with the power of the elite, I can play in the offer that is for everyone, OYSA.

Other than the posters that want everyone to be equal and want everything for everybody which really means nothing for anybody (kind of like the No grades experiment in California) , who wouldn't like this idea?

[Unregistered]

re post #13

Obviously this situation is scary for some folks and somewhat polarizing, which I like to think means they care, but I tend to agree that maybe it will work; meaning that both OYSA and OPL survive and do what they do best.

Obviously OYSA would be smaller than it is now and would specialize in rec and what I like to call "casual classic" players - kids (and their parents) who want something more than rec but aren't looking to make the sometimes incredible commitment that a premier level team will demand.

OPL concentrates on high level competition, some say elite or elitist, but I try not to make the group of eight and the kids and parents that choose to be associated with them sound like some sort of aristocracy. My kids have played for three of those eight and have grown and learned a great deal over the years.

Will everything be smooth sailing? Not on your life. Wherever humans are involved, there will be conflict and trouble, and where there are big egos, there's no way to avoid it.

Now let's all be honest here; this whole thing started because of all the big egos. The premier clubs wanted some changes from OYSA, OYSA strung them along. Then 8v8 came along; the egos at OYSA who like to think of themselves as the paragon of soccer progressiveness thought it sounded great. The clubs who didn't like the idea and would have to do most of the work thought "no way". The egos on both sides couldn't find a compromise, so OPL was born. Right then and there the big clubs showed they were willing to forge ahead without OYSA. So does OYSA make any efforts to settle it down or to bring the clubs back into the fold? Not that I ever saw. So the egos over at the big 8 push a bit more and OPL has U10, U11 and U12. So does OYSA go to the big clubs (which were until today the same clubs represented in OYSA's own Premier Council) and say let's sit down and make this work? No, instead they declare that if you don't play in OYSA's league play, you can't play in the OYSA State Cup. So the gauntlet was thrown down. Now I suppose the OPL could have come crawling back, but those king sized egos were't about to and certainly anyone over at OYSA that had their eyes open knew they wouldn't.

So who's guilty? They all are. Who wins and who loses? Only time will tell. It would be nice if OYSA and OPL agreed to disagree and ran their two organizations to the mutual benefit of youth soccer in Oregon. I'm not holding my breath, but I'm hopeful.

OYSA does some good things. They are very egalitarian and try to tend to the needs of all the soccer players in Oregon, but don't do so well taking care of the most competitive clubs and their players; it has often been my impression that they like to take credit for Oregon successes with little mention of the clubs that do the actual training and coaching. So I can see why the big clubs got fed up. That said, the DOCs at the big clubs can all be the biggest pains in the rear that you have ever seen. Face it, all of you loyal LO, ESU, Westside, FC OSA etc. parents know it. I know a couple of the DOCs and have seen several more in action so I'm pretty confident in that assertion.

I don't know all the details of the finances, but there are some good people on the club's boards and I don't think those people are running a scam on us all in order to make themselves rich. Besides, it's a buyer's market, if the player's parents think the fees are worth it and are willing to pay, then the clubs are performing as advertised. I certainly don't think soccer is any less soccer if the club is doing well financially. Take a look at the coaches at these clubs (not the DOCs, they tend to be paid pretty well). Coaching is their passion, most have day jobs that pay their bills. Take a look at the cars they drive. If the clubs end up with some more cash, I for one would like to see some of these dedicated people get raises.

Sorry I got a bit off topic and was a bit long winded, but I thought I'd contribute to the discussion.

[Unregistered]

OPL unknown and untried

I just wish our club was not using our players as guinea pigs. If OPL is the way to go, they'll be there next year. Our families did not have a good experience in the OPL league. We did not have a single home game. Played on terrible fields. No standings were kept so we never knew how teams were doing against each other.

I say stick with OYSA for one more year and let them show they are making changes. THEN, we can all fly the coop if necessary.

[Unregistered]

Good information...thank you!

What an informative thread...thank you, #17 and #18 posters, for helping me understand what's going on. This is all new to me...we will be new to OPL next season and I wonder if any of this effects the average parent and player. Here's what I learned so far:

OPL (claims it) offers: a better grade of competition, reduced driving for Portlanders, and 11v11 at U11. Money is apparently a factor, but not a huge one (is that right?)

OYSA would say that the competition was just fine before OPL (is that true?), and that the driving is what it is (a function more of the way the population is distributed across the state).

Seems like OYSA's hands are tied with respect to the driving, if they have a statewide mandate. If they wanted to, they could address the other factors. Of course, the ego/drama/power issues that #17 mentions make this ugly.

Forgetting about the power play aspects for a moment, do I have the basic understanding of the facts? And as a parent of a 1 or 2 season OPL player, should I have any serious concerns?

[Unregistered]

Other than the posters that want everyone to be equal and want everything for everybody which really means nothing for anybody (kind of like the No grades experiment in California) , who wouldn't like this idea?

Sounds like you're a fan of OYSA where you EARN a spot in a league (gold, silver, etc.) rather than it being gifted based on what club you're from. I agree.

[Unregistered]

reduced driving for Portlanders

Are you sure? It looks like this may only be the case for the younger leagues.

[Unregistered]

So what I don't understand from everyone on here is why you care? It sounds like you prefer to not deal with those clubs so why are you so upset? You will be allowed to participte with OYSA and have the same opportunities you have now - so what is your complaint? I am trying to figure out what is best for my soccer player which league she should participate in but it appears others are more concerned about the people making the decisions then the kids they should be supporting!

[Unregistered]

Could it work

It could work and then OPL takes over classic soccer.... or it could be a disaster and then everyone is back at OYSA next year.

I just hate to see all this political fighting and intrigue in YOUTH soccer. Whether you're talking competitive or recreational teams, it's still YOUTH soccer.

The HUGE majority of the players (99% anyone) play for fun (yes, competitive teams can have fun also) and to be with their friends. Most players will never play in college and if they do, more than likely never at a Division I level college.

[Unregistered]

Seeing all these posts of OPL versus OYSA and all the egos at play, I wonder how many parents really base their decision on what club their kid plays on based on the league.

In my case, the decision to choose one club over another is based on several factors. Here is my breakdown:
75% - The coach: You can be on the "best club in town" but if your coach is bad it won't make a difference.
10% - Friends: Yep at any age the kid will want to play with friends.
10% - Club programs/location: This is stuff like fitness, specialized training, how long is the commute to practices, and "club feel".
5% - Tournaments/League Play: This is something to take into consideration. However, if you have a good coach you trust, he/she will make the best decision for the kids regarding tournaments/league play.

[Unregistered]

So what I don't understand from everyone on here is why you care? It sounds like you prefer to not deal with those clubs so why are you so upset? You will be allowed to participte with OYSA and have the same opportunities you have now - so what is your complaint? I am trying to figure out what is best for my soccer player which league she should participate in but it appears others are more concerned about the people making the decisions then the kids they should be supporting!

I care because I'm trying to find out as much information as I can. My child plays for a club that is not part of the original eight OPL council, but her club has announced that it will become part of the OPL for next year. She will stay with her club, hence, become part of the OPL. I am not complaining, rather posing the question that should one group (the Eight) be making decisions for all even though they have a "horse in the race", so to speak? By the way, my daughter is a high school player who knows she is not going to play in college, but still loves to play, so she does. I have no stake in the "is my kid going to play D1" game. However, I am concerned about my child, and all the other kids who will continue to play. That is why I feel it's necessary to ask questions and hear some debate.

[Unregistered]

Earning, Gifted and blocks on shoulders

Sounds like you're a fan of OYSA where you EARN a spot in a league (gold, silver, etc.) rather than it being gifted based on what club you're from. I agree.

My daughter is on a team with one of the OPL clubs and year after year when she was younger we would watch as her team and other top teams would basically waste their time in the QT blowing out teams that are no match for them. I'm not sure that eliminating the QT completely is the answer, but I do know that the older teams are placed in their brackets by coaches committee decision and it seems to work pretty well. Maybe they should have a QT for U11 and then use previous season and coach input for subsequent seasons.

[Unregistered]

My daughter is on a team with one of the OPL clubs and year after year when she was younger we would watch as her team and other top teams would basically waste their time in the QT blowing out teams that are no match for them. I'm not sure that eliminating the QT completely is the answer, but I do know that the older teams are placed in their brackets by coaches committee decision and it seems to work pretty well. Maybe they should have a QT for U11 and then use previous season and coach input for subsequent seasons.

At the meeting, they said that while coaches would meet and discuss where to place teams, previous seasons results would be used in the conversations.

Now at U-11, this is always a bit of a crapshoot since there is no history. It was suggested at the meeting to play some tournaments against the OPL teams and those results can be used in helping to determine placement in the fall.

Having had a child who has played U-11 for two years in OPL, the seeding has been fairly accurate. Each year there has been 1 or two teams placed at the higher level that just couldn't compete, and they were quickly moved down. For Spring league, they have taken the top couple of silver teams and moved them up. This offered them a chance to see how they could compete at the higher level. Virtually no problems from my view.

It's all about getting squads at a level where they can be challenged, yet achieve some level of success and continue to grow.

[Unregistered]

Basing your decision on the needs of your child.

Seeing all these posts of OPL versus OYSA and all the egos at play, I wonder how many parents really base their decision on what club their kid plays on based on the league.

When my daughter turned 10 she wanted to move from Rec to Classic soccer. So we signed her up on a nice comfortable club with no expectations. After her first year and discovering she had some talent for this beautiful game and having coaches from "top" clubs ask her to check them out, we had her try out for one of the "top" clubs. She made the team and still loves it six years later. It was the right decision for her. I've seen other parents move their kids from a top team to lesser teams or to rec. Those were "right" decisions too. I've seen many parents push their kids to be on top teams when their child's heart and skill just wasn't into it.

It's sometimes hard to know what is best for your kid, but that certainly should be the goal. If more consistent higher level competition is what you and your child want, then give the OPL a try. If it doesn't sound right, stay with OYSA. Leave the politics to the big egos at OPL and OYSA, do what's right for your child. If it doesn't work out, move to the other side. There are no set rules here except for the "Laws of the Game".

[Unregistered]

I just hate to see all this political fighting and intrigue in YOUTH soccer. Whether you're talking competitive or recreational teams, it's still YOUTH soccer.

Haven't you realized reading the posts here that it's so much more than that? For example, it's everything that's wrong with America (huh?). It's the everybody wins attitude (even bigger huh?). Don't forget that it's also capitalism. And recently I read how the overthrow of the youth soccer organization is something that we should take all the way to federal level. So there's some deep stuff here you're missing.

[Unregistered]

reply to #24

I think this conversation is primarily interesting to the leaders of various clubs--most of us parents probably think more like the parent in #24. When all is said and done, the actual league is far less important than my kid's personal experience.

(By the way, I would add COST of club and PLAYING TIME to that list.)

Also, #28: right on.