OPL Club Finances

[Unregistered]

I don't get it either. Clubs in Eugene and Bend have to travel for every away game. Seems like such a petty decision not to offer these clubs equal numbers of home and away games in all age groups. And this small-minded policy doesn't give me a lot of hope for future decisions from the OPL leaders. Oregon Rush has it right. Eugene, Salem, Woodburn, Corvallis should all follow Bend's lead and stick with OYSA for now. If the OPL wants to treat them fairly and share the traveling, then of course they should join the Portland clubs and build a better state-wide organization. But why sign up for second-class treatment?

[Unregistered]

travel is not the issue

I don't get it either. Clubs in Eugene and Bend have to travel for every away game. Seems like such a petty decision not to offer these clubs equal numbers of home and away games in all age groups. And this small-minded policy doesn't give me a lot of hope for future decisions from the OPL leaders. Oregon Rush has it right. Eugene, Salem, Woodburn, Corvallis should all follow Bend's lead and stick with OYSA for now. If the OPL wants to treat them fairly and share the traveling, then of course they should join the Portland clubs and build a better state-wide organization. But why sign up for second-class treatment?

The OPL big 8 are now trying to bribe other areas of the state by offering 1-2 weekends of 'home' games. Our coach has told us we may now be traveling to those areas even after we were assured all our games would be in the Portland area. This just shows it was never about travel. I wonder how many teams from the OPL-8 will travel (none???). I don't mind traveling, but I would really encourage the rest of the state to say no deal to these closed door deals. How would they ever enforce them? Maybe some of the clubs in Portland will then get their heads on straight and realize the OPL doesn't care about them either. If the OPL will waffle on this, I wonder what else they will waffle on and how they can begin to honor conflicting promises.

[Unregistered]

The OPL big 8 are now trying to bribe other areas of the state by offering 1-2 weekends of 'home' games. Our coach has told us we may now be traveling to those areas even after we were assured all our games would be in the Portland area. This just shows it was never about travel. I wonder how many teams from the OPL-8 will travel (none???). I don't mind traveling, but I would really encourage the rest of the state to say no deal to these closed door deals. How would they ever enforce them? Maybe some of the clubs in Portland will then get their heads on straight and realize the OPL doesn't care about them either. If the OPL will waffle on this, I wonder what else they will waffle on and how they can begin to honor conflicting promises.

they will waffle on everything IF everyone would come play in their league. At that point the truth will be told, it's all about the money and power and thats what it's always been about.

[Unregistered]

they will waffle on everything IF everyone would come play in their league. At that point the truth will be told, it's all about the money and power and thats what it's always been about.

What else could they "waffle" on in the future? If this is all about increasing resources and control (money and power) for the Big 8 clubs, then why are the other clubs agreeing to support this new vision? Why would CFC, EMFC, Woodburn, Santos, Corvallis, FC Willamette send their fees and teams to play in leagues with so much potential downside? I guess the obvious answer is they want to play with the OPL teams. What a tough deal for these clubs. How come OPL members aren't protesting more? Are they really accepting a non-State/ Regional Cup future? Do they even know?

[Unregistered]

Why would CFC, EMFC, Woodburn, Santos, Corvallis, FC Willamette send their fees and teams to play in leagues with so much potential downside?

As a board member of one of those clubs I can answer this question, at least from one perspective. Basically we feel that there's no other choice if we want to play competitive soccer, even though there's a lot of potential downside ("a rock and a hard place"). So you shouldn't necessarily take clubs joining OPL as a vote of confidence - at least some feel that they have no other choice, but that it is likely that things are going to take a turn for the worse.

[Unregistered]

As a board member of one of those clubs I can answer this question, at least from one perspective. Basically we feel that there's no other choice if we want to play competitive soccer, even though there's a lot of potential downside ("a rock and a hard place"). So you shouldn't necessarily take clubs joining OPL as a vote of confidence - at least some feel that they have no other choice, but that it is likely that things are going to take a turn for the worse.

Great. What kind of leadership looks at a situation and says there is "no other choice" but to take its club towards an outcome that is likely to "take a turn for the worse." Clearly Oregon Rush (Bend) and now CFC (Salem) see another choice, which is to develop their players in a competitive environment where fairness exists at all levels of the organization. These teams may not get the privilege of playing in Portland all year, but they will train hard, compete well against whatever good teams they can find in the Far West Regional League and tournaments, and yes, represent Oregon as State Cup winners in most age groups. Seems worthwhile, and certainly a principled path for a youth club.

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE= Why would CFC, EMFC, Woodburn, Santos, Corvallis, FC Willamette send their fees and teams to play in leagues with so much potential downside? [/QUOTE]

My understanding is that these clubs listed here are not sending many if any of their teams to OPL. They are like Bend and see their names as State Cup winners for 2011.

Way to go CLUBS!!! Stick to your guns!!!

More clubs need to band together and show OPL they're not the answer. T

[Unregistered]

My understanding is that these clubs listed here are not sending many if any of their teams to OPL. They are like Bend and see their names as State Cup winners for 2011.

Way to go CLUBS!!! Stick to your guns!!!

More clubs need to band together and show OPL they're not the answer. T

My kid plays for one of those clubs and no one I know cares if we win a State Cup title when there's no competition. But we do believe OYSA offers fair policies for our club and hope our DOC doesn't sign up for the OPL until it offers COMPLETELY EQUAL TREATMENT FOR ALL CLUBS WHO PAY ITS FEES. Good lord... how difficult can this be?

[Unregistered]

Great. What kind of leadership looks at a situation and says there is "no other choice" but to take its club towards an outcome that is likely to "take a turn for the worse." Clearly Oregon Rush (Bend) and now CFC (Salem) see another choice, which is to develop their players in a competitive environment where fairness exists at all levels of the organization. These teams may not get the privilege of playing in Portland all year, but they will train hard, compete well against whatever good teams they can find in the Far West Regional League and tournaments, and yes, represent Oregon as State Cup winners in most age groups. Seems worthwhile, and certainly a principled path for a youth club.

That's a strong argument, and one that was debated at board meetings. But there are other sides to it that have been pointed out over and over again on this forum so it's not an easy decision and not simply a matter of making a "principled stand". Sometimes we are forced to make a choice where neither possibility seems good, and this qualifies as one of those in my book. For what it's worth, a final decision has not been made for our club, although you can tell where I feel we are headed.

[Unregistered]

My understanding is that these clubs listed here are not sending many if any of their teams to OPL. They are like Bend and see their names as State Cup winners for 2011.

Way to go CLUBS!!! Stick to your guns!!!

More clubs need to band together and show OPL they're not the answer. T

Those clubs are not staying in OYSA because they want to win a watered down State Cup. I would have a hard time believing any DOC, let alone team, would want to participate in a State Cup without the best competition out there. They're staying in OYSA because they'll have home and away games, simple as that. CFC had some teams in the OPL last season and only one did well (U11 boys) and that may be another reason. EMFC was slaughtered by OPL teams in State Cup so I don't see them in any hurry to join up.

[Unregistered]

My kid plays for one of those clubs and no one I know cares if we win a State Cup title when there's no competition. But we do believe OYSA offers fair policies for our club and hope our DOC doesn't sign up for the OPL until it offers COMPLETELY EQUAL TREATMENT FOR ALL CLUBS WHO PAY ITS FEES. Good lord... how difficult can this be?

Then you're not the competitive and that's probably why you're in OYSA still. My kids and the teams they play for always want to play the best. How can you be the best if you don't beat the best! I can understand if you don't support the OPL but to say that you don't care if you have no competition in a STATE CUP is sad.

[Unregistered]

Those clubs are not staying in OYSA because they want to win a watered down State Cup. I would have a hard time believing any DOC, let alone team, would want to participate in a State Cup without the best competition out there. They're staying in OYSA because they'll have home and away games, simple as that. CFC had some teams in the OPL last season and only one did well (U11 boys) and that may be another reason. EMFC was slaughtered by OPL teams in State Cup so I don't see them in any hurry to join up.

I heard EMFC will go OPL because they want more competition than OYSA will offer. Seems like Eugene did fine in the State Cup. Maybe no titles but in my kids bracket they were definitely as good as any Portland team that advanced. "Slaughtered" ... hardly.

[Unregistered]

Then you're not the competitive and that's probably why you're in OYSA still. My kids and the teams they play for always want to play the best. How can you be the best if you don't beat the best! I can understand if you don't support the OPL but to say that you don't care if you have no competition in a STATE CUP is sad.

Whoa.. hold on now. The post says they are not interested in competing in State Cup if there is no competition. In other words, who cares if you win a title if there's no one to battle against. This means they are staying in OYSA for other reasons.

[Unregistered]

That's a strong argument, and one that was debated at board meetings. But there are other sides to it that have been pointed out over and over again on this forum so it's not an easy decision and not simply a matter of making a "principled stand". Sometimes we are forced to make a choice where neither possibility seems good, and this qualifies as one of those in my book. For what it's worth, a final decision has not been made for our club, although you can tell where I feel we are headed.

Clearly a tough decision though a realistic look at who you're making the decision for should simplify the debate. What do the kids playing in your club need... not just the handful who might be ODP, Div 1 type players, but all those kids on all your teams. What does OPL offer? Seems narrowly focused on the few with resources, talent, and supportive parents to keep them in the competitive game at the top level. If this is your priority, too, then I guess you're are headed down the right path. It's good some clubs continue to support a broader goal for the majority of soccer-playing kids in Oregon.

[Unregistered]

Can OPL clubs pay their bills

I heard that the phones at Southside were disconnected for a few hours last week. That certainly doesn't look good for OPL clubs that one of their members is already having financial issues. I think it shows how much they need the league if their clubs are all to stay solvent or even become solvent.

Makes me wonder where all the money from the leagues will be going as we all know it only has to go to the eight 'member' clubs and not to any other club. It's a good thing they broke off from OYSA to run leagues and make money on all those saps that are buying the party line about going there for the competition. Not sure why clubs want to help their competition. There must be some good analogies out there for this, but I can't think of any right now as it must be unprecedented.