OYSA QT question

[Unregistered]

I am sure I will never get an honest answer to this question, but anyway...it seems like there is an obsession with talking about how OPL fields more competitive teams...why? It does me, as a parent of a U14 boy and a U12 boy, no good to discuss how THUSC dominates the female side of the bracket. It doesn't matter if there are more U17 (or any other age, fill in as you like) competitve teams. OPL does not become stronger as an organization by saying, look at all the teams we have. Every parent has an age bracket they are focused on. For some age brackets OPL is very competitive, for others OYSA is.

Be clear I am not an OYSA defender or apologist, I feel the best teams in the state will be made better by playing each other (playing all other teams). I also, on the tail of watching a designated OPL team fall from two years of being in the top four to a year where the sane team barely deserved to be called gold, believe there is a clear call for qualifying. This won't happen though, and I am sure that team will be named platinum, because the club DOC doesn't want to acknowledge how far that team fell.

OPL/OYSA only exist as collectives of their members. It is nonsense to talk about OPL or OYSA being stronger than the other.

Here is an answer to your question as honest as I think you will get. It isn't that it is an obsession to talk about how OPL fields more competitive teams. But it is a way of defending why many clubs joined OPL. They want to play against the more competitive clubs. If you look at the state champions this year a majority of the teams have gone to OPL; so as the saying go to be the best you need to play the best.

Now you did touch on something that is pretty obvious. The majority of this board revolves around the Girls side. I don't know why that is; but it does. For me my son plays U13 soccer; and his club joined OPL and there are some very competitive teams that joined as well. Eastside and WUSC are both very comepetitive at this age group. As is FC and LO. Throw in NEU, WSM and Eugene then outside of that you have Bend and Medford that stayed in OYSA. For that age group OPL makes sense. And my guess that is what happened with most age groups.

Though I agree it would be nice to be all under one umbrella; that isn't reallity at the moment; so people are going to where they will get the most consistent competition. Not just great competition for one or two matches

[Soca lova]

Thank you!

Thank you for a thoughtful and honest response. The U14 boys bracket is actually the reverse of what you describe. 5/8 of gold teams stayed OYSA, and actually 4/6. Southside came in strong last year, and it is unfortunate to lose them, and Eastside is a strong competitor as well.

Of the five remaining we have CFC (3 time state champion and regional semifinalist) Rush, Fires, and NWSSA. Some aren't your marquee clubs, but they are the top competitors. I believe many parents and clubs feel trapped because they gave to change to chase competition. Perhaps that is responsible for the defensive feeling.

Hopefully longterm the whole thing gets worked out.

[Unregistered]

Here is an answer to your question as honest as I think you will get. It isn't that it is an obsession to talk about how OPL fields more competitive teams. But it is a way of defending why many clubs joined OPL. They want to play against the more competitive clubs. If you look at the state champions this year a majority of the teams have gone to OPL; so as the saying go to be the best you need to play the best.

Now you did touch on something that is pretty obvious. The majority of this board revolves around the Girls side. I don't know why that is; but it does. For me my son plays U13 soccer; and his club joined OPL and there are some very competitive teams that joined as well. Eastside and WUSC are both very comepetitive at this age group. As is FC and LO. Throw in NEU, WSM and Eugene then outside of that you have Bend and Medford that stayed in OYSA. For that age group OPL makes sense. And my guess that is what happened with most age groups.

Though I agree it would be nice to be all under one umbrella; that isn't reallity at the moment; so people are going to where they will get the most consistent competition. Not just great competition for one or two matches

What about your son that plays for CFC Real Madrid? Who are they going to play? There is really no competition at that level left in OYSA.

[Soca lova]

Good guess wrong team...

What about your son that plays for CFC Real Madrid? Who are they going to play? There is really no competition at that level left in OYSA.

Actually my younger son is on the second u12 team CFC galacticos, they and Madrid train together. It will be difficult for Madrid to find competition, but that was true last year in OPL also. Their best bet is to get in the FWRL premier division, but they have to build a resume first.

[Unregistered]

Actually my younger son is on the second u12 team CFC galacticos, they and Madrid train together. It will be difficult for Madrid to find competition, but that was true last year in OPL also. Their best bet is to get in the FWRL premier division, but they have to build a resume first.

NEU and I believe FC played them close quite a few times. Real Madrid is a great team though.

[Soca lova]

Honestly...

If we look at each age group before the split, it was pretty uncommon to have 4 teams that were evenly matched. Typically you had a clear distinction between the top group and the lower group. The split of course has only made that situation worse.

I think honestly we all agree on that. I also think we are all realistic enough to know the reality is what it is. It is not our back and forth that will resolve the situation.

All we can do is wish each other well, and hope someday soon we are brought back to a shared field of competition.