FC Willamette Future

[Unregistered]

What age is your daughter-u17 or u18?

[Unregistered]

EMFC is an option as well

Pride was a great team. Possession is too. But how many teams will FCW actually form in August? I heard they just have one youth team left and 1-2 hs teams. Maybe you're right... the "club" can successfully steer its remaining two teams to college success. Just wish my daughter had this option in Corvallis area.

In response to the above quote, if FCW doesn't have a team at your DD's age level, take a look at EMFC. I am not sure if there is much in Salem to consider, but it would be a similar drive from Corvallis.

[Unregistered]

The team that the former Possession player is going to is Ireland. She was an awesome player for Possession and she will be missed, but it should be noted that the team has- and hopefully will continue to- step up and succeed without her (2nd of 12 teams for total points in the Tacoma Showcase and tied for 1st of 16 teams in the Pleasanton Rage). Sometimes losing the star player on a team can lead to other kids learning to shine.

I agree that it takes more than one player to make a team and Possession have done very well since she has left for her new team. I think the worrying thing for FCW as a club is that when you are losing your best players at this stage of the deal there has to be something that is not quite right.

Maybe the fact that the coach for that group has had them so long had something to do with it? I don't know that for sure but players need different coaching input and styles to fully develop.

[Unregistered]

If your daughter is u17 for the upcoming season then EMFC Spirit is a very good option. They will play in the OPL and the NWCL. However, there will be competition for a spot on the team as some FCW Pursuit girls and other new girls will supposedly tryout.

[Unregistered]

If your daughter is u17 for the upcoming season then EMFC Spirit is a very good option. They will play in the OPL and the NWCL. However, there will be competition for a spot on the team as some FCW Pursuit girls and other new girls will supposedly tryout.

Why would Pursuit girls switch? Seems like their team is the same level as EMFC Spirit.

[Unregistered]

Last year...

my daughter tried out for both FCW (for whom she has played for years) and EMFC and was even considering trying out for a 3rd team. She was offered spots on both and really struggled with her decision, but she decided to stay with her current team and I think it made her an more committed player this year than in years past.

I also saw some other FCW kids at the EMFC tryouts, and vice versa. Ultimately, it seemed like most everyone stayed put. I did hear that a kid who left EMFC last year and went to a Rush team is planning to go back to EMFC this year, so maybe change is in the air.

[Unregistered]

I agree that it takes more than one player to make a team and Possession have done very well since she has left for her new team. I think the worrying thing for FCW as a club is that when you are losing your best players at this stage of the deal there has to be something that is not quite right.

Maybe the fact that the coach for that group has had them so long had something to do with it? I don't know that for sure but players need different coaching input and styles to fully develop.

I think this is a very well made point about the need for depth of coaching at FCW. You cannot rely on 2-3 coaches to get the job done for several teams. I am not sure how long the Possession coach has been with that group? If the 'star' player that left did indeed go to get a different coaching and playing experience then you cannot blame them. Mant of the top Portland clubs change coaches every 2 years.

[Unregistered]

Why Spirit over Pursuit

My own opinion, but I believe Spirit is and has been on the upswing and Pursuit is actually declining. Pursuit will lose at least 2 player to Spirit this coming year and a Pursuit ODP player will likely go to Rush. Plus, Spirit will be playing more competitive games than Pursuit by virtue of its inclusion in the NWCL. (NWCL league starts Dec. 4 and the winner gets automatic invite to Surf Cup) Lastly, it seems that Pursuit does not travel to Showcase tournaments. They went to Neveda for the Zypher Cup . . .? Spirit will likely player FC Portland Showcase, President's Day (AZ) or Vegas over spring break, Tacoma Showcase and at least 1 other showcase during summer.

That said, Pursuit has been a consistent team over the years

[Unregistered]

My own opinion, but I believe Spirit is and has been on the upswing and Pursuit is actually declining. Pursuit will lose at least 2 player to Spirit this coming year and a Pursuit ODP player will likely go to Rush. Plus, Spirit will be playing more competitive games than Pursuit by virtue of its inclusion in the NWCL. (NWCL league starts Dec. 4 and the winner gets automatic invite to Surf Cup) Lastly, it seems that Pursuit does not travel to Showcase tournaments. They went to Neveda for the Zypher Cup . . .? Spirit will likely player FC Portland Showcase, President's Day (AZ) or Vegas over spring break, Tacoma Showcase and at least 1 other showcase during summer.

That said, Pursuit has been a consistent team over the years

Maybe EMFC and FCW should consider merging at the high school level like LO and SSC, though FCW doesn't have much left to bring to the table. Seems like Eugene and Corvallis needs one club program at the high school level, not two.

[TurfEater]

Maybe EMFC and FCW should consider merging at the high school level like LO and SSC, though FCW doesn't have much left to bring to the table. Seems like Eugene and Corvallis needs one club program at the high school level, not two.

My guess is that will be what happens naturally (one club in the area - but not because of merging). Without kids feeding into FCW, it's not hard to see into the future. OUSA was a mismanaged organization and FCW benefited because of it. EMFC appears to be very well run and I don't see the top kids going to FCW anymore.

[Unregistered]

The merger between Corvallis and Eugene at the HS level was attempted with OUSA (combined Reign and MUSA). The thought was to create the strongest teams to compete with Portland. FCW did not want to participate as the club already carried players from both communities, and did not want to be part of a big club. As it turned out, parents did not want their kids driving to and fro for training and games, and, if kids did not make the "A" team at tryouts they would quit rather than travel to practice and play with a "B" team--hence losing money for the club. Ultimately the OUSA experiment was a total disaster and perhaps is somewhat of a reason why the youth soccer scene in Corvallis is in such disarray today.
Also, at the HS level, kids are going to travel to wherever team they can. Hence you have Eugene kids driving to Corvallis, Salem, Portland, Bend, and valley and Roseburg kids driving to Eugene (the Saxon boys and Roseburg girls playing with EMFC), and Bend kids driving to the valley or Portland. It's just the way it is these days.

[Unregistered]

"OUSA was a mismanaged organization and FCW benefited because of it. EMFC appears to be very well run and I don't see the top kids going to FCW anymore."

Spot on. FCW parents were loyal, in part, because of OUSA's mismanagement and disorganization. EMFC has learned from OUSA's mistakes.

[Unregistered]

Player In Question

I think the player who transferred to Ireland from FCW will do just fine with any team that she plays with-she will not be the 20th player but will be a great add who brings a great skill set. I know one of the big issues is what happened with her sisters team FCW Primo and she along with her parents wanted a different soccer environment. The demise of the FCW Primo led to her seeking other options. The FCW Prestige had a similar early exit so the trend is not good.

[Unregistered]

I think the player who transferred to Ireland from FCW will do just fine with any team that she plays with-she will not be the 20th player but will be a great add who brings a great skill set. I know one of the big issues is what happened with her sisters team FCW Primo and she along with her parents wanted a different soccer environment. The demise of the FCW Primo led to her seeking other options. The FCW Prestige had a similar early exit so the trend is not good.

Any idea where the Primo/prestige girls will play this year? Why did these teams stop training and playing in tournaments. I have a younger daughter who should try out next year for U11 and I wonder whether FCW has viable future.

[Unregistered]

I don't think FCW has a viable future unless it concentrates only on the corvallis area. But if it does that then Corvallis Futbol Club will be in trouble . . .

Communities like Eugene and Corvallis can only support 1 strong and viable club.