Which organization best serves the elite athletes... OPL or OYSA?

[Unregistered]

This is because OYSA can keep prices down, and has the connections to find opportunities for exposure for those driven players.

HAHAHA! Tell that the parents who received a bill for $1200 for their kid to go to Phoenix! Oh, graciously, OYSA was able to "find room" in their absolutely-firm budget to lower it to $1000, but only after enough high level players threatened to actually not go because, astonishingly enough they couldn't afford it.

What are Chuck Keers' connections that will provide more exposure for my son? He's driven. His team won state last year, but OYSA didn't help subsidize our trip to Regionals to help keep prices down. Just curious who Chuck will talk to on behalf of my son or what tournaments he, personally, will help our team get into for additional exposure.

[Unregistered]

I think some of us have provided dollars and time and athletes to our clubs which are part of the OPL for a long time. As such, we do have the expectation that they provide what they say they provide..... the ability to get to the next level for those that possess the talent and are willing to put in the effort. And yes, all the OPL founding clubs do say that.

So by the mere fact that you write a check to Eastside, and have for a number of years now, you believe that, when the OPL announced their expansion last spring, they should have immediately presented a slew of programs they were starting in their first year? I guess I'm having a really hard time, and I usually do with your posts, connecting the logic dots. And what if all those programs were poorly run because the OPL was trying to do too much in their first year and maybe took on a little more than their little operation was ready to handle? Honestly, if you think Eastside to be such a terrible waste of time for your daughter, why don't you go play for the Rush full time? They clearly have the best interests of their players in mind since they are still with OYSA.

[ESUFC Fan]

lets take a step back for a second: very few soccer players in oregon are 'ELITE'. This term is used WAY too loosely. Oregon is a small blip on the national radar of soccer talent. One or two ELITE teams....one or two ELITE players....but I would bet my life that no child of anyone that posts in here would be considered 'ELITE' by anyone with a half a soccer mind. If you post in here and you seriously think your child is 'ELITE', do her/him a favor and stop posting in here immediately.

Sincerely,

amused observer/occasional poster

It is always easier to bash others than to rise to the occasion. For purposes of this thread I would consider elite any athlete that consistently does or could make the ODP state team including rosters and definately those that make the ODP regional or national teams.

[ESUFC Fan]

So by the mere fact that you write a check to Eastside, and have for a number of years now, you believe that, when the OPL announced their expansion last spring, they should have immediately presented a slew of programs they were starting in their first year? I guess I'm having a really hard time, and I usually do with your posts, connecting the logic dots. And what if all those programs were poorly run because the OPL was trying to do too much in their first year and maybe took on a little more than their little operation was ready to handle? Honestly, if you think Eastside to be such a terrible waste of time for your daughter, why don't you go play for the Rush full time? They clearly have the best interests of their players in mind since they are still with OYSA.

You must be that same bitter and very unhappy person. I am saying that ESUFC and all the OPL clubs claim to take those players possessing the talent and the drive to the next level. Why advertise that if it is too much to provide.

[Unregistered]

Let's call them "top Oregon players" and not "elite" then.

[Unregistered]

Wow. Cracking up with some truly astonishing responses. You people REALLY expect a lot from way up their on your very high horses, don't you?

I guess I was under the impression that the OPL is in the first year of their expansion for leagues up to U18. To me, that meant they are not going to present an array of programs and be a fully-formed state association in their first year, and instead focus on doing what they said they would and run a good, competent league. Did your kid pop out of the womb a fully formed soccer player? Nooooo, they had to grow up a little before they could kick a ball. At least mine did - maybe your kids are as amazing and ELITE as you say and they were kicking a ball in their bassinette the first night they came home.

I have no expectations for the OPL in their first year other than to run a high quality league and a great state cup. Which they have, so far; and which they have done by charging less for their participation fees than OYSA; and which they have done by only having one person working for them. If they start introducing new programs over the next year or two, fantastic. But I would rather the OPL focus on doing the one thing they said they would (running a high quality league) right, than have them throw 10 programs out in their first year and having them all be mediocre. I think, and we've seen it time and time again in many different areas of life, a slow, sustainable growth, is better than explosive expansion and fizzle out. In my opinion, this approach will serve the elite athletes better and be more productive for the state in the long run. I realize this does not appease some of you, and for you I would suggest, if you think your daughter is Notre Dame/Stanford/UNC material, and the OPL is keeping you down, to quit your club and go play for Crossfire. A three-hour commute is nothing. And before you say that's not realistic, Clint Dempsey's parents used to drive him 6 hours round trip three times a week to play club ball. It's realistic if you want it to be. Or it's easier to to kvetch on here about how terrible your club is and what terrible people they are for supporting the fourth-rate OPL and not blindly giving money to OYSA because your kid happens to play in an OYSA program.

And you seem to act like the coaches and administration of the OPL just popped out of the womb as well and are just learning to walk. These are seasoned veterans (as they have all told us over and over) whom have all sold us that they know whats best for the highest level players in our state. These are the same people that have and some still do today coach within the ODP program.

Now I don't promise that I'm the know-er all things soccer related, but I do know that an equal (in style) program to OYSA's ODP program could be started and ran with little thinking/planning on their part. Im sure since the day that some were let go from the ODP program that they have already been thinking of a "better" program that they would run.

So why the delay ? Ill tell ya why. It will cost the OPL $10,000's to operate it. They dont have a rec program that they can help fund it with. They dont have any BIG corporate sponsor that will help offset some of the expenses. And frankly, if they do nothing, they do no wrong for anyone to complain about. It just doesnt make good business sense.

If the ODP program is represented by (as some have calculated here) 2000 participants, an OPL elite program could potentially draw 50% away. Weakening the talent pool even worse. Then when the Timbers program emerges in say 12-60 months for all ages and both genders, that will take away another large percentage of talent making NONE of the programs worth participating in. We will just call it "Club Elite" as thats all it will be.

Let keep things the way they are. Dividing up the state into more pieces does not make sense. Putting down the one and only program we do have will never get us [Oregon Elite Players] anywhere as well. Some of you that are very passionate about this ultra competitive play, pick up the phone and make an appt to meet with Erik and Chuck together and see if there are other "levels" of play that our States elite player can compete in.

[Unregistered]

Wakeup ESUFC

I think some of us have provided dollars and time and athletes to our clubs which are part of the OPL for a long time. As such, we do have the expectation that they provide what they say they provide..... the ability to get to the next level for those that possess the talent and are willing to put in the effort. And yes, all the OPL founding clubs do say that.

You dog in the fight is your precious little girl. It is obvious on postings that is all you care about. You have carted her all over the state, played with RUSH etc...

Got news for you... you don't need ODP to get your daughter to the next level... If she is that precious and talented, college will not be a problem, it is up to you to get sell her to college and for you to do the research. If she is national team worthy, they are many coaches that have relationship with the national coaches and can get you a tryout.

PLEASE CRAWL BACK IN YOUR SELF-CENTERED HOLE and do us a favor

[ESUFC Fan]

You dog in the fight is your precious little girl. It is obvious on postings that is all you care about. You have carted her all over the state, played with RUSH etc...

Got news for you... you don't need ODP to get your daughter to the next level... If she is that precious and talented, college will not be a problem, it is up to you to get sell her to college and for you to do the research. If she is national team worthy, they are many coaches that have relationship with the national coaches and can get you a tryout.

PLEASE CRAWL BACK IN YOUR SELF-CENTERED HOLE and do us a favor

SHould you ever like to tell me to my face then you are more than welcome since I don't hide who I am. I am sorry that life doesn't treat you the way you think it should so you feel like you need to attack others.

[Unregistered]

HAHAHA! Tell that the parents who received a bill for $1200 for their kid to go to Phoenix! Oh, graciously, OYSA was able to "find room" in their absolutely-firm budget to lower it to $1000, but only after enough high level players threatened to actually not go because, astonishingly enough they couldn't afford it.

Tired...boring...do you want to rehash the same statement a few thousand more times, do you want to look at the other posts that discuss this, or do we have to have every forum be about the same thing?

What are Chuck Keers' connections that will provide more exposure for my son? He's driven. His team won state last year, but OYSA didn't help subsidize our trip to Regionals to help keep prices down. Just curious who Chuck will talk to on behalf of my son or what tournaments he, personally, will help our team get into for additional exposure.

I believe the comment stated that OYSA has more connections, if in your vision OYSA=Chuck Keer I can totally understand your hatred for OYSA. As an organization they have affiliations with other organizations and can open doors. You still need to earn your way through them. It will not be done for you. Maybe you are unhappy because you don't want to do it for yourself.

[Unregistered]

As an organization they have affiliations with other organizations and can open doors. You still need to earn your way through them. It will not be done for you. Maybe you are unhappy because you don't want to do it for yourself.

Out of pure curiosity what doors has OYSA opened up for Oregon athletes? I always assumed it was the club or maybe ODP opening up doors for the kids. Can you give any examples?

[Unregistered]

Interesting. So if I'm reading this right, the consensus is OPL should just up and start a program without any thought or long-range planning behind it, as long as it's called ELITE and ITSTARTSNOWSOMYBABYCANGETINTOCOLLEGE!!!! And quality be damned. I hope the DOCs are reading this thread, because they clearly have no idea what they are doing. Screw making a quality league first, and then slowly building a top quality player development program. I WANT MY ELITE TOP-DOG STATUS NOW DAMMIT! And if they won't do it, then they damn well better subsidize ODP, a program of their competitor, just because we decide to participate in the optional program AND IT'S ELITE AND THEY SHOULD FUND IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ONE THEMSELVES.

Keep making these arguments. They are hilarious.

[Unregistered]

I always assumed it was the club or maybe ODP opening up doors for the kids.

Who do you think ODP is ran by? It is a program provided to you from OYSA, the State of Oregon affiliate of USYS.

[Unregistered]

Who do you think ODP is ran by? It is a program provided to you from OYSA, the State of Oregon affiliate of USYS.

I believe the point was OTHER than ODP as the poster said that OYSA had many connections. We get that ODP can open doors or at least that it used to. After seeing the latest try out it is obviously just a political party. I hate to see what the future age groups have to go through.

[ESUFC Fan]

Interesting. So if I'm reading this right, the consensus is OPL should just up and start a program without any thought or long-range planning behind it, as long as it's called ELITE and ITSTARTSNOWSOMYBABYCANGETINTOCOLLEGE!!!! And quality be damned. I hope the DOCs are reading this thread, because they clearly have no idea what they are doing. Screw making a quality league first, and then slowly building a top quality player development program. I WANT MY ELITE TOP-DOG STATUS NOW DAMMIT! And if they won't do it, then they damn well better subsidize ODP, a program of their competitor, just because we decide to participate in the optional program AND IT'S ELITE AND THEY SHOULD FUND IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ONE THEMSELVES.

Keep making these arguments. They are hilarious.

I think the OPL has already done that but they call it Premier soccer. LOL

[Unregistered]

Interesting. So if I'm reading this right, the consensus is OPL should just up and start a program without any thought or long-range planning behind it, as long as it's called ELITE and ITSTARTSNOWSOMYBABYCANGETINTOCOLLEGE!!!! And quality be damned. I hope the DOCs are reading this thread, because they clearly have no idea what they are doing. Screw making a quality league first, and then slowly building a top quality player development program. I WANT MY ELITE TOP-DOG STATUS NOW DAMMIT! And if they won't do it, then they damn well better subsidize ODP, a program of their competitor, just because we decide to participate in the optional program AND IT'S ELITE AND THEY SHOULD FUND IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ONE THEMSELVES.

Keep making these arguments. They are hilarious.

I dont think that anyone here has said or is expecting the OPL to financially subsidize the ODP program. But by not promoting it to their players and encouraging them to participate in it as a "next level" program and explaining to those players and their families the long term benefits, they are in essence hindering the very players they have trained, developed and represent. All the while not providing an alternative themselves.

SINCE WE DONT HAVE ANYTHING FOR YOU NOW, WE DONT WANT YOU TO HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, PROVIDED BY ANYONE ELSE. WE'LL GET AROUND TO IT EVENTUALLY, WE PROMISE !!!

Is that your attitude in a nutshell ?

OPL has been running a league now for 3 years, just this year they expanded it to include the older ages. How much time do you think it takes for them to organize a program like this if they really wanted to ? Well, I guess they'd have to have other teams from the surrounding areas to play against first. Maybe thats the hold up ?

Its easy to be a ruler in your kingdom.