There are going to be alot of p!ssed off parents here soon!

[Unregistered]

Academy will be 80%+ the cost of ECNL, will have less resources, less competitive games, and worse coaching. But if you need to save 20% to fit your budget, go for it.

Look at the Thorns Academy schedule per their own propaganda document:

FWRL: 5 games total - 2 in December 12/13 and then 3 at the PacNW tournament in mid-January

PacNW College Showcase: NOT additional games - these are the final 3 FWRL games

Thorns U18 Winter League: 10 games vs U18 teams? Who are these '96 teams? Eugene?
WA Timbers "B" and "C"? BSC? Westside Copa? That's about it. And the top '97 teams don't exist anymore (Westside Copa TS, WA Timbers Red) so the U18 league will be filled out with U17 teams that Copa TS dominated last year.

Players Showcase: decent tournament but very few top level teams participate. Any club team can get into this tournament.

FW Regional Weekend: What the heck is this? There is nothing planned in Boise in March...

Tacoma Showcase: OK if you're looking at NW D2 and lower colleges.

Colorado Showcase: good exposure to smaller colleges in the Rockies and western plains

Overall, a not very impressive schedule for an elite Academy team...

Pretty good summary.

[Unregistered]

Academy will be 80%+ the cost of ECNL, will have less resources, less competitive games, and worse coaching. But if you need to save 20% to fit your budget, go for it.

Look at the Thorns Academy schedule per their own propaganda document:

FWRL: 5 games total - 2 in December 12/13 and then 3 at the PacNW tournament in mid-January

PacNW College Showcase: NOT additional games - these are the final 3 FWRL games

Thorns U18 Winter League: 10 games vs U18 teams? Who are these '96 teams? Eugene?
WA Timbers "B" and "C"? BSC? Westside Copa? That's about it. And the top '97 teams don't exist anymore (Westside Copa TS, WA Timbers Red) so the U18 league will be filled out with U17 teams that Copa TS dominated last year.

Players Showcase: decent tournament but very few top level teams participate. Any club team can get into this tournament.

FW Regional Weekend: What the heck is this? There is nothing planned in Boise in March...

Tacoma Showcase: OK if you're looking at NW D2 and lower colleges.

Colorado Showcase: good exposure to smaller colleges in the Rockies and western plains

Overall, a not very impressive schedule for an elite Academy team...

We have a Boy's team playing FWRL scheduled for games in Boise in March. As that is obviously wrong above, how much of the rest of the statements are just stabs in the dark, or guesses?

[Unregistered]

Colorado showcase

Academy will be 80%+ the cost of ECNL, will have less resources, less competitive games, and worse coaching. But if you need to save 20% to fit your budget, go for it.

Look at the Thorns Academy schedule per their own propaganda document:

FWRL: 5 games total - 2 in December 12/13 and then 3 at the PacNW tournament in mid-January

PacNW College Showcase: NOT additional games - these are the final 3 FWRL games

Thorns U18 Winter League: 10 games vs U18 teams? Who are these '96 teams? Eugene?
WA Timbers "B" and "C"? BSC? Westside Copa? That's about it. And the top '97 teams don't exist anymore (Westside Copa TS, WA Timbers Red) so the U18 league will be filled out with U17 teams that Copa TS dominated last year.

Players Showcase: decent tournament but very few top level teams participate. Any club team can get into this tournament.

FW Regional Weekend: What the heck is this? There is nothing planned in Boise in March...

Tacoma Showcase: OK if you're looking at NW D2 and lower colleges.

Colorado Showcase: good exposure to smaller colleges in the Rockies and western plains

Overall, a not very impressive schedule for an elite Academy team...

Didn't go this year, have in the past. I feel that it is a good showcase, much better than many my DD has attended. Good coach attendance, better than just a few around the region. Tacoma showcase shouldn't have any teams playing based on cost, misinformation, teams and overall staffing.

[Unregistered]

The Thorns Academy will be an elite level opportunity with great exposure at a much lower cost. Plus you have professional organization and top level training.

[Unregistered]

The Thorns Academy will be an elite level opportunity with great exposure at a much lower cost. Plus you have professional organization and top level training.

I have talked to almost all of the parents on this team....they say most their daughters aren't even looking to play division 1 soccer....that makes the thorns academy a great fit.

[Unregistered]

The Thorns Academy will be an elite level opportunity with great exposure at a much lower cost. Plus you have professional organization and top level training.

I think it will be a very strong program. Both will be really. The training quality is going to be where I think is more important.

[Unregistered]

I have talked to almost all of the parents on this team....they say most their daughters aren't even looking to play division 1 soccer....that makes the thorns academy a great fit.

In spite of the fact there are more D1 commitments on the thorns than on the ECNL teams.

[Unregistered]

In spite of the fact there are more D1 commitments on the thorns than on the ECNL teams.

Are all the rosters posted? So what three girls are doing the thorns that weren't part of that old Rage team?

[Unregistered]

are all the rosters posted? So what three girls are doing the thorns that weren't part of that old rage team?

stalker…stalker…stalker

[Unregistered]

In spite of the fact there are more D1 commitments on the thorns than on the ECNL teams.

Are you serious?

[Unregistered]

Are you serious?

In the 2016 class, yes.

[Unregistered]

We have a Boy's team playing FWRL scheduled for games in Boise in March. As that is obviously wrong above, how much of the rest of the statements are just stabs in the dark, or guesses?

Maybe, but the Academy team isn't.

[Unregistered]

The Thorns Academy will be an elite level opportunity with great exposure at a much lower cost. Plus you have professional organization and top level training.

If 20% less cost for 80% less exposure is OK, then it's a great deal I guess. Too bad there aren't at least some good coaches...

[Unregistered]

If 20% less cost for 80% less exposure is OK, then it's a great deal I guess. Too bad there aren't at least some good coaches...

It only takes one coach! My kid is going to go to one college. We have gone through the process of identifying the schools, and contacting the coaches, and will stay in touch with them.

The only reason 400 coaches matter is if you are too lazy to do your side of the process. If you contact the coaches, and they are interested they will figure out a way of being there.

[Unregistered]

ECNL is going to cost 6000 more per year. I suppose the showcases will get you more exposure, but if you a college material you will get plenty of exposure playing for the Thorns Academy. Plus the Timbers professional soccer resources behind you. Great training.

Either will work. Different but neither is better when you look at big picture.