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

[Unregistered]

A disgruntled 2nd team parent I am I suppose. I've heard people say once a B team player, always a B team player and I don't buy it. My frustration comes from the hint that the team will be chosen long before tryouts. How will you get a big pool of players to choose from if they are told this?

I do not buy it eather. Alot can happen. In fact I believe there is currently a gal from a B team now on an OSSA A team.. So there you have it. As far as teams having pre'picked (if you will) teams, I do not think it is presented like that, but I think it happens. Parents/coaches talk and (IMHO) there becomes a biased towards that player at try-outs. This said I think someone can always knock their socks off. For us, we try to be honest with our kid so she knows where she stands and what it will take to beat out certain players.

[Vancouver Soccer Dad]

Your comments are misleading.
VUSA's Premier Boys side is a shambles with gaping holes (i.e. no teams) in specific age groups. Their better teams are or have graduated from the club.
The landscape for boys soccer in SW washington has changed and the powerbase is most certainly not VUSA anymore.

Kinda strange that the PDX Timbers aligned with a club that has these issues on the boys side as well as a realtively smallish Rec base (to feed the machine) in comparison to other Clark County clubs? Almost as if they didn't do there due diligence on the soccer landscape in SW WA.
If their motivation is to develop and find those home grown players the Timbers need to re-think their partnership or at least broaden their scope in Clark County.
And please ... I'm not a VUSA hater. Just tell'in like it is.

Agreed there are holes in the older age groups at VUSA with some of the best teams winding up their careers and not much quality in the U14/15 range. But at the younger end, the U11 Reds were very good this year and the Academy has a ton of boys at U9/10 so there is hope for the future. WSA has the better boys teams in the U14-U15 range for sure but they don't seem to be top tier (ie. OPL Premier or RCL 1st division). FCSC and Pacific don't have any depth to speak of.

None of this "boys" stuff matters to me really as my daughter will likely never play in the PDX Timbers Development Academy :)

What will happen, sooner or later and more likely sooner, is that VUSA and WSA will merge. Washington State Youth Soccer wants it to happen, I suspect the PDX Timbers want it to happen (bigger affiliate in SW Washington), and I know a lot of parents that think it's a good idea. If we want to compete with the Seattle teams we need to stop dividing up the best players onto different teams.

[Unregistered]

Your comments are misleading.
VUSA's Premier Boys side is a shambles with gaping holes (i.e. no teams) in specific age groups. Their better teams are or have graduated from the club.
The landscape for boys soccer in SW washington has changed and the powerbase is most certainly not VUSA anymore.

Kinda strange that the PDX Timbers aligned with a club that has these issues on the boys side as well as a realtively smallish Rec base (to feed the machine) in comparison to other Clark County clubs? Almost as if they didn't do there due diligence on the soccer landscape in SW WA.
If their motivation is to develop and find those home grown players the Timbers need to re-think their partnership or at least broaden their scope in Clark County.
And please ... I'm not a VUSA hater. Just tell'in like it is.

Hasn't VUSA been around for a while? I can't remember what they were called before they merged a few years ago. VUSA is a well known club regionally....it would be nice if the club moved to the OPL/OYSA instead of playing in the Washington Leagues...it will encrease the competition.
VUSA and Clark County soccer would greatly benefit from this...every age group in time would benefit....there are a handful of elite players that travel to Seattle...travel across the river to Oregon....could you imagine if they all stayed in Clark County? Having feeder clubs like PAcific FC and FCSC feeding VUSA yearly?

[Unregistered]

The team would not be chosen before try-outs. Coaches may have an idea of who they are looking for but that's pretty normal during try-outs. Many B team players have bumped up to A teams so tell your daughter to keep working hard. I know Ireland, Sodium, Iridium, and Onyx have picked up B team players.

I am not being nasty... but I disagree to some extent. I think a coach will have made a list of the players he/she would like to have that would make a perfect team. There will still be try-outs and everyone will get a chance, but..

[Vancouver Soccer Dad]

Hasn't VUSA been around for a while? I can't remember what they were called before they merged a few years ago. VUSA is a well known club regionally....it would be nice if the club moved to the OPL/OYSA instead of playing in the Washington Leagues...it will encrease the competition.

VUSA Timbers - previously known as Columbia Premier Timbers, and they've been around for a long time.

About half of the VUSA Premier teams already play in the OPL, with the other half in the Washington State RCL. And of course, lots of Select teams play in the PML.

As for all of Vancouver/Camas, there are 46 teams already playing in the OPL, out of a total of 114 "Advanced Competition" teams (vs only 18 in the RCL).

[Unregistered]

Hasn't VUSA been around for a while? I can't remember what they were called before they merged a few years ago. VUSA is a well known club regionally....it would be nice if the club moved to the OPL/OYSA instead of playing in the Washington Leagues...it will encrease the competition.
VUSA and Clark County soccer would greatly benefit from this...every age group in time would benefit....there are a handful of elite players that travel to Seattle...travel across the river to Oregon....could you imagine if they all stayed in Clark County? Having feeder clubs like PAcific FC and FCSC feeding VUSA yearly?

Utopia of sorts ... A single SW WA powerhouse club (no matter who it is) ... Politics over here won't let that happen!
I'm afraid the window for the VUSA / WSA merger is closing and the other clubs in Clark County continue to bumble along. Some folks get fed up with it all and head south across the river. Just reading this forum sheds light on the fact that the OR soccer scene has it's own politics/issues but it still feels like heading across the bridge is metaphorically like getting away from it all. LOL!

[Unregistered]

Agreed there are holes in the older age groups at VUSA with some of the best teams winding up their careers and not much quality in the U14/15 range. But at the younger end, the U11 Reds were very good this year and the Academy has a ton of boys at U9/10 so there is hope for the future. WSA has the better boys teams in the U14-U15 range for sure but they don't seem to be top tier (ie. OPL Premier or RCL 1st division). FCSC and Pacific don't have any depth to speak of.

None of this "boys" stuff matters to me really as my daughter will likely never play in the PDX Timbers Development Academy :)
Vancouver
What will happen, sooner or later and more likely sooner, is that VUSA and WSA will merge. Washington State Youth Soccer wants it to happen, I suspect the PDX Timbers want it to happen (bigger affiliate in SW Washington), and I know a lot of parents that think it's a good idea. If we want to compete with the Seattle teams we need to stop dividing up the best players onto different teams.

Sorry to hijack this topic but I can't just let the misinformation continue.
VUSA Dad, you said it not me ... stick with girls soccer you don't know what you're talking about on the boys side. VUSA has stumbled big time on the boys side and the other clubs now have the numbers and the momentum. The pendulum has swung.
I don't know jack about the girls side but I'll give you the nod there. It looks like VUSA has the momentum.
Back to your regular programming .....

[Unregistered]

Unfortunately, the professional teams are in it for profit (like every other business). History has proven that womens professional sports do not generrate enough profit for owners to put their necks on the line! Not an professional womans league that has been successful....unfortunatley!

This is true. Women's sports are not profitable

FIFA can mandate that MLS teams have a women's team. Similar to the mandate that require MLS teams to have academies.

Like Title 9, it is politically correct to promote gender equality and empower girls and women.

[Unregistered]

joke

Your comments are misleading.
VUSA's Premier Boys side is a shambles with gaping holes (i.e. no teams) in specific age groups. Their better teams are or have graduated from the club.
The landscape for boys soccer in SW washington has changed and the powerbase is most certainly not VUSA anymore.

Kinda strange that the PDX Timbers aligned with a club that has these issues on the boys side as well as a realtively smallish Rec base (to feed the machine) in comparison to other Clark County clubs? Almost as if they didn't do there due diligence on the soccer landscape in SW WA.
If their motivation is to develop and find those home grown players the Timbers need to re-think their partnership or at least broaden their scope in Clark County.
And please ... I'm not a VUSA hater. Just tell'in like it is.

yes call you for what you are because either your a moron or a hater.

PDX Timbers logical choice would be VUSA in the north boasting the only Division 1 RCL teams in that area while the other clubs can't even crack division 3. note: Divsion 3 RCL is like Division 1 OPL for girls. On the boys side, it of course isn't that strong but you have to point out that if the Sounders Academy products are ALL from VUSA and their older boys BU-16 teams and on have no rival in SW WA. The younger academy programs now have 50-60 boys for U-10 and will show that it would be pointless to choose a dying club like WSA or Salmon Creek who can't scratch together 1 quality team on either side.

You should have done your due diligence or do you seriously want to make a case for any other feeder club for VUSA?

[Unregistered]

yes call you for what you are because either your a moron or a hater.

PDX Timbers logical choice would be VUSA in the north boasting the only Division 1 RCL teams in that area while the other clubs can't even crack division 3. note: Divsion 3 RCL is like Division 1 OPL for girls. On the boys side, it of course isn't that strong but you have to point out that if the Sounders Academy products are ALL from VUSA and their older boys BU-16 teams and on have no rival in SW WA. The younger academy programs now have 50-60 boys for U-10 and will show that it would be pointless to choose a dying club like WSA or Salmon Creek who can't scratch together 1 quality team on either side.

You should have done your due diligence or do you seriously want to make a case for any other feeder club for VUSA?

Here's your due diligence. Get your lips off Sunny's pipe and come up for air ... ya tool.

Your Sounders Academy players are of no value to the Timbers.
The vaunted RCL Div 1 teams are only two: BU16 and BU18.

VUSA has nothing special from here on down:
You have no BU17 team
You have no BU15 team

You belittle the OPL yet:
BU14 OPL Second Division
BU13 OPL Premier Division
BU12 OPL First Division
BU11 OPL Premier

Your Youth program is only average at 50.
WSA's youth program is at 70+ / Not sure about Pacific. FCSC dead.

You are like a politician ... once you peel away the BS claims of superiority there is nothing to support. Once you get past the U16 & U18's, which are on there way out, VUSA's boys side is average at best.

So FACTS support the claim that VUSA has lost their edge. I appologize to those that have to read this crap as this is off topic but I just can't stand by and listen to the crap spewing from this VUSA tool. I think VUSA is a good club thus I'm not a VUSA hater but what I do hate is the pontificating dolts like this guy.

[Vancouver Soccer Dad]

Here's your due diligence. Get your lips off Sunny's pipe and come up for air ... ya tool.

Your Sounders Academy players are of no value to the Timbers.
The vaunted RCL Div 1 teams are only two: BU16 and BU18.

VUSA has nothing special from here on down:
You have no BU17 team
You have no BU15 team

You belittle the OPL yet:
BU14 OPL Second Division
BU13 OPL Premier Division
BU12 OPL First Division
BU11 OPL Premier

Your Youth program is only average at 50.
WSA's youth program is at 70+ / Not sure about Pacific. FCSC dead.

You are like a politician ... once you peel away the BS claims of superiority there is nothing to support. Once you get past the U16 & U18's, which are on there way out, VUSA's boys side is average at best.

So FACTS support the claim that VUSA has lost their edge. I appologize to those that have to read this crap as this is off topic but I just can't stand by and listen to the crap spewing from this VUSA tool. I think VUSA is a good club thus I'm not a VUSA hater but what I do hate is the pontificating dolts like this guy.

And none of this will matter when we (WSA and VUSA) are all one big happy family in a few months :)

[Unregistered]

funny

Here's your due diligence. Get your lips off Sunny's pipe and come up for air ... ya tool.

Your Sounders Academy players are of no value to the Timbers.
The vaunted RCL Div 1 teams are only two: BU16 and BU18.

VUSA has nothing special from here on down:
You have no BU17 team
You have no BU15 team

You belittle the OPL yet:
BU14 OPL Second Division
BU13 OPL Premier Division
BU12 OPL First Division
BU11 OPL Premier

Your Youth program is only average at 50.
WSA's youth program is at 70+ / Not sure about Pacific. FCSC dead.

You are like a politician ... once you peel away the BS claims of superiority there is nothing to support. Once you get past the U16 & U18's, which are on there way out, VUSA's boys side is average at best.

So FACTS support the claim that VUSA has lost their edge. I appologize to those that have to read this crap as this is off topic but I just can't stand by and listen to the crap spewing from this VUSA tool. I think VUSA is a good club thus I'm not a VUSA hater but what I do hate is the pontificating dolts like this guy.

Sounders Academy players played for the Timbers before getting called up...more then I can say for WSA.

2 RCL Division 1 teams are more then anyone else in SW WA.....You have an argument for that?

Belittle the OPL on the girls side YES. If you had a brain you would have seen that tool.

Hahhaha you are a WSA fan. 70 plus??> are you counting rec? Even thats not correct What a moron. Timbers have 4 premier boys teams in their academy. All of which are better then anything else at that age in SW WA. U-11's were 2nd NWCL. You are a joke dude, or at least a Gary Lover.

I feel sorry for this guy who is made that Timbers are going PDX because his son is on a WSA 3rd division team and thinks he will be left behind.

Sucks for you Timbers hater.

[Vancouver Soccer Dad]

Sorry to hijack this topic but I can't just let the misinformation continue.
VUSA Dad, you said it not me ... stick with girls soccer you don't know what you're talking about on the boys side. VUSA has stumbled big time on the boys side and the other clubs now have the numbers and the momentum. The pendulum has swung.
I don't know jack about the girls side but I'll give you the nod there. It looks like VUSA has the momentum.
Back to your regular programming .....

No misinformation intended. If something I posted is factually incorrect, please provide details. I think we are actually in agreement though. WSA has the better boys program in the middle years, jury is still out on younger boys. Neither are as strong as a merged group would be (opinion).

My original post made the following propositions, all of which I believe are correct:

1) VUSA has "holes" in older age groups for boys - No U15 or U17 premier teams
2) VUSA U14/U15 teams aren't very good - U14 Reds play OPL 2nd division and U15 is PML only
3) U11 Reds are very good - 2nd in NWCL
4) VUSA Academy has tons of boys - 50+ and 4 teams
5) WSA teams are better at U14/U15 - I think this is clear as U14 Pilots and U15 Arsenal both play in RCL
6) WSA teams are better than VUS but not "top tier" - OPL 2nd and RCL 2nd are not "top tier"
U11 Rangers OPL 2nd div
U12 Wolves OPL 2nd div
U13 Blazers RCL 2nd div
U14 Pilots RCL 2nd div
U15 Aresenal RCL 3rd div
U16 missing in action
U17 Juventus RCL 2nd div

[Unregistered]

And who would these "elite level training" sessions be held by? The current WSM and ESUFC coaches who run a horrible girls program?

It will be run much like WA I would guess. In WA the top level girls players play ECNL and do the Sounders ODP on the side. If Oregon gets ECNL that is where the top players will go. Some will choose to do ODP through the Timbers while others will not. ECNL will be the place for the girls, not WSM and ESUFC. Look for the girls to flock to THUSC and FC.

You have Jim R. from ESUFC who literally looked girls parents in the eye and told them with no hesitation that the girls program is there only to support the boys and that numbers were necessary irrespective of quality to fund the boys scholarships. Jim R. doesn't give two iotas about girls and since he is at the helm of ESUFC it would be a disaster for girls. I am guessing it will be several years before they could lure a healthy girls program back into the fold. I have no idea what goes on at WSM but they don't appear to be heavy on the girls side either. My guess is that the Timbers will simply run an ODP program for the girls and there will be no significant change.

[Unregistered]

You have Jim R. from ESUFC who literally looked girls parents in the eye and told them with no hesitation that the girls program is there only to support the boys and that numbers were necessary irrespective of quality to fund the boys scholarships. Jim R. doesn't give two iotas about girls and since he is at the helm of ESUFC it would be a disaster for girls. I am guessing it will be several years before they could lure a healthy girls program back into the fold. I have no idea what goes on at WSM but they don't appear to be heavy on the girls side either. My guess is that the Timbers will simply run an ODP program for the girls and there will be no significant change.

Agreed. WSM has the same philosophy. A coach actually said, "what's the point of developing girls when they can't play professionally".