ECNL to Portland

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wsm coach here: I don't understand why everyone on here has to have a scarcity mentality. I'm very pleased to hear the Portland Rain is coming back, which gives the girls more opportunities to play throughout the summer, especially college players (I'm assuming it's for that age group). If Thusc got the ECNL bid, I would have supported that also. Again, for me, it's all about offering our girls the most competitive, highest level of competition.
If the Timbers eventually offer a DA type opportunity for the girls we should applaud this. This may not affect the current U15 and up age groups; not sure. This may only affect the younger groups like the current U14's and 13's. But if it's there I'm going to assume most of the competitive, serious players will tryout and more than likely accept a spot if offered.
I totally understand why other clubs outside the alliance teams will resist this because of not wanting to lose their top players. But I think if we truly want to develop our top tier players, they need to be on these teams. If I had a daughter, that I felt is a top tier player, I would want her to be with other players of the same caliber, in a competitive environment, training weekly with those players, and obviously playing in top tournaments. That's where they are going to develop both mentally and physically (we all know how the game is totally different in SoCal).

Well said. Great post. Sure hope that the DA and ECNL both come to fruition in time for my daughter to have them as options. I know that a lot of her soccer friends, many of whom play on different teams, feel similarly. They would love to have more opportunities to play together and challenge each other and to take on top teams from other regions. Who knows who would make these teams, but it would be nice to have them available so that they can all at least tryout.

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Unfortunately there will not be a Portland Rain program this year.

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I'm sorry but the top girls U12 and above are not going to migrate to an Alliance club just because the Portland Rain are part of the Timbers. There is NO reason for them to go to WSM or ESU as neither even develops the girls. The top players know where to go and where not to go. Do you really think the entire THUSC or FC team is going to try out for WSM or ESU? You have to be kidding yourself. The problem WSM will face is that very few of their players will be on par with the non-alliance girls so there won't be that competition you speak of. And you must not know Janine very well if you think for one second she will be bullied by the WSM coaches.

Just another desperate attempt of a WSM parent trying to recruit girls to come over.

[Unregistered]

Unfortunately there will not be a Portland Rain program this year.

Did they send you a refund for the tryouts?

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wsm coach here: I don't understand why everyone on here has to have a scarcity mentality.
If the Timbers eventually offer a DA type opportunity for the girls we should applaud this. This may not affect the current U15 and up age groups; not sure. This may only affect the younger groups like the current U14's and 13's. But if it's there I'm going to assume most of the competitive, serious players will tryout and more than likely accept a spot if offered.
I totally understand why other clubs outside the alliance teams will resist this because of not wanting to lose their top players. But I think if we truly want to develop our top tier players, they need to be on these teams. If I had a daughter, that I felt is a top tier player, I would want her to be with other players of the same caliber, in a competitive environment, training weekly with those players, and obviously playing in top tournaments. That's where they are going to develop both mentally and physically (we all know how the game is totally different in SoCal).

I think I made the comment above that you may be interpreting as scarcity. I interpret it as a DA style program for girls will want the best players. They simply won't care which clubs those players come from. I don't think that it would be worth a player moving clubs in the hopes of getting picked over a player of similar ability. If you are that good then you will be picked. If you are on the bubble.... moving to ESU or WSM would be foolish for a girl. This is until they change thier attitude towards girls.

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I If you are on the bubble.... moving to ESU or WSM would be foolish for a girl. This is until they change thier attitude towards girls.

WSM and ESU aren't going to change their view of the girls anytime soon. Alligning with the Timbers just made it worse for the girls. Now their focus more than ever will be on producing the best male soccer players they can. Let's be real, they call it an "alliance" but for WSM and ESU it will be a competition to see who can produce the most boys. If you know Cony and Gavin then you know I'm right. The girls will get dragged along for the ride but will never be looked at equally. Now at VUSA the girls stand a chance.

[Unregistered]

Maybe some truth here

I'm sorry but the top girls U12 and above are not going to migrate to an Alliance club just because the Portland Rain are part of the Timbers. There is NO reason for them to go to WSM or ESU as neither even develops the girls. The top players know where to go and where not to go. Do you really think the entire THUSC or FC team is going to try out for WSM or ESU? You have to be kidding yourself. The problem WSM will face is that very few of their players will be on par with the non-alliance girls so there won't be that competition you speak of. And you must not know Janine very well if you think for one second she will be bullied by the WSM coaches.

Just another desperate attempt of a WSM parent trying to recruit girls to come over.

You could be right for current U12 and above, for awhile. This alliance thing is so new that it may take a couple years to really feel any effects. But over time, I think you are wrong. It may not affect your kid much today, but the future will shift to the alliance - unless of course this alliance falls apart. It will not be one entire team, it will be kid by kid, as they see the benefits and the fact that it improves their chances to make RTC/ODP/Rain/whatever... even if it is a small advantage. But to each his/her own. This is just my honest opinion. Obviously, you will pick the right situation for your child, and I will do the same. Believe it or not, I actually have not been in the alliance but we will be if my kid(s) make the squad at tryouts. I know others with similar opinions that are doing the same thing.

[Unregistered]

You could be right for current U12 and above, for awhile. This alliance thing is so new that it may take a couple years to really feel any effects. But over time, I think you are wrong. It may not affect your kid much today, but the future will shift to the alliance - unless of course this alliance falls apart. It will not be one entire team, it will be kid by kid, as they see the benefits and the fact that it improves their chances to make RTC/ODP/Rain/whatever... even if it is a small advantage. But to each his/her own. This is just my honest opinion. Obviously, you will pick the right situation for your child, and I will do the same. Believe it or not, I actually have not been in the alliance but we will be if my kid(s) make the squad at tryouts. I know others with similar opinions that are doing the same thing.

If subpar coaching and subpar talent is what is going to help you make ODP/RTC/Rain then the alliance won't last. As soon as any of those three areas start picking based on jersey and not on talent we are all doomed. I don't see the Timbers allowing that to happen if their name is on it. As long as ESU and WSM concentrate on the boys then the girls will not go to their club and girls from other clubs will have the advantage. Looking at the coaching assignments it looks like they're still bi-passing the girls. Nothing changing yet. This would of been the best time to show that they care but their true colors are shining through still.

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From the Timbers Web page

Portland Timbers Girls Programs
The Portland Timbers have agreed to take over and manage the OYSA Girls ODP Program.
The Timbers Academy Office will run the program in a similar professional way to the boys
pre-Academy. At the older age groups, the program may be modified to be more relevant, with pathways established to additional college recruiting events, potentially an Elite Girls Program such as ECNL and then on to a Women’s Team. The Portland Timbers will provide more details and a press release in the next few months as the program is developed.

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oh nio

The Timbers are going to ruin this to? crap why can't they stick to pro soccer and just ruin that?

[Unregistered]

The Timbers are going to ruin this to? crap why can't they stick to pro soccer and just ruin that?

It is not like the clubs (FC Portland, THUSC, LO, etc... ) are doing such a great job with the girls.

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History & Personalities

wsm coach here: I don't understand why everyone on here has to have a scarcity mentality. I'm very pleased to hear the Portland Rain is coming back, which gives the girls more opportunities to play throughout the summer, especially college players (I'm assuming it's for that age group). If Thusc got the ECNL bid, I would have supported that also. Again, for me, it's all about offering our girls the most competitive, highest level of competition.
If the Timbers eventually offer a DA type opportunity for the girls we should applaud this. This may not affect the current U15 and up age groups; not sure. This may only affect the younger groups like the current U14's and 13's. But if it's there I'm going to assume most of the competitive, serious players will tryout and more than likely accept a spot if offered.
I totally understand why other clubs outside the alliance teams will resist this because of not wanting to lose their top players. But I think if we truly want to develop our top tier players, they need to be on these teams. If I had a daughter, that I felt is a top tier player, I would want her to be with other players of the same caliber, in a competitive environment, training weekly with those players, and obviously playing in top tournaments. That's where they are going to develop both mentally and physically (we all know how the game is totally different in SoCal).

"THE" problem with expecting girls to migrate to either of the PDX alliance teams is the current coaching staff and their historical attitude toward girls teams. To attract the best girls these programs will have to undergo a cultural shift that can only happen if the leadership resigns and a news coaching philosophy is installed. Yes the DA concept would benefit the girls too however to implement that they will need to replace half of their existing staff with the girl coaches from the other more successful PDX area clubs. Now how are they going to do that unless they throw money at their feet?

It's possible to get where they want to go just not with the current leadership of Alliance clubs!

[Unregistered]

Sarcasm or Ignorance

It is not like the clubs (FC Portland, THUSC, LO, etc... ) are doing such a great job with the girls.

I'm not sure if you were being sarcastic or just posting Alliance ignorance? Either way the long term and even recent history of the girl teams in the clubs you mentioned far, far exceeds the accomplishments of any Alliance team.

The reformulated OSSA is in the early stages of becoming a regional a power and if the rumored THUSC / FC merger comes to pass the new club will move their teams up another level on the tote board of elite teams on the west coast.

It will many years, if ever, before either alliance clubs could put forth a girls program to rival these programs because they just don't have the coaching staff and history of commitment to the girls teams to build the confidence of parents of elite players.

[Unregistered]

The Timber alliance clubs are about boys. Their only commitment to girls is just enough to field teams to help subsidize their boys program.

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tick tock tick tock

The Timber alliance clubs are about boys. Their only commitment to girls is just enough to field teams to help subsidize their boys program.

said the clubs that are concerned now that women professional team is associated with the timbers.... its only a matter of time before you become irrelevant...

How are you going to afford paying you DOC 100K+?

So the reverse is true about clubs such as thusc and LO that have boys? they are there to subsidize the girls?