Portland Timbers Youth Soccer

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What is all this?

Can someone knowledgable please explain the Timbers "DA" system for boys?
Will there be a pool of players that train under the Timbers? what ages? Will they form Academy teams/ at what ages? Who do they play? I'm a newbie and not really sure what this is all about and how it changes the current/past structure? A concise overview would be nice or even a link to an overview.
Thanks

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Unless you know your 10 year old is going to play in college or pros, you might want to check out your local clubs to start with. WS has a good development program and girls director and is trying to build the program. Yes THUSC and WS compete for the girls and players, but as been stated before that both have weak and strong teams. Just saying there are several choices and think WS does a good job overall for boys and girls.

This is a joke thread right? WSM does well with developing girls? That has to be the laugh of the century. Boys yes, girls no. WSM might have a decent girls team come along every now and then but it's not due to developing. It's luck of the draw. FC and THUSC almost always have very good girls teams. Last year THUSC had a team in the finals for State Cup at U12-U16 on the girls side. Anyone who has been in soccer longer than a year will tell you that currently THUSC has the best girls program and WSM the boys. Neither can claim to have a good girls and boys program. Only club that can currently claim that is FC and possibly OSSA.

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Caution...

Can someone knowledgable please explain the Timbers "DA" system for boys?
Will there be a pool of players that train under the Timbers? what ages? Will they form Academy teams/ at what ages? Who do they play? I'm a newbie and not really sure what this is all about and how it changes the current/past structure? A concise overview would be nice or even a link to an overview.
Thanks

There is still do much up in the air, that if someone comes on here and tries to sell specific details you probably should request proof of ID. The known item is tryouts are supposed to happen in August, it will be blended ages (u15/16),(u17/18). Beyond that the only real known details are based on the leagues rules.

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This is a joke thread right? WSM does well with developing girls? That has to be the laugh of the century. Boys yes, girls no. WSM might have a decent girls team come along every now and then but it's not due to developing. It's luck of the draw. FC and THUSC almost always have very good girls teams. Last year THUSC had a team in the finals for State Cup at U12-U16 on the girls side. Anyone who has been in soccer longer than a year will tell you that currently THUSC has the best girls program and WSM the boys. Neither can claim to have a good girls and boys program. Only club that can currently claim that is FC and possibly OSSA.

As posted on another thread, it was pretty clearly shown that from U14 up, that both OSSA and FCP are doing much better during Winter season play in terms of numbers of teams playing in premier and how they finished as compared to THUSC. Don't know about the boys side so I won't comment on them.

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Explain How Girls WSM will work

Wondering if anyone has details on how Timbers will improve the girls side of things at WSM?

It is mediocre at best. There have been some great players who have come over from other clubs but those that have been there for a while are weak, lack true soccer skill and seem to look lost on the field against the other clubs.

Looks like only a few of the girls teams actually compete at the premier level. Doesn't seem as if some of the girls teams are truely training or playing competively compared to other clubs.

Are the Timbers going to make changes that will improve the girls program? Sooner than later?

[Unregistered]

Wondering if anyone has details on how Timbers will improve the girls side of things at WSM?

It is mediocre at best. There have been some great players who have come over from other clubs but those that have been there for a while are weak, lack true soccer skill and seem to look lost on the field against the other clubs.

Looks like only a few of the girls teams actually compete at the premier level. Doesn't seem as if some of the girls teams are truely training or playing competively compared to other clubs.

Are the Timbers going to make changes that will improve the girls program? Sooner than later?

Along those lines hopefully those clubs and ODP are run better then their camps..... Daughter went to a Timbers camp last summer.... wasn't impressed and won't be going back this year.

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As posted on another thread, it was pretty clearly shown that from U14 up, that both OSSA and FCP are doing much better during Winter season play in terms of numbers of teams playing in premier and how they finished as compared to THUSC. Don't know about the boys side so I won't comment on them.

OSSA doesn't even develop players. They get players from other clubs so really is an unfair comparison. Mercury has never done well during the winter/spring season but has somehow managed to win State Cup two years in a row. I doubt that will continue this year but they have done it twice. My daughter plays at FC Portland and while I feel it is the best overall club I can't imagine anyone knocking THUSC. They have solid girls teams from U11-U17.

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As posted on another thread, it was pretty clearly shown that from U14 up, that both OSSA and FCP are doing much better during Winter season play in terms of numbers of teams playing in premier and how they finished as compared to THUSC. Don't know about the boys side so I won't comment on them.

State Cup is when it matters. That's typically when all the players are present and all the developing through the year will pay off. THUSC had a team in the finals last year from U12-U16. This year it could easily be U12, U13, U14, U16, and U17. You can win league all you want but State Cup decides the real champion and let's you know who can pull off the win when it matters the most.

[Unregistered]

This is a joke thread right? WSM does well with developing girls? That has to be the laugh of the century. Boys yes, girls no. WSM might have a decent girls team come along every now and then but it's not due to developing. It's luck of the draw. FC and THUSC almost always have very good girls teams. Last year THUSC had a team in the finals for State Cup at U12-U16 on the girls side. Anyone who has been in soccer longer than a year will tell you that currently THUSC has the best girls program and WSM the boys. Neither can claim to have a good girls and boys program. Only club that can currently claim that is FC and possibly OSSA.

By your reasoning then, most of the success comes from the "luck of the draw". So if more girls start going to WS and more boys start going to THUSC and the teams improve that means that the developmental is better? Nonsense! What makes the boys "more developed" at WS and the girls at THUSC? I have a boy and girl at WS, just different coaches, and players, different styles but basically the same program. What makes the girls program at THUSC better than the boys? The coaches or the players? Or is it that more boys gravitate to WS or FC? Luck of the draw or development - which is it?

[Unregistered]

Pick the coach and team that are seem right for your player. Clubs vary from year to year.
Maybe there are too many clubs competing for the top players, but there are many players in the Beaverton area. Hopefully the new programs will improve and change for the benefit of all levels. I think we are all waiting to hear just what the changes will be. Then we can decide.

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State Cup is when it matters. That's typically when all the players are present and all the developing through the year will pay off. THUSC had a team in the finals last year from U12-U16. This year it could easily be U12, U13, U14, U16, and U17. You can win league all you want but State Cup decides the real champion and let's you know who can pull off the win when it matters the most.

You might want to tone that word "easily".

[Unregistered]

State Cup is when it matters. That's typically when all the players are present and all the developing through the year will pay off. THUSC had a team in the finals last year from U12-U16. This year it could easily be U12, U13, U14, U16, and U17. You can win league all you want but State Cup decides the real champion and let's you know who can pull off the win when it matters the most.

Easily? Hummmmm

I have nothing against any of the clubs. I think THUSC is a great club. However, I beg to differ with this poster. I do not believe that state cup is where it "matters most." My measurement is how many players are being place in colleges to play soccer. (Not to say that THUSC doesnt do this.) A state cup win is sure fun, but not the end all. The other thing I do not buy into is that if a player moves at U15/U16 they are "developed." To a certain degreee they are, but development continues well beyond U14. I am also a believer that at 50% of a players success comes down to their own work ethic and work outside the club. I have an opinion on which club does this, but I am not going to share. It works for us, but may not work for everyone.

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The question

The question was should the timbers be involved in youth soccer beyound the DA?

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The question was should the timbers be involved in youth soccer beyound the DA?

The answer = absolutely.

If they want a program, it doesn't start with a couple kids in the DA and then scouting for pro picks. It starts with youth development.

My prediction, Timbers will be eventually branch out all the way down to the youth level. Oh, wait, they already are.

[Unregistered]

MLS Youth Development Focus

It's interesting to contrast this with what the Sounders are doing. I'm not saying that one is better than the other but the two MLS clubs have decided to approach it differently.
The biggest difference is that the Sounders chose not to affiliate with any youth clubs. They have repeatedly said their development focus is "player centric" and have consiously avoided working with specific clubs. D Swatzky, Director of youth development for the Sounders has gone so far as to say that the inter-Club politics is detrimental to individual development. Whereas the clubs want to "hold on to" their best players and he believes the best players need to be put together in the same environment and trained together. [not a direct quote].
My opinion is that by selecting only 3 clubs the Timbers have created a favored environment that does nothing to endear the "out side looking in clubs" except to make them angry. Maybe it doesn't matter because its about players in the end regardless. It does drive a wedge in the club environment though .... as if there wasn't one already ... LOL