Timbers 1st girls academy

[Unregistered]

most of your ODP team will be your DA team.....come on dude.....the DA program and ODP is the best of the best......you don't have to jump on the bus now...if your daughter is good enough she will get the opportunity whenever you want it...jsut wait and be patient....it is going to happen...we are all consumers and we have the choice of when we want to be a part of the machine....the machine is going to make this Girls DA happen, that is a fact.

I hope it does happen. Now saying ODP is the best of the best is a bit of a stretch. A girls DA program would be great. Just tired of people trying to spread lies that it will come from the "alliance clubs" when it is a completely different situation.

I know that at the '97, '98 and '99 age groups the DA team would not come mostly from ODP. There are so many talented girls at those three age groups that didn't even try out for ODP. But the DA idea is at least 1-2 years away so I'm happy with where my daughter is and getting the development that will help her make a DA team if it happens.

[Unregistered]

I hope it does happen. Now saying ODP is the best of the best is a bit of a stretch. A girls DA program would be great. Just tired of people trying to spread lies that it will come from the "alliance clubs" when it is a completely different situation.

I know that at the '97, '98 and '99 age groups the DA team would not come mostly from ODP. There are so many talented girls at those three age groups that didn't even try out for ODP. But the DA idea is at least 1-2 years away so I'm happy with where my daughter is and getting the development that will help her make a DA team if it happens.

Could post. Couldn't agree more.

[Unregistered]

the coach is important...I agree...the coach is about 50% of importance....some other important information you need to consider...

look at the entire club philosphy, the machine that is going to develop your child...
are there other opportunities for your child apart from his/her team? Does his/her team bring in guest coaching regularly? Once or twice a month? Are they quality coaches?

These are the parts that are just as important as "the coach" o fhis/her team.

It's the club atmosphere that develops the child not just a single coach...if your child plays for only two or three coaches in their youth career then I'm sorry because that is not developing your child.

And generally its the parents that hinder the development of their child...most coaches only get the player for 6-8 hrs per week while the parent get them for the other 160 hrs....usually during those other 160 hrs parents are feeding their kids the opposite information that is being taught to them during training.

Agree that club atmosphere is important.
My experience, multiple kids & multiple clubs, suggests that there are very few differences in the mechanics. Its as if the DOCs all graduated from the same school. In the end it comes down to the Head Coach. Does the head coach embrace the minimum the club system has to offer or do they go above and beyond. It's relative easy to do what the DOC / Club prescribes. It's that coach that goes above and beyond ... that's the coach you want teaching your player. That's what should make you move from a club ... finding THAT coach

[Unregistered]

Agree that club atmosphere is important.
My experience, multiple kids & multiple clubs, suggests that there are very few differences in the mechanics. Its as if the DOCs all graduated from the same school. In the end it comes down to the Head Coach. Does the head coach embrace the minimum the club system has to offer or do they go above and beyond. It's relative easy to do what the DOC / Club prescribes. It's that coach that goes above and beyond ... that's the coach you want teaching your player. That's what should make you move from a club ... finding THAT coach

Problem is THAT coach might only be coaching your kid for a year or two and then if the next coach is sub par you're left trying to find another great coach. I have no problem with a kid leaving a club because they are unhappy. I say you do what's best for your kid but it's nice to find a club where you don't always have to stress every 2 years because of a new coach coming in. I'll move my kid if I feel the need to but I would prefer that they stay with one club if possible as team chemistry is highly important. It's tough to get that if kids are always moving.

[Unregistered]

Don't Kid Yourself!

So you all really think the Timbers (GW) just selected three clubs (Alliance) for the heck of it? You really think the Timbers didn't know by selecting only three clubs that they'd piss off some people/clubs/DOCs? You really think there won't be programs / training / coaching / playing opportunities given to the Alliance clubs that won't be available to non-alliance clubs? You really think there won't be benefits for the Alliance players that only they'll receive? You really think that when all things are equal an Alliance player won't get "nod" over a non-alliance player? You really think the Timbers don't have elevating the girls game in Oregon as one of their goals. Do you really think the Timbers arn't looking at a Timbers Women's program to compete with other MLS franchises (Sounders / Whitecaps locally). etc. etc. etc. etc. ???????
Absolutely right we don't know details of what these will look like yet ... but if you agree with any of the above statements you are seriously kidding yourself. The Timbers didn't decide to pursue this avenue without forethought and purpose in mind.
Bottom Line: The Timbers Alliance will offer players opportunities that they will not receive playing for other clubs.
Absolutely right that the Boys DA and Girls DA (for lack of a better name) teams will be made up of the best OR & SW WA has to offer with no regard for what club a player is from. But seriously folks this is a very small percentage of the players! If your player is in the other 98% pool they will receive benefits and opportunities at a Timber Alliance Club that they simply will not receive elsewhere. I know we all want to know what these are right now! Don't know when ..... like anything the benefits probably won't all be apparent on day one but will present over time .... like the ECNL announcement as an example.

People are guessing that if the ECNL opportunity presents itself it will be an open process like ODP. I'll throw out there that the Timbers are supporting ODP and it will continue pretty much as it looks now. The ECNL will be exclusive to the Alliance. GW knows what he's doing and he will favor his Alliance partners knowing that an ECNL program will attract the top female players to the Alliance clubs. After all that's why he chose East / West / North partners. There is a method to the maddness.

[Unregistered]

Be Player-centric

Problem is THAT coach might only be coaching your kid for a year or two and then if the next coach is sub par you're left trying to find another great coach. I have no problem with a kid leaving a club because they are unhappy. I say you do what's best for your kid but it's nice to find a club where you don't always have to stress every 2 years because of a new coach coming in. I'll move my kid if I feel the need to but I would prefer that they stay with one club if possible as team chemistry is highly important. It's tough to get that if kids are always moving.

Very valid point. In a perfect world that would be the ideal situation. That would be the goal wouldn't it? However, even at a great club there are no guarantees that they will replace your existing coach with the same or better quality coach.
All I'm saying is don't be so addicted to the club koolaid that you foresake your players development etc. ... just because you are club-centric.
I think we're saying roughly the same thing but I get the feeling that many on this board would fall on the sword for their club. That is a very naive outlook and will potentially hurt a players development.

[Unregistered]

This is probably Cony or another coach at WSM planting info before the spring tryouts. He does this every year to recruit players. Same old practice....

Same coaches, same clubs. A Timbers branded girls program is no different until they play in a different league, like the ECNL.

[Unregistered]

This is probably Cony or another coach at WSM planting info before the spring tryouts. He does this every year to recruit players. Same old practice....

Same coaches, same clubs. A Timbers branded girls program is no different until they play in a different league, like the ECNL.

BINGO !!

If they want participation, then put it in writing with specifics (coach, training location, amount of training, league and special events)

[Unregistered]

This is probably Cony or another coach at WSM planting info before the spring tryouts. He does this every year to recruit players. Same old practice....

Same coaches, same clubs. A Timbers branded girls program is no different until they play in a different league, like the ECNL.

Opinions are like belly buttons ... everyone has one.
You go keep believing yours. Good luck to ya.

[Unregistered]

Exactly, everyone has their own opinion. Some are happy with their team and coach, but some on the team are unhappy and leave then some are happy but some aren't. It is good to have options. N0 club can make everyone happy. I am just a WS parent and think that most 10 year olds want to play with their friends and classmates, but are willing to make new friends. If they are happy with their rec team, how do they transition to "classic"? How many know if their 10 year old is going to play college or pro and how do the clubs work with all the different levels?

You don't know until you try but you want it to be a positive experience.

[Unregistered]

This is probably Cony or another coach at WSM planting info before the spring tryouts. He does this every year to recruit players. Same old practice....

Same coaches, same clubs. A Timbers branded girls program is no different until they play in a different league, like the ECNL.

Yep, agreed. Every year WSM tries these kinds of tactics to attract more players. All you have to do is make a few phone calls to get the facts. If the Timbers get ECNL next season they were only looking at U16 and U18. It was said at the ODP meeting and when I called to get more specific information on it I was told again that it will be a Portland Timbers program and NOT an alliance club program. Erik said they were not looking at a specific club to be part of the ECNL. If they were anywhere near coming up with a concept for the girls they'd have a press release about it. No news is not good news.

I think for boys going to WSM or ESUFC is a good idea and I do see them getting opportunities that other clubs may not provide. I'm sure they'll get to meet the players, practice on the new fields, etc. I don't see any point in going there if you have a daughter if you're purely looking to gain an advantage. Neither club focuses on girls and neither club gives the girls side good coaches. If you have a daughter and you feel like you want to be a part of the alliance then I suggest going to VUSA. They have a strong girls program and good coaching.

[Unregistered]

ENCL membership a long way off for Timbers affiliates

Yep, agreed. Every year WSM tries these kinds of tactics to attract more players. All you have to do is make a few phone calls to get the facts. If the Timbers get ECNL next season they were only looking at U16 and U18. It was said at the ODP meeting and when I called to get more specific information on it I was told again that it will be a Portland Timbers program and NOT an alliance club program. Erik said they were not looking at a specific club to be part of the ECNL. If they were anywhere near coming up with a concept for the girls they'd have a press release about it. No news is not good news.

I think for boys going to WSM or ESUFC is a good idea and I do see them getting opportunities that other clubs may not provide. I'm sure they'll get to meet the players, practice on the new fields, etc. I don't see any point in going there if you have a daughter if you're purely looking to gain an advantage. Neither club focuses on girls and neither club gives the girls side good coaches. If you have a daughter and you feel like you want to be a part of the alliance then I suggest going to VUSA. They have a strong girls program and good coaching.

Even if the Timbers program produced acceptable results for their girls teams It would be many years before they could meet the competitive requirements for membership in ENCL.

The measuring stick for the girls programs at the Timbers clubs will be coaching. If they come up with quality coaching then they have a chance but if they continue their past practices they have little chance of attracting the same talent as THUSC or OSSA at U14 and above!