Timbers announce formal partnership with Oregon Premier League

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05-01-12 / The Portland Timbers today announced a formal partnership with the Oregon Premier League (OPL), a state-wide soccer association providing a top-tier development environment for Oregon’s youth soccer players. As part of the partnership, the Timbers also become the presenting partner of the annual OPL State Cup.

“The Timbers and OPL share a common vision in playing a key role in the development of Oregon’s youth soccer players and soccer community,” said Gavin Wilkinson, Timbers general manager. “Our youth programs, the Timbers Academy and OPL all share a similar philosophy in player development, and we look forward to working with them.”

Founded in 2008, the OPL features more than 45 member clubs across Oregon and offers competitive youth soccer leagues and tournaments for boys and girls at the U-11 to U-18 age levels. Each of the three adidas Timbers Alliance clubs – Eastside Timbers, Vancouver United Timbers and Westside Timbers – are members of the OPL.

“We are delighted to formalize our relationship with the Timbers,” said Oregon Premier Council President John Bain. “Our goal as a league is to provide high-level development and competitive opportunities for our players, teams and clubs, and by aligning with the Timbers, there is no better partner to help us continue that mission."

The Portland Timbers OPL State Cup is an annual club tournament competition, featuring group play and knockout rounds to determine state champions for both boys and girls at various age levels. The tournament concludes Saturday with a series of finals at Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District Howard M. Terpenning Recreation Complex in Beaverton, Ore. OPL State Cup winners from the U-13 to U-17 age groups have the opportunity to advance to the U.S. Club Soccer National Cup this summer.

Member clubs of the OPL share the common goal of shaping Oregon youth soccer at the highest levels. The OPL was designed to provide a positive, value-based environment for the participants within its programs, while offering high-level development and competitive opportunities for its players, teams and clubs. For more on the OPL, visit www.oregonpremierleague.com.

Also included in the partnership, the Timbers will be the presenting partner of the OPL’s Premier Divisions starting this fall. The Premier Divisions are affiliated with U.S. Club Soccer’s National Premier League.

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Nice to hear but not a big surprise. Some of the same people involved in both organizations.

Also, if the Vancouver Timbers are "members" of the OPL, why can't their teams compete in the OPL State Cup?

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Nice to hear but not a big surprise. Some of the same people involved in both organizations.

Also, if the Vancouver Timbers are "members" of the OPL, why can't their teams compete in the OPL State Cup?

Uhhhh because they are from a different state? They are lucky their kids are allowed to compete in ODP....

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05-01-12 / The Portland Timbers today announced a formal partnership with the Oregon Premier League (OPL), a state-wide soccer association providing a top-tier development environment for Oregon’s youth soccer players. As part of the partnership, the Timbers also become the presenting partner of the annual OPL State Cup.

“The Timbers and OPL share a common vision in playing a key role in the development of Oregon’s youth soccer players and soccer community,” said Gavin Wilkinson, Timbers general manager. “Our youth programs, the Timbers Academy and OPL all share a similar philosophy in player development, and we look forward to working with them.”

Founded in 2008, the OPL features more than 45 member clubs across Oregon and offers competitive youth soccer leagues and tournaments for boys and girls at the U-11 to U-18 age levels. Each of the three adidas Timbers Alliance clubs – Eastside Timbers, Vancouver United Timbers and Westside Timbers – are members of the OPL.

“We are delighted to formalize our relationship with the Timbers,” said Oregon Premier Council President John Bain. “Our goal as a league is to provide high-level development and competitive opportunities for our players, teams and clubs, and by aligning with the Timbers, there is no better partner to help us continue that mission."

The Portland Timbers OPL State Cup is an annual club tournament competition, featuring group play and knockout rounds to determine state champions for both boys and girls at various age levels. The tournament concludes Saturday with a series of finals at Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District Howard M. Terpenning Recreation Complex in Beaverton, Ore. OPL State Cup winners from the U-13 to U-17 age groups have the opportunity to advance to the U.S. Club Soccer National Cup this summer.

Member clubs of the OPL share the common goal of shaping Oregon youth soccer at the highest levels. The OPL was designed to provide a positive, value-based environment for the participants within its programs, while offering high-level development and competitive opportunities for its players, teams and clubs. For more on the OPL, visit www.oregonpremierleague.com.

Also included in the partnership, the Timbers will be the presenting partner of the OPL’s Premier Divisions starting this fall. The Premier Divisions are affiliated with U.S. Club Soccer’s National Premier League.

-Still not sold if having the Timbers associated with youth sports is a good thing or a money pad. Time will tell. As with most new things they start out good and then loose focus of what the original message was.

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Uhhhh because they are from a different state?

But, of course, it's not a "real" State Cup anyways. Just an end of year league tournament masquerading as a State Cup

They are lucky their kids are allowed to compete in ODP....

Luck has nothing to do with it. US Youth Soccer rules allow it. Every year, every kid in the nation gets to make a choice as to which ODP program they want to try out for. But only one choice. Many in SW WA opt for Oregon as it's approximately 6 times easier to make (1/2 the population and 3x the pool size of WA)

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Uhhhh because they are from a different state? They are lucky their kids are allowed to compete in ODP....

uhhhhh...don't you mean that Oregon ODP is lucky that some of the WA kids choose to play for OR ODP? It tends to make your teams stronger if anything. And like another person said, it's much easier to make OR ODP than it is to make WA ODP, especially on the girls side. Several of the girls on the OR ODP teams have tried unsuccessfully to make the WA teams. This is why a lot of them now play for OR. You should feel so lucky that the SW WA teams aren't allowed to compete in your State Cup.

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Unlucky ...

uhhhhh...don't you mean that Oregon ODP is lucky that some of the WA kids choose to play for OR ODP? It tends to make your teams stronger if anything. And like another person said, it's much easier to make OR ODP than it is to make WA ODP, especially on the girls side. Several of the girls on the OR ODP teams have tried unsuccessfully to make the WA teams. This is why a lot of them now play for OR. You should feel so lucky that the SW WA teams aren't allowed to compete in your State Cup.

After 6 years of watching my DD in ODP, there are two identifiable groups that seem to make the rosters regardless of talent. They are the southern Oregon players and the Washington players. OYSA always wants more money, and one way to get it is to accept these two groups into OR ODP. OYSA then has a carrot and stick approach to these two areas. Least qualified players that I've seen over the years. It would be just fine with me if they just stayed home.

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Timbers partnership

I still don't understand what this means. Following the Timbers links, they are still working with OYSA on ODP and the Timbers Academy. Will OPL be working with the Timbers and OYSA? Can OPL clubs work together? What does this mean for the top acacemy players and how does this affect the rest of us- the girls and not top ODP and B team players. Where are we going with this?

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Timbers link

I still don't understand what this means. Following the Timbers links, they are still working with OYSA on ODP and the Timbers Academy. Will OPL be working with the Timbers and OYSA? Can OPL clubs work together? What does this mean for the top acacemy players and how does this affect the rest of us- the girls and not top ODP and B team players. Where are we going with this?

Here is the Timbers link, if you look at the bottom there are links to the other programs mentioned. If anyone can explain what this means, I would apprecitate any info. Thanks!

http://www.portlandtimbers.com/news/...premier-league

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location

But, of course, it's not a "real" State Cup anyways. Just an end of year league tournament masquerading as a State Cup




Luck has nothing to do with it. US Youth Soccer rules allow it. Every year, every kid in the nation gets to make a choice as to which ODP program they want to try out for. But only one choice. Many in SW WA opt for Oregon as it's approximately 6 times easier to make (1/2 the population and 3x the pool size of WA)

I think it also has to do with less driving time.

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I think it also has to do with less driving time.

Don't confuse them with facts.

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I think it also has to do with less driving time.

You're suggesting that you limit your child's development as a soccer player because you don't want to drive a little farther?

So it costs a little more to drive to Seattle instead of Portland...that's just money. If money can solve a problem, it's not really much of a problem.

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You're suggesting that you limit your child's development as a soccer player because you don't want to drive a little farther?

So it costs a little more to drive to Seattle instead of Portland...that's just money. If money can solve a problem, it's not really much of a problem.

But that removes the ability for the Vantukians to post their supposed superiority on this forum. They live in Washington and try to claim ownership with the soccer in that state, however when it comes time to play and tryout for ODP, they come to Oregon. You see, Seattle doesn't want them and Portland doesn't want them. They're a (tier three) city without a home. The visitors beaureau's new slogan "Come to Vancouver, spend a day, see it all, twice."

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But that removes the ability for the Vantukians to post their supposed superiority on this forum. They live in Washington and try to claim ownership with the soccer in that state, however when it comes time to play and tryout for ODP, they come to Oregon. You see, Seattle doesn't want them and Portland doesn't want them. They're a (tier three) city without a home. The visitors beaureau's new slogan "Come to Vancouver, spend a day, see it all, twice."

Wow, still not over losing this past weekend to the Usonians. Feel sorry for you man, gotta move on dude.

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What exactly does this mean?

Also included in the partnership, the Timbers will be the presenting partner of the OPL’s Premier Divisions starting this fall. The Premier Divisions are affiliated with U.S. Club Soccer’s National Premier League.