How Club Works

[Unregistered]

My daughter is 10. We did not go to tryouts for our local club as I'm not quite ready for the travel and financial commitment. We don't live in Portland.

I did look at the local clubs practice schedule. Are players allowed to miss any practices? When your child plays club do you just not take a summer vacation?

On average, how many summer tournaments will you play?

Thanks for any advice!

[Unregistered]

My daughter is 10. We did not go to tryouts for our local club as I'm not quite ready for the travel and financial commitment. We don't live in Portland.

I did look at the local clubs practice schedule. Are players allowed to miss any practices? When your child plays club do you just not take a summer vacation?

On average, how many summer tournaments will you play?

Thanks for any advice!

Depends on the level of the club. Looks like the cheapest u11 clubs to play for in the portland metro area are Westside Timbers and Bridlemile. Both clubs are not elite so they more than likely won't travel as much.

Stronger teams play 5-7 tournaments in the summer. Lower level teams play 3-5 tournaments and are all usually local to the portland metro area.

Just keep in mind that you often get what you pay for. If you work hard enough and do you research you might be able to find a quality coach in a lower level, cost efficient, program.

[Unregistered]

Well we live in Eugene. So EMFC is our only option. The fee is $1,095. That covers coaching and OPL. Not included is the tournaments and stipends. It's not that I think that's high. But when you live in Eugene and have to travel for all of the tournaments and the majority of OPL.... It just seems like a lot for 5th grade soccer. It's also a lot of time for the family to be separated as one parent would need to stay behind for our other kids sports.

So is it mandatory to attend all summer practices?

[Unregistered]

Well we live in Eugene. So EMFC is our only option. The fee is $1,095. That covers coaching and OPL. Not included is the tournaments and stipends. It's not that I think that's high. But when you live in Eugene and have to travel for all of the tournaments and the majority of OPL.... It just seems like a lot for 5th grade soccer. It's also a lot of time for the family to be separated as one parent would need to stay behind for our other kids sports.

So is it mandatory to attend all summer practices?

That would be a good question for the coach or DOC.

Yes, it seems like a lot for 5th grade soccer. but do some comparisons. Go watch a U11 rec. game and a U11 club game and then catch a U12 rec. game and a U12 premier game. It's not even the same sport in just a year or two. Although, with that said, a great athlete can still compete at U11 and make the transition in my opinion. After a couple more years your dd will have a hard time making a 'b' team at a club. It won't close the door completely, but they will have to really work at it. But competitive soccer isn't for everyone....... and that's O.K. It seems a shame to get kids to start focusing so hard at such a young age, but it is what it is. Good Luck whatever you and your dd decide.

[Unregistered]

That would be a good question for the coach or DOC.

Yes, it seems like a lot for 5th grade soccer. but do some comparisons. Go watch a U11 rec. game and a U11 club game and then catch a U12 rec. game and a U12 premier game. It's not even the same sport in just a year or two. Although, with that said, a great athlete can still compete at U11 and make the transition in my opinion. After a couple more years your dd will have a hard time making a 'b' team at a club. It won't close the door completely, but they will have to really work at it. But competitive soccer isn't for everyone....... and that's O.K. It seems a shame to get kids to start focusing so hard at such a young age, but it is what it is. Good Luck whatever you and your dd decide.

Oh, the U11/now U12G team at EMFC has struggled a bit. You might want to catch a U13G EMFC game... darn good team. Or next time you are in PDX catch some games for the comparison.

[Unregistered]

Thanks for all of your input. I really appreciate it. Lots of decisions to make. I know my daughter can make the team next year.

I'll just say kudos to the Eugene and Bend kids. Southern Oregon not even included. It's a lot of travel. I would do it if I lived in Portland. It's just a little different down here.

Again, thanks for all of your comments. Food for thought.

[Unregistered]

Yes, talk to the coach about missing practices and tournaments. The thing to keep in mind is that you are committing to your team and teammates when you join club. Everyone is paying that thousand dollars and it is frustrating to them when their teammate doesn't show up, so keep that in mind. I've had coaches who had rules about missing: the only excused absences are illness, school activities, immediate family commitments and church. You were not allowed to miss for birthday parties, sleepovers, ...

[Unregistered]

Oh, the U11/now U12G team at EMFC has struggled a bit. You might want to catch a U13G EMFC game... darn good team. Or next time you are in PDX catch some games for the comparison.

The current U12 still got 9th in premier in the fall and most games were close. They lacked a some speed and finishing. Often it takes the Eugene teams a couple years to get more competitive against premier Portland teams (on the girls side; boys is still hit and miss depending upon turnout). The EMFC teams need those last few (sometime more) of the athletes in the area that are still playing rec to join the club team and then it often takes a little time for their foot skills and tactical skills to catch up. But they (good rec players) are key to Eugene teams being successful. This is especially true of this age group. I think at every girls' age group in Eugene the teams would be very competitive in premier if the majority of the best girls in the area actually played club ball. And the longer they wait, the tougher it is to catch up with Portland. But, like the previous poster said, it's not for everyone.

I think the U12 team got several good new additions from rec this year. They are certainly not at the level of EMFC's current U13 but should show better than last year and should be at the premier level (though still bottom third) if they are allowed into premier.

[Unregistered]

My daughter is 10. We did not go to tryouts for our local club as I'm not quite ready for the travel and financial commitment. We don't live in Portland.

I did look at the local clubs practice schedule. Are players allowed to miss any practices? When your child plays club do you just not take a summer vacation?

On average, how many summer tournaments will you play?

Thanks for any advice!

Eugene teams usually play 3 summer tournaments (sometimes 4 for more competitive teams) and usually take a week off after each tournament (with one, two week break in there somewhere), so vacations are very doable. Missing one tournament isn't usually a big deal though coaches ask that families do their best to attend all tournaments.