FC Portland ECNL

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I don't see the problem with parent coaches.

A parent coach is probably more invested.

Me neither.

[Guest]

EOD, outside of Milbrett, its the same retreads clubs bring out every year. Disappointing.

[Guest]

Opinions vary of course, but in all candor this list (Thorns Acdemy) wouldn't move the needle for anyone 'deciding' where to play locally in the ECNL US Club setup. In saying that Nor would the THUSC/XFO/NWE coaching lineup.

Whichever of the two clubs decides to fully fund the travel league for the young girls will be the no brainer destination for player, since the standard of coaches is nothing that would attract a player in a certain direction.

If neither club ponies up any subsidy then the 'brand' will be the decider and the NWSL Portland Thorns have much more cache than the THUSC/XF0/NWE roller coasting branding.

The list of coaches for both clubs truly embodies that Title IX opportunities for ladies are all that is needed to drive the travel to be seen (exposure) showcase model and the coaching is an afterthought or strictly used as a placeholder.

It would be nice if one of the two clubs were competitively regionally then the natural order of where to go, would be established. But merit and achievement are also an afterthought. Oh well.

Well said, these clubs need to justify all the travel they want the Girls to do and cover this cost, since coaches are such a low priority.

[Guest]

I don't see the problem with parent coaches.

A parent coach is probably more invested.

If it's a professional coach who happens to be a parent as well, that can work fine--though unless the coach's kid the unquestioned star of the team, there WILL be problems. Especially in a hypercompetitive environment like an ECNL program, where every parent wants their little Tiffany to be featured, and will loudly accuse the coach of favoritism the second the coach's kid makes a bad pass or gets caught ball-watching, because obviously said kid is hurting the team and deserves to ride pine, and is only on the pitch because you know why.

And this is true no matter how fair the coach tries to make things.

If "parent coach" means "parent who was asked to volunteer to coach the team, and played soccer in high school and may have coached rec eight years ago, and has no coaching license".... that would simply not be appropriate on an academy team. I don't see either Thorns or NWE doing anything like that, however.

[Guest]

Well said, these clubs need to justify all the travel they want the Girls to do and cover this cost, since coaches are such a low priority.

Except they don’t. There is more than enough parents tripping over each other to pay the costs and more. Yes, if you subsidized it (where the money would come I’m not clear), and made it truly based on merit of skills, we’d end up with the best possible team at each age group. But this tantalizing possibility is just that, and will remain that, because the end goal is not to develop future professional players (that if the goal of many individual girls), the end goal is to run a successful business that is able to pay salaries of employees, with the people at the top making the most. So they wanna win, but they can’t do that for free, otherwise it would defeat the purpose of the entity. And don’t say “it is a nonprofit.” Nonprofits have huge desires to make money that is then disbursed to its programs but also in the form of salaries. The higher ups in many nonprofits often make very nice money.

[Guest]

Except they don’t. There is more than enough parents tripping over each other to pay the costs and more. Yes, if you subsidized it (where the money would come I’m not clear), and made it truly based on merit of skills, we’d end up with the best possible team at each age group. But this tantalizing possibility is just that, and will remain that, because the end goal is not to develop future professional players (that if the goal of many individual girls), the end goal is to run a successful business that is able to pay salaries of employees, with the people at the top making the most. So they wanna win, but they can’t do that for free, otherwise it would defeat the purpose of the entity. And don’t say “it is a nonprofit.” Nonprofits have huge desires to make money that is then disbursed to its programs but also in the form of salaries. The higher ups in many nonprofits often make very nice money.

I should add, this is why conceptually speaking ODP was/is the best possibility at gathering the best overall group of players. No entitlement to previous people making the team getting on the current team. Year after year having to earn your way on. People still pay for it. There’s a variety of reasons ODP isn’t thriving, but I’m just saying conceptually it seems the best option of making an all star team.

[Guest]

I should add, this is why conceptually speaking ODP was/is the best possibility at gathering the best overall group of players. No entitlement to previous people making the team getting on the current team. Year after year having to earn your way on. People still pay for it. There’s a variety of reasons ODP isn’t thriving, but I’m just saying conceptually it seems the best option of making an all star team.

The problem with Oregon ODP is exactly what you describe as a benefit. Oregon has a casting call every year and pick a team. Mostly based on coaches prejudices toward players they know…then they “train” a few times and pick a roster for the ODP regional tournament in AZ. This is a recipe for failure. They need to run ODP year round and create a large pool of players to routinely train and develop. It shouldn’t be 2 days of “tryouts” followed by a super brief schedule. It’s a joke honestly.
It’s become such a political and favoritism system it doesn’t resemble anything like Cal or Washington ODP programs, which are highly successful.

[Guest]

Except they don’t. There is more than enough parents tripping over each other to pay the costs and more. Yes, if you subsidized it (where the money would come I’m not clear), and made it truly based on merit of skills, we’d end up with the best possible team at each age group. But this tantalizing possibility is just that, and will remain that, because the end goal is not to develop future professional players (that if the goal of many individual girls), the end goal is to run a successful business that is able to pay salaries of employees, with the people at the top making the most. So they wanna win, but they can’t do that for free, otherwise it would defeat the purpose of the entity. And don’t say “it is a nonprofit.” Nonprofits have huge desires to make money that is then disbursed to its programs but also in the form of salaries. The higher ups in many nonprofits often make very nice money.

Many ECNL clubs around the country offer a no cost model for players. They do this by using the non-travel age groups fees to help promote and subsidize their ECNL teams. They only have 1 ECNL team per age group, and typically 18-21 players per team. The clubs use fundraising and the massive amount of lower level development players fees to help pay for the travel cost. It’s not as difficult as you might think, but it definitely requires a well run club//business to pull it off. Look at XF Premier as a regional example of this.

I think NWE could do this, but not sure they will. If they do, say goodbye to the Thorns

[Guest]

Many ECNL clubs around the country offer a no cost model for players. They do this by using the non-travel age groups fees to help promote and subsidize their ECNL teams. They only have 1 ECNL team per age group, and typically 18-21 players per team. The clubs use fundraising and the massive amount of lower level development players fees to help pay for the travel cost. It’s not as difficult as you might think, but it definitely requires a well run club//business to pull it off. Look at XF Premier as a regional example of this.

I think NWE could do this, but not sure they will. If they do, say goodbye to the Thorns

NWE is too small. uPDX is trying; they are already one of the largest clubs around.

One wonders how long before we see more club consolidations, especially at the high end of the market.

And on the other hand, how soon before neighborhood clubs try to undercut uPDX's lower teams--"if you're on the C team there, you're paying for the A team! come play with us and your dues won't be stolen to subsidize ECNL, while you get a bargain-basement coach"

[Guest]

And on the other hand, how soon before neighborhood clubs try to undercut uPDX's lower teams--"if you're on the C team there, you're paying for the A team! come play with us and your dues won't be stolen to subsidize ECNL, while you get a bargain-basement coach"

I doubt UPDX will ever get to a "free for ECNL" model, or even subsidized. Too many kids paying too much $ on those teams. ($2300 x 18 kids = $42,000 per team x 6 years (U13-U19) = $500k just in dues alone for boys and girls ECNL. That doesn't even start to factor in travel. That would have to come from corporate sponsorship. The timbers can barely afford it and have cut their academy to 2 teams (which are rumored to cost $1 million per team per year all in). It's not happening here so the various clubs will continue to slug it out for top ECNL programs in OR.

And, yes, the above scenario already happened this year. 3rd team departed for another club and didn't win a game all season because they tried to play too high up. Doubt it will be replicated too often.

[Guest]

NWE has a very solid lineup.

U19 - Logan Emory
U17 - Tiffeny Milbrett
U16 - Angelo Sabblah
U15 - Jon Kiester
U14 - Holly Pierce
U13 - Kasey Cooper

Kasey who? Jon is a great guy.

[Guest]

NWE is too small. uPDX is trying; they are already one of the largest clubs around.

One wonders how long before we see more club consolidations, especially at the high end of the market.

And on the other hand, how soon before neighborhood clubs try to undercut uPDX's lower teams--"if you're on the C team there, you're paying for the A team! come play with us and your dues won't be stolen to subsidize ECNL, while you get a bargain-basement coach"

United PDX sucks. I really wish everyone would calm down about them on this site. They are so overrated

[Guest]

United PDX sucks. I really wish everyone would calm down about them on this site. They are so overrated

Like them or not, they are dominating the OYSA landscape and keep bringing in numbers. Is it the best environment? Probably not, but a lot of kids are happy there and are finding a lot of success which keeps them in the game. Isn’t that what we want? To keep kids in sports as long as they are enjoying it?

[Guest]

Like them or not, they are dominating the OYSA landscape and keep bringing in numbers. Is it the best environment? Probably not, but a lot of kids are happy there and are finding a lot of success which keeps them in the game. Isn’t that what we want? To keep kids in sports as long as they are enjoying it?

Dominating the OYSA landscape? OYSA is gutted with teams leaving for ECNL, GA, etc.... OYSA is becoming a rec level option.

[Guest]

Dominating the OYSA landscape? OYSA is gutted with teams leaving for ECNL, GA, etc.... OYSA is becoming a rec level option.

And the vast majority of kids are rec level players so it's great to be on the winning side of those leagues. Over 70% of youth soccer in Oregon is played in OYSA. And for the small minority playing at the higher level, UPDX is moving to ECNL/ECRL so they are covering all bases. Again - love them or hate them, they are supporting a lot of kids who enjoy the sport and are having success.