Certain clubs, it seems, got stronger at this season's tryouts. 3PFC finally shed their "club zero" moniker, and seems to be trying to make a transition from "club that focuses on Clackamas County, especially West Linn and Lake Oswego", to a club that can recruit from all over. uPDX continues its rise, and there are plenty of kids (and parents!) interested in ECNL and the recruiting advantages the platform supposedly offers. (Not so much for the games in Seattle, but for the showcase events). But for every winner there must be a loser, and it seems obvious that one of the big losers is ADF.
Why them?
Easy. In many ways, they're not a "real" club. They generally don't have B teams, which was part of their early appeal. Unlike the old dinosaur soccer clubs, they are an Academy with a capital A, who only accepts the very best. (Plus a few spares who pay full price to practice, but don't get to actually play in games unless they EARN it). Unlike a traditional club, they're not rooted in any community and have the deep connections with rec clubs, schools, parks districts, and local businesses. They're essentially a training outfit that operates a club on the side. They are expensive as heck--as one former parent at the club explained to me, "the keep the cash register ringing". The club's business model is all about attracting "whales"--families who are willing to spend lots of money on Junior's soccer career. Such families generally are prone to club-hopping, going wherever they think the kid will get the most glory. And given OYSA's requirements that member clubs be non-profit, the ADF business model seemed sketchy as heck to begin with.
The problem for ADF is that unlike five years ago, when they were the new hotness in town,,, now the new hotness is uPDX and ECNL. So the club-hoppers are now starting to hop away.
It didn't help matters that ADF got blanked in State Cup. The one team that managed to win last year, the 05s, were embarrassed in this year's tournament, crashing out in the group stage. The 06s made it to the final this year, losing to uPDX... and apparently watched their roster get picked clean. No other age group even got that far. Three years ago (remember no state cup was held in 2020 due to Covid) ADF had two champions and two other finalists, albeit the DA was still up and running that season.
It also doesn't help when one of the most prominent voices of the club, belongs to VEEKTOR.
Lacking a community to draw from, or a natural constituency, ADF may be in some trouble if the trophy-chasers decide it can no longer deliver the goods. And since the club got its start when Jo essentially poached players from clubs who referred them to him for personal training, how much goodwill he has in the soccer community is an interesting question.
Why them?
Easy. In many ways, they're not a "real" club. They generally don't have B teams, which was part of their early appeal. Unlike the old dinosaur soccer clubs, they are an Academy with a capital A, who only accepts the very best. (Plus a few spares who pay full price to practice, but don't get to actually play in games unless they EARN it). Unlike a traditional club, they're not rooted in any community and have the deep connections with rec clubs, schools, parks districts, and local businesses. They're essentially a training outfit that operates a club on the side. They are expensive as heck--as one former parent at the club explained to me, "the keep the cash register ringing". The club's business model is all about attracting "whales"--families who are willing to spend lots of money on Junior's soccer career. Such families generally are prone to club-hopping, going wherever they think the kid will get the most glory. And given OYSA's requirements that member clubs be non-profit, the ADF business model seemed sketchy as heck to begin with.
The problem for ADF is that unlike five years ago, when they were the new hotness in town,,, now the new hotness is uPDX and ECNL. So the club-hoppers are now starting to hop away.
It didn't help matters that ADF got blanked in State Cup. The one team that managed to win last year, the 05s, were embarrassed in this year's tournament, crashing out in the group stage. The 06s made it to the final this year, losing to uPDX... and apparently watched their roster get picked clean. No other age group even got that far. Three years ago (remember no state cup was held in 2020 due to Covid) ADF had two champions and two other finalists, albeit the DA was still up and running that season.
It also doesn't help when one of the most prominent voices of the club, belongs to VEEKTOR.
Lacking a community to draw from, or a natural constituency, ADF may be in some trouble if the trophy-chasers decide it can no longer deliver the goods. And since the club got its start when Jo essentially poached players from clubs who referred them to him for personal training, how much goodwill he has in the soccer community is an interesting question.
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