OPFC question (2012 B parent)

[Guest]

My oldest (u11) son plays for Lake Oswego SC. I am not as well versed as other parents when it comes to this stuff. Is the OPFC team something we have to try out for when it offers a team at our age (u12) next year? Or is that team comprised of the best kids from LOSC (and Willamette?) who are selected via scouting?

Looking at the u13 and u14 teams, it seems like it’s presented as a “Premier” team but they don’t play in a Premier league. They just play in the OYSA Gold division (which is what we play in now). Kind of confused!

[Guest]

OPFC you $ay? Ju$t pay for the private training and your $on will go far.

[Guest]

you just tryout

[Guest]

Just sign up for the PDX Football academy (extra small group training sessions) with Alex Hockburn. It will give you a pretty large advantage in pursuit of getting your kid on the OPFC 1st team for the youngest ages. At the very least, your kiddo has a strong chance at a DP (developmental player, chance you train and play sporadically with OPFC) spot. Alex is the OPFC academy director and runs PDX. I am just providing insight that you may not have based on my perspective. I am not judging Alex or that whole dynamic that exists with him running a private training co and overseeing placement of players at a club.

[Guest]

It is a separate tryout from losc/wufc. Or has been in years past. Usually at the beginning of the week so if a player doesn’t make it they can then tryout for losc/wufc. Some of their teams play premier, some don’t, just depends on how they feel each particular team will do and then of course oysa’s seeding and all that.

[Guest]

Just sign up for the PDX Football academy (extra small group training sessions) with Alex Hockburn. It will give you a pretty large advantage in pursuit of getting your kid on the OPFC 1st team for the youngest ages. At the very least, your kiddo has a strong chance at a DP (developmental player, chance you train and play sporadically with OPFC) spot. Alex is the OPFC academy director and runs PDX. I am just providing insight that you may not have based on my perspective. I am not judging Alex or that whole dynamic that exists with him running a private training co and overseeing placement of players at a club.

It's like being in one of those college courses where the textbook costs $500 and--guess what?--was written by the professor.

[Guest]

That’s OYSA Coach of the Year winner Alex Hockburn to you, peasant. Only candidate, only winner. But who’s keeping score?

[Guest]

Just sign up for the PDX Football academy (extra small group training sessions) with Alex Hockburn. It will give you a pretty large advantage in pursuit of getting your kid on the OPFC 1st team for the youngest ages. At the very least, your kiddo has a strong chance at a DP (developmental player, chance you train and play sporadically with OPFC) spot. Alex is the OPFC academy director and runs PDX. I am just providing insight that you may not have based on my perspective. I am not judging Alex or that whole dynamic that exists with him running a private training co and overseeing placement of players at a club.

Such a GD sham. Had our kid there when he played at LO and had an epiphany and pulled him out. It’s also known as the Mark and Allisa Jacobs method to get your kids on OPFC. Extra points for sucking Mike Iacolucci’s small corrupted wiener :-p

[Guest]

It is a separate tryout from losc/wufc. Or has been in years past. Usually at the beginning of the week so if a player doesn’t make it they can then tryout for losc/wufc. Some of their teams play premier, some don’t, just depends on how they feel each particular team will do and then of course oysa’s seeding and all that.

Yes but how does it make sense? I’m the original poster and as I said, my kid already plays on a good LO team in the Gold division. So we try out for another team to play Gold again but then officially can be called Premier (there’s only one team for U12 and U13 at OPFC)? Does this mean our current team will be relegated to a lower division (i.e. Silver) next year? Doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense unless I’m missing something

[Guest]

Yes but how does it make sense? I’m the original poster and as I said, my kid already plays on a good LO team in the Gold division. So we try out for another team to play Gold again but then officially can be called Premier (there’s only one team for U12 and U13 at OPFC)? Does this mean our current team will be relegated to a lower division (i.e. Silver) next year? Doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense unless I’m missing something

You mentioned that your son is on LOSC's U11 team that plays in the premier gold division. That team is identified by OYSA as being OPFC/LOSC: https://oysa.affinitysoccer.com/tour...D-08BDB6BFDC8C

In the premier silver division of U11, there is a team identified as OPFC/WUFC.

At the U12 stage, there is a team identified as just OPFC in the gold division. Then there are two team in the bronze division that are identified as OPFC/LOSC and OPFC/WUFC.

So, it's likely that your son's next tryout will be to determine who gets invited to play exclusively for OPFC in the highest division. Those not invited likely stay affiliated with LOSC or WUFC in a lower division.

[Guest]

Yes but how does it make sense? I’m the original poster and as I said, my kid already plays on a good LO team in the Gold division. So we try out for another team to play Gold again but then officially can be called Premier (there’s only one team for U12 and U13 at OPFC)? Does this mean our current team will be relegated to a lower division (i.e. Silver) next year? Doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense unless I’m missing something

If you are a real parent, get as far away from here as possible. Ask you coach, ask other families, but for gods sake don’t ask here.

[Guest]

Yes but how does it make sense? I’m the original poster and as I said, my kid already plays on a good LO team in the Gold division. So we try out for another team to play Gold again but then officially can be called Premier (there’s only one team for U12 and U13 at OPFC)? Does this mean our current team will be relegated to a lower division (i.e. Silver) next year? Doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense unless I’m missing something

Here's a link to the brackets/schedules for all teams between U11 and U14. Teams in the top three divisions, including those at the U11 state, are referred to as "premier" (gold, silver and bronze). Below that are teams in Divisions 1 - 4, which are not "premier." So, the team your son currently plays for is technically "premier."
https://oysa.affinitysoccer.com/tour...d-08bdb6bfdc8c

[Guest]

You mentioned that your son is on LOSC's U11 team that plays in the premier gold division. That team is identified by OYSA as being OPFC/LOSC: https://oysa.affinitysoccer.com/tour...D-08BDB6BFDC8C

In the premier silver division of U11, there is a team identified as OPFC/WUFC.

At the U12 stage, there is a team identified as just OPFC in the gold division. Then there are two team in the bronze division that are identified as OPFC/LOSC and OPFC/WUFC.

So, it's likely that your son's next tryout will be to determine who gets invited to play exclusively for OPFC in the highest division. Those not invited likely stay affiliated with LOSC or WUFC in a lower division.

I get it. But why not let it continue as is. Why fix something that’s not broken? We are a good team in the top division. We have played well this season and could challenge for state cup. Kids and families have built strong relationships and been together for a couple of years has allowed for us to build cohesion and great chemistry. In theory, we can win the state cup or be a finalist, and our team will still get broken up so OPFC can build a super team that can… win the state cup or be a finalist? How is that becoming a “Premier team.” I can understand if the Premier team plays in ECNL (neighbor has a son who tried to explain that to me and I think I got it). But a Premier team that was plays in OYSA Gold division next season, as we already do this season?

[Guest]

If you are a real parent, get as far away from here as possible. Ask you coach, ask other families, but for gods sake don’t ask here.

Lol best advice given on this forum

[Guest]

I get it. But why not let it continue as is. Why fix something that’s not broken? We are a good team in the top division. We have played well this season and could challenge for state cup. Kids and families have built strong relationships and been together for a couple of years has allowed for us to build cohesion and great chemistry. In theory, we can win the state cup or be a finalist, and our team will still get broken up so OPFC can build a super team that can… win the state cup or be a finalist? How is that becoming a “Premier team.” I can understand if the Premier team plays in ECNL (neighbor has a son who tried to explain that to me and I think I got it). But a Premier team that was plays in OYSA Gold division next season, as we already do this season?

Follow the money, honey. It doesn’t make sense because it doesn’t make sense. But it makes cents and that’s why they try to spin it to you in a way it makes sense. Last year, the 2011 teams (u11 last year, same age then as your son’s 2012 team this year) from LOSC and WUFC made it to the state cup semifinals. Guess what the dufuses running LO and WU let happen? Allow those teams to be broken up to make a super Premier OPFC team (top 8 or 9 players from LO, top 5 from WU, a couple outsiders) that is stuck in 6th place in Gold division this year. They don’t coach players to become champions there, they strip away players from both clubs and pray that putting together the top half of players from each team will render a super team.

They worry about winning, not player development. And they fail every year at the younger ages. They don’t consider that years of built-up camaraderie and cohesion are just as important - if not more - than simply a convergence of the best players from 2 clubs. They try to spin it as “like skilled, highly competitive players want to play with others of the same ilk or they will find greener pastures” but that’s BS. Parents of 11 and 12 year olds in Oregon - and esp their kids - don’t think like that. The ones that are that intense find their way to Timbers Academy at 11 or 12 if they are really that good. OPFC is a sham concocted by Fraser Moneysom and Ray Full Nelson simply to leech off all of LO and WU’s resources - players, money, employees, coaches, fields, etc - with the hope that one day they can make a super team. OPFC is a parasite. But their shat started to stink last year and now 2 of the clubs (and soon all 3) are being investigated by the DOJ and IRS.

Trace the Nike contract the clubs share to see why LO and WU will forever be suppressed. Premier teams get the big chunk of money (formerly DA money) and merch credit, etc. Easier to justify not sharing that pile with LO and WU if you don’t allow them to field “Premier teams.” It’s never about the kids. It’s only about the fat belly dudes on top.

And that is how I met your mother…