Any good clubs out there?

[Unregistered]

You can try out for the FC Portland team. There will be some available spots. Several players are moving to THUSC and LO.

Just the ones who had to struggle through a difficult U15 year.

[Unregistered]

We've done club soccer for quite a few years. We've also done the dad coached programs, specifically baseball. And I will take club soccer over the dad coached programs six days a week and twice on Sunday. If you want to ruin youth sports just have them coached by a group of overzealous dads who all think that their son is the next Tim Lincecum or Bryce Harper. And trust me, everyone who has experienced youth baseball in this area knows EXACTLY what I am talking about.

The one request I have of this board is quit abusing the volunteer dad coaches. I am proud that I coached my kids, some may of thought me overzealous, and I saw everyone of my players becoming the next superstar. This was all before they were 9 years old. It still gives me pride to see these boys grow and progress.

As they have transitioned on to our clubs professionally coached teams, they have flourished into very talented players. Do I have any claim to this, probably not, but i still feel some extra excitement watching them play.

Was I a washed up soccer player looking to prolong my shelf life when I started coaching them, no, I was just the only parent to step forward. I made a commitment to those kids, and I coached them until they reached a technical level where they were ready to move on.

I know the abuses that inspire the comments made, and agree they are horrible, I also however see the bright side of parent coaching, and wish it would be acknowledged as well.