Girls 02 Rankings

[Unregistered]

Bend is no good, not a premier team at all, not worth the time and travel to play a game that does nothing for development.

So I am guessing that in your mind it is only development when you are the one getting beat?

On another note, I recall when my kids were younger games that were lopsided in our favor were used for development. This is when everyone switched positions or we had rules about making goals....like you have to head it in or you have to pass three times.

Bend may get better too you simply don't know. They have over the years fielded many very good teams. It isn't always evident at the younger ages who will be the good team at the older ages. My advice as the parent of 5 athletes; take a deep breath,
enjoy the fact that of all the 2.5 hour drives out there this has got to be one of the most beautiful;
and realize that your player probably will develop if they are capable.

This could be the perfect time to try out another position or for those who don't play often to play. In fact, if your kid is at the top perhaps they could sit this game out and have a life outside of soccer. This could give another player a chance.

[Unregistered]

So I am guessing that in your mind it is only development when you are the one getting beat?

On another note, I recall when my kids were younger games that were lopsided in our favor were used for development. This is when everyone switched positions or we had rules about making goals....like you have to head it in or you have to pass three times.

Bend may get better too you simply don't know. They have over the years fielded many very good teams. It isn't always evident at the younger ages who will be the good team at the older ages. My advice as the parent of 5 athletes; take a deep breath,
enjoy the fact that of all the 2.5 hour drives out there this has got to be one of the most beautiful;
and realize that your player probably will develop if they are capable.

This could be the perfect time to try out another position or for those who don't play often to play. In fact, if your kid is at the top perhaps they could sit this game out and have a life outside of soccer. This could give another player a chance.

Well said. I never mind driving to Bend. It is better then anything down the I5 corridor.

[Unregistered]

Bend beat the full Eugene squad in Bend Cup. Eugene wasn't demoted but asked to be taken out of Premier. Eugene wants to win most of their games instead of lose most for a change. Traveling to play inferior teams is part of Oregon soccer. We don't have 8 strong competitive teams to put in Premier. At least the 02s have 5 or 6 (if they hadn't booted Bsc/tiki taka. Many older groups only have 2 or 3 strong teams.

[Unregistered]

Bend beat the full Eugene squad in Bend Cup. Eugene wasn't demoted but asked to be taken out of Premier. Eugene wants to win most of their games instead of lose most for a change. Traveling to play inferior teams is part of Oregon soccer. We don't have 8 strong competitive teams to put in Premier. At least the 02s have 5 or 6 (if they hadn't booted Bsc/tiki taka. Many older groups only have 2 or 3 strong teams.

Next year you won't have any "strong" teams as all the top players will move to ECNL.

[Unregistered]

Next year you won't have any "strong" teams as all the top players will move to ECNL.

Compete false marketing.

At 2001 the talent is evenly spread across about five or six teams. The cost is a serious factor. A lot of players moved that weren't too players but could afford it.

The costs for ECNL are very high.

[Unregistered]

Compete false marketing.

At 2001 the talent is evenly spread across about five or six teams. The cost is a serious factor. A lot of players moved that weren't too players but could afford it.

The costs for ECNL are very high.

Too = top

[Unregistered]

Compete false marketing.

At 2001 the talent is evenly spread across about five or six teams. The cost is a serious factor. A lot of players moved that weren't too players but could afford it.

The costs for ECNL are very high.

The hope is that the Thorns Academy gets it's act together by next year and offers a good product and exposure at a reasonable cost.

[Unregistered]

Compete false marketing.

At 2001 the talent is evenly spread across about five or six teams. The cost is a serious factor. A lot of players moved that weren't too players but could afford it.

The costs for ECNL are very high.

Simply not true. Spread across 3 teams and that's only because one of the best players is on two of the teams.

[Unregistered]

The hope is that the Thorns Academy gets it's act together by next year and offers a good product and exposure at a reasonable cost.

Faint hope

[Unregistered]

Compete false marketing.

At 2001 the talent is evenly spread across about five or six teams. The cost is a serious factor. A lot of players moved that weren't too players but could afford it.

The costs for ECNL are very high.

The cost is one reason.

[Unregistered]

The talent that is not in ECNL might be spread evenly across Pdx metro clubs. Most talent stayed at outlying clubs. I'm hoping there is some good talent spread equally but not realistic. Salem should run the table unless their superstar plays ECNL. Eugene kept everyone & added good talent so will be next in line. Here's to Levante and someone/anyone stepping up to challenge. Otherwise fall season will be a bust.

[Unregistered]

The talent that is not in ECNL might be spread evenly across Pdx metro clubs. Most talent stayed at outlying clubs. I'm hoping there is some good talent spread equally but not realistic. Salem should run the table unless their superstar plays ECNL. Eugene kept everyone & added good talent so will be next in line. Here's to Levante and someone/anyone stepping up to challenge. Otherwise fall season will be a bust.

Now the 01 parents are posting in the 02 thread.

[Unregistered]

The top talent at 2001 is spread evenly across a lot of teams. There was a hope that a lot would move to encl teams but that didn't happen. Eugene Salem FCP CU are pretty equal. But there are still a lot of top players at other clubs.

As stated above the 7000-9000 annual cost was a huge factor. That doesn't even include parent travel costs.

[Unregistered]

I read through these threads and am blown away by the amount of bickering over very young age soccer. How old are these girls, U13? Do you have any idea how much the soccer landscape will change before these girls are playing high school ball? Two years brought so many changes for each of my children. At the younger ages I think I got much more worked up by it all with the FIRST player.

After that you sort of get in a rhythm and realize that a team is a team, a club is a club, and a player when really good can go to ANY team and ANY club. Absent that there really isn't any reason to bicker left. Quite frankly it doesn't matter if a team sucks or is good at this age. Is your daughter having fun? Does your daughter seem to be making some progress? Is the coach a good role model? These are the questions you should be thinking about.

My most successful player played on several teams that were average or at times maybe below average. It never hurt her opportunities and it never held her back. Honestly if someone had told us back then that ODP would not be a big thing in the future we may not have believed it. Right now ECNL is all the rage. Maybe in two to five years it will still be the rage and maybe it will not.

One thing that will not change no matter the time is that if your player (NOT YOUR TEAM) is that good then opportunity knocks all the time. My two most successful players have had more opportunity than we had time to take advantage or money to take advantage of. Even with average good teams coaches were constantly inquiring as to their availability. My oldest daughter was playing ECNL out of state long before most Oregonians knew what ECNL was.

My advice: relax, enjoy this time, win or lose the times have potential to be great. It will pass by in a blink of an eye and not one person down the road will ever care whether your child played in premier gold or premier silver except perhaps you. Even your child can move on with grace and peace and enjoy this beautiful sport if you allow it to happen without all the negative intervention.

Personally I am taking it all in. This is my last youth soccer player and the next older one is already playing in college. It will be over before I want it to and drama is simply not worth it.

Good luck to all of these teams and these children and I am personally excited for soccer to begin again.

[Unregistered]

Thanks for the above perspective and advice! As one who also has been through this before I would add that when kids get to high school they play with some different ages and clubs. If you are in a school with lots of club players it can really change your perspective. A lot of kids quit soccer all together. We have seen a lot of really good players quit because they are burned out. HW +HS soccer + Club + guest + ODP + extra training + track...= too much! Encourage but don't push too hard and make sure the coaches are on the same page.