Divided we maybe again ??

[Unregistered]

OK time to fast forward to 2013 now...lets put the old gripes behind us, and address the present. uscs is essentially a pay to advance model. Any club can pay to enter their regionals. Any club can pay for a path that guarantees a route to their over crowded national cup.

If you are trying to compare which is more prestigious consider us Club soccer has a policy that if you register for their regionals (you don't have to qualify) and then you qualify for USYS's regionals, club soccer will refund your registration. US club soccer is basically the safety backup tournament for folks elsewhere in the nation.

If it makes you proud to be there, go for it, to each their own. Before you start tooting your horn however know the rest of the nation regards a US club championship as rec, not premier.

As a long timer with experience in both USYS(A) and US Club Soccer, I am focused on the best competition for my team. I am not concerned with the gripes of the pat. I do see OYSA and USYSA continually following the lead of USCS and its affiliates, including the OPC and Nomads Soccer Club (a founding member of US Club Soccer).

"Any club can pay," gets another LOL from me. OYSA's Chuck Keers has worked hard to get clubs to join OYSA, so yes, any club can pay OYSA to become a classic club and enter its leagues and USYSA-sanctioned state cup. The generaization that "the rest of the nation regards a US club championship as rec, not premier," gets another laughing point from me.

As an example, let's look at some club GU17 rankings from Top Drawer and the clubs' tournaments:

#1. PDA-ENCL (New Jersey), Showcases are US Club-Permission to Host
#2. Lonestar-ENCL (Texas), Showcases are USYSA Permission to Host, BUT amended to include USCS-hosted ENCL!!! due to FIFA ruling
#3. Sporting Blue Valley SC (Kansas & MLS Affiliate Club), US Club Affiliate
$4. San Diego Surf (California) and Surf Cup, USYSA AND USCS Permission to Host

So, these tournaments and clubs demonstrate that FIFA and youth soccer clubs have shared representation by USCS and USYSA. The fact that USCS clubs choose to participate in both USCS and UYSA organization events show that diversity benefits all teams. This was the original intent of clubs that broke off to form an alternative to the politically biased UYS(A) organization. No need to try to convince me otherwise as I know to much to succumb to the OYSA propaganda on this forum. If you need more proof, just ask me.

[Unregistered]

The Nor Cal Cup is US Club. It's a Premier Elite Tournament on par with Surf Cup, Dallas and Disney. So maybe that poster is an expert.

I said noted!!

[Unregistered]

The Nor Cal Cup is US Club. It's a Premier Elite Tournament on par with Surf Cup, Dallas and Disney. So maybe that poster is an expert.

Heard of Surf, Dallas and Disney. Never heard of Nor Cal. Maybe not in same class.

[Unregistered]

It looks like more ECNL teams are NOT doing their USYS Stte Cups and more are doing US Club Regionals so I would argue US Club Regionals is much tougher to advance

but heres the problem. none of our states teams are good enough to compete against the top ECNL teams, so no matter where they go, we will get smoked. at least at the region 4 tourney they might have a chance to advance and if they do trust me, lots of folks are watching everyone participating.

[Unregistered]

Heard of Surf, Dallas and Disney. Never heard of Nor Cal. Maybe not in same class.

Your ignorance isn't an argument. Just look it up. The tournaments are listed on gotsoccer in order of points. So it's easy for you, the more points the better. You'll find the tournament in between Surf and Dallas.

[Unregistered]

Typical but still frustrating as $&ll

How do we change the dynamics of this conversation? The two sides of the argument spend so much time trying to be the "experts" that they never talk about how to find a solution.

We are talking about competitive soccer in Oregon. ECNL, NPL, WCDL, etc are not on the landscape. The only way they ever will be is if we raise the quality level of Oregon Soccer to the point others take notice.

This has to be solved in OUR context, to talk about So-cals solutions or Nor-cal may be fun, but demographically we are too dispersed to make that work.

When you have a population base like a Los Angeles, you can have geographic concentration and pooling of elite players. When players come from Bend/Eugene/southern Oregon to play in Portland the model doesn't work.

Instead of trying to beat each other up with knowledge, why don't we use this knowledge to create our own model.

My starting point, all clubs and teams need to be in one organization. That organization is responsible for competition within the borders of Oregon and a national championship path. Their oversight ends there. If a club wants to affiliate teams to any of the regional leagues that is up to them to gain entry, the state organization will do its part to help.

There should be two state championship paths, one for teams who wish to continue to regionals, and one for teams who do not want to travel. If you enter the regional focused tournament you are committing to travel if you win.

It is just a start, but can we actually build something or is this just a bickering board?

[Unregistered]

So help me out...my memory is that last year OYSA essentially offered OPL the whole thing. The only thing "held back" was connected to State Cup/National Championship series. OYSA is the franchisee of USYS. This franchise allows them access to USYS NCS. I suspect this franchise is probably not allowed to be sold, especially to a for-profit organization.

I think OPL figured out the secret that none of us realize how much OPL sucks until State Cup time. If they can just cloud the issues for those last six weeks then teams will re-register and forget until the next May. Please let this end...

Thanks Chuck and OYSA BOD Prez, Matt. Keep trying but we're not buying any of your **.

[Unregistered]

How do we change the dynamics of this conversation? The two sides of the argument spend so much time trying to be the "experts" that they never talk about how to find a solution.

We are talking about competitive soccer in Oregon. ECNL, NPL, WCDL, etc are not on the landscape. The only way they ever will be is if we raise the quality level of Oregon Soccer to the point others take notice.

This has to be solved in OUR context, to talk about So-cals solutions or Nor-cal may be fun, but demographically we are too dispersed to make that work.

When you have a population base like a Los Angeles, you can have geographic concentration and pooling of elite players. When players come from Bend/Eugene/southern Oregon to play in Portland the model doesn't work.

Instead of trying to beat each other up with knowledge, why don't we use this knowledge to create our own model.

My starting point, all clubs and teams need to be in one organization. That organization is responsible for competition within the borders of Oregon and a national championship path. Their oversight ends there. If a club wants to affiliate teams to any of the regional leagues that is up to them to gain entry, the state organization will do its part to help.

There should be two state championship paths, one for teams who wish to continue to regionals, and one for teams who do not want to travel. If you enter the regional focused tournament you are committing to travel if you win.

It is just a start, but can we actually build something or is this just a bickering board?

Probably the most reasonable post ever on this subject. Big question is who will run this organization. OYSA administrators and its board have proven their incompetence. OPL is too self serving. Timbers are a joke when it comes to running youth programs. So who steps up to put this state-wide organization together? Or do we fool ourselves into believing people will change past behaviors and be good stewards this time? Kinda skeptical but you give me hope that at least someone else has a vision for change. Thanks.

[Unregistered]

Thanks Chuck and OYSA BOD Prez, Matt. Keep trying but we're not buying any of your **.

keep sipping the OPC cool-ade DS

[Unregistered]

Probably the most reasonable post ever on this subject. Big question is who will run this organization. OYSA administrators and its board have proven their incompetence. OPL is too self serving. Timbers are a joke when it comes to running youth programs. So who steps up to put this state-wide organization together? Or do we fool ourselves into believing people will change past behaviors and be good stewards this time? Kinda skeptical but you give me hope that at least someone else has a vision for change. Thanks.

If the OPC or Timbers run the OYSA sanctioned leagues, they will have to abide by the OYSA/USYSA by laws. Policies can change tho.

[Unregistered]

If the OPC or Timbers run the OYSA sanctioned leagues, they will have to abide by the OYSA/USYSA by laws. Policies can change tho.

If OPC or Timbers run the OYSA sanctioned leagues, let's hope they hire a strong administrator/director who can lead a state-wide organization. Might require looking outside their own little Portland-centered playground for once. Needs to be someone who can work with but not for GW and company.

[Unregistered]

If OPC or Timbers run the OYSA sanctioned leagues, let's hope they hire a strong administrator/director who can lead a state-wide organization. Might require looking outside their own little Portland-centered playground for once. Needs to be someone who can work with but not for GW and company.

If you work for the Timbers, or an affiliate, you work for GW. Never with.

[Unregistered]

it will never be an easy road to travel, there will always be someone or some group complaining about something. lets face it, the promises that the OPL made about travel have long left our memory and their leagues are almost exactly as they were before with OYSA, so Im not sure exactly what anyone would want from an administrator that isnt being done already.

I think one of the biggest issues is where the money goes and then how it's used. with the OPL it's anyones guess, but at least with OYSA their books are open. we may not always agree where and how they spend it, but it's spent right back in our sport in our state, never paid out as a "non compete" clause to organizations such as the Timbers for "sponsorship".

If the Timbers team up with OYSA (which sounds like they are or already have) the Timbers will benefit directly and those payments will be plain and easy to see.

[Unregistered]

How do we change the dynamics of this conversation? The two sides of the argument spend so much time trying to be the "experts" that they never talk about how to find a solution.

We are talking about competitive soccer in Oregon. ECNL, NPL, WCDL, etc are not on the landscape. The only way they ever will be is if we raise the quality level of Oregon Soccer to the point others take notice.

This has to be solved in OUR context, to talk about So-cals solutions or Nor-cal may be fun, but demographically we are too dispersed to make that work.

When you have a population base like a Los Angeles, you can have geographic concentration and pooling of elite players. When players come from Bend/Eugene/southern Oregon to play in Portland the model doesn't work.

Instead of trying to beat each other up with knowledge, why don't we use this knowledge to create our own model.

My starting point, all clubs and teams need to be in one organization. That organization is responsible for competition within the borders of Oregon and a national championship path. Their oversight ends there. If a club wants to affiliate teams to any of the regional leagues that is up to them to gain entry, the state organization will do its part to help.

There should be two state championship paths, one for teams who wish to continue to regionals, and one for teams who do not want to travel. If you enter the regional focused tournament you are committing to travel if you win.

It is just a start, but can we actually build something or is this just a bickering board?

So as to not get bogged down in who owns or administers this "new soccer world" for Oregon I suggest we continue to build the "what" If we can get clear on that we can resolve the who much easier.

I like the start above

"all clubs and teams need to be in one organization. That organization is responsible for competition within the borders of Oregon and a national championship path. Their oversight ends there. If a club wants to affiliate teams to any of the regional leagues that is up to them to gain entry, the state organization will do its part to help.

There should be two state championship paths, one for teams who wish to continue to regionals, and one for teams who do not want to travel. If you enter the regional focused tournament you are committing to travel if you win."

Then as stated below Money trail becomes an issue. Although OYSA has been reviled on this board, I prefer knowing my money spent on soccer will go back in to supporting soccer in the State, rather than into some DOC's pocket.

So I would add that the administrating organization should be a non-profit focused on the growth improvement of Soccer in Oregon. Program fees charged will be re-invested to help member clubs provide better services, help make soccer more affordable, and help make ongoing improvements in the Oregon Soccer world (language not perfect, but the intent is there)

[Unregistered]

What?

So as to not get bogged down in who owns or administers this "new soccer world" for Oregon I suggest we continue to build the "what" If we can get clear on that we can resolve the who much easier.

I like the start above

"all clubs and teams need to be in one organization. That organization is responsible for competition within the borders of Oregon and a national championship path. Their oversight ends there. If a club wants to affiliate teams to any of the regional leagues that is up to them to gain entry, the state organization will do its part to help.

There should be two state championship paths, one for teams who wish to continue to regionals, and one for teams who do not want to travel. If you enter the regional focused tournament you are committing to travel if you win."

Then as stated below Money trail becomes an issue. Although OYSA has been reviled on this board, I prefer knowing my money spent on soccer will go back in to supporting soccer in the State, rather than into some DOC's pocket.

So I would add that the administrating organization should be a non-profit focused on the growth improvement of Soccer in Oregon. Program fees charged will be re-invested to help member clubs provide better services, help make soccer more affordable, and help make ongoing improvements in the Oregon Soccer world (language not perfect, but the intent is there)

"money spent on soccer will go back into supporting soccer in this state, rather than into some DOC's pocket" ???? Are you on crack or something? One of the many problems with OYSA was the overly generous pay for limited value of many of its employees. $105,000 per year for a Technical Trainer guy that hadn't the soccer resume to earn $55,000. About 11 staff at OYSA instead of the 6 that ran all of the much larger SoCal's office, (with better results). Wasted money is how I feel OYSA did in Oregon youth soccer. Let alone the sheer incompetence. I rather put more money into DOC"s hands and get better DOCs than have the absolute disgusting performance of the previous OYSA group. And, the OYSA staff had exceptionally limited knowledge of the game of soccer.