Best Clubs / Worst Clubs

[Unregistered]

Pepole like you are what make clubs bad.

[Unregistered]

I'm sorry...we are in a TA Club.....my DD has the opportunity to train Monday-Thursday if she wanted....and we get to guest play on weekends if we want it....we actually decided not to do RTC because of this...my DD gets all of the soccer she needs for just shy of $1,100....

I wish I knew your contact. I have asked our coach any additional opportunities and none provided for DD. Oh, and $1100 was way less then us. We had that plus tournament, hotels, uniform costs. It be nice if DD had additional opportunities to practice to get better but, none offered although some other girls were picked for additional training. Feel like not totally upfront with you when you go TA.

[Unregistered]

I wish I knew your contact. I have asked our coach any additional opportunities and none provided for DD. Oh, and $1100 was way less then us. We had that plus tournament, hotels, uniform costs. It be nice if DD had additional opportunities to practice to get better but, none offered although some other girls were picked for additional training. Feel like not totally upfront with you when you go TA.

This is one of the issues within the Timbers alliance. Each club still sets their own prices, so when you reference 1 club it may not be the same for the rest.

[Unregistered]

You can train 7x a week but with bad coaching it won't matter. Go anywhere else and train 2x a week with good coaching and your dd would be much better off.

Are you serious?! Can you be that stupid? Actually are you really that ridiculous that you would post this even though you have no clue what you are talking about.

By all means keep your kid doing 2 days a week with Cindy parlow and I'll put my kid with a dad coach who just lets the kids scrimmage 7 days a week because he has no clue and I bet your non soccer player intelligence that the 7day would be 3x the player.

[Unregistered]

Are you serious?! Can you be that stupid? Actually are you really that ridiculous that you would post this even though you have no clue what you are talking about.

By all means keep your kid doing 2 days a week with Cindy parlow and I'll put my kid with a dad coach who just lets the kids scrimmage 7 days a week because he has no clue and I bet your non soccer player intelligence that the 7day would be 3x the player.

You could practice with Cindy Parlow all day long and it wouldn't make your kid any better. Just look at how she mis-managed the Thorns all season long...

[Unregistered]

Are you serious?! Can you be that stupid? Actually are you really that ridiculous that you would post this even though you have no clue what you are talking about.

By all means keep your kid doing 2 days a week with Cindy parlow and I'll put my kid with a dad coach who just lets the kids scrimmage 7 days a week because he has no clue and I bet your non soccer player intelligence that the 7day would be 3x the player.

You'd probably be better off just having your dd sit at home and watch games on tv. That's where the TA girls coaches would rather be. Keep paying for the boys. If your dd has a passion for soccer then we'll see you at FC, OSSA or THUSC in a few years.

[Unregistered]

Best club

You are in the best club if:
1. Your kid doesn't want to move clubs.
2. Your family can afford the time and money required.
3. You believe that your kid is learning lessons and aquiring key skills, according to your values.

[Unregistered]

Clueless In Portland

You are in the best club if:
1. Your kid doesn't want to move clubs.
2. Your family can afford the time and money required.
3. You believe that your kid is learning lessons and aquiring key skills, according to your values.

1. Your kid doesn't know what they don't know. If you want activity daycare stay with Rec. Currently there not a single club that can provide3 high quality coaching from U10 to U17 in either sex. NOT ONE. So unless you think spending thousands for soccer and taking backwards every two years steps is ok stay in Rec. The tragic reality here in Oregon is that if you want to get the best coaching at the various age groups you MUST switch clubs. Not switching is fine as long as you don't try to tell yourself to your player that they have the best coach available because that is a flat out LIE. You likely don't know or understand the degrees of difference but trust me they are there and the parents and clubs "in the know" can tell you what it is and who they are if you ask. Of course you have to want to ask and have to want to make the effort but don't come here and say "it's ok if they're happy because I got a news flash for ya. They'll be happy at the new team too and might even be more happy being on a team with dedicated players and parents.

2. At the premier level the pricing difference is less than a latte a day so if $20 a month is going to make you choose one club over another save the bucks play rec and put the money in their 527 account

3. Unless you have had a kid go through the process of Oregon Premier soccer YOU also don't know what you don't know. There are many posters here trying to share their experience both from within competitive Oregon soccer AND from their experiences and conversations outside Oregon that clearly and concretely demonstrates that we are a BACKWATER with limited access to quality coaching and club management.

In summary figure out what your child's talent level is and assess their competiveness and match that talent and drive with the best Coach/Team available in their age group. It's not about the $1,300 vs. $1600. It's about what opportunity are YOU willing to give your child to reach the limits of their ambition and abilities. If you want to put a "governor" on that experience from the beginning then save the money and play Rec.

4. Currently

[Unregistered]

You'd probably be better off just having your dd sit at home and watch games on tv. That's where the TA girls coaches would rather be. Keep paying for the boys. If your dd has a passion for soccer then we'll see you at FC, OSSA or THUSC in a few years.

The landscape is changing fast. I think the Timbers Alliance could really change things going forward. Just my opinion, but I'm feeling really good about the program my kids are in which is Timbers affiliated.

[Unregistered]

Best club

1. Your kid doesn't know what they don't know. If you want activity daycare stay with Rec. Currently there not a single club that can provide3 high quality coaching from U10 to U17 in either sex. NOT ONE. So unless you think spending thousands for soccer and taking backwards every two years steps is ok stay in Rec. The tragic reality here in Oregon is that if you want to get the best coaching at the various age groups you MUST switch clubs. Not switching is fine as long as you don't try to tell yourself to your player that they have the best coach available because that is a flat out LIE. You likely don't know or understand the degrees of difference but trust me they are there and the parents and clubs "in the know" can tell you what it is and who they are if you ask. Of course you have to want to ask and have to want to make the effort but don't come here and say "it's ok if they're happy because I got a news flash for ya. They'll be happy at the new team too and might even be more happy being on a team with dedicated players and parents.

2. At the premier level the pricing difference is less than a latte a day so if $20 a month is going to make you choose one club over another save the bucks play rec and put the money in their 527 account

3. Unless you have had a kid go through the process of Oregon Premier soccer YOU also don't know what you don't know. There are many posters here trying to share their experience both from within competitive Oregon soccer AND from their experiences and conversations outside Oregon that clearly and concretely demonstrates that we are a BACKWATER with limited access to quality coaching and club management.

In summary figure out what your child's talent level is and assess their competiveness and match that talent and drive with the best Coach/Team available in their age group. It's not about the $1,300 vs. $1600. It's about what opportunity are YOU willing to give your child to reach the limits of their ambition and abilities. If you want to put a "governor" on that experience from the beginning then save the money and play Rec.

4. Currently

Thanks for sharing your perspective.

If your goal is a college scholarship or a path to the pros for your kid, then I understand the desire to be at a club with the absolute best coach each year. If the cost of club soccer and that college tuition is a painfully large portion of your family's expenses, then I also appreciate the anxiety and fear of not maximizing your ROI at each club you join.

For me, club soccer is neither expensive, nor the only way to get my kid into a good college that I can afford. Rather, it is a quality, convenient, and all-year activity for my kid to:
- play with kids he like on and off the field (i.e. friends).
- get a lot of exercise
- learn about competition, sportsmanship, discipline, strategy, etc.

Why not play rec. instead?
- the money difference is not a concern, as I already mentioned.
- I havent found a nearby rec soccer team with a full year calendar, and my kid really isnt interested in playing other sports to fill in the long off season.
- I havent come across or heard of a rec club with the level of competition that would push my kid to keep improving like his current club does.

cheers.

[Unregistered]

The landscape is changing fast. I think the Timbers Alliance could really change things going forward. Just my opinion, but I'm feeling really good about the program my kids are in which is Timbers affiliated.

Keep dreamng. Say this over and over again while clicking your heals....

The reality is the TA is available to all clubs. They all have the same coaches, same DOCs, same fields, same same same.

[Unregistered]

1. Your kid doesn't know what they don't know. If you want activity daycare stay with Rec. Currently there not a single club that can provide3 high quality coaching from U10 to U17 in either sex. NOT ONE. So unless you think spending thousands for soccer and taking backwards every two years steps is ok stay in Rec. The tragic reality here in Oregon is that if you want to get the best coaching at the various age groups you MUST switch clubs. Not switching is fine as long as you don't try to tell yourself to your player that they have the best coach available because that is a flat out LIE. You likely don't know or understand the degrees of difference but trust me they are there and the parents and clubs "in the know" can tell you what it is and who they are if you ask. Of course you have to want to ask and have to want to make the effort but don't come here and say "it's ok if they're happy because I got a news flash for ya. They'll be happy at the new team too and might even be more happy being on a team with dedicated players and parents.

2. At the premier level the pricing difference is less than a latte a day so if $20 a month is going to make you choose one club over another save the bucks play rec and put the money in their 527 account

3. Unless you have had a kid go through the process of Oregon Premier soccer YOU also don't know what you don't know. There are many posters here trying to share their experience both from within competitive Oregon soccer AND from their experiences and conversations outside Oregon that clearly and concretely demonstrates that we are a BACKWATER with limited access to quality coaching and club management.

In summary figure out what your child's talent level is and assess their competiveness and match that talent and drive with the best Coach/Team available in their age group. It's not about the $1,300 vs. $1600. It's about what opportunity are YOU willing to give your child to reach the limits of their ambition and abilities. If you want to put a "governor" on that experience from the beginning then save the money and play Rec.

4. Currently

Agree with the assessment of its about the coach and not so much the club. The thing is if your trying to assess the coach it's hard as you don't get feedback from other parents from different clubs. I have been trying to figure out the stronger coaches in 02 rankings but, I can only go on what I have observed with coach behavior on sidelines, how the players are on the field and standings. Sometimes, the players are great on the field but, the coach is yelling like a crazy person and then sometimes I see very quiet coaches and the players not so good. Parents are reluctant to talk to you on sidelines as others parents seem to "be watching". So how do you find out about the information on coaches?

[Unregistered]

Keep dreamng. Say this over and over again while clicking your heals....

The reality is the TA is available to all clubs. They all have the same coaches, same DOCs, same fields, same same same.

I think the long term plan is to pool talented kids at the Timbers Alliance teams to compete in regional/national tournaments. The talent in this area, in my opinion, is diluted with a few too many clubs than the population base will support. So if you can combine the talented kids from different clubs, it seems like it could be a good idea.

Hey, I really don't know what the future holds. It's all speculation at this point, but that is the idea.

I realize that stake holders in other non-Timbers Alliance clubs are going to be hostile toward the Alliance, and that is understandable to a certain degree. But I don't think that anyone knows what the future holds. Everything is in a state of change.

[Unregistered]

The landscape is changing fast. I think the Timbers Alliance could really change things going forward. Just my opinion, but I'm feeling really good about the program my kids are in which is Timbers affiliated.

While I sort of understand the plan to create a huge mega club/"alliance" (whatever you want to call it) to have the option of selecting the most talented players for regional and national tournaments, I sort of don't understand it as well. Isn't that what ODP is for to some degree? Though now that ODP is pretty much being run by the Timbers et al, and since at the younger age groups they basically take everyone that tries out, can anyone explain to me how anything "Timbers" isn't anything besides a money grab wherein average players flock to the a Timbers team hoping to play on "Copa" or the "Reds" and average or even below average players are doing RTC?

I would really like to hear from someone whose son/daughter plays for a Timbers second or third team and learn what their experience is. My guess is that the experience of a Samba, Mundial, Green, Forest, Black or White player is not "all that". And when you realize that your hardworking second team player is financing the trip to Surf Cup for the chosen, how does that really set with you? I realize there is always the promise floated around of moving up to the first team, but in reality (I know this b/c we've been at this for awhile), that rarely happens.

[Unregistered]

While I sort of understand the plan to create a huge mega club/"alliance" (whatever you want to call it) to have the option of selecting the most talented players for regional and national tournaments, I sort of don't understand it as well. Isn't that what ODP is for to some degree? Though now that ODP is pretty much being run by the Timbers et al, and since at the younger age groups they basically take everyone that tries out, can anyone explain to me how anything "Timbers" isn't anything besides a money grab wherein average players flock to the a Timbers team hoping to play on "Copa" or the "Reds" and average or even below average players are doing RTC?

I would really like to hear from someone whose son/daughter plays for a Timbers second or third team and learn what their experience is. My guess is that the experience of a Samba, Mundial, Green, Forest, Black or White player is not "all that". And when you realize that your hardworking second team player is financing the trip to Surf Cup for the chosen, how does that really set with you? I realize there is always the promise floated around of moving up to the first team, but in reality (I know this b/c we've been at this for awhile), that rarely happens.

Came to TA from a smaller club, realize it's more about the coach then about the club. Rather have my DD be on a top team at a smaller club then on second team at TA as the coaching is really not much different among the clubs. The question is "better to be a big fish in a smaller pond or a small fish in a big one?" At younger ages when kids are building self esteem and confidence I think it is better to be on a top team at a smaller club. From what I have seen at the TA club is the coaching is hit/miss anyway depending on age. Should choose a club based on coaching.