Which OPL clubs are in danger of folding?

[Unregistered]

1. FC Portland ******

2. Thusc but only on boys side they lose some money I bet.

3. They will not get any better but won't lose too much.

THUSC has more players this year vs. last year. Also, this week at the supplemental HS tryouts it was the largest turnout for THUSC

[Unregistered]

Go ahead and keep those blinders on

New poster...

My kid will play in the OPL where her team plays. I do not see any reason for panic as the league games are just not that important to us. Hopefully our coach has bigger fish to fry. I do not bad mouth either side. I just do not care that much. However, the irony of this post is, did you see the name of this thread? The venom towards the clubs sticking with the OPL has been far worse than what the TA has taken on this forum. IN fact, I would go so far as to say that there are people assigned to do this stuff as there is so much of it. Including the name of this thread, which is designed to scare people and make them think their clubs are going under. Is that ethical? They were all friends when they ALL originally moved from OYSA.

You like most of the other parents of either association have not put much thought into what the future holds. If you have been following along the various threads about the split you should realize that OPL's future is in doubt because their ability to retain boys in the new configuration is in doubt. Without boys how many of your OPL clubs will survive in their current condition? Whistle past the grave yard but if your player is U14 or younger things are never going to be the same if you are in an OPL club.

Don't believe me? Ask your Board Treasurer if your club can survive losing 1/3 of its membership?

Does this observation mean I'm pro OYSA or Timbers? No it just means that I'm being REALISTIC

[Unregistered]

Great for this year

THUSC has more players this year vs. last year. Also, this week at the supplemental HS tryouts it was the largest turnout for THUSC

Congrats but the numbers that sustain a club are NOT at the High School level.

The question will be what happens after the new leagues are played in the Spring? Where are the girls and boys going to go to get competition and how much will it cost compared to going back to OYSA?

[Unregistered]

Congrats but the numbers that sustain a club are NOT at the High School level.

The question will be what happens after the new leagues are played in the Spring? Where are the girls and boys going to go to get competition and how much will it cost compared to going back to OYSA?

Just like today, parents will still want Johnny or Susie to be on an "A" team. There will still be just as many kids at each club. No way are all of the kids going to flock to TA clubs just so most of them can be on "B" and "C" teams. The competition will be bad enough on the "A" teams, imagine being on a TA "C" team... :(

[Slow Xavi]

Why does this person go from thread to thread and put down the outside of metro people and TA clubx? I wish you would attempt to add value to a thread versus just put people down. I am pretty new to this club soccer (before you can put me down for that) thing but I can also weed through the facts pretty quickly and make a decision that I feel is best for my kids. Yes, my kid plays for a TA team. We don't play there because of it being part of the TA but started there last year out of convenience and it being reasonably priced (versus a couple of other non TA clubs I looked at). He is an average Premier player playing on a solid team currently. Thankfully, our talent isn't as low as you would like to believe and I feel he is getting the challenge he needs to become a better player...in practice and in games. I don't care if he plays NP or not and am only concerned that he has an opportunity to grow as a player. So far, our program is offering that and hope it continues to in the future (go ahead and reply back that it won't).

***

New poster...

My kid will play in the OPL where her team plays. I do not see any reason for panic as the league games are just not that important to us. Hopefully our coach has bigger fish to fry. I do not bad mouth either side. I just do not care that much. However, the irony of this post is, did you see the name of this thread? The venom towards the clubs sticking with the OPL has been far worse than what the TA has taken on this forum. IN fact, I would go so far as to say that there are people assigned to do this stuff as there is so much of it. Including the name of this thread, which is designed to scare people and make them think their clubs are going under. Is that ethical? They were all friends when they ALL originally moved from OYSA.

Both well said. If folks work for the Timbers, the OPL, OYSA, or one of the clubs involved, I think it is unethical for them to trash other leagues and clubs without disclosing who they are. If you are going to do it, register or disclosure who pays your mortgage. Beyond basic ethics and good taste, there are new FTC rules in this area. Beyond that quit crapping in the soccer waters we all have to swim in.

[Unregistered]

Just like today, parents will still want Johnny or Susie to be on an "A" team. There will still be just as many kids at each club. No way are all of the kids going to flock to TA clubs just so most of them can be on "B" and "C" teams. The competition will be bad enough on the "A" teams, imagine being on a TA "C" team... :(

I agree with you about parents and players wanting to be on an "A" team. But, they also want to feel like they are actually playing for something. The OPL may be able to keep most of their strong girls teams, but the boys are not going to stay long term. There simply won't be anyone worthwhile for a good boys team to play. This is the point the previous poster was making, and it is quite valid as the majority of the best boys teams in the state are now Alliance teams.

No one is going to stay in a league if they know there is simply no competition. It is a complete waste of time and winning games by 6-0 margins or greater gets old quickly.

[Unregistered]

You like most of the other parents of either association have not put much thought into what the future holds. If you have been following along the various threads about the split you should realize that OPL's future is in doubt because their ability to retain boys in the new configuration is in doubt. Without boys how many of your OPL clubs will survive in their current condition? Whistle past the grave yard but if your player is U14 or younger things are never going to be the same if you are in an OPL club.

Don't believe me? Ask your Board Treasurer if your club can survive losing 1/3 of its membership?

Does this observation mean I'm pro OYSA or Timbers? No it just means that I'm being REALISTIC

You completely missed the point of my post. Or proved it. So thanks for that

[Unregistered]

I see what you mean, but I would disaggree a bit. I think over the last few months the negativity towards both sides has been about equal. I have seen posts like crazy bashing timbers, oysa, gavin himself, as well as plenty bashing OPL. Its like a miniature version of the us politics right now, both sides bashing each other but both sides wrong

You are probably correct and our perspective is likely directed by which side of the fence we are on. I will say it gives me some hope to see some reasonable people out there.

The league the kids play in really is not that important. A good coach will find ways to challenge their players. Both sides have some great coaches. I say those who do not know this and are having tantrums over the "weakness" of the league are rookies.

[Unregistered]

Why does this person go from thread to thread and put down the outside of metro people and TA clubx? I wish you would attempt to add value to a thread versus just put people down. I am pretty new to this club soccer (before you can put me down for that) thing but I can also weed through the facts pretty quickly and make a decision that I feel is best for my kids. Yes, my kid plays for a TA team. We don't play there because of it being part of the TA but started there last year out of convenience and it being reasonably priced (versus a couple of other non TA clubs I looked at). He is an average Premier player playing on a solid team currently. Thankfully, our talent isn't as low as you would like to believe and I feel he is getting the challenge he needs to become a better player...in practice and in games. I don't care if he plays NP or not and am only concerned that he has an opportunity to grow as a player. So far, our program is offering that and hope it continues to in the future (go ahead and reply back that it won't).

Not sure what you and others are trying to accomplish by either putting down TA programs or non Portland programs but all it does is expose insecurities as well as help others confirm why they are choosing where they want their children to play (TA or non TA). Looking at the clubs already committed moving over to OYSA I am comfortable with the level of competition my kid will see in spring and moving forward. I can say that without putting others down along the way and hope you can find a way to do the same. Good luck in future seasons - maybe we will see you again in the coming years.

There are two threads that were started on this blog both of which begin with something about the OPL folding. The bashing has gone both ways.

[Unregistered]

You like most of the other parents of either association have not put much thought into what the future holds. If you have been following along the various threads about the split you should realize that OPL's future is in doubt because their ability to retain boys in the new configuration is in doubt. Without boys how many of your OPL clubs will survive in their current condition? Whistle past the grave yard but if your player is U14 or younger things are never going to be the same if you are in an OPL club.

Don't believe me? Ask your Board Treasurer if your club can survive losing 1/3 of its membership?

Does this observation mean I'm pro OYSA or Timbers? No it just means that I'm being REALISTIC

I suspect you're overstating things a bit with the "1/3 of its membership" bit.

Kids change clubs every year. That's why clubs hold tryouts each spring. Those tryouts aren't for the kids that are already in the club. The coaches and DoC know those kids and where they should be. They are only looking for the new talent.

Why would kids playing on OPL "B" teams want to move to TA clubs? If they wind up on a TA "B" or "C" team, the competition won't be any better for them. And if, as some would suggest, the TA "A" teams are so much better, then these kids don't have a hope of making those teams.

Why would some of the kids on TA "A" teams want a huge influx of players from OPL clubs? Won't that simply bump many of them down to their "B" teams? Again, their level of competition will decrease. And won't some of those newly bumped TA players then migrate to OPL clubs?

At the end of the day, unless the TA clubs are planning to greatly expand the number of teams they have at each age level, and create multiple "equal A" teams to house all of these top players, I just don't see how there will be much of a change in the number of players at any of the clubs.

[Unregistered]

Congrats but the numbers that sustain a club are NOT at the High School level.

The question will be what happens after the new leagues are played in the Spring? Where are the girls and boys going to go to get competition and how much will it cost compared to going back to OYSA?

If the numbers are larger at the HS level, than one can assume that this will also happen at the younger ages; I thought this might happen, OYSA may be losing some of its talent to OPL. We will see, but again, if it's happening at the HS lever it might very well happen at the younger ages also.

[Unregistered]

One Club BEFORE the changes means little

If the numbers are larger at the HS level, than one can assume that this will also happen at the younger ages; I thought this might happen, OYSA may be losing some of its talent to OPL. We will see, but again, if it's happening at the HS lever it might very well happen at the younger ages also.

The fact that THUSC had a bounce means next to nothing. All clubs lose 30-40% of their players from U14-U15 so adding back a few does not pay the bills. Lastly they are not a successful Boys club and that is the challenge the reformulated OYSA presents to the OPL clubs.

The risks are to FCP and OR Crossfire and any other club with a substantial boys program. The OPL will offer little to ZERO competition for boys teams in the coming Winter/Spring leagues. The question that will be answered at next round of tryouts is are parents and the players going to care that the best A & B teams are going to be in the OYSA. Will the parents care that they are going to be paying Premier pricess for rec quality games?

Can the OPL clubs get better competition than playing themselves over and over? Yes but it's gonna cast waaaaaaay more than if they belonged to the OYSA. My player did the FWRL and it costs more for FEWER games. Oh wait FWRL is a USYS.....now we can't have that. Ok how about the WCDA that should provide some better competition....what you want me to travel North, South AND East.....damnnnnn.

[Unregistered]

The fact that THUSC had a bounce means next to nothing. All clubs lose 30-40% of their players from U14-U15 so adding back a few does not pay the bills. Lastly they are not a successful Boys club and that is the challenge the reformulated OYSA presents to the OPL clubs.

The risks are to FCP and OR Crossfire and any other club with a substantial boys program. The OPL will offer little to ZERO competition for boys teams in the coming Winter/Spring leagues. The question that will be answered at next round of tryouts is are parents and the players going to care that the best A & B teams are going to be in the OYSA. Will the parents care that they are going to be paying Premier pricess for rec quality games?

Can the OPL clubs get better competition than playing themselves over and over? Yes but it's gonna cast waaaaaaay more than if they belonged to the OYSA. My player did the FWRL and it costs more for FEWER games. Oh wait FWRL is a USYS.....now we can't have that. Ok how about the WCDA that should provide some better competition....what you want me to travel North, South AND East.....damnnnnn.

I don't believe that the statement was THUSC had more after a 30 - 40 percent drop. THUSC had more, period.

[Unregistered]

If the numbers are larger at the HS level, than one can assume that this will also happen at the younger ages; I thought this might happen, OYSA may be losing some of its talent to OPL. We will see, but again, if it's happening at the HS lever it might very well happen at the younger ages also.

Saying that the highschool ages will show what will happen at the youngers isn't legit. You almost have to look at the U11-U14 and the high school ages as two completely different leagues all together that have little affect on each other. Clubs make the majority of their money on the U14 and below teams, and right now the numbers are dominated with TA. Even if they lose players in the high school age groups they will continue to grow as long as their U14 and below are strong

[Unregistered]

Oh, you people are talking about THUSC? Must be talking about Onyx, the greatest team ever. Are they ranked #1 in the world in youth soccer yet?