Girls U14 ECNL

[Unregistered]

From the numerous reports of low turnout at the respective two ECNL tryouts these past couple of days, it doesn't sound like anyone had to try hard at all to keep their players away from anything. Essentially, outside of the clubs involved, nobody else showed up.

Good for your girls though as they basically made an ECNL team if they just attended the tryouts. Easy "A", baby!

I think more players showed up to ODP tryouts. LOL

[Unregistered]

The lack of alliance players just shows how bitter this rift is between the two leagues and how small minded coaches and DOCs are to not want the best players on the pitch representing their state.

It is shameful. The Timbers are the worst thing to happen to youth soccer in Oregon.

[Unregistered]

I think more players showed up to ODP tryouts. LOL

The main difference there is that ODP looked like a rec soccer camp. Lol!

[Unregistered]

It is shameful. The Timbers are the worst thing to happen to youth soccer in Oregon.

They could be doing a lot to improve youth soccer, but instead are causing a huge divide.
I'm very disappointed in how Timbers are damaging Oregon youth soccer.

[Unregistered]

They could be doing a lot to improve youth soccer, but instead are causing a huge divide.
I'm very disappointed in how Timbers are damaging Oregon youth soccer.

What are you talking about?
I've had more communication with regards to opportunities for my child and coaching in the last two months than I ever did from the OPL.

I would hear from the OPL twice a year...once in Fall for Schedules and once in Spring for Schedules....

Timbers have done a great job in connecting coaches and families with what is available out there. I really don't think you know what is going on out there in the real world.

the OPL and ECNL are doing what US Soccer is moving away from. Your "pay to play" soccer mentality that you have with ECNL is the total opposite direction that we are going. MLS Franchises all over the country have adopted the same format that the Timbers are using right now.
Just to let you know, I've seen long term plans where the MLS wants the game to be damn near free for all of the serious youth players that play advanced comp. you can see how they have started with a $500 fee for their mens DA Program. I've heard that the girls side will be more though...last week it sounded as though they decided $650 for the girls side due to the fact that the funds are not there. Portland Thorns current players will be coaching these teams.
It will take a long time to implement this model. We should all be working to make it as inexpensive as possible in order to accumulate all of the top talent in the area...unfortunately ECNL will not do that... ECNL has priced themselves right out of the Libtard Market in PDX. They will find their 22 players, they just won't be the top players in the area. My DD did ECNL this year for WPFC...it was a great experience and the coaching was top notch, it was expensive ($8k)....my daughter was not the top player, but started and played every game. Did she really develop more? I would argue not...it really comes down to the player if they want to get better. You can get better and get to a good college on your own, you don't need ECNL to get to college.

[Unregistered]

They could be doing a lot to improve youth soccer, but instead are causing a huge divide.
I'm very disappointed in how Timbers are damaging Oregon youth soccer.

That's ridiculous. You expect everyone to want to quit their current club and come to yours? Why? 98% of kids are doing this because they enjoy the whole experience. Why leave your sisters-in-arms/friends?

Plus who says the Timbers won't offer better, more affordable training opportunities?

I hope you guys find success but don't expect everyone to be as excited about abandoning their teammates.

[Unregistered]

That's ridiculous. You expect everyone to want to quit their current club and come to yours? Why? 98% of kids are doing this because they enjoy the whole experience. Why leave your sisters-in-arms/friends?

Plus who says the Timbers won't offer better, more affordable training opportunities?

I hope you guys find success but don't expect everyone to be as excited about abandoning their teammates.

Interesting response. The only people talking about joining the collective is the Timbers.
Your response further indicates the problem by using the term "you guys".
There's no "us" and "them", just kids in Oregon playing soccer and some of them wanting to play the best competition possible. Most KIDS don't care if it's labeled Timbers or not.

[Unregistered]

That's ridiculous. You expect everyone to want to quit their current club and come to yours? Why? 98% of kids are doing this because they enjoy the whole experience. Why leave your sisters-in-arms/friends?

Plus who says the Timbers won't offer better, more affordable training opportunities?

I hope you guys find success but don't expect everyone to be as excited about abandoning their teammates.

1) No one expects a mass migration of players. However, it is common knowledge the TA clubs and Timbers have been campaigning against the ECNL

2) There is no possibility of the Timbers or Thorns or whatever to offer a better opportunity. Isn't that what RTC and ODP are for? There is no comparison to the ECNL for girls. None.


This really highlights the damage done by the Timbers and how dysfunctional soccer now is in Oregon.

[Unregistered]

What are you talking about?
I've had more communication with regards to opportunities for my child and coaching in the last two months than I ever did from the OPL.

I would hear from the OPL twice a year...once in Fall for Schedules and once in Spring for Schedules....

Timbers have done a great job in connecting coaches and families with what is available out there. I really don't think you know what is going on out there in the real world.

the OPL and ECNL are doing what US Soccer is moving away from. Your "pay to play" soccer mentality that you have with ECNL is the total opposite direction that we are going. MLS Franchises all over the country have adopted the same format that the Timbers are using right now.
Just to let you know, I've seen long term plans where the MLS wants the game to be damn near free for all of the serious youth players that play advanced comp. you can see how they have started with a $500 fee for their mens DA Program. I've heard that the girls side will be more though...last week it sounded as though they decided $650 for the girls side due to the fact that the funds are not there. Portland Thorns current players will be coaching these teams.
It will take a long time to implement this model. We should all be working to make it as inexpensive as possible in order to accumulate all of the top talent in the area...unfortunately ECNL will not do that... ECNL has priced themselves right out of the Libtard Market in PDX. They will find their 22 players, they just won't be the top players in the area. My DD did ECNL this year for WPFC...it was a great experience and the coaching was top notch, it was expensive ($8k)....my daughter was not the top player, but started and played every game. Did she really develop more? I would argue not...it really comes down to the player if they want to get better. You can get better and get to a good college on your own, you don't need ECNL to get to college.

That sounds good. Question - are you with a TA club or non-TA?
I'm not picking on you, but I'd like to know who's subsidizing the programs to make those 'free' or '$500' programs available. You and I know that's not what it costs to run the program. For DA travel is even included - that's sure not free.
I don't know the answer to the subsidizing question myself, but I've heard it said that it's passed on to the non-advanced comp players. A small amount per player, but rolls up to a usable amount because of the number of non-advanced players.
I'd like to know if MLS foots the bill for any of the boys (or rumored girls) academy programs? It would make sense - an investment in the future of soccer in America. I haven't heard that they are subsidizing academies. Maybe they are.
But though ECNL is not required to get into college, it's a very good opportunity for girls - better than anything else that's available at any price. And ECNL is only about $500 more per year than what I'm paying for club soccer currently.
I don't disagree that Portland soccer parents are ill-informed and follow whatever they hear from someone who knows someone at the club that knows something.

[Unregistered]

I'm really disappointed the ecnl teams didn't encourage all their players to try out for TA teams. It really shows how much damage they are doing to Oregon soccer by dividing all the kids. It's disturbing.

[Unregistered]

I'm really disappointed the ecnl teams didn't encourage all their players to try out for TA teams. It really shows how much damage they are doing to Oregon soccer by dividing all the kids. It's disturbing.

The crucial difference is that they didn't actively discourage them either...

[Unregistered]

The crucial difference is that they didn't actively discourage them either...

not true - we were told to not waste our time.

[Unregistered]

The main difference there is that ODP looked like a rec soccer camp. Lol!

and it sounds like ECNL looks like your average club team. Ugh. I actually want ECNL to succeed. But this is ridiculous. there's just no way this gets better unless all the top players go to 1 place. They should never of made 2 ECNL teams. And duh, it was pretty obvious that the Timbers would be creating a Thorns Academy. They have been talking about that for some time. This is very tough. But if ECNL teams go out and get thumped, there will be even less incentive for players to tryout next year because no one wants to fork over big $ and time to get thumped. maybe the teams will go out there and surprise. That is my hope.

[Unregistered]

not true - we were told to not waste our time.

I am also bothered by how Timbers are discouraging participation in non-TA activities by telling us to not waste our time. Shouldn't they be encouraging competitive development?

[Unregistered]

I am also bothered by how Timbers are discouraging participation in non-TA activities by telling us to not waste our time. Shouldn't they be encouraging competitive development?

I think the point is that the TA teams don't think that "competitive development" should come with an $8,000 to $10,000 price tag.

Most of the player's families who are currently on the Timbers roster never could have afforded that for them when these Timbers players were growing up. Many of them come from very humble backgrounds.

In your model of "Pay To Play" it would only ever be rich white suburban kids who played sports at a high level. Even I think that is ridiculous and I am a rich white suburban dad.