For Oregon to have a chance, loyalty must be thrown out the window

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You are one sick puppy. Why you take such joy from the struggles of 13 year old girls is beyond comprehension. Yes the 14's are going to struggle because many parents at this age don't have the cash or see the benefits but your obsession with the growing pains of a new system makes me hope that you are not officially associated with the TA or one of it's clubs because your attitude is the antithesis of what we are trying to teach young people about the value of sports.

No joy in seeing 13 year olds lose. The point is that this was predicted months ago and yet all the ECNL parents have been denying it would happen. If the ECNL crowd hadn't thrown this "ECNL is the greatest thing in the world and because my dd is involved, she's better than any dd that isn't involved" around, then nothing would be said. But because the kool aid drinkers have been on here claiming superiority, then expect some smack to come back to you. The reality of the situation is, starting next year, you will likely see migration of some top players into ECNL and the sadness for many parents will be to see their dd lose their spot on the team.

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No joy in seeing 13 year olds lose. The point is that this was predicted months ago and yet all the ECNL parents have been denying it would happen. If the ECNL crowd hadn't thrown this "ECNL is the greatest thing in the world and because my dd is involved, she's better than any dd that isn't involved" around, then nothing would be said. But because the kool aid drinkers have been on here claiming superiority, then expect some smack to come back to you. The reality of the situation is, starting next year, you will likely see migration of some top players into ECNL and the sadness for many parents will be to see their dd lose their spot on the team.

My thoughts are this -- my daughter plays for Onyx and I am looking forward to be challenged more frequently. I believe that placing an ECNL patch on your jersey does not make you elite; we have played some really tough teams that aren't ECNL and we have played some really bad teams that are ECNL. Onyx has already traveled a lot so playing ECNL is not going to more costly than our current travel schedule. Surf Cup will be a similar experience to ECNL -- lots of college coaches watching and every game is a battle.

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My thoughts are this -- my daughter plays for Onyx and I am looking forward to be challenged more frequently. I believe that placing an ECNL patch on your jersey does not make you elite; we have played some really tough teams that aren't ECNL and we have played some really bad teams that are ECNL. Onyx has already traveled a lot so playing ECNL is not going to more costly than our current travel schedule. Surf Cup will be a similar experience to ECNL -- lots of college coaches watching and every game is a battle.

True except for the last part. You won't have college coaches are your ECNL games. They will be at the ECNL showcases/tournaments, but not at the average league games.

And as to college, Onyx is probably in better shape than FC at U16 since Onyx has done showcases and such and likely has colleges who have watched the players. Why this matters is because all fall the California ECNL teams will be getting exposure and locking down a lot of the premium offers. By the time the Oregon teams are finally playing, a lot of offers will be locked down or be close. Not all offers of course, but many (top D1 programs that is). Most of these schools are done by summer between SO and JR years in HS.

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You have a fertile imagination

No joy in seeing 13 year olds lose. The point is that this was predicted months ago and yet all the ECNL parents have been denying it would happen. If the ECNL crowd hadn't thrown this "ECNL is the greatest thing in the world and because my dd is involved, she's better than any dd that isn't involved" around, then nothing would be said. But because the kool aid drinkers have been on here claiming superiority, then expect some smack to come back to you. The reality of the situation is, starting next year, you will likely see migration of some top players into ECNL and the sadness for many parents will be to see their dd lose their spot on the team.

As one of the primary "salesmen" for the ECNL I never said that participation was a sign of anything other than the opportunity to play better teams and access a much larger college coaching community. There is and was no way to tell which kids would opt in or whose parents could afford to opt in so projecting the make up AND success of the teams at both clubs was and IS pure speculation. The struggles of the 14's is nothing other than a reflection of who has opted in not the success of ether the clubs ECNL experience. Being "right" about that struggle has zero value to the girls, teams or the clubs.

As for the claims of superiority: At the ages in question all but one of the top teams resided within the OPL and the three clubs involved. The hoped for "success", not superiority, was only based upon the recent history of the clubs at those ages not anything else.

Objectively the ECNL is a superior playing and exposure experience to any other model that exists in Oregon. The value of that experience to each player has many variables that may or may NOT apply to every player and the Haters are quick to point out that the best will get noticed regardless and I concur. The value of the ECNL experience goes beyond just getting noticed. There is value in the extra practice (you know the extra touches that are getting preached about in the US National Team thread) and the elevated level of competition that prepares the girls who have their commitments to play against similarly skilled players like they will at the next level.

Is that worth the extra $5K? For some yes and for other no.

Your last comment about losing their spot is a curious one as I don't think any parent OR player at this level "expects" to have a spot without earning it.

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But you will

True except for the last part. You won't have college coaches are your ECNL games. They will be at the ECNL showcases/tournaments, but not at the average league games.

And as to college, Onyx is probably in better shape than FC at U16 since Onyx has done showcases and such and likely has colleges who have watched the players. Why this matters is because all fall the California ECNL teams will be getting exposure and locking down a lot of the premium offers. By the time the Oregon teams are finally playing, a lot of offers will be locked down or be close. Not all offers of course, but many (top D1 programs that is). Most of these schools are done by summer between SO and JR years in HS.

Depending upon who the host team is you WILL see college coaches on the side lines of league games. I saw coaches on the sidelines of both WPFC and WA Crossfire league games as well as the sidelines in the Bay. There are no trips into the Bay on this schedule but you will have the chance to have top regional programs watching top teams like Onyx battle the Northern ECNL clubs.

Will there be "tens" of coaches at these games? No but you will see UW, SPU and the usual Regional programs drop by if they have their eye on a player or players. Similarly when the local teams go to Boise or Salt Lake expect to see WSU, Boise St and the Utah schools to be watching from the stands.

On the flip side expect GS and the PSU crowd to be watching those teams come here because a car ride out to Liberty or LO is a lot cheaper than a trip North or East!

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Depending upon who the host team is you WILL see college coaches on the side lines of league games. I saw coaches on the sidelines of both WPFC and WA Crossfire league games as well as the sidelines in the Bay. There are no trips into the Bay on this schedule but you will have the chance to have top regional programs watching top teams like Onyx battle the Northern ECNL clubs.

Will there be "tens" of coaches at these games? No but you will see UW, SPU and the usual Regional programs drop by if they have their eye on a player or players. Similarly when the local teams go to Boise or Salt Lake expect to see WSU, Boise St and the Utah schools to be watching from the stands.

On the flip side expect GS and the PSU crowd to be watching those teams come here because a car ride out to Liberty or LO is a lot cheaper than a trip North or East!

But here is the thing, the ECNL people are putting down the academy because of exposure but they will be getting this same exposure you are describing. One set of games in Seattle (which is actually a showcase), one in Boise and one here. Along with the Tacoma showcase and FC Portland showcase. So in reality, the same Pac NW exposure the ECNL teams are getting the Academy is getting as well. Add in LV and perhaps one other strong showcase (maybe Surf) and you have the same exposure that you get at the ECNL tournaments for two events. Lastly, going to the Colorado showcase also gives good exposure, less than LV, but more than Tacoma and to an audience that is more midwest/Rockies based. Will it be the same total exposure that the ECNL teams at the same age group will be getting? No, but it's not far off and it's targeted to schools that are higher probablity schools as they are closer to home and that's usually more attractive for both the player and the school.

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But here is the thing, the ECNL people are putting down the academy because of exposure but they will be getting this same exposure you are describing. One set of games in Seattle (which is actually a showcase), one in Boise and one here. Along with the Tacoma showcase and FC Portland showcase. So in reality, the same Pac NW exposure the ECNL teams are getting the Academy is getting as well. Add in LV and perhaps one other strong showcase (maybe Surf) and you have the same exposure that you get at the ECNL tournaments for two events. Lastly, going to the Colorado showcase also gives good exposure, less than LV, but more than Tacoma and to an audience that is more midwest/Rockies based. Will it be the same total exposure that the ECNL teams at the same age group will be getting? No, but it's not far off and it's targeted to schools that are higher probablity schools as they are closer to home and that's usually more attractive for both the player and the school.

Tacoma Showcase and FC Portland Showcase -- interesting. Many schools will have girls list out which Showcase events they are playing and all of them list EVERY ECNL showcase, Surf, Players Showcase. I have never seen one single college asking my daughter if she will be playing in the upcoming 2015 FC Winter Showcase or Tacoma Showcase.

I am certainly not stating the girls in the ECNL are better, but you can't argue with the attention this league gets from college coaches

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Tacoma Showcase and FC Portland Showcase -- interesting. Many schools will have girls list out which Showcase events they are playing and all of them list EVERY ECNL showcase, Surf, Players Showcase. I have never seen one single college asking my daughter if she will be playing in the upcoming 2015 FC Winter Showcase or Tacoma Showcase.

I am certainly not stating the girls in the ECNL are better, but you can't argue with the attention this league gets from college coaches

You didn't follow the train of logic. You said that they will get local exposure playing local ECNL teams. Seattle schools when you play in Seattle, same with Boise and same here in Portland. Those same schools will be at the Tacoma Showcase and FC Showcase. And they also can watch the FWRL games when they play in Seattle, Boise and Portland. The reason that colleges don't ask if she is playing in those showcases is because she is likely contacting California schools. If she were talking to Seattle U, or Gonzaga, or even UW, they will go to the Tacoma and if you are talking to Linus, he attends FC Showcase (and spends time at state cup and Friendship cup). If you are interested in Arizona or Loyala Marymount or Pepperdine (good luck with that one), then Surf, Las Vegas or one of the ECNL tournaments.

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But here is the thing, the ECNL people are putting down the academy because of exposure but they will be getting this same exposure you are describing. One set of games in Seattle (which is actually a showcase), one in Boise and one here. Along with the Tacoma showcase and FC Portland showcase. So in reality, the same Pac NW exposure the ECNL teams are getting the Academy is getting as well. Add in LV and perhaps one other strong showcase (maybe Surf) and you have the same exposure that you get at the ECNL tournaments for two events. Lastly, going to the Colorado showcase also gives good exposure, less than LV, but more than Tacoma and to an audience that is more midwest/Rockies based. Will it be the same total exposure that the ECNL teams at the same age group will be getting? No, but it's not far off and it's targeted to schools that are higher probablity schools as they are closer to home and that's usually more attractive for both the player and the school.

I am hoping the Timbers promised the Thorns Academy a little more exposure and quality than the FWRL, Tacoma Showcase and the FC Winter Showcase.

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I am hoping the Timbers promised the Thorns Academy a little more exposure and quality than the FWRL, Tacoma Showcase and the FC Winter Showcase.

LV, Colorado showcase and one other that I am missing. So yes, more, quite a bit more.

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LV, Colorado showcase and one other that I am missing. So yes, more, quite a bit more.

Promised. Yet to be delivered. Just like the coaching curriculum...

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LV, Colorado showcase and one other that I am missing. So yes, more, quite a bit more.

Tell me how that is dramatically different than last years Copa schedule?

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Tell me how that is dramatically different than last years Copa schedule?

It costs more now and they have a worse coach