Thorns Academy $7,000 + a yearr

[Unregistered]

Versus the Bait & Bait & Bait

Who's crying? Just trying to get the facts out there. Apparently you are a fan of the bait and switch.

Are you equating a few hundred difference with the EMPTY promise of an thorns Academy? Seriously that is where you are going to hang your hat to say NOT to do the ECNL? (face palm face palm face palm)

[Unregistered]

Hmmm. Didn't Chris Lewis (u18 ECNL coach) get called up for some games last year for the Portland Thorns. Oh yea she did, that's right. I think there's one other ECNL coach that played for the Thorns last year also.

Come to think of it, I guess since there is no such thing as a Thorns Academy right now, ECNL is the closest you can get to the Thorns considering their coaching staff have Thorns practice squad members on it.

[Unregistered]

Thorns pay an annual wage to their pro players between $6,000 and $50,000 for players with National Team and top 10 D1 college experience. Why would the Thorns bring on a player through their academy when they can get a top-notch experienced player for those wages? They would be spending more then that just having them go through the academy with the magical $500 a year cost. Going from the Thorns Academy to NWSL Thorns is a dream and denies economic reality.

You are missing the point (or I communicated poorly). I was not averring that your dd should play on the Thorns to become a Thorn. I do not want my son to play with the Timbers with their higher incomes. Rather, there will be opportunities to play with the Thorns in scrimmages, exhibition games etc. (My son has done all of these and so has other players.) Additionally, with the above experience, the Timbers will promote your daughter to college programs. Unlike the other Encl coaches, the Thorns have leverage to promote their players just like Coach Porter with the boys. Hence, the influx of Akron players is only one example.

I also believe the Timbers DA will be a resource to promote the girls into college programs. They have improved just in the year since the program started. I had to explain initially why it was important for my son to see Brown. Now, they understand the process and are much more flexible.

The exciting things for girls is that their are so many more opportunities for them and their grades are usually better. For these reasons, I would think the Timber/Thorns would have a better chance to promote them.

As for the comment regarding the economy explaining the downfall of the FC Portland DA, I think you are ignoring that FC Portland's whine and cheese crowd were least impacted. The problem is that, without corporate support, any club is going to have problems in Oregon. Less so for the girls because upper middle class still have more good players.

[Unregistered]

First sentence disqualifier

I do not have a daughter so no axe to grind. I do know, when making the decision, that I would pick Academy over the ECNL if only because there will be contact with the Thorns. My son has benefited from this experience with the Timbers and coaches notice it more than anything else he has done. If your dd is good enough to play with the Thorns, you will get your foot in the doors of many programs who want the Thorns to take their graduates. See what happened with Akron just this year. We are sending three players to them. It is not because soccer got suddenly better in the area.

Moreover, if for only advertising reasons, there will be pressure upon the Timbers to transfer some free benefits to the girls. There are always many trainers who have extra time on their hands. I am not saying it will be free but if they do well and the Oregonian asks . . . .

You have to remember that FC Portland failed to make their academy program work for the boys. I, therefore, wonder how two girl's teams are going to make it. The death spiral will be slow as has been the OPL's. Not good for Oregon soccer. I am sure GW wishes that he had not formed the OPL--you reap what you sew sometimes.

it was nice of you to admit you have no idea how the landscape of competitive girls soccer works. There is nearly zero overlap between how the boys & girls system operate today. Because of the mandated MLSDA programs the boys landscape has been stratified with a majority of the top players going to the DA if possible and the rest diluted between the remaining teams.

On the girls side there is no League sponsored Academy league so the comparison ENDS there. There no league mandate to provide Academies and there is ZERO money to be made from girls contracts therefore the MLS teams have ZERO incentive to INVEST in a girls Academy.

What the ECNL has and is doing is consolidating talent for the geographic areas they serve so they are doing for the girls what the DA programs are doing for boys EXCEPT there are approximately 6,400 girls participating in many MORE cites than the either the DA or the cities of the NWSL.

As for any "good will" that you think the timbers "would" benefit from you have not been paying attention as this question has been addressed multiple times. MP has owned the timbers for over 5 years and he has not put actual CASH into girls soccer. In contrast he has taken money OUT of the existing systems (OPL, ODP OYSA) and has FAILED to formulate a viable Academy format for over 2 years after determining that ECNL was not an option.

The all in costs for a ECNL look-a-like would run about $100,000 per team so one has to be HONEST and ask if over the previous 5 years he has only contributed coaching why you think he is going to nearly DOUBLE the cost of the Thorns operations now?

[Unregistered]

You are missing the point (or I communicated poorly). I was not averring that your dd should play on the Thorns to become a Thorn. I do not want my son to play with the Timbers with their higher incomes. Rather, there will be opportunities to play with the Thorns in scrimmages, exhibition games etc. (My son has done all of these and so has other players.) Additionally, with the above experience, the Timbers will promote your daughter to college programs. Unlike the other Encl coaches, the Thorns have leverage to promote their players just like Coach Porter with the boys. Hence, the influx of Akron players is only one example.

I also believe the Timbers DA will be a resource to promote the girls into college programs. They have improved just in the year since the program started. I had to explain initially why it was important for my son to see Brown. Now, they understand the process and are much more flexible.

The exciting things for girls is that their are so many more opportunities for them and their grades are usually better. For these reasons, I would think the Timber/Thorns would have a better chance to promote them.

As for the comment regarding the economy explaining the downfall of the FC Portland DA, I think you are ignoring that FC Portland's whine and cheese crowd were least impacted. The problem is that, without corporate support, any club is going to have problems in Oregon. Less so for the girls because upper middle class still have more good players.

How many clubs have you been involved in? There are many clubs (many) that already do most of what you just said the Thorns would be able to do. You need to get out more. Oh yeah and why what would a player get out of scrimmaging with the THorns?? a royal ass whupping?? Besides, if you think Thorns professional players are going to be running around scrimmaging with youth players you are ill informed or just a rookie.

[Unregistered]

Fact : ECNL is not for you.
Fact : you are a crybaby.

Salemen must love to see you walk through the door. You drive a soft bargain. And please, reply to my post five times like last time.

[Unregistered]

How many clubs have you been involved in? There are many clubs (many) that already do most of what you just said the Thorns would be able to do. You need to get out more. Oh yeah and why what would a player get out of scrimmaging with the THorns?? a royal ass whupping?? Besides, if you think Thorns professional players are going to be running around scrimmaging with youth players you are ill informed or just a rookie.

Exactly. Look around. Some clubs actually host college showcase tourneys while others host Rec+ kickball mudfests. The ONLY clubs in Oregon that could possibly make ECNL work are the clubs that now have ECNL. The other clubs didn't even apply because deep down they know that, at least on the girl's side, they are decidely second tier.

[Unregistered]

You are missing the point (or I communicated poorly). I was not averring that your dd should play on the Thorns to become a Thorn. I do not want my son to play with the Timbers with their higher incomes. Rather, there will be opportunities to play with the Thorns in scrimmages, exhibition games etc. (My son has done all of these and so has other players.) Additionally, with the above experience, the Timbers will promote your daughter to college programs. Unlike the other Encl coaches, the Thorns have leverage to promote their players just like Coach Porter with the boys. Hence, the influx of Akron players is only one example.

I also believe the Timbers DA will be a resource to promote the girls into college programs. They have improved just in the year since the program started. I had to explain initially why it was important for my son to see Brown. Now, they understand the process and are much more flexible.

The exciting things for girls is that their are so many more opportunities for them and their grades are usually better. For these reasons, I would think the Timber/Thorns would have a better chance to promote them.

As for the comment regarding the economy explaining the downfall of the FC Portland DA, I think you are ignoring that FC Portland's whine and cheese crowd were least impacted. The problem is that, without corporate support, any club is going to have problems in Oregon. Less so for the girls because upper middle class still have more good players.

Wow, how exciting. Alex Morgan will just love playing in practices with Thorns Academy players. They will push her to finally make something of herself. Oh wait a minute. She already has.

You are right though. They do have magical powers to promote Thorns Academy players to college coaches, because it doesn't exist as the Thorns Academy is a fantasy at this point.

Also...

I thought you didn't need a program like ECNL or Thorns Academy to get to a D1 college. We been told you can do it all on your own through your local club team. Right? That is the argument that has been going on since post #1 regarding the uselessness of ECNL.

[Unregistered]

The Thorns academy is purely to dissuade girls from pursuing an ECNL team.

[Unregistered]

You do NOT undersatnd the ECNL

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T
he exciting things for girls is that their are so many more opportunities for them and their grades are usually better. For these reasons, I would think the Timber/Thorns would have a better chance to promote them.

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One more time. U16 & 17 ECNL players will have the opportunity to be seen by 300+ different coaches during the showcase season and many of them four times. There is NO OTHER system for girls to get this level of exposure.

There is NO OTHER league where an Academy team could find the level of competition that produces the nearly every winner of the HS age groups of the top brackets at every major tournament or showcase from coast to coast.

95% of the girls who are playing ECNL or on top local teams for that matter care more about getting into college NOT playing for what amounts indentured servitude in the NWSL. So kicking it around with the pros for an hour is a nice ego boost but that is not going to get them where they want to go unless they want to skip college and go straight to the NWSL.

Even if the Thorns Academy comes to pass they will be putting out ECNL lite. The only question is will parents buy the "near beer" over 100% proof ECNL soccer!

[Unregistered]

The Thorns academy is purely to dissuade girls from pursuing an ECNL team.

I agree. I totally understand why people are waiting a year. It's not easy changing clubs. Next years tryouts are going to be interesting. If the Thorns Academy has not started yet, movement is going to begin towards the ECNL clubs.

[Unregistered]

They will be promising 2015 Tryouts in July

I agree. I totally understand why people are waiting a year. It's not easy changing clubs. Next years tryouts are going to be interesting. If the Thorns Academy has not started yet, movement is going to begin towards the ECNL clubs.

They have had TWO years to formulate the Academy. If it doesn't not happen in the next 30 days nuuuuthing meaningful is EVER going to happen. If it doesn't happen however I can guarantee they will be saying they'll start the Academy next year.....next year just wait.

I guess we should put PDX soccer parents right up there on the gullible podium with Cub fans!

[Marbull]

With respect to a Thorns academy, so far there isn't one and if it materializes it will be a team with no league to play in.

Ever think that is the hold up. Maybe the Thorns are waiting til the other franchises get their stuff together and/or a governing body to finalize plans for the league and development structure.

You are correct, training without competition doesn't do any good.

[Unregistered]

They have had TWO years to formulate the Academy. If it doesn't not happen in the next 30 days nuuuuthing meaningful is EVER going to happen. If it doesn't happen however I can guarantee they will be saying they'll start the Academy next year.....next year just wait.

I guess we should put PDX soccer parents right up there on the gullible podium with Cub fans!

I agree. The timing of that email that went out to the ODP players in late April is suspect considering how quiet it has been since then. Other then the email, has there been any form of communication (written or verbal) about the Thorns Academy?

[Marbull]

They have had TWO years to formulate the Academy. If it doesn't not happen in the next 30 days nuuuuthing meaningful is EVER going to happen. If it doesn't happen however I can guarantee they will be saying they'll start the Academy next year.....next year just wait.

I guess we should put PDX soccer parents right up there on the gullible podium with Cub fans!

And the OPL has been trying to get into the ECNL for 5 years. So using that mathematics, they still have 3 to go just to be even.

If you wanna biotch about something, pick something that is real. Something you can see, measure, judge and compare. Quit complaining about something you cant have and doesnt exist.