Will the Vancouver Timbers ever Grow UP?

[Unregistered]

The point is that even if the money is contributed on a monthly basis it can qualify for a deduction if it is identified as a "contribution" and not part of the regular dues/fees.

For some of the families this would make a difference.

I was just looking for clarification on your point. Thanks. And yes, making them tax deductible for the donating person is helpful.

[Unregistered]

Do the parents of VT even care?

The real question is do the parents of the Vantucky Timbers even care that their club is wasting their child's potential? Do they even have a clue how much better it could be or what a professional youth soccer club looks like? (not saying that there is one across the river either)

Come on Washingtonian's step up and take charge of YOUR club.

[Unregistered]

The real question is do the parents of the Vantucky Timbers even care that their club is wasting their child's potential? Do they even have a clue how much better it could be or what a professional youth soccer club looks like? (not saying that there is one across the river either)

Come on Washingtonian's step up and take charge of YOUR club.

The truth is that much depends on the team and coach of a particular age group. I have kids that have played for clubs in Oregon and Wa. In each case, I have seen good situations and bad ones. Really the only 2 clubs that I would put above the rest of us are Crossfire and Wa Premier. But you are going to pay mightily for that. And even then, some of their age groups are no better than the rest of us. Would you pay $5000+ fees for that if you could get a similar experience for ~ $1200?

[Unregistered]

Not the choice

The truth is that much depends on the team and coach of a particular age group. I have kids that have played for clubs in Oregon and Wa. In each case, I have seen good situations and bad ones. Really the only 2 clubs that I would put above the rest of us are Crossfire and Wa Premier. But you are going to pay mightily for that. And even then, some of their age groups are no better than the rest of us. Would you pay $5000+ fees for that if you could get a similar experience for ~ $1200?

Look for $300 more per year you can get one field at harmony turfed and lighted each year for the next three years and then drop back to half to save for other projects like buying the land to the South and replacement of the turf in 10 years.

There a lots of professional development programs for the coaches that cost pennies spread out over 3,500 kids and the salary of a professional Executive Director would add less than $20 per kid.

The choice is not $1,050 vs. $5,000. The choice is $1,400 for a professionally run organization with more stability, better facilities and better trained coaches so that you don't end up having to hire VG or put up with Harmony mud ever again!

[Unregistered]

Look for $300 more per year you can get one field at harmony turfed and lighted each year for the next three years and then drop back to half to save for other projects like buying the land to the South and replacement of the turf in 10 years.

There a lots of professional development programs for the coaches that cost pennies spread out over 3,500 kids and the salary of a professional Executive Director would add less than $20 per kid.

The choice is not $1,050 vs. $5,000. The choice is $1,400 for a professionally run organization with more stability, better facilities and better trained coaches so that you don't end up having to hire VG or put up with Harmony mud ever again!

1) DOCs need to care, 3 do
2) DOCs need to adhere to perfomance indicators
3) DOCs need to cut their ties with their"friend" coaches, and hire non parent coaches to develop our kids.

If an extra 300 does this great, but they need to cut the fat and release one or two bottom dwellers to do this, regardless of increased fees....I am greatly saddened as to what this club has become since the merge, something I am not proud of.

[Unregistered]

The point is that even if the money is contributed on a monthly basis it can qualify for a deduction if it is identified as a "contribution" and not part of the regular dues/fees.

For some of the families this would make a difference.

Bad tax advise. You're not donating for a cause when you are personally receiving a service or product.

[Unregistered]

Better Check with the Experts

Bad tax advise. You're not donating for a cause when you are personally receiving a service or product.

You really should consult experts as the benefit in question is similar to what you get donating "bricks" for various projects that you subsequently use. We could get into a discussion but the bottom line is the directness and exclusivity of a benefit and the proportion of that benefit to the total cost.

[Unregistered]

Parent Coaches

1) DOCs need to care, 3 do
2) DOCs need to adhere to perfomance indicators
3) DOCs need to cut their ties with their"friend" coaches, and hire non parent coaches to develop our kids.

If an extra 300 does this great, but they need to cut the fat and release one or two bottom dwellers to do this, regardless of increased fees....I am greatly saddened as to what this club has become since the merge, something I am not proud of.

A parent should never coach their own kids unless they were coaching before their kids aged in and have professional licenses of C or better plus either collegiate or higher experience. Parent coaches of their own kids at the Premier level IS a sign that the club needs to mature!

[Unregistered]

A parent should never coach their own kids unless they were coaching before their kids aged in and have professional licenses of C or better plus either collegiate or higher experience. Parent coaches of their own kids at the Premier level IS a sign that the club needs to mature!

I concur. Eli remove your Doc who promotes this w his good old boys..SD...and create the change...

[Unregistered]

A parent should never coach their own kids unless they were coaching before their kids aged in and have professional licenses of C or better plus either collegiate or higher experience. Parent coaches of their own kids at the Premier level IS a sign that the club needs to mature!

Hell, tina does it for their club, O.D.P., players academy, etc. Works great for her.

[Unregistered]

Read closely

Hell, tina does it for their club, O.D.P., players academy, etc. Works great for her.

Can you read? What about coaching previously or elite experience did you not understand. Accomplished players who are taking the profession seriously are not the problem coaches. It's the amateur coaches who create problems for any club. While I admire and appreciate their desire to contribute they should be relegated to the Rec program until they attain higher licensure levels.

[Unregistered]

Look for $300 more per year you can get one field at harmony turfed and lighted each year for the next three years and then drop back to half to save for other projects like buying the land to the South and replacement of the turf in 10 years.

There a lots of professional development programs for the coaches that cost pennies spread out over 3,500 kids and the salary of a professional Executive Director would add less than $20 per kid.

The choice is not $1,050 vs. $5,000. The choice is $1,400 for a professionally run organization with more stability, better facilities and better trained coaches so that you don't end up having to hire VG or put up with Harmony mud ever again!

We have a situation where the management and board lack credibility. Unfulfilled promises and poor communication make it tough to increase prices. Nothing can be done about the unfulfilled promises but we need to see more communication on the fields if we are going to rally support and engage parents. Where is the club at with the field funding? Why don't we see more information on the efforts and status?

[Unregistered]

Agree on that. If you lived in Clark County you would understand the only choices for players are Pacific which is a select club, FCSC which struggles and does not have much outside of a certain girls age group and Timbers. The Timbers are not a professional organization but they know unless parents are willing to drive over the bridge you don't have much of a choice. I can only hope that some person in position from another club reads this and considers branching into Clark County market. One of the bigger clubs like FC Portland or Crossfire coming into Vancouver would help many players. The other clubs would have to offer something good to compete. Soccer was better before the merger .

I concurr. WSA had less parent coaches and focused on player development. Where did this go?

[Unregistered]

I concurr. WSA had less parent coaches and focused on player development. Where did this go?

Really, where did WSA go?

WSA was in financial crisis and their quality players were leaving for the Timbers and other clubs. The then Vancouver Timbers absolutley threw them a lifeline by agreeing to the "merger."

Take a look at the influence that the WSA leadership has had on the now Washington Timbers. You bash on the DOC's all the time, but you'd be surprised who really is running the club on a day to day basis.

[Unregistered]

Start by forming a Subcommittee

We have a situation where the management and board lack credibility. Unfulfilled promises and poor communication make it tough to increase prices. Nothing can be done about the unfulfilled promises but we need to see more communication on the fields if we are going to rally support and engage parents. Where is the club at with the field funding? Why don't we see more information on the efforts and status?

After having successfully taken on 2 similar sized projects in membership organizations I would recommend the formation of a subcommittee to be in charge of the project and communication with the membership.

When you have a group with a diverse and only tangentially related interests it is crucial to get both verbal and official the support of the membership for the project. You do this with a series of auditorium style informational meetings showing the benefits, where you are in the process and what the options are for funding.

After the benefits, costs and process has been clearly explained you take an advisory vote on two questions. #1 Should we do this project? #2 Which of the range of funding options would you support. These options should include lump sum or monthly payments. The payment schedule that the club approves/supports will tell you the pace of the project as will gaining access to financing (Hello Merrit Paulson)

You have to have a group of champions outside the day to day leadership that can focus on this project and deal with the hundreds of details that are required to be accomplished in the proper order. This committee also serves as the advocates for the project with in the club meeting with team parents to explain the process and answer question in informal settings to "sell" the benefits of project to maintain the momentum and educate the new parents and players.

In the "real world" companies do not undertake multi-million dollar projects without hiring professional management for projects outside their core business so why would a soccer club think they could successfully build a facility without "acquiring" some human capital? Most nonprofits don't have money to hire these professionals so they have to rely on volunteers to fill that roll.

The next step is rather simple. Find 5 individuals willing to be responsible and get the Board to give them the authority to move forward.