Thorns Academy 4th in FWRL!

[Unregistered]

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Watch the games then check back in. They are good games and good teams. They will continue to improve. So be angry. Sounds like you will be angry no matter how ECNL turns out. You're angry ECNL impacts ODP. You're ange ECNL is in Oregon. You're angry you think ECNL isn't as good as most of the rest of the country thinks it is. You're angry.

I assume that you think it is a "development" issue and not a "not that many player" issue?

[Unregistered]

I started reading this thread and I don't think this is a ECNL hater. I think my kid is in the same boat so I feel angry too.

[Unregistered]

I assume that you think it is a "development" issue and not a "not that many player" issue?

According to some of these parents high level players can be created left and right simply by playing out of state.

[Slow Xavi]

ECNL on the girl's side and Academy on the boys decimated ODP. US Soccer vs US Youth Soccer Association battling for your dollars and power.

Having said that, if the ECNL stayed true to the mission it would be awesome. One ECNL club in Portland would be perfect. That would be much closer to the boy's Academy model. You know what I am describing? A model where 40 - 50 players per age group would NOT make the cut.

Personally I want an Academy model for girls that attracts most of the highest level players. I want to see the Thorns take off because I think it is a more meaningful track and more closely mirrors this concept. I suspect in the next year we will see a shift from the current ECNL teams to something else for the highest level player. Who knows, maybe there is some other new and improved system around the corner... and perhaps it is girl's academy.

ODP wasn't perfect even in its heyday - still a version of pay-to-play (even with some state subsidy), some viewed as politically, with many arguing that the same development should be done at the club level, as at the end of the day ODP coaches are/were club coaches. In some places though, it certainly allowed pooling of talent; in other states you would see a state team dominated by a single team, because all the best players were playing there anyways.

MLS Academy is an absolute step forward for older boys - close to free in exchange for residual contract rights (i.e. if you are good enough to play pro, your MLS team has first crack at you) . . . for many that is going to be a good deal.

Barrier on the girls' side continues to be pay-to-play, which restricts who can/will play, whether ODP, ECNL, Thorns Academy and whether some small subsidy or not. Who knows who wins between ECNL and Thorns or if ODP has a renaissance, but at the end of the day they are all constrained by what folks are willing to pay until US Soccer wants to fully-subsidize the programs . . . not holding my breath.

[Unregistered]

ODP wasn't perfect even in its heyday - still a version of pay-to-play (even with some state subsidy), some viewed as politically, with many arguing that the same development should be done at the club level, as at the end of the day ODP coaches are/were club coaches. In some places though, it certainly allowed pooling of talent; in other states you would see a state team dominated by a single team, because all the best players were playing there anyways.

MLS Academy is an absolute step forward for older boys - close to free in exchange for residual contract rights (i.e. if you are good enough to play pro, your MLS team has first crack at you) . . . for many that is going to be a good deal.

Barrier on the girls' side continues to be pay-to-play, whether ODP, ECNL, Thorns Academy and whether some small subsidy or not. Who knows who wins between ECNL and Thorns or if ODP has a renaissance, but at the end of the day they are all constrained by what folks are willing to pay until US Soccer wants to fully-subsidize the programs . . . not holding my breath.

I don't mind paying if it actually offers the highest level of play available. At least with ODP pooling of talent occurred at the region and beyond level. That was worth paying for. I am disgusted with this. It isn't a not winning issue. It is sitting there cringing and watching some of these players who would not even make the state ODP team back in the day bring the level of play way down for the rest of the team. It isn't there fault but it is beyond frustrating. No amount of development is going to make those players good.

[Unregistered]

According to some of these parents high level players can be created left and right simply by playing out of state.

THe funny thing is, many parents actually think that by being on ECNL, you become a Pac 12 level player. And if they don't think that, then why are they so excited about Pac 12 coaches being at the games? "Hey, my kid was seen by some Pac 12 coaches this weekemd, never mind that she isn't of the ability to ever play there, but she was seen by them."

[Unregistered]

THe funny thing is, many parents actually think that by being on ECNL, you become a Pac 12 level player. And if they don't think that, then why are they so excited about Pac 12 coaches being at the games? "Hey, my kid was seen by some Pac 12 coaches this weekemd, never mind that she isn't of the ability to ever play there, but she was seen by them."

No they don't. You only say this to put down everyone involved with the ECNL. This has been your tact from the beginning.

[Slow Xavi]

I don't mind paying if it actually offers the highest level of play available. At least with ODP pooling of talent occurred at the region and beyond level. That was worth paying for. I am disgusted with this. It isn't a not winning issue. It is sitting there cringing and watching some of these players who would not even make the state ODP team back in the day bring the level of play way down for the rest of the team. It isn't there fault but it is beyond frustrating. No amount of development is going to make those players good.

It sounds like you have high achieving daughters and that you are willing to make significant sacrifices for their development . . . I very much understand the frustration if you don't see your dds surrounded by the right level.

Not sure what the answer is, other than continuing to support your club (whether ECNL or Timbers/Thorns) and at the same time holding them accountable for what they promised.

[Unregistered]

I hear you. It certainly isn't the fault of those parents who are gleeful to have their kids play in ECNL even if they are not impact players. I am just frustrated that what at first glance appeared to be a great option .... ECNL.. ended up with two clubs and diluted. We haven't been promised anything. What can we hold the clubs accountable to? Realistically the clubs can't create talent where it doesn't already exist.

My DD just wants to play at the highest level possible and it appears that we may have to resort to out of state play again.

[Unregistered]

I hear you. It certainly isn't the fault of those parents who are gleeful to have their kids play in ECNL even if they are not impact players. I am just frustrated that what at first glance appeared to be a great option .... ECNL.. ended up with two clubs and diluted. We haven't been promised anything. What can we hold the clubs accountable to? Realistically the clubs can't create talent where it doesn't already exist.

My DD just wants to play at the highest level possible and it appears that we may have to resort to out of state play again.

I don't know what age your dd is, but I do think that some age groups are a bit better than anticipated. The U17s are clearly pretty good. And they could get better with a few players and with time. You had to know that U18s would be a challenge this year, there is no way they would be really good. The other age groups are a work in progress.

[Unregistered]

No they don't. You only say this to put down everyone involved with the ECNL. This has been your tact from the beginning.

BS. It's a wakeup call for parents who are blinded by the sales job of the DOCs and by people like you who think that every kid who plays ECNL is going to magically become a top player. You are doing everyone a disservice by blabbering on about ECNL all of the time. If you don't really believe that ECNL is going to make all of these kids into Pac 12 players, then why did you post about the Pac 12 coaches being there? You do realize that they are looking at about 6 players from the U16s and U15s don't you? That's all Oregon puts out at max to top programs in any given year. Take a look at how many Pac 12 players Colorado produces each year. You will then know that more eyes were on the visitors. For once, try to refute this by using a cogent set of thoughts.

[Unregistered]

I don't know what age your dd is, but I do think that some age groups are a bit better than anticipated. The U17s are clearly pretty good. And they could get better with a few players and with time. You had to know that U18s would be a challenge this year, there is no way they would be really good. The other age groups are a work in progress.

Fair enough, and it is good that there are some happy customers. Honestly I mean that!

My daughter is U16 and has already picked her college. This isn't about being seen or exposure. It is only about playing at a high level and in my opinion this isn't a development issue. I think it a saturation issue. Even with the best training available to anyone anywhere, talent can't be created where it doesn't exist. Some age groups may get lucky and find that they have 40 - 50 very talented girls in Oregon but it is not likely at all. I just wish that the majority of those kids who qualify to play D1 soccer could find their way onto one team instead of 2 or 3. In our small state that would make the level of play that much more enjoyable at the top.

[Unregistered]

Fair enough, and it is good that there are some happy customers. Honestly I mean that!

My daughter is U16 and has already picked her college. This isn't about being seen or exposure. It is only about playing at a high level and in my opinion this isn't a development issue. I think it a saturation issue. Even with the best training available to anyone anywhere, talent can't be created where it doesn't exist. Some age groups may get lucky and find that they have 40 - 50 very talented girls in Oregon but it is not likely at all. I just wish that the majority of those kids who qualify to play D1 soccer could find their way onto one team instead of 2 or 3. In our small state that would make the level of play that much more enjoyable at the top.

Dream on. Even if they did all play on one team, it would still only be 10 players max.

[Unregistered]

BS. It's a wakeup call for parents who are blinded by the sales job of the DOCs and by people like you who think that every kid who plays ECNL is going to magically become a top player. You are doing everyone a disservice by blabbering on about ECNL all of the time. If you don't really believe that ECNL is going to make all of these kids into Pac 12 players, then why did you post about the Pac 12 coaches being there? You do realize that they are looking at about 6 players from the U16s and U15s don't you? That's all Oregon puts out at max to top programs in any given year. Take a look at how many Pac 12 players Colorado produces each year. You will then know that more eyes were on the visitors. For once, try to refute this by using a cogent set of thoughts.

Hey this guy is right. Tomorrow I'm taking my dd to the nearest TA club and packing our bags so that we can have family fun time in Eugene, Bend & Medford. I'd rather have them good ol boys watching my dd play than some Pac 12 college coaches, plus it's alot of fun.

[Unregistered]

Hey this guy is right. Tomorrow I'm taking my dd to the nearest TA club and packing our bags so that we can have family fun time in Eugene, Bend & Medford. I'd rather have them good ol boys watching my dd play than some Pac 12 college coaches, plus it's alot of fun.

Better yet, just move to Eugene, Bend or Medford as per capita they seem to have many more D1 athletes.