Shift to Jan. 1 cutoff next year or year after?

[Unregistered]

Ask someone in administration girls soccer for a long time. Even at high levels, many girls play soccer and stick with soccer for relationships Start shaking up teams, and move some kids away from their school mates and you will see many kids leaving the sport who would have stayed in the old system.

I think that there will be lost numbers but 20% seems high.

We'll see. I had a high level girl playing on successful teams and I know she stuck with soccer at times due to her friends. It's a huge commitment to be on a top travel team. You sacrifice a lot of school activities, dances, movies, water skiing trips, snow trips etc.

[Unregistered]

You say, "the estimate is". WHOSE estimate?
And "some clubs won't have the right mix of ages to form teams", HUH? are you saying that there are years in which people don't have babies that grow up to be soccer players?
I still think your argument is flawed.
The increase in attrition might occur on a team here or a team there, but the total number of players will remain essentially unchanged. Again, it doesn't matter how you slice the pie, you still have a pie.

There are lots of clubs in Oregon that don't have teams at all ages and/or don't have multiple teams. If a small club has a good G01 team, for example, but weak G02 or G00, then there could be a problem forming a "good" team for either 2002 or 2001 next year. The "good" players will then likely change clubs and/or quit.

[Unregistered]

most club level, competitive players aren't playing primarily with girls they go to school with. There may be a handful of girls, but at least in our experience, the higher level teams are made up of a group of girls from all over.

True but the majority of club players aren't on A teams. About the same # of A team players will quit as every year but probably more of the Non-A team players will quit than normal.

[Unregistered]

I think most families are willing to pay more for soccer if this change will support US Soccer and their quest to improve the Men's National Team.

Good. The good clubs will be reevaluating their budgets now and raising fees sooner versus later.

[Unregistered]

True but the majority of club players aren't on A teams. About the same # of A team players will quit as every year but probably more of the Non-A team players will quit than normal.

Key word *Probably*. Which would mean you don't know.

It may cause problems for a few local teams and clubs, however, once changed it will be fine.

[Unregistered]

You say, "the estimate is". WHOSE estimate?
And "some clubs won't have the right mix of ages to form teams", HUH? are you saying that there are years in which people don't have babies that grow up to be soccer players?
I still think your argument is flawed.
The increase in attrition might occur on a team here or a team there, but the total number of players will remain essentially unchanged. Again, it doesn't matter how you slice the pie, you still have a pie.

Look at a couple of specific examples I'm familiar with.

Eastside Timbers G01 "A" team. Half and half 2001s and 2002s. Eastside Timbers G00 doesn't even have an "A" team (it folded after state cup). Imagine if you're a top 2001 playing on the ET G01 team right now. Are you going to hang around to play with "B" teamers next year? Probably not. Either you change clubs or you quit.

Washington Timbers G01 "A" team. More than half 2002's. Washington Timbers G00 again doesn't have an "A" team (entire team left for Nemesis 18 months ago). So now you're one of 2 or 3 of the top 2001 players on the WT G01 Red team. You really want to play on the 2001 team with a bunch of "B" and below players? Again, probably not.

Those are just 2 examples where the age group changes are going to force player movement and cause clubs to lose teams, if not entire age groups. And those are two of the larger clubs in the area. Imagine if your the 3rd example:

Hillsboro SC G02 "A" team (Tiki Taka). Top level team in Oregon. Both G03 and G01 are 3rd or 4th division at best. You really think those G02 players are going to stick around to play on teams with 4th division players?

[Unregistered]

True but the majority of club players aren't on A teams. About the same # of A team players will quit as every year but probably more of the Non-A team players will quit than normal.

There are a LOT (too many) club in Oregon. And they all have what they call "A" teams, even if those "A" teams play in 5th division. Don't be surprised when lots of girls either change clubs or quit come May.

[Unregistered]

Look at a couple of specific examples I'm familiar with.

Eastside Timbers G01 "A" team. Half and half 2001s and 2002s. Eastside Timbers G00 doesn't even have an "A" team (it folded after state cup). Imagine if you're a top 2001 playing on the ET G01 team right now. Are you going to hang around to play with "B" teamers next year? Probably not. Either you change clubs or you quit.

Washington Timbers G01 "A" team. More than half 2002's. Washington Timbers G00 again doesn't have an "A" team (entire team left for Nemesis 18 months ago). So now you're one of 2 or 3 of the top 2001 players on the WT G01 Red team. You really want to play on the 2001 team with a bunch of "B" and below players? Again, probably not.

Those are just 2 examples where the age group changes are going to force player movement and cause clubs to lose teams, if not entire age groups. And those are two of the larger clubs in the area. Imagine if your the 3rd example:

Hillsboro SC G02 "A" team (Tiki Taka). Top level team in Oregon. Both G03 and G01 are 3rd or 4th division at best. You really think those G02 players are going to stick around to play on teams with 4th division players?

Those teams will disperse anyway. But some that don't suck balls.

[Unregistered]

Those teams will disperse anyway. But some that don't suck balls.

True. There are an amazingly small number of Timbers Alliance girls HS aged teams. 7 clubs and they can't field as many teams as FC/THUSC/Xfire at those ages.

[Unregistered]

True. There are an amazingly small number of Timbers Alliance girls HS aged teams. 7 clubs and they can't field as many teams as FC/THUSC/Xfire at those ages.

Good Point. My dd is a 99 and there are about 3 at Thusc, 2 at xfire and 4 at FC at that age, when many clubs don't have a single team.

[Unregistered]

Good Point. My dd is a 99 and there are about 3 at Thusc, 2 at xfire and 4 at FC at that age, when many clubs don't have a single team.

Plus there is so much movement of players over the years, an overwhelming number would be fine if they played up, down, A, B.

[Unregistered]

I think that there will be lost numbers but 20% seems high.

We'll see. I had a high level girl playing on successful teams and I know she stuck with soccer at times due to her friends. It's a huge commitment to be on a top travel team. You sacrifice a lot of school activities, dances, movies, water skiing trips, snow trips etc.

The word on the street is that fees will rise to offset the losses of revenue. Some incremental costs will go down since there will be less kids, but for fixed costs fees hikes are the answer.

As long as you explain this will benefit the US Mens National team, most families will be just fine with the fee hike.

[Unregistered]

The word on the street is that fees will rise to offset the losses of revenue. Some incremental costs will go down since there will be less kids, but for fixed costs fees hikes are the answer.

As long as you explain this will benefit the US Mens National team, most families will be just fine with the fee hike.

You have been pushing the potential fee increase since this became news. It's old, move on son.

[Unregistered]

The word on the street is that fees will rise to offset the losses of revenue. Some incremental costs will go down since there will be less kids, but for fixed costs fees hikes are the answer.

As long as you explain this will benefit the US Mens National team, most families will be just fine with the fee hike.

Smart clubs will raise fees now and not wait. Smaller clubs might not at their own peril.

[Unregistered]

I think that there will be lost numbers but 20% seems high.

We'll see. I had a high level girl playing on successful teams and I know she stuck with soccer at times due to her friends. It's a huge commitment to be on a top travel team. You sacrifice a lot of school activities, dances, movies, water skiing trips, snow trips etc.

10% the first year is the projection. 10% in year two.