GDA - For Elite Cavegirls ONLY

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Every other GDA team on the west coast is participating in Surf Cup, including the California Thorns. Why not the Portland Thorns GDA? TA parent here, but this smacks of the Thorns Academy not having much faith in their team. At least the OYSA and Oregon ECNL teams are willing to compete against clubs outside their leagues outside the state....

Surf cup is a lose-lose for the younger team. Lots of angst on that team over the no high school mandate. If they went to Surf and got thumped some of their key players (who are the ones most upset about not playing HS) might jump ship. Thorns is already preparing for this. Several girls who attended their recent residential camp were invited to try out for the 01/02 team.

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Thorns better be practicing every day of the week, maybe even twice a day. They are so far behind it's ridiculous. But that's what you get from years and years of Timbers bootball thugball.

Its been so nice to get away from the rat race of tournaments this summer. We went to Bend for vacation but forgot the size 5 ball for our kickarounds. The kids played with a size 3 and I was amazed at the difference after all those years. Thorns are practicing hard and allowing for less stress on our players and parents as we head towards an inaugural season of success.

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Actually, they will never play 7 of the 12 teams that are at Surf, and of the 5 they will play, only 2 are better competition that what is available in OYSA. The GDA division that the Thornz Asylum is in is really no better than OYSA Premier.

Doubt you know exactly which other teams GDA will play over the year. They will have their own GDA showcases. No need for a GDA team to go to Surf since they'll only be playing other GDA teams from here on out. This is the first year of GDA, so give it a chance. Most of the GDA players have been there done that as far as Surf and are on a new adventure. Most of them already have lots of college interest just from playing OYSA/FWRL last year. The GDA league will bring college coaches in droves, unlike OYSA. How many college coaches will be at the bottom division matches at Surf?

[Unregistered]

Surf cup is a lose-lose for the younger team. Lots of angst on that team over the no high school mandate. If they went to Surf and got thumped some of their key players (who are the ones most upset about not playing HS) might jump ship. Thorns is already preparing for this. Several girls who attended their recent residential camp were invited to try out for the 01/02 team.

Obviously not a GDA parent. All players knew going in that GDA was a new & different platform that doesn't allow HS soccer. It's a bit sad at first thought but during HS season, GDA teams will be traveling around for free playing other GDA teams, with US Soccer coaches watching. The girls will soon get over it, just like the HS boys who have been skipping HS to play a higher level for years. Then the HS sidelines will fill up with torn ACLs, concussions, ankle injuries, etc from playing vs a lot of unskilled brutes on the other teams. GDA will look better and better.

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Surf and all those big tournaments are a great time. Soccer is not about having "fun" anymore. It's about gearing up for a shot at the pros. So while your kid is playing, having fun and taking photos, in general screwing around, in the sun the Thorns will be resting, catching up on TV and squeezing in some practices.

Going the pro track of Thorns requires sacrifices that kids gladly will make. Give up the fun part of playing. Time is here to focus on hard work and not competing. It will ramp up to four practices a week soon.

The only sad thing is the poor placement in the lowest GDA league. Mostly weak teams but it will assure wins.

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The GDA sidelines will fill up with torn ACLs, concussions, ankle injuries, etc from playing vs a lot of unskilled brutes on the other teams. GDA is a job.

Injuries from four trainings a week could be an issue but GDA is a pro track.

The GDA will get 3-4 people to each game according to the coach which is great so you can focus on technique and not worry about peers or family at GDA games.

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Obviously not a GDA parent. All players knew going in that GDA was a new & different platform that doesn't allow HS soccer. It's a bit sad at first thought but during HS season, GDA teams will be traveling around for free playing other GDA teams, with US Soccer coaches watching. The girls will soon get over it, just like the HS boys who have been skipping HS to play a higher level for years. Then the HS sidelines will fill up with torn ACLs, concussions, ankle injuries, etc from playing vs a lot of unskilled brutes on the other teams. GDA will look better and better.

Nope I'm not a GDA parent but I know for a fact players and parents are second guessing the no high school mandate. At least one sophomore is still claiming she WILL be playing HS. And it's also a fact that Thurley was prowling for new players at the camp. He guaranteed a spot to a friend's kid (an 02). Sorry if that's news to you.

[Unregistered]

Nope I'm not a GDA parent but I know for a fact players and parents are second guessing the no high school mandate. At least one sophomore is still claiming she WILL be playing HS. And it's also a fact that Thurley was prowling for new players at the camp. He guaranteed a spot to a friend's kid (an 02). Sorry if that's news to you.

Now I know you're trolling and trying to stir up drama for existing and potential players. No guarantees were given to anyone and the current Academy players know they are getting something better than HS. Hint, there also are a few that would like to game US Soccer's DP policy and be designated a DP during HS and then rostered to full time DA. US Soccer expressly forbids using the DP for anything other than bubble players though & there would be major jealousy from the ones that do have to skip HS so we will see. Bottom line is, girls will soon forget about HS soccer the same way boys DA did. GDA is only going to get better. Giving up high school is like giving up playing in OYSA. A little bittersweet but no contest. Sure, the bench players will rotate out every year but that is to be expected. Same as ECNL.

Sorry if this is news to you.

[Unregistered]

Injuries from four trainings a week could be an issue but GDA is a pro track.

The GDA will get 3-4 people to each game according to the coach which is great so you can focus on technique and not worry about peers or family at GDA games.

So peers and family at games is a bad thing? You should sell Ice to Eskimos.

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[QUOTE=Unregistered;2088873]So peers and family at games is a bad thing? You should sell Ice to Eskimos.[/QUOT

No one said peers and family at games is a bad thing but playing for free with US Soccer coaches watching is also not a bad thing. Different strokes for different folks.

[Unregistered]

Injuries from four trainings a week could be an issue but GDA is a pro track.

The GDA will get 3-4 people to each game according to the coach which is great so you can focus on technique and not worry about peers or family at GDA games.

So what? If a kid is concerned about having people come watch games then they probably aren't serious enough about soccer.

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Unregistered;2088941]

So peers and family at games is a bad thing? You should sell Ice to Eskimos.[/QUOT

No one said peers and family at games is a bad thing but playing for free with US Soccer coaches watching is also not a bad thing. Different strokes for different folks.

Free? Who is playing for free? For the U17/U18 team it's $2000 per year plus $1000 for surf cup and other add on fees.

US soccer coaches will not be watching the low level division games sorry to say.

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Unregistered;2088941]

So peers and family at games is a bad thing? You should sell Ice to Eskimos.[/QUOT

No one said peers and family at games is a bad thing but playing for free with US Soccer coaches watching is also not a bad thing. Different strokes for different folks.

Exactly. No need to panic. Plenty of soccer pie for everyone. No one goes hungry and everyone gets their favorite kind.

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Unregistered;2088945]

Free? Who is playing for free? For the U17/U18 team it's $2000 per year plus $1000 for surf cup and other add on fees.

US soccer coaches will not be watching the low level division games sorry to say.

$3,000 is not much less than ECNL costs. ECNL is 5x higher level of play.

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[QUOTE=Unregistered;2088950]

$3,000 is not much less than ECNL costs. ECNL is 5x higher level of play.

Not in Oregon. It's the reason the outside clubs hate coming to play here. With the Oregon ECNL teams now being so watered down I wonder if one of the two clubs will give it up in 2018. One GDA and one ECNL would be good for Oregon.