Boys ECNL

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Some DOCs are planning a new league that only they get to play in. So they can be elite. Because they are different.

Ask your DOC why he doesn’t want to play 4H

Um...because they are tired of beating them? Seriously, my son's team dominated that club. Multiple shut outside with wins in excess of 3-4 goals. Sorry, they just aren't that good.

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Exactly have everyone play in OYSA and the top two or 3 teams join the National/Regional league and attend decent out of state tournaments.

This isn't a goal, it's how it worked in the state prior to the business model structure that spoils the quality for the state.

Jumping into leagues outside of Oregon has nothing to do with ability, except the ability to pay for travel. We sadly don't even have a best team, let alone 3 or 4 in age division.

We've regressed so far it's embarrassing.

The old model consisted of "leagues" like FWRL (essentially tournaments spread over a season) that were in addition to OYSA, not exclusive travel leagues that only played each other. And that I've got no problem with.

But that's not what (B)ECNL is--they stick to themselves and then boast they are The Best because look! Travel league! DA had some of the same problems, without the travel, at least for U14s and below.

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Mic drop. Thanks Kony.

If it were Cony (spelled with a C), the post would have mentioned futsal somewhere.

[Unregistered]

The old model consisted of "leagues" like FWRL (essentially tournaments spread over a season) that were in addition to OYSA, not exclusive travel leagues that only played each other. And that I've got no problem with.

But that's not what (B)ECNL is--they stick to themselves and then boast they are The Best because look! Travel league! DA had some of the same problems, without the travel, at least for U14s and below.

Without any criteria to qualify for these type of leagues outside of the ability to pay, this is what happens.

It's not like selection day for the NCAA tournament in college Basketball, instead it resembles the CBI tourney a notch below the NIT where if you pay the fee you're in.

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Oregon isn't big enough to use qualification to determine who plays in regional leagues. By definition, if there's a need to determine which are the top teams by qualification then you've already started with teams that are too diluted.

I know that seems counterintuitive, but that's the way it is. A top team (or 2) of Oregon players capable of competing regionally will be wasting their time qualifying out of Oregon. We need a more collaborative approach.

[Unregistered]

Oregon isn't big enough to use qualification to determine who plays in regional leagues. By definition, if there's a need to determine which are the top teams by qualification then you've already started with teams that are too diluted.

I know that seems counterintuitive, but that's the way it is. A top team (or 2) of Oregon players capable of competing regionally will be wasting their time qualifying out of Oregon. We need a more collaborative approach.

"a more collaborative approach".

There's the problem--everyone thinks that THEY should get to host the super team. But if Westside or some other alliance club has it, then the Nike clubs are going to whine. And vice versa.

And of course, a super team will be a commuting nightmare for 90% of its players.

Actually--on the boys side, we do kind of have a super team, albeit a flawed one: Timbers Academy. They alone have the credibility to pull it off, as the local professional team; and it's subsidized so players will put up with things they wouldn't put up with at a pay-to-play club. But even this team gets spanked regularly when they travel--and being a pro academy rather than an OYSA project, the roster gets less local the higher in age you go. Which is how most pro academies operate.

But a) let the TA worry about flying to league games, b) play in tournies or FWRL or whatever its called now if you want to get outside of Portland, and c) focus most of your energy on OYSA, because you'll find plenty of worthy opponents there--that seems to be the best option for most clubs. It's best for the kids--all but the most elite shouldn't be getting on planes for soccer games. It's best for the parents and their wallets. And it's best for local soccer--all the clubs have to prove their boasts on the field.

[Unregistered]

"a more collaborative approach".

There's the problem--everyone thinks that THEY should get to host the super team. But if Westside or some other alliance club has it, then the Nike clubs are going to whine. And vice versa.

And of course, a super team will be a commuting nightmare for 90% of its players.

Actually--on the boys side, we do kind of have a super team, albeit a flawed one: Timbers Academy. They alone have the credibility to pull it off, as the local professional team; and it's subsidized so players will put up with things they wouldn't put up with at a pay-to-play club. But even this team gets spanked regularly when they travel--and being a pro academy rather than an OYSA project, the roster gets less local the higher in age you go. Which is how most pro academies operate.But a) let the TA worry about flying to league games, b) play in tournies or FWRL or whatever its called now if you want to get outside of Portland, and c) focus most of your energy on OYSA, because you'll find plenty of worthy opponents there--that seems to be the best option for most clubs. It's best for the kids--all but the most elite shouldn't be getting on planes for soccer games. It's best for the parents and their wallets. And it's best for local soccer--all the clubs have to prove their boasts on the field.

Prior to the Timbers DA, Oregon actually had regionally and nationally competitive boys teams.

Our girls side has never produced a regional or nationally competitive team.

Think pre-da days of usys specifically a Regional or National Boys champion from Oregon. Believe it not i happened 5 times on the Boys Side: FC x 2, WSM x 2 & EST x 1.

Maybe things will come back to that place.

But, for making dollars off pipe dreams, gets in the way of the consolidated super teams of yesteryear. So be it, slick stuff.

[Unregistered]

Prior to the Timbers DA, Oregon actually had regionally and nationally competitive boys teams.

Our girls side has never produced a regional or nationally competitive team.

Think pre-da days of usys specifically a Regional or National Boys champion from Oregon. Believe it not i happened 5 times on the Boys Side: FC x 2, WSM x 2 & EST x 1.

Maybe things will come back to that place.

But, for making dollars off pipe dreams, gets in the way of the consolidated super teams of yesteryear. So be it, slick stuff.

And now in the era of the Timbers, most of those players are going to TA, and competing against other MLS academy teams (and losing) rather than staying at a local club and winning a USYS championship.

The question is--should we care about USYS championships? They are nice--but is this a reason to not have a pro academy; so that the top kids are all put back in OYSA, and maybe one club will get lucky one year and make a deep run in regionals, maybe even to nationals?

Why do we want a "consolidated superteam"? Such things may have lots of fun outside of Portland, but they cream everyone else here. Is it better for player development?

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And now in the era of the Timbers, most of those players are going to TA, and competing against other MLS academy teams (and losing) rather than staying at a local club and winning a USYS championship.

The question is--should we care about USYS championships? They are nice--but is this a reason to not have a pro academy; so that the top kids are all put back in OYSA, and maybe one club will get lucky one year and make a deep run in regionals, maybe even to nationals?

Why do we want a "consolidated superteam"? Such things may have lots of fun outside of Portland, but they cream everyone else here. Is it better for player development?

No, it's not better for development. It's great for bragging rights at the water to impress people who know nothing about soccer.

If the TA can't produce a top national team, there's no way an local club will ever again produce a national champ...which isn't even a thing now that MLS DA's exist and have all of the best players in the country.

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No, it's not better for development. It's great for bragging rights at the water to impress people who know nothing about soccer.

If the TA can't produce a top national team, there's no way an local club will ever again produce a national champ...which isn't even a thing now that MLS DA's exist and have all of the best players in the country.

They don't want a national champ; they just want to keep their top players, for state or regional bragging rights. Haven't figured out that having players move up is also a feather in their cap. Hoping that if they raise enough stink about the good old days, the Timbers will not bother with youth soccer any more.

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ECNL must be the best league if even DA is playing in ECNL! Looks like the DA is surrendering to ECNL.

Only in the US Club multi verse, where reality is flipped and US Soccer becomes a bottom feeder org and US Club governs all youth, amateur and pro soccer.

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Why didn’t any f the Oregon Clubs ally for BECNL? This move would seem like a no brainer. DOC’s are sleeping?

[Unregistered]

Why didn’t any f the Oregon Clubs ally for BECNL? This move would seem like a no brainer. DOC’s are sleeping?

Trying to work within in DA or OYSA structure +
BECNL at HS ages on Washington boys calendar does not make any sense for Oregon clubs.

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Only a matter of time before US Club comes to Oregon to offer an alternative to OYSA then BECNL will find itself on the scene (alongside DA hopefully not instead of).