Girls Academy Adds 4 Clubs

[Unregistered]

This is certainly true. Oregon barely has enough talent across that many age groups to support one “elite” program.

Most age groups, in most years don't even approach enough talent to form any elite side. This isn't some type of news flash or Debbie downer moment. Like another poster mentioned this is Oregon.

[Unregistered]

Sounds like a big expense when those teams can find comparable competition locally. Not sure why we have 5 travel teams in the pdx/SW Washington area. What happened to the days when only the best kids EARNED their spots on a travel team and it was an accomplishment and honor to make a team of that nature. Now if you can cut the check you daughter can play and travel all over and post all over IG. Don’t see any value here when it comes to developing the local youth and keeping costs reasonable and having true athletes and kids who want to compete. All these teams are full of players who know nothing about what it really takes to compete.

On the boys' side, we don't have this travel nonsense. (Yet). Top players go to the Timbers Academy, which is free, and with which none of the local clubs could compete.

But there is no alpha academy for girls, one that offers the things (free training and a pathway to the pros) that a real pro academy offer. Thorns could, if MP were to fork over the dough, but he's not willing to fund that like funds the Timbers academy (and compared to other MLS academies, he's still a cheapskate). Thus Westside runs it, and it's expensive.

So you have a bunch of local clubs, all trying to compete for the top players, offering travel as an inducement. And a bunch of wealthy-ish parents, who like the cachet of playing on a travel team, who fall for it. But no true top academy that offers something nobody else in town can offer, just a bunch of soccer bums trying to convince girls and their parents that THEIR program is the pathway to a NCAA scholarship, and the other program is barely a step above rec ball.

Same as it ever was.

[Unregistered]

Title IX Ted. Same old same old from you.

I’ve traveled extensively with both my kids. They’ve gotten to play against some of the top players in the region/country. They get to compete in exciting tournaments like Dallas, Disney, Surf etc. the kids benefit by playing high level and diverse teams and players. Both my kids really enjoyed all the trips both soccer and the rest of the experience. Both have pushed themselves to get better in hopes of bringing home a trophy. It’s been a great experience. We don’t care what the cost is because you only go round once. Great life lessons to dedicate yourself to something, work hard, and then get to test yourself.

Oldest got to match up in a collegiate game against someone they knew from playing Surf Cup. How cool is that.

It’s all win/win for us. Now if you are cost conscious, that’s perfectly fine. Everyone has to find their own way. It’s been great for my family.

[Unregistered]

Title IX Ted. Same old same old from you.

I’ve traveled extensively with both my kids. They’ve gotten to play against some of the top players in the region/country. They get to compete in exciting tournaments like Dallas, Disney, Surf etc. the kids benefit by playing high level and diverse teams and players. Both my kids really enjoyed all the trips both soccer and the rest of the experience. Both have pushed themselves to get better in hopes of bringing home a trophy. It’s been a great experience. We don’t care what the cost is because you only go round once. Great life lessons to dedicate yourself to something, work hard, and then get to test yourself.

Oldest got to match up in a collegiate game against someone they knew from playing Surf Cup. How cool is that.

It’s all win/win for us. Now if you are cost conscious, that’s perfectly fine. Everyone has to find their own way. It’s been great for my family.

Of course, this has nothing to do with ECNL vs OYSA vs GA vs whatever else.

Tournaments, other than things like ECNL showcases, are open to any team that wants to enter. You don't have to be in any particular league to play in Surf or Dallas (though the latter at least still isn't easy to get into). We've been to both, and are in OYSA.

It's the travel LEAGUES that I consider to be obnoxious, especially if families are footing the bill (anything but Timbers Academy). Getting on a bus or plane every other weekend is disruptive and expensive. If a professional side is footing the bill... then it's essentially a business trip, not much different than a salesman visiting a customer in a distant part of his territory. But pay-to-play youth clubs that engage in this are wasting everyone's time and money. There's never more than one team at each age group that needs to travel to find a worthy opponent, and often times there are zero such teams.

[Unregistered]

Lavers has gone on Record about the NWSL Portland Thorns Academy and how badly he wanted them. Lavers actually said thank you to the Thorns for choosing US Club over the new DA. Your bitterness is laughable as well as transparent. Next.

This is literally the stupidest thing I have ever read. Thorns Academy was rejected first, but pressure was applied to let them in on a trial. The Girls Academy league looks kind of weak except for SoCal.

[Unregistered]

Great. Create a league with clubs that would normally be RCL div 3 or lower call it "elite". Even with so many ECNL teams in WA, RCL1 teams will still be far better than any teams in the GA.

[Unregistered]

Great. Create a league with clubs that would normally be RCL div 3 or lower call it "elite". Even with so many ECNL teams in WA, RCL1 teams will still be far better than any teams in the GA.

Sweet hyperbole. Spokane legit left RCL D1 to play GA. RCL is a select league now. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

[Unregistered]

Sweet hyperbole. Spokane legit left RCL D1 to play GA. RCL is a select league now. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Yep, Select league that's better than GA so Spokane had to leave to get some wins. Just like the Thornz Asylum will end up doing.

[Unregistered]

Yep, Select league that's better than GA so Spokane had to leave to get some wins. Just like the Thornz Asylum will end up doing.

I won’t bother continuing this discussion any further since you seem to actually believe that ridiculous assertion.

[Unregistered]

Exactly, ECNL is the best, they have teams with -20 goal diffs

[Unregistered]

Exactly, ECNL is the best, they have teams with -20 goal diffs

It's an anonymous chat room talking about kids soccer. Have no expectations and you won't be disappointed.

[Unregistered]

This is literally the stupidest thing I have ever read. Thorns Academy was rejected first, but pressure was applied to let them in on a trial. The Girls Academy league looks kind of weak except for SoCal.

Lavers has been called quite a few names, stupid being near the top of the list. Great point.

[Unregistered]

Title IX Ted. Same old same old from you.

I’ve traveled extensively with both my kids. They’ve gotten to play against some of the top players in the region/country. They get to compete in exciting tournaments like Dallas, Disney, Surf etc. the kids benefit by playing high level and diverse teams and players. Both my kids really enjoyed all the trips both soccer and the rest of the experience. Both have pushed themselves to get better in hopes of bringing home a trophy. It’s been a great experience. We don’t care what the cost is because you only go round once. Great life lessons to dedicate yourself to something, work hard, and then get to test yourself.

Oldest got to match up in a collegiate game against someone they knew from playing Surf Cup. How cool is that.

It’s all win/win for us. Now if you are cost conscious, that’s perfectly fine. Everyone has to find their own way. It’s been great for my family.

Not Ted.

Like another poster mentioned going to great tourney's with great teams is a privilege extended to very few Oregon teams. Going to 'name' tourneys and playing in the middle to bottom flights is laughable. Leaving Oregon to play average club teams out of state in a 'league' is pure comedy when the club leadership also tells you must play HS Soccer in Oregon. Huh??? Are parents really this stupid? Come on, say it aint so.

[Unregistered]

Not Ted.

Like another poster mentioned going to great tourney's with great teams is a privilege extended to very few Oregon teams. Going to 'name' tourneys and playing in the middle to bottom flights is laughable. Leaving Oregon to play average club teams out of state in a 'league' is pure comedy when the club leadership also tells you must play HS Soccer in Oregon. Huh??? Are parents really this stupid? Come on, say it aint so.

This is the cool thing about Dallas Cup: There IS no silver bracket.

[Unregistered]

you are delusional if you think the spokane teams have outgrown the RCL. Sure their A teams do ok in general finishing 2nd in most divisions. Then you have to dig down to div 3 to find their second team in most age groups and they are sitting at the bottom of the bracket.

More leagues, more competition is great, but to say an untested league is the best example of competitive soccer is just wishful thinking. Time may prove you right but for now it's not the reality.