Looking at the landscape of girls youth soccer it is clear there is to many Elite leagues driving up the cost and lowering the quality in Oregon. Now I am seeing that boys could be heading in this direction too.
Reviewing the 2019/2020 Northwest Conference of the ECNL you basically have the top four teams in Seattle and the top two teams in Portland (you can now add in Westside/Portland Thorns) and Boise. We used to call this the USYS Regional League.
Add in the GAL. I have heard Eugene Timers, Harbor FC, Vancouver Timbers and Bridge City (who have never played a league game anywhere) will be joining. Other teams ISC Gunners and Spokane. These clubs historically have been second tier state league clubs, sometimes getting into the regional league, with exception of Bridge City who have never done anything.
Lets not forget about the Elite Academy League. Northeast's Portland's United PDx is playing in the league I have head. Not sure what the club requirements are for entrance but United have not been an elite club, they really do not even have U15 and above programs that are fully developed.
Last not an Oregon thing but a "Don't Let Oregon In" the BENCL in Washington. Again this is just the old state league not sure what is Elite.
Of course there should be a conversation about access to showcases. Wait no there shouldn't, Nothing really new, showcases have been around forever.
My conclusion and I think the only conclusion is we are seeing the fleecing of the American Soccer Parent. Not worthy of an episode of American Greed but at least a local news special. If they called it the "Several Times A Year Vacation With My Friends League" I could go for that.
Oh please don't bring up women's D1 players come from these leagues. There are so many more soccer D1 spots for women. 205 men's teams to 333 women's teams. With an average roster of 28 that is over 9,300 players compared to 5,700. Women's team can also award up the 14 scholarships compared to 9.9 for men's. You really don't have to play in an elite league to play women's soccer especially when you add in D2, D3, NAIA and Juco's. Many team can't even fill the rosters.
It is your money, but when you are doing your budget and 10% of your disposable income is going to fly your kid around the country to player soccer, you might consider what else that money could be used for. For example if you put that money monthly into a saving account from U13 to U18 and then didn't touch the balance for 30 years, just let interest do the work it could be worth upwards of $250,000. Something to think about when you are a long ways away from home and look over at your kids soccer coach drinking a cold beverage on your dime.
This of course is just my opinion, I really want to hear back from the soccer community.
Reviewing the 2019/2020 Northwest Conference of the ECNL you basically have the top four teams in Seattle and the top two teams in Portland (you can now add in Westside/Portland Thorns) and Boise. We used to call this the USYS Regional League.
Add in the GAL. I have heard Eugene Timers, Harbor FC, Vancouver Timbers and Bridge City (who have never played a league game anywhere) will be joining. Other teams ISC Gunners and Spokane. These clubs historically have been second tier state league clubs, sometimes getting into the regional league, with exception of Bridge City who have never done anything.
Lets not forget about the Elite Academy League. Northeast's Portland's United PDx is playing in the league I have head. Not sure what the club requirements are for entrance but United have not been an elite club, they really do not even have U15 and above programs that are fully developed.
Last not an Oregon thing but a "Don't Let Oregon In" the BENCL in Washington. Again this is just the old state league not sure what is Elite.
Of course there should be a conversation about access to showcases. Wait no there shouldn't, Nothing really new, showcases have been around forever.
My conclusion and I think the only conclusion is we are seeing the fleecing of the American Soccer Parent. Not worthy of an episode of American Greed but at least a local news special. If they called it the "Several Times A Year Vacation With My Friends League" I could go for that.
Oh please don't bring up women's D1 players come from these leagues. There are so many more soccer D1 spots for women. 205 men's teams to 333 women's teams. With an average roster of 28 that is over 9,300 players compared to 5,700. Women's team can also award up the 14 scholarships compared to 9.9 for men's. You really don't have to play in an elite league to play women's soccer especially when you add in D2, D3, NAIA and Juco's. Many team can't even fill the rosters.
It is your money, but when you are doing your budget and 10% of your disposable income is going to fly your kid around the country to player soccer, you might consider what else that money could be used for. For example if you put that money monthly into a saving account from U13 to U18 and then didn't touch the balance for 30 years, just let interest do the work it could be worth upwards of $250,000. Something to think about when you are a long ways away from home and look over at your kids soccer coach drinking a cold beverage on your dime.
This of course is just my opinion, I really want to hear back from the soccer community.
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