What is the pathway, the pyramid in Oregon

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Serious question. What is the pathway, or the "pyramid" in Oregon. Where do the best players play, how do they get there? What are the leagues called, where do you start?

There are so many clubs in the region - how would one tell them apart. Do they offer the same thing better, are some unique, or offer a particular program? Words are inconsistent and may mean something different. Like: Premier, Academy, Elite, Development.

Sincerely,

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It's different for boys and girls.

For girls in the Portland area the best options have been CU, Westside and Vancouver. Add in high quality private training and conditioning to any option.

In outlying areas, Bend, Salem, Eugene all do a good job, just be sure to supplement with individual skills and physical conditioning wherever you are.

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It's different for boys and girls.

For girls in the Portland area the best options have been CU, Westside and Vancouver. Add in high quality private training and conditioning to any option.

In outlying areas, Bend, Salem, Eugene all do a good job, just be sure to supplement with individual skills and physical conditioning wherever you are.

If you are going to call Crossfire United (CU) by their ECNL name then you should do the same for the Portland Thorns. CU is to TUalatin Hills Soccer Club (THSC) as Portland Thorns Academy is to Westside Timbers. This connection is made even more abundantly clear in CU’s latest quarterly newsletter; they are diverting THUSC kids to their ECNL second team playing in the ECNL regional league, just like the Thorns are doing for their Westside ECNL Regional league playing teams.

I only wish these knuckleheads had had the forethought to set up their teams in different parts of the city, instead of both being located on the westside. I know players now that live in the east that are driving north on the 205 to WA Timbers Girls Academy League (GAL) playing teams vs the trek across town to ECNL CU or Thorns fields often in rush hour. Not smart planning for making the ECNL secure the top talent in the region. At this point top players are spread throughout so many teams and three leagues (!)- ECNL, GAL and USYS. No centralization of talent. Oregon teams will continue to struggle against teams from outside the area…. Maybe even moreso than historically

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Pathway

For the boys

OYSA - Timbers Academy - College - USL - MLS

Girls

OYSA - ECNL - College - Pro Soccer

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For the boys

OYSA - Timbers Academy - College - USL - MLS

Girls

OYSA - ECNL - College - Pro Soccer

Dumbest post today.

You do realize Oregon has ECNL teams that can’t compete against OYSA teams and oysa teams teams that commit more than ECNL teams.

Such a joke.

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Girls

Coach > team > club > parents > demographic > league

[Unregistered]

Serious question. What is the pathway, or the "pyramid" in Oregon. Where do the best players play, how do they get there? What are the leagues called, where do you start?

There are so many clubs in the region - how would one tell them apart. Do they offer the same thing better, are some unique, or offer a particular program? Words are inconsistent and may mean something different. Like: Premier, Academy, Elite, Development.

Sincerely,

There is no legitimate “pyramid” unfortunately. It’s who you pay and who you promise future dollars to. There is no real concern to develop kids unfortunately. Not sure why there has not been 3-4 youth club’s identified- Timbers coaches assigned to each to teach and implement training sessions and processes to develop tactical and technical skill development at early ages to “promote” the right kids forward who deserve it in the system

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If you are going to call Crossfire United (CU) by their ECNL name then you should do the same for the Portland Thorns. CU is to TUalatin Hills Soccer Club (THSC) as Portland Thorns Academy is to Westside Timbers. This connection is made even more abundantly clear in CU’s latest quarterly newsletter; they are diverting THUSC kids to their ECNL second team playing in the ECNL regional league, just like the Thorns are doing for their Westside ECNL Regional league playing teams.

I only wish these knuckleheads had had the forethought to set up their teams in different parts of the city, instead of both being located on the westside. I know players now that live in the east that are driving north on the 205 to WA Timbers Girls Academy League (GAL) playing teams vs the trek across town to ECNL CU or Thorns fields often in rush hour. Not smart planning for making the ECNL secure the top talent in the region. At this point top players are spread throughout so many teams and three leagues (!)- ECNL, GAL and USYS. No centralization of talent. Oregon teams will continue to struggle against teams from outside the area…. Maybe even moreso than historically

Let me clarify for anyone reading this....if you think the top girls “talent” is on the Thorns or Crossfire you are very sadly mistaken.

The shine is off the penny on both for parents around the city. Get out and talk to the player community and you will quickly learn that no one cares about the ecnl in Portland.

Better teams at OYSA now. Definitely better individual players on the girls side for sure.

Save your money and time and avoid Thorns and CU.

The GA is also a joke. Bridge City has zero talent on their teams, sorry. Washington Timbers can’t beat UPDX, Eugene, PCU, or many other OYSA teams.

Just another way for these clubs to charge more money per player with zero advantage to the player.

[Unregistered]

Dumbest post today.

You do realize Oregon has ECNL teams that can’t compete against OYSA teams and oysa teams teams that commit more than ECNL teams.

Such a joke.

This so-called “pyramid” is actually on the Thorns website. It’s actually a literal pyramid as part of their fraudulent pyramid scheme!

To infer that they are somehow a pathway to college/pro/national team is so blatantly stupid I can’t even come up with words to describe it.

They have produced nearly zero players to this type of pathway.

Here is the pyramid.... let your kid player soccer and have as much fun as possible doing it. They will either be a gifted player through their own drive and ambition/talent/athleticism etc... or not, but on the end they will love the game.

Avoid any club/coach that sells you on the idea that they are somehow better at creating pathways and talent. You either got it or you don’t! Everything else is just a scheme to take your money on the promise that they can make your kid the best. They can’t. It’s within each player.

If your kid gets A’s and has a brain they can go to any college they want to. Playing for Pomona City College is hardly worth $60k in ECNL/GA/ODP/BS fees.

All scams....

[Unregistered]

Let me clarify for anyone reading this....if you think the top girls “talent” is on the Thorns or Crossfire you are very sadly mistaken.

The shine is off the penny on both for parents around the city. Get out and talk to the player community and you will quickly learn that no one cares about the ecnl in Portland.

Better teams at OYSA now. Definitely better individual players on the girls side for sure.

Save your money and time and avoid Thorns and CU.

The GA is also a joke. Bridge City has zero talent on their teams, sorry. Washington Timbers can’t beat UPDX, Eugene, PCU, or many other OYSA teams.

Just another way for these clubs to charge more money per player with zero advantage to the player.

I cannot name a single good OYSA team. Not. A. Single. One! Neither can you!!

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I cannot name a single good OYSA or ECNL team. Not. A. Single. One! Neither can you!!

Fixed it for you!

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The best pathway? 4 components - (1) Quality coach who is invested in the kids (2)Committed group of kids who prioritize training and their team (3) Club has field assets that they own or have exclusive rights to. (4) Coach and kids are passionate about the game.

Colleges find the good players regardless of OYSA, ECNL, GA, etc......

These are the facts, no need to buy into the Emperors New Clothes shams that are out there.

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I cannot name a single good OYSA team. Not. A. Single. One! Neither can you!!

Name a single good ecnl team, a single one....

We will wait.

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Name a single good ecnl team, a single one....

We will wait.

Funny question, level of play should count. IMHO the three ECNL teams in this State (Oregon) would easily be the three best teams in every age group U12 to U18. Matches probably wouldn't even be close. Best ECNL club in PDX as of now is CU..

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Maybe someone can put together an Oregon Open Cup to settle this age old question