The Portland Timbers are proud to announce that they have been asked to oversee the running of the OYSA Leagues and Tournaments. It is with great pride that we announce plans for winter and spring leagues. The mission of the Portland Timbers is to unite soccer in Oregon and these competitions will be open to all teams.
The Winter League for U15-19 teams will play a 10 game season beginning January 25th. Each team will play 5 home games and 5 away games. The plan is to have the top 2 divisions in each age/gender play state-wide. The divisions below the top two will be regionalized as much as is possible.
Teams will be seeded (at a league seeding meeting) based on previous year’s history, once teams are committed. There will be no set numbers in each league and the divisions will be based on quality of teams. Age groups may be combined at the discretion of the seeding committee to create more quality balanced divisions.
The Spring League for U11-U14 teams that intend to participate in the OYSA State Cup, presented by the Portland Timbers and Thorns, will have an 8 game season beginning February 8th. There will also be a Spring League for U11-14 teams that do not intend to compete in the OYSA State Cup. That league may be reduced to 6 games, with play beginning towards the end of February.
These leagues will qualify participating teams for the OYSA State Cup presented by the Timbers (Boys) & Thorns (Girls). This competition, otherwise known as the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, provides the highest level of youth soccer in the country outside of the US Soccer Academy League. Oregon has recently had 2 finalists in the older boys’ age groups, Eastside Timbers winning the U18 National Championship in 2010 and Westside Timbers finishing as runners-up in 2012.
The 2014 run for the National Championship will begin on April 12, 2014, with teams kicking off in the OYSA State Cup presented by the Timbers & Thorns. The finals will be the weekend of May 3-4.
The Portland Timbers and Thorns will also be running the OYSA President’s Cup, with more details to be announced shortly.
The cost of these competitions will be competitive. The entry fees will be announced by mid-October. The Portland Timbers and Thorns will offer Coaching Education modules in association with the leagues, including special clinics on Goalkeeper Training and Educational modules on the processes at other global leaders, such as PSG and FC Barcelona.
The general philosophy of our Portland Timbers Youth Programs is to attract and develop players of all ages and abilities to play and develop in our beautiful game.
Our intention is to lead the growth and development of soccer, in our territory as well as across the country. It is the intention of the Portland Timbers to help educate coaches and prepare young players to compete at the highest level of soccer they aspire to.
