PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced the addition of the Boise Nationals Soccer Club (BNSC) as part of the “adidas Timbers Alliance,” a strategic partnership with elite local youth clubs in the Timbers’ development territory, designed to build unique working relationships and development opportunities to help channel the top youth players towards the Timbers’ development programs and the Timbers Academy.
BNSC, established in 1986, is the first adidas Timbers Alliance club in the state of Idaho. The oldest soccer club in Idaho, BNSC was founded as a boys club and since its inception has won over 70 percent of the Idaho state championships while appearing in 90 percent of the state title games played. This included BNSC winning nine out of 16 Idaho state championships last year. In addition, BNSC has produced 19 Gatorade State Players of the Year, as well as the only National Gatorade Player of the Year in any sport from the state of Idaho.
“We are thrilled about forming this groundbreaking partnership,” said Timbers youth sporting director Mike Smith. “BNSC has an incredible history and aligning with them helps us to promote player development in Idaho at all levels, as well as keep an eye on its most promising players.”
With the establishment of this partnership, BNSC will be renamed as Boise Nationals Timbers (BNT). BNT will gain access to exchanges with other alliance clubs that will be observed by Timbers staff as well as college coaches. Local camps will be held by Timbers staff to help identify players for their academy teams. The BNT coaching staff will also receive training directly from Timbers staff members for the purpose of implementing the Timbers curriculum and ideals throughout the club. In addition, players will have the opportunity to join combined Timbers teams for regional competition. Coaching clinics will also be made available in conjunction with the T2 game held in Boise on June 4.
“We are incredibly excited to be the first Timbers Alliance club in Idaho,” said BNSC club president Chris Billings. “We look forward to working with the Timbers to create opportunities for all of our kids, families, and coaches that would have not been possible before. That this partnership coincides with the club’s 30th anniversary, makes this announcement even more special as we have found a great partner to work with on the future of the club.”
As part of the alliance, the Timbers share coaching resources and curriculum with alliance clubs in the development of both boys and girls players. Youth players from across the Timbers development territory all have the opportunity to try out for a Timbers Academy team or a place in one of the Regional Training Centers throughout the state as well as the Olympic Development Program.
Started in 2012, BNSC becomes the eighth club in the adidas Timbers Alliance, which encompasses the Timbers Homegrown Territory that includes Oregon, Southwest Washington and Idaho. Boise Nationals Timbers joins clubs in the Portland metro area (Westside Timbers, Eastside Timbers), Central Oregon (Bend FC Timbers), Southern Oregon (Rogue Valley Timbers), the Willamette Valley (Capital FC Timbers, Eugene FC Timbers) and Southwest Washington (Washington Timbers) in the Timbers Homegrown Territory.
