Director's Cup concludes 2011 Fall Season with great games and loads of fun

After eleven weekends and over 2,000 games among 277 teams, the 2011 Oregon Premier League Fall Season came to close on November 20th, capped off with the conclusion of the 2011 Fall Director's Cup.

With over 1,700 Fall League and 350 Director's Cup games contested from September through November, it was a busy couple of months for all the participating clubs.

Nearly every single Premier Division champion was decided on the final weekend of their season, in very exciting concusion to their Fall Season. New to the Premier Divisions this year is the concept of promotion and relegation - after listing to feedback from the clubs, the overwhelming consensus was for a promotion and relegation system, so the Oregon Premier Council decided to implement the program between the Premier and First Divisions only: the bottom two finishing Premier Division teams will move to the First Division next fall, and the top two finishing First Division teams will move to the Premier Division (the only age group this will not apply to is U11 Girls, which had an eleven team league, so the top 8 teams will be in the U12 Premier Division next fall, with teams 9-11 moving to the First Division). Also decided, in a fight to the finish, were the U12-U15 Northwest Champions League qualifiers.

The First, Second and Third Divisions also had an eventful Fall Season, concluding with the three-week Director's Cup. Limited to the First, Second and Third Division teams, this tournament had 174 of the 277 Fall teams register across 12 divisions, including U10 Gold and Silver Divisions. Fortunately, the torrential downpours of last year stayed away, but were replaced by freezing temperatures and frosty fields. More than a few propane heaters littered the sidelines of the games, heating both specators and participants. Despite the cold, the games were hotly contested, with many of the semifinal games decided in a shootout, and many of the championships decided by a one-goal margin. Below are pictures of those Champions.

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this entire Fall successful: our partners at Unified Soccer Solutions for their work with referees, and especially our Director of Officials Craig Hill, who listened and listened and listened to ALL the feedback coaches gave and has begun work on more extensive continuing education programs for our match officials. Also, a great deal of thanks to those who work at, and volunteer for, the clubs in our league -- they work so hard to make sure there are fields, lights, goals, nets, and that teams are signed up and ready to go. Many thanks to all the coaches and managers, whose tireless work on the field and behind the scenes should be applauded -- it's not easy motiving young players when it's cold and raining, much less encouraging them to play hard, teaching them the right things, all while trying to keep a level head and not come unhinged at the referees! Last, and most important - thanks to all the parents for shuttling your kids to and from practices, games and pizza parties, for washing all the uniforms and putting up with wet and muddy kids in your cards -- we appreciate your neverending support of your sons and daughters and the support of the Oregon Premier League.

Happy Holidays!

Director's Cup Champions

BU10 Gold - Eastside United FC Ajax Red