Families with experience in multiple clubs. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:
*Anything under second team should be playing rec. Why people pay thousands of dollars for 3rd and 4th teams is unexplainable.

The reason kids should be in travel even if on the 3-6 teams is because the development is better. Rec practices once a week and plays one game a weekend. Unless that kid is training at home an additional 3-4 days a week the kid's going to suck.

Travel, even on 3-6 teams they practice usually 2-3 times a week with 1-3 games on weekends. Way more touches on the ball and travel has qualified professional coaches versus rec which are coached by volunteer parents.

I'm going to be as kind as possible here. If your child plays on the 3-6 team, they are already at rec level. A coach isn't going to change that. Clubs are not putting their best licensed coaches with the third+ team. That may be in the club marketing material but you've been had. If you're referring to SYC specifically, you've definitely been had.

You are better off using that $3k of club fees on private training.

I don’t disagree with the concept that the lower teams aren’t treated the same, but it’s nonsense to lump in 3-6. For example, the third teams at the clubs that go 4-6 deep would absolutely demolish a rec team 50-0 and it’s simply not a comparable level of play. I’m talking Bethesda, Arlington, Loudon, yes SYC (at least some ages) etc. if a club is deep enough at an age to have that many teams there will be a massive difference. Many of those third teams are actually in fairly high divisions of EDP or NCSL D1. Is that ECNL or MLS Next, no, but it’s sure not rec.

The bottom team at bigger clubs is often very similar to rec and are people paying for travel who aren’t really travel caliber players. That I agree on.

You had me until "NCSL". NCSL is glorified rec

You again? The top division of NCSL is quite good.

Didn't NCSL just merge with a rec league?

No, stop pretending to be ignorant.

It did.there was a thread here about it.

Guess you didn't read the thread. They didn't "merge" with a rec league.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

There is no floor for minimum skill level to field teams. As long as there are parents ready to shell out $3k for the good fields (ha!), teams 3-6 will happen.

Why do people on the internet always talk like opinions are facts? This is basically saying anyone who tries out for a travel team at a large club is guaranteed a spot.

It's true. They just keep making lower and lower teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
*Anything under second team should be playing rec. Why people pay thousands of dollars for 3rd and 4th teams is unexplainable.

The reason kids should be in travel even if on the 3-6 teams is because the development is better. Rec practices once a week and plays one game a weekend. Unless that kid is training at home an additional 3-4 days a week the kid's going to suck.

Travel, even on 3-6 teams they practice usually 2-3 times a week with 1-3 games on weekends. Way more touches on the ball and travel has qualified professional coaches versus rec which are coached by volunteer parents.

I'm going to be as kind as possible here. If your child plays on the 3-6 team, they are already at rec level. A coach isn't going to change that. Clubs are not putting their best licensed coaches with the third+ team. That may be in the club marketing material but you've been had. If you're referring to SYC specifically, you've definitely been had.

You are better off using that $3k of club fees on private training.

I don’t disagree with the concept that the lower teams aren’t treated the same, but it’s nonsense to lump in 3-6. For example, the third teams at the clubs that go 4-6 deep would absolutely demolish a rec team 50-0 and it’s simply not a comparable level of play. I’m talking Bethesda, Arlington, Loudon, yes SYC (at least some ages) etc. if a club is deep enough at an age to have that many teams there will be a massive difference. Many of those third teams are actually in fairly high divisions of EDP or NCSL D1. Is that ECNL or MLS Next, no, but it’s sure not rec.

The bottom team at bigger clubs is often very similar to rec and are people paying for travel who aren’t really travel caliber players. That I agree on.

You had me until "NCSL". NCSL is glorified rec

You again? The top division of NCSL is quite good.

Didn't NCSL just merge with a rec league?

No, stop pretending to be ignorant.

It did.there was a thread here about it.

Guess you didn't read the thread. They didn't "merge" with a rec league.

Or you could read the press release. It's okay. Everyone knows the level NCSL is at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There is no floor for minimum skill level to field teams. As long as there are parents ready to shell out $3k for the good fields (ha!), teams 3-6 will happen.

Why do people on the internet always talk like opinions are facts? This is basically saying anyone who tries out for a travel team at a large club is guaranteed a spot.

It's true. They just keep making lower and lower teams.

I've been with MYS three years and know plenty of kids who didn't make any travel team from U8 to U12. They don't just make new teams for more kids. Please stop posting lies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
*Anything under second team should be playing rec. Why people pay thousands of dollars for 3rd and 4th teams is unexplainable.

The reason kids should be in travel even if on the 3-6 teams is because the development is better. Rec practices once a week and plays one game a weekend. Unless that kid is training at home an additional 3-4 days a week the kid's going to suck.

Travel, even on 3-6 teams they practice usually 2-3 times a week with 1-3 games on weekends. Way more touches on the ball and travel has qualified professional coaches versus rec which are coached by volunteer parents.

I'm going to be as kind as possible here. If your child plays on the 3-6 team, they are already at rec level. A coach isn't going to change that. Clubs are not putting their best licensed coaches with the third+ team. That may be in the club marketing material but you've been had. If you're referring to SYC specifically, you've definitely been had.

You are better off using that $3k of club fees on private training.

I don’t disagree with the concept that the lower teams aren’t treated the same, but it’s nonsense to lump in 3-6. For example, the third teams at the clubs that go 4-6 deep would absolutely demolish a rec team 50-0 and it’s simply not a comparable level of play. I’m talking Bethesda, Arlington, Loudon, yes SYC (at least some ages) etc. if a club is deep enough at an age to have that many teams there will be a massive difference. Many of those third teams are actually in fairly high divisions of EDP or NCSL D1. Is that ECNL or MLS Next, no, but it’s sure not rec.

The bottom team at bigger clubs is often very similar to rec and are people paying for travel who aren’t really travel caliber players. That I agree on.

You had me until "NCSL". NCSL is glorified rec

You again? The top division of NCSL is quite good.

Didn't NCSL just merge with a rec league?

No, stop pretending to be ignorant.

It did.there was a thread here about it.

Guess you didn't read the thread. They didn't "merge" with a rec league.

Or you could read the press release. It's okay. Everyone knows the level NCSL is at.

NCSL provides scheduling services for a *rec league* as well as a *separate travel league*. I'm not sure why this is so hard for you to understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There is no floor for minimum skill level to field teams. As long as there are parents ready to shell out $3k for the good fields (ha!), teams 3-6 will happen.

Why do people on the internet always talk like opinions are facts? This is basically saying anyone who tries out for a travel team at a large club is guaranteed a spot.

It's true. They just keep making lower and lower teams.

Absolutely. It's a business at the end of the day, if the demand is there, a club will field a team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There is no floor for minimum skill level to field teams. As long as there are parents ready to shell out $3k for the good fields (ha!), teams 3-6 will happen.

Why do people on the internet always talk like opinions are facts? This is basically saying anyone who tries out for a travel team at a large club is guaranteed a spot.

It's true. They just keep making lower and lower teams.

I've been with MYS three years and know plenty of kids who didn't make any travel team from U8 to U12. They don't just make new teams for more kids. Please stop posting lies.

The point is, even the kids rejected from all levels at a big club will find a “travel” club that will take them. All kids are guaranteed a spot in “travel” soccer.

And frankly, apart from the two top levels at a big club, all other levels are a waste of time for a DC who is serious about their soccer development and future, unless it is actually very close and convenient to a family.

Otherwise, go to a smaller local club where your kid will get more attention than at a larger club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There is no floor for minimum skill level to field teams. As long as there are parents ready to shell out $3k for the good fields (ha!), teams 3-6 will happen.

Why do people on the internet always talk like opinions are facts? This is basically saying anyone who tries out for a travel team at a large club is guaranteed a spot.

It's true. They just keep making lower and lower teams.

Absolutely. It's a business at the end of the day, if the demand is there, a club will field a team.

+1
2011G Arl has 7 teams!!

I think NCSL top leagues are not great admittedly but I also think the difference between Rec and Travel is huge. My kid plays on the 3rd team at a big club. We play ECNL teams and hold our own in tournaments.

There are mid sized clubs with lower teams who aren't very good and conceivably aren't much better than a talented rec player I agree but in terms of the overall experience no way does Travel compare to Rec. Travel gives you a discipline Rec simply does not have. For that reason, it still provides worth even on a lower team to join.

I also agree that no large club truly develops players esp at mid levels. Better coaches typically on top 1-2 teams almost 100% if the time. I think Pvt training is really the way to go in terms of improvement but I also think the more games played and more interest and love of playing, that time spent naturally makes a kid better at the end than start of the season.

Ultimately the kid has to want to get better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There is no floor for minimum skill level to field teams. As long as there are parents ready to shell out $3k for the good fields (ha!), teams 3-6 will happen.

Why do people on the internet always talk like opinions are facts? This is basically saying anyone who tries out for a travel team at a large club is guaranteed a spot.

It's true. They just keep making lower and lower teams.

I've been with MYS three years and know plenty of kids who didn't make any travel team from U8 to U12. They don't just make new teams for more kids. Please stop posting lies.

The point is, even the kids rejected from all levels at a big club will find a “travel” club that will take them. All kids are guaranteed a spot in “travel” soccer.

And frankly, apart from the two top levels at a big club, all other levels are a waste of time for a DC who is serious about their soccer development and future, unless it is actually very close and convenient to a family.

Otherwise, go to a smaller local club where your kid will get more attention than at a larger club.

Which are the easiest ones to get spots? My child has been rejected as have several of his friends, and would still like to do travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There is no floor for minimum skill level to field teams. As long as there are parents ready to shell out $3k for the good fields (ha!), teams 3-6 will happen.

Why do people on the internet always talk like opinions are facts? This is basically saying anyone who tries out for a travel team at a large club is guaranteed a spot.

It's true. They just keep making lower and lower teams.

I've been with MYS three years and know plenty of kids who didn't make any travel team from U8 to U12. They don't just make new teams for more kids. Please stop posting lies.

The point is, even the kids rejected from all levels at a big club will find a “travel” club that will take them. All kids are guaranteed a spot in “travel” soccer.

And frankly, apart from the two top levels at a big club, all other levels are a waste of time for a DC who is serious about their soccer development and future, unless it is actually very close and convenient to a family.

Otherwise, go to a smaller local club where your kid will get more attention than at a larger club.

Which are the easiest ones to get spots? My child has been rejected as have several of his friends, and would still like to do travel.

LMVSC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington, McLean, Springfield and Bethesda - none of these clubs develop players. They all recruit natural talent. If someone better comes along you get bumped.

PPs are correct, focus is usually on the top teams. You are wasting your money for second team down at most clubs.* If your kid is placed on a second team, have them start training on their own and look for first team placement at a different club next season. I have very very rarely seen a second team player move to first team within the same club.

*Anything under second team should be playing rec. Why people pay thousands of dollars for 3rd and 4th teams is unexplainable.

McLean and Bethesda both develop plenty of excellent players that have been with the club from 6 years old all the way through...if someone comes along that is better than your kid at the try outs they should not take them? "They all recruit natural talent"...what does this even mean?

We all have a bad habit of saying X club developed an individual player because they were there for Y years

But we don't drill down into the details.
Much of the development of high performers comes from what they do outside their normal club training.

These clubs are chaperones, not teachers.

[Anonymous]

Chaperones that give off the impression that they were the ones that are responsible for certain players achievements, which is really disingenuous.

[Anonymous]

Yes, typically it's just a platform to display what has been done from outside training. But finding a great coach matters and is hard to find but if you do, it should take precedence over hot name club for most players. Heck some of these coaches, leave a smaller club for a big name club and within a year they are the sought after coach every parent wants coaching their kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington, McLean, Springfield and Bethesda - none of these clubs develop players. They all recruit natural talent. If someone better comes along you get bumped.

PPs are correct, focus is usually on the top teams. You are wasting your money for second team down at most clubs.* If your kid is placed on a second team, have them start training on their own and look for first team placement at a different club next season. I have very very rarely seen a second team player move to first team within the same club.

*Anything under second team should be playing rec. Why people pay thousands of dollars for 3rd and 4th teams is unexplainable.

McLean and Bethesda both develop plenty of excellent players that have been with the club from 6 years old all the way through...if someone comes along that is better than your kid at the try outs they should not take them? "They all recruit natural talent"...what does this even mean?

We all have a bad habit of saying X club developed an individual player because they were there for Y years

But we don't drill down into the details.
Much of the development of high performers comes from what they do outside their normal club training.

These clubs are chaperones, not teachers.

[Anonymous]

So much fog, clouds and delusion.

Most 'travel' teams have multiple 'rec' players and a subpar coach
We're so infatuated with labels people keep talking about rec vs travel like there's real delineation between the two.

Many of your kids are on travel teams with 4 or 5 serious travel players and the rest are decent recreational players making up the ranks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There is no floor for minimum skill level to field teams. As long as there are parents ready to shell out $3k for the good fields (ha!), teams 3-6 will happen.

Why do people on the internet always talk like opinions are facts? This is basically saying anyone who tries out for a travel team at a large club is guaranteed a spot.

It's true. They just keep making lower and lower teams.

I've been with MYS three years and know plenty of kids who didn't make any travel team from U8 to U12. They don't just make new teams for more kids. Please stop posting lies.

The point is, even the kids rejected from all levels at a big club will find a “travel” club that will take them. All kids are guaranteed a spot in “travel” soccer.

And frankly, apart from the two top levels at a big club, all other levels are a waste of time for a DC who is serious about their soccer development and future, unless it is actually very close and convenient to a family.

Otherwise, go to a smaller local club where your kid will get more attention than at a larger club.

Which are the easiest ones to get spots? My child has been rejected as have several of his friends, and would still like to do travel.

LMVSC

Valor.