VYS Soccer - better or worse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If someone else would run for VP of House, a lot of these things would change. They'd participate in All-Star tournaments, and they would actually get their teams properly seeded. (My team played a couple of remarkable games in the top division, but they were never going to win a game.) They might even get back in SFL.

But no one's willing to do it.

I agree that they need a new House VP.

It would be tough to find a more dedicated person, or someone with the same high-level leadership and management skills, but I think some new ideas would be welcome if for no other reason than b/c the House participation numbers have trended down (in general) the last few seasons. There are many reasons for that, some beyond the control of VYS.

Yes, he is dedicated, but I disagree with your assessment of his leadership skills. He unilaterally makes decisions and is not open to making changes. I was a commissioner for 5 years, so I have a lot of experience with him.

Agreed. "My way or the highway" is not a leadership skill for a community club's rec program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did the DA layer affect travel placements this spring? Anyone have a sense?

Other than the emails there has been no other mention of the DA from my perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did the DA layer affect travel placements this spring? Anyone have a sense?

Other than the emails there has been no other mention of the DA from my perspective.

A couple of upper-age girls are going to VDA. One of the coaches will be involved with it. I can't imagine any other immediate impact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did the DA layer affect travel placements this spring? Anyone have a sense?

Other than the emails there has been no other mention of the DA from my perspective.

A couple of upper-age girls are going to VDA. One of the coaches will be involved with it. I can't imagine any other immediate impact.

Which age?

[Anonymous]

The other forum mentions that there is a some big turnover for the boys 06?
Anyone else hear about this?

I wouldn't judge by results. Vienna's C team (White) has actually beaten the B team (Black) this season. But the Black team is developing quite well. The White team plays kickball. (And it'll all shake up anyway because they're losing a lot of players at 2006.)

[Anonymous]

Sorry folks, VYS just isn't very competitive. Move clubs and you have a few in your area....McLean/Arlington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry folks, VYS just isn't very competitive. Move clubs and you have a few in your area....McLean/Arlington

Disagree. Depends on if you are taking boys/girls, and which age groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry folks, VYS just isn't very competitive. Move clubs and you have a few in your area....McLean/Arlington

So you are saying the 06 boys had turnover due to lack of competitiveness or you are just taking a swipe at the club?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry folks, VYS just isn't very competitive. Move clubs and you have a few in your area....McLean/Arlington

So you are saying the 06 boys had turnover due to lack of competitiveness or you are just taking a swipe at the club?

Just taking a swipe at the club.

That said, things are always going to be difficult for clubs like Vienna when there are several nationally ambitious clubs in the region. The Vienna girls teams from U14 up have been terrific, and they have some potential at lower age groups, but it's tough to keep them together when Braddock Road and the DAs come calling. Joining up with VDA is an effective defensive measure -- if you're going to lose your top players, at least "lose" them to an affiliated program that has the occasional Vienna coach.

The 06 boys all have different reasons for leaving. Vienna's such a baseball town, and some kids want to concentrate on their last year of Little League. A couple of players are really good and are going to elite clubs. And a couple of parents are delusional and are convinced their kids are special because they can kick the ball real hard, so they need to be at a club that wins those ever-important U11 league games.

[Anonymous]

Yes, the fact is that VYS is a club that contains the extremes of the nationally competitive upper-age girls squads and the lower-level NCSL teams on the boys side that literally may have the worst records in the entire age-group division. The red teams on the boys and girls sides for the most part lose most of their games in NPL play. A couple of points:
1. The basic U9-U12 approach is to spread the playing time around, to constantly shift players around the field to provide massive amounts of cross-position experience, to have every member of the team play goalkeeper for one or two games per season, and to play passing-oriented soccer (I won't call it "possession-oriented"). All of that contributes to losses in league and tournament play, but it does help the kids develop a broad base of skills.
2. I know of many players who left VYS with the rising U13 tryout cycle after getting what they could out of their early-age VYS travel experience. So VYS can be a springboard.
3. Parents looking for a "travel lite" experience should give VYS black, white, and silver (if there is one) teams some consideration at any age group. The main thing is that these teams practice twice a week (not thrice) and to tell you the truth you can skip practices if you really need to. It's a low-pressure environment with certain advantages if you don't mind playing in mid- or lower-tier divisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the fact is that VYS is a club that contains the extremes of the nationally competitive upper-age girls squads and the lower-level NCSL teams on the boys side that literally may have the worst records in the entire age-group division. The red teams on the boys and girls sides for the most part lose most of their games in NPL play. A couple of points:
1. The basic U9-U12 approach is to spread the playing time around, to constantly shift players around the field to provide massive amounts of cross-position experience, to have every member of the team play goalkeeper for one or two games per season, and to play passing-oriented soccer (I won't call it "possession-oriented"). All of that contributes to losses in league and tournament play, but it does help the kids develop a broad base of skills.
2. I know of many players who left VYS with the rising U13 tryout cycle after getting what they could out of their early-age VYS travel experience. So VYS can be a springboard.
3. Parents looking for a "travel lite" experience should give VYS black, white, and silver (if there is one) teams some consideration at any age group. The main thing is that these teams practice twice a week (not thrice) and to tell you the truth you can skip practices if you really need to. It's a low-pressure environment with certain advantages if you don't mind playing in mid- or lower-tier divisions.

yep, from VYS to DC United Academy in some cases

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the fact is that VYS is a club that contains the extremes of the nationally competitive upper-age girls squads and the lower-level NCSL teams on the boys side that literally may have the worst records in the entire age-group division. The red teams on the boys and girls sides for the most part lose most of their games in NPL play. A couple of points:
1. The basic U9-U12 approach is to spread the playing time around, to constantly shift players around the field to provide massive amounts of cross-position experience, to have every member of the team play goalkeeper for one or two games per season, and to play passing-oriented soccer (I won't call it "possession-oriented"). All of that contributes to losses in league and tournament play, but it does help the kids develop a broad base of skills.
2. I know of many players who left VYS with the rising U13 tryout cycle after getting what they could out of their early-age VYS travel experience. So VYS can be a springboard.
3. Parents looking for a "travel lite" experience should give VYS black, white, and silver (if there is one) teams some consideration at any age group. The main thing is that these teams practice twice a week (not thrice) and to tell you the truth you can skip practices if you really need to. It's a low-pressure environment with certain advantages if you don't mind playing in mid- or lower-tier divisions.

I think you make a great point: "it does help the kids develop a broad base of skills."
Between U9-U12, that is the goal, to develop the child. Many parents are so gung-ho about winning they lose sight of that.
I've seen parents also coddle their child and pull them from a losing club situation because they don't want their kid to go through that. In the end, the player may never learn how to deal with adversity.

[Anonymous]

I've seen parents also coddle their child and pull them from a losing club situation because they don't want their kid to go through that. In the end, the player may never learn how to deal with adversity

True, but teams that are getting hammered game after game really hurts the psyche of the kids and frustrating for parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I've seen parents also coddle their child and pull them from a losing club situation because they don't want their kid to go through that. In the end, the player may never learn how to deal with adversity

True, but teams that are getting hammered game after game really hurts the psyche of the kids and frustrating for parents.

In this case, I don't think it was blow out after blow out...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the fact is that VYS is a club that contains the extremes of the nationally competitive upper-age girls squads and the lower-level NCSL teams on the boys side that literally may have the worst records in the entire age-group division. The red teams on the boys and girls sides for the most part lose most of their games in NPL play. A couple of points:
1. The basic U9-U12 approach is to spread the playing time around, to constantly shift players around the field to provide massive amounts of cross-position experience, to have every member of the team play goalkeeper for one or two games per season, and to play passing-oriented soccer (I won't call it "possession-oriented"). All of that contributes to losses in league and tournament play, but it does help the kids develop a broad base of skills.
2. I know of many players who left VYS with the rising U13 tryout cycle after getting what they could out of their early-age VYS travel experience. So VYS can be a springboard.
3. Parents looking for a "travel lite" experience should give VYS black, white, and silver (if there is one) teams some consideration at any age group. The main thing is that these teams practice twice a week (not thrice) and to tell you the truth you can skip practices if you really need to. It's a low-pressure environment with certain advantages if you don't mind playing in mid- or lower-tier divisions.

I think you make a great point: "it does help the kids develop a broad base of skills."
Between U9-U12, that is the goal, to develop the child. Many parents are so gung-ho about winning they lose sight of that.
I've seen parents also coddle their child and pull them from a losing club situation because they don't want their kid to go through that. In the end, the player may never learn how to deal with adversity.

My kids have played at many different clubs over the years. I've watched many games and been to many practices at different clubs, etc. Do you really think Vienna is the only club that rotates it's players for cross-positional experiences and provides equal playing time at the young ages? It sounds like you are using this as an excuse. Don't kid yourself. Probably every club that borders Vienna does this as well. Try to think of some other excuse. My kids started out at Vienna and left. Always keep an eye on them. It seems like all the parents what to do is make excuses and blame others. Parents cote with their feet. Provide a good product and kids will stay.