Reply to Bethesda (MLS Next) vs Achilles FC (MLS Next) vs Baltimore Armour vs Alexandria (MLS Next) vs SYC (MLS Next) experience

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I just posted this in the SYC v ASA thread, before I saw this one.  Hope it's helpful.

My son is in ASA's MLS Next program and it's been an overwhelmingly positive experience. He loves his coaches and his teammates. The organization has been very good overall. There are administrative hiccups, but fewer than other clubs we've been a part of. Field space is consistent and good. The teams rarely have a full field to themselves, but in NoVa that's to be expected. The value is outstanding, I think. The fee for the the year is $3,100 and includes 4X week training, 3-4 tournaments, and I think we've had 6 friendlies between August and now. For the lengthy trips to northern NJ the club provides a charter bus and the kids love the experience of travelling together. This weekend, for instance, the boys will be bussing up to NJ on Saturday for games, stay in a hotel overnight, play Sunday, and come home on the bus. The club and team managers are working hard to make it work. (hotel is a little extra per kid). As noted, futsal is not included in the price.
I love that the club has an organizational philosophy toward training and match play. Other comments claiming that creative players are stifled are a little overblown in my opinion. Coaches definitely discourage unnecessary and aimless dribbling, and stress making decisions before receiving the ball. Dribbling with purpose, to beat or draw a defender, is welcome. I like that playing through the middle, control, and decision making are stressed.
That said, I'd like to see them lean into it even more, and implement their system with more tempo at practice. I'd like to see them ramp up the intensity and up the speed of play in training.
I'm also of the opinion that they need to treat the MLS Next curriculum differently than the rest of the club. It should be treated as an elite level program. And, it should include individual skill work. Right now, that is completely absent. The boys train 4X a week and often have two games per weekend. [b]They do not have time to work on things on their own. ASA would do well to recognize that players, especially top-level players, and their parents, consider player development an important part [/b]of their decision making when choosing a club. The club would argue that they use a tactical over technical model and stress decision-making. I think with a two or three day schedule, that makes a lot of sense. But the boys still need to develop and become confident with skills they can use to help execute those decisions in the matches and give them more options when making decisions.
The club has discussed incorporating one futsal practice per week into the curriculum, which I think would be valuable, but I haven't seen it yet.[/quote]

Parents of (truly) elite players and the players themselves aren't waiting around on the club to provide them with individually tailored skills training development. 
They know to get that on their own by any means necessary

Futsal isn't an amazing magic pill, especially if you're not proficient in futsal skills. Many are on futsal courts using big field skills and think they're doing something special. [/quote]

While that is true, and a major reason why so many MLSNext/ECNL kids go to private trainers and small group sessions, it is hard to hone the use of those individual skills without a team that allows you to use those skills. Whether it be at more intense practices or allowing them to use those skills under pressure in games.

There aren’t many teams that will allow or make their players continue their possession game consistently because the players are going to make mistakes which will cost them wins. And winning is obviously important for clubs and parents.

[b]ASA players pass the ball too quickly when under pressure. SYC and Armour players will boot the ball. Bethesda and Achilles do possession well but Achilles[/b] doesn’t win very much. We’ve played Coppermine one year and I thought those kids were very skilled and while they had possession most of the game, they still lost to DS team back then which relied on booting the ball to their very fast striker .

[/quote]

facts or opinion? [/quote]

Opinion based on DS having played those teams the last few years.  But I pay the most attention to what players are doing with the ball under pressure.

I’m sure others can chime in to share their own observations. [/quote]

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