Northern VA Boys DA U12-15

[Anonymous]

Is there any difference between the three boys DA clubs in NVA ages U12-15 ? Loudoun, Arlington and VDA all have boys teams in those ages. Is the biggest difference between them just the location ? Do they all follow the same DA style of play and training plans ?

[Anonymous]

1 - Arlington
2 - Loudoun
3 - VDA

[Anonymous]

Are the ID sessions actual tryouts for the DA or do those happen later? Wondering the worth of attending the ID sessions vs tryouts?

[Anonymous]

The ID sessions are a chance for your kid to get noticed before the tryouts. Although most teams say they have an 'open mind' at the tryout the reality is that probably 75% of the team is already decided and another 20% are in competition with some people they have I.D.'d earlier. Maybe one or two openings for someone totally out of the blue popping up at a tryout.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are the ID sessions actual tryouts for the DA or do those happen later? Wondering the worth of attending the ID sessions vs tryouts?

ID sessions are tryouts.

[Anonymous]

For a bit more depth, our experience is that DAs don't want to make a decision on someone based on just a tryout. The ID session leads to an invitation to train with the team, which kind of turns into an extended tryout (which might even include scrimmages). I've known kids to train for months (part-time) with a DA team and then get a "no thanks."

But hey, it's free training...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For a bit more depth, our experience is that DAs don't want to make a decision on someone based on just a tryout. The ID session leads to an invitation to train with the team, which kind of turns into an extended tryout (which might even include scrimmages). I've known kids to train for months (part-time) with a DA team and then get a "no thanks."

But hey, it's free training...

True. They like to use the word "trial", rather than tryout. It's a better way of doing things actually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a bit more depth, our experience is that DAs don't want to make a decision on someone based on just a tryout. The ID session leads to an invitation to train with the team, which kind of turns into an extended tryout (which might even include scrimmages). I've known kids to train for months (part-time) with a DA team and then get a "no thanks."

But hey, it's free training...

True. They like to use the word "trial", rather than tryout. It's a better way of doing things actually.

NP. Makes sense. What about for the first year/pre-DA? There isn't a 'team' yet. Do they do it differently? Do they begin asking kids to join/form a team/group from the ID sessions earlier on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1 - Arlington
2 - Loudoun
3 - VDA

Apologies for the ignorance, but what/where is VDA?

[Anonymous]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=vda+soccer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For a bit more depth, our experience is that DAs don't want to make a decision on someone based on just a tryout. The ID session leads to an invitation to train with the team, which kind of turns into an extended tryout (which might even include scrimmages). I've known kids to train for months (part-time) with a DA team and then get a "no thanks."

But hey, it's free training...

Is there an age where they start to look for specific positions? I know they all say to avoid specialization for as long as possible but at some age they would want to specialize and have someone that can specifically lock down right wing or left back or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a bit more depth, our experience is that DAs don't want to make a decision on someone based on just a tryout. The ID session leads to an invitation to train with the team, which kind of turns into an extended tryout (which might even include scrimmages). I've known kids to train for months (part-time) with a DA team and then get a "no thanks."

But hey, it's free training...

Is there an age where they start to look for specific positions? I know they all say to avoid specialization for as long as possible but at some age they would want to specialize and have someone that can specifically lock down right wing or left back or whatever.

U13