Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss Part II

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know girls who made DA who were on the B team at our club previously. I'm not impressed with the DA rosters so far. Its just watering down the top teams in the area. Which is good for my child because now they are on the A team I guess.

Could it be that your club didn't do a good job of evaluating players and she was incorrectly placed on the B team. It's also possible that player had an excellent coach and did extra training on the side to get better. It's also possible that your club was more focused on politics and butt kissing parents than promoting someone new to the A team. Players change year to year and it does not mean that a player on a B team can't get better than a player on A. Not saying that DA rosters are great or anything but your logic that it's based on A and B is dumb. Seems like your only focus is now being able to brag about your kid being on the shinny A team. SMH.

Kids change. If you haven’t seen a kid play, but 6 months, a year ago you have no idea what they are presently like. It’s not linear.

I agree with this. I think that is a huge problem in this area. The only way you can evaluate a player is in that exact point in time. Kids change drastically over time. There is too much weight given to team assignment. It is also opinion-based.

Seeing at kid play at 10-11 and saying 'oh yea, I saw her play', but she is now 15, you have no idea what she has been doing in that in-between time. There is physical growth, mental growth, the amount of training on their own, the intensity of that training, life experience, etc.

What a crazy soccer world we have in this country when we talk about a 9-year old's speed or lack thereof as that is the course of their life. That isn't even taking into account mental quickness, speed of play with ball/acceleration, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know girls who made DA who were on the B team at our club previously. I'm not impressed with the DA rosters so far. Its just watering down the top teams in the area. Which is good for my child because now they are on the A team I guess.

Could it be that your club didn't do a good job of evaluating players and she was incorrectly placed on the B team. It's also possible that player had an excellent coach and did extra training on the side to get better. It's also possible that your club was more focused on politics and butt kissing parents than promoting someone new to the A team. Players change year to year and it does not mean that a player on a B team can't get better than a player on A. Not saying that DA rosters are great or anything but your logic that it's based on A and B is dumb. Seems like your only focus is now being able to brag about your kid being on the shinny A team. SMH.

Kids change. If you haven’t seen a kid play, but 6 months, a year ago you have no idea what they are presently like. It’s not linear.

I agree with this. I think that is a huge problem in this area. The only way you can evaluate a player is in that exact point in time. Kids change drastically over time. There is too much weight given to team assignment. It is also opinion-based.

Seeing at kid play at 10-11 and saying 'oh yea, I saw her play', but she is now 15, you have no idea what she has been doing in that in-between time. There is physical growth, mental growth, the amount of training on their own, the intensity of that training, life experience, etc.

What a crazy soccer world we have in this country when we talk about a 9-year old's speed or lack thereof as that is the course of their life. That isn't even taking into account mental quickness, speed of play with ball/acceleration, etc.

I have seen some 'fast' U10/12 boys hit a growth spurt and get slow due to body composition, etc., just as much as I've seen a scrawny 9-year old put on muscle composition and size down the road and gain speed.

There a few true wunderkinds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know girls who made DA who were on the B team at our club previously. I'm not impressed with the DA rosters so far. Its just watering down the top teams in the area. Which is good for my child because now they are on the A team I guess.

Could it be that your club didn't do a good job of evaluating players and she was incorrectly placed on the B team. It's also possible that player had an excellent coach and did extra training on the side to get better. It's also possible that your club was more focused on politics and butt kissing parents than promoting someone new to the A team. Players change year to year and it does not mean that a player on a B team can't get better than a player on A. Not saying that DA rosters are great or anything but your logic that it's based on A and B is dumb. Seems like your only focus is now being able to brag about your kid being on the shinny A team. SMH.

Kids change. If you haven’t seen a kid play, but 6 months, a year ago you have no idea what they are presently like. It’s not linear.

I agree with this. I think that is a huge problem in this area. The only way you can evaluate a player is in that exact point in time. Kids change drastically over time. There is too much weight given to team assignment. It is also opinion-based.

Seeing at kid play at 10-11 and saying 'oh yea, I saw her play', but she is now 15, you have no idea what she has been doing in that in-between time. There is physical growth, mental growth, the amount of training on their own, the intensity of that training, life experience, etc.

What a crazy soccer world we have in this country when we talk about a 9-year old's speed or lack thereof as that is the course of their life. That isn't even taking into account mental quickness, speed of play with ball/acceleration, etc.

I have seen some 'fast' U10/12 boys hit a growth spurt and get slow due to body composition, etc., just as much as I've seen a scrawny 9-year old put on muscle composition and size down the road and gain speed.

There a few true wunderkinds.

Fast runners can often be slow with the ball and slow at decision-making. Mental quickness, skill and agility buys a lot of extra time on the field.

[Anonymous]

ODP, regardless of price discussion, appears to be really good for getting more “advanced” touches, instruction from different coaches perspectives, and networking with other kids, those whom you might have only played against in the past. Funny how many get along once they meet versus when they are opponents on the pitch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ODP, regardless of price discussion, appears to be really good for getting more “advanced” touches, instruction from different coaches perspectives, and networking with other kids, those whom you might have only played against in the past. Funny how many get along once they meet versus when they are opponents on the pitch.

We have had that experience with a lot of camps as well. I think the more you expose a player, the better. My kids keep in touch with players in other states they've played with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do Gunston and LMVSC compare? We are in the area and looking.

I don't think Gunston has older age groups.

LMVSC is in CCL. That matters to some on the board.

What league does Gunston play in?

NPL and NCSL

I would go with LMVSC. Their boys teams are usually pretty competitive. Some of the girls teams are strong. As a club they may be better organized then Gunston.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know girls who made DA who were on the B team at our club previously. I'm not impressed with the DA rosters so far. Its just watering down the top teams in the area. Which is good for my child because now they are on the A team I guess.

Could it be that your club didn't do a good job of evaluating players and she was incorrectly placed on the B team. It's also possible that player had an excellent coach and did extra training on the side to get better. It's also possible that your club was more focused on politics and butt kissing parents than promoting someone new to the A team. Players change year to year and it does not mean that a player on a B team can't get better than a player on A. Not saying that DA rosters are great or anything but your logic that it's based on A and B is dumb. Seems like your only focus is now being able to brag about your kid being on the shinny A team. SMH.

Kids change. If you haven’t seen a kid play, but 6 months, a year ago you have no idea what they are presently like. It’s not linear.

I agree with this. I think that is a huge problem in this area. The only way you can evaluate a player is in that exact point in time. Kids change drastically over time. There is too much weight given to team assignment. It is also opinion-based.

Seeing at kid play at 10-11 and saying 'oh yea, I saw her play', but she is now 15, you have no idea what she has been doing in that in-between time. There is physical growth, mental growth, the amount of training on their own, the intensity of that training, life experience, etc.

What a crazy soccer world we have in this country when we talk about a 9-year old's speed or lack thereof as that is the course of their life. That isn't even taking into account mental quickness, speed of play with ball/acceleration, etc.

I have seen some 'fast' U10/12 boys hit a growth spurt and get slow due to body composition, etc., just as much as I've seen a scrawny 9-year old put on muscle composition and size down the road and gain speed.

There a few true wunderkinds.

Fast runners can often be slow with the ball and slow at decision-making. Mental quickness, skill and agility buys a lot of extra time on the field.

"Speed is often confused with insight. When I start running earlier than the others, I appear faster."

“You play football with your head, and your legs are there to help you.”

The master


Players who are not typically fast runners can excel in football if they have sharp feet and quick speed of thought. It is important they be exposed to 'speed of play'. If you have a highly skilled player, technically sound on a lower team--but they only ever play and practice with lower team at slower speed---they cannot get used to the fast play. It becomes self-fulfilling. Pulisic went abroad to get that 'speed of play'. It does not exist in the MLS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do Gunston and LMVSC compare? We are in the area and looking.

I don't think Gunston has older age groups.

LMVSC is in CCL. That matters to some on the board.

What league does Gunston play in?

NPL and NCSL

I would go with LMVSC. Their boys teams are usually pretty competitive. Some of the girls teams are strong. As a club they may be better organized then Gunston.

thanks. I plan to check them all out in person as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know girls who made DA who were on the B team at our club previously. I'm not impressed with the DA rosters so far. Its just watering down the top teams in the area. Which is good for my child because now they are on the A team I guess.

Could it be that your club didn't do a good job of evaluating players and she was incorrectly placed on the B team. It's also possible that player had an excellent coach and did extra training on the side to get better. It's also possible that your club was more focused on politics and butt kissing parents than promoting someone new to the A team. Players change year to year and it does not mean that a player on a B team can't get better than a player on A. Not saying that DA rosters are great or anything but your logic that it's based on A and B is dumb. Seems like your only focus is now being able to brag about your kid being on the shinny A team. SMH.

Kids change. If you haven’t seen a kid play, but 6 months, a year ago you have no idea what they are presently like. It’s not linear.

I agree with this. I think that is a huge problem in this area. The only way you can evaluate a player is in that exact point in time. Kids change drastically over time. There is too much weight given to team assignment. It is also opinion-based.

Seeing at kid play at 10-11 and saying 'oh yea, I saw her play', but she is now 15, you have no idea what she has been doing in that in-between time. There is physical growth, mental growth, the amount of training on their own, the intensity of that training, life experience, etc.

What a crazy soccer world we have in this country when we talk about a 9-year old's speed or lack thereof as that is the course of their life. That isn't even taking into account mental quickness, speed of play with ball/acceleration, etc.

I have seen some 'fast' U10/12 boys hit a growth spurt and get slow due to body composition, etc., just as much as I've seen a scrawny 9-year old put on muscle composition and size down the road and gain speed.

There a few true wunderkinds.

Fast runners can often be slow with the ball and slow at decision-making. Mental quickness, skill and agility buys a lot of extra time on the field.

"Speed is often confused with insight. When I start running earlier than the others, I appear faster."

“You play football with your head, and your legs are there to help you.”

The master


Players who are not typically fast runners can excel in football if they have sharp feet and quick speed of thought. It is important they be exposed to 'speed of play'. If you have a highly skilled player, technically sound on a lower team--but they only ever play and practice with lower team at slower speed---they cannot get used to the fast play. It becomes self-fulfilling. Pulisic went abroad to get that 'speed of play'. It does not exist in the MLS.

love all of this. Someone told me once about soccer:

Insight can largely compensate for a lack of speed, whereas speed can hardly compensate for a lack of insight.

I still see clubs taking kids because they can run goal post to goal post fast, even though they don't have a good understanding of the game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know girls who made DA who were on the B team at our club previously. I'm not impressed with the DA rosters so far. Its just watering down the top teams in the area. Which is good for my child because now they are on the A team I guess.

Could it be that your club didn't do a good job of evaluating players and she was incorrectly placed on the B team. It's also possible that player had an excellent coach and did extra training on the side to get better. It's also possible that your club was more focused on politics and butt kissing parents than promoting someone new to the A team. Players change year to year and it does not mean that a player on a B team can't get better than a player on A. Not saying that DA rosters are great or anything but your logic that it's based on A and B is dumb. Seems like your only focus is now being able to brag about your kid being on the shinny A team. SMH.

Kids change. If you haven’t seen a kid play, but 6 months, a year ago you have no idea what they are presently like. It’s not linear.

I agree with this. I think that is a huge problem in this area. The only way you can evaluate a player is in that exact point in time. Kids change drastically over time. There is too much weight given to team assignment. It is also opinion-based.

Seeing at kid play at 10-11 and saying 'oh yea, I saw her play', but she is now 15, you have no idea what she has been doing in that in-between time. There is physical growth, mental growth, the amount of training on their own, the intensity of that training, life experience, etc.

What a crazy soccer world we have in this country when we talk about a 9-year old's speed or lack thereof as that is the course of their life. That isn't even taking into account mental quickness, speed of play with ball/acceleration, etc.

I have seen some 'fast' U10/12 boys hit a growth spurt and get slow due to body composition, etc., just as much as I've seen a scrawny 9-year old put on muscle composition and size down the road and gain speed.

There a few true wunderkinds.

Fast runners can often be slow with the ball and slow at decision-making. Mental quickness, skill and agility buys a lot of extra time on the field.

"Speed is often confused with insight. When I start running earlier than the others, I appear faster."

“You play football with your head, and your legs are there to help you.”

The master


Players who are not typically fast runners can excel in football if they have sharp feet and quick speed of thought. It is important they be exposed to 'speed of play'. If you have a highly skilled player, technically sound on a lower team--but they only ever play and practice with lower team at slower speed---they cannot get used to the fast play. It becomes self-fulfilling. Pulisic went abroad to get that 'speed of play'. It does not exist in the MLS.

love all of this. Someone told me once about soccer:

Insight can largely compensate for a lack of speed, whereas speed can hardly compensate for a lack of insight.

I still see clubs taking kids because they can run goal post to goal post fast, even though they don't have a good understanding of the game.

True. If you can see the game at a higher level, then you can react earlier and perform in a superior fashion, even to those who might be athletically more gifted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know girls who made DA who were on the B team at our club previously. I'm not impressed with the DA rosters so far. Its just watering down the top teams in the area. Which is good for my child because now they are on the A team I guess.

Could it be that your club didn't do a good job of evaluating players and she was incorrectly placed on the B team. It's also possible that player had an excellent coach and did extra training on the side to get better. It's also possible that your club was more focused on politics and butt kissing parents than promoting someone new to the A team. Players change year to year and it does not mean that a player on a B team can't get better than a player on A. Not saying that DA rosters are great or anything but your logic that it's based on A and B is dumb. Seems like your only focus is now being able to brag about your kid being on the shinny A team. SMH.

Kids change. If you haven’t seen a kid play, but 6 months, a year ago you have no idea what they are presently like. It’s not linear.

I agree with this. I think that is a huge problem in this area. The only way you can evaluate a player is in that exact point in time. Kids change drastically over time. There is too much weight given to team assignment. It is also opinion-based.

Seeing at kid play at 10-11 and saying 'oh yea, I saw her play', but she is now 15, you have no idea what she has been doing in that in-between time. There is physical growth, mental growth, the amount of training on their own, the intensity of that training, life experience, etc.

What a crazy soccer world we have in this country when we talk about a 9-year old's speed or lack thereof as that is the course of their life. That isn't even taking into account mental quickness, speed of play with ball/acceleration, etc.

Every youngster needs a coach willing to believe in their potential. This is a key element missing in a lot of Clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know girls who made DA who were on the B team at our club previously. I'm not impressed with the DA rosters so far. Its just watering down the top teams in the area. Which is good for my child because now they are on the A team I guess.

Could it be that your club didn't do a good job of evaluating players and she was incorrectly placed on the B team. It's also possible that player had an excellent coach and did extra training on the side to get better. It's also possible that your club was more focused on politics and butt kissing parents than promoting someone new to the A team. Players change year to year and it does not mean that a player on a B team can't get better than a player on A. Not saying that DA rosters are great or anything but your logic that it's based on A and B is dumb. Seems like your only focus is now being able to brag about your kid being on the shinny A team. SMH.

Kids change. If you haven’t seen a kid play, but 6 months, a year ago you have no idea what they are presently like. It’s not linear.

I agree with this. I think that is a huge problem in this area. The only way you can evaluate a player is in that exact point in time. Kids change drastically over time. There is too much weight given to team assignment. It is also opinion-based.

Seeing at kid play at 10-11 and saying 'oh yea, I saw her play', but she is now 15, you have no idea what she has been doing in that in-between time. There is physical growth, mental growth, the amount of training on their own, the intensity of that training, life experience, etc.

What a crazy soccer world we have in this country when we talk about a 9-year old's speed or lack thereof as that is the course of their life. That isn't even taking into account mental quickness, speed of play with ball/acceleration, etc.

I have seen some 'fast' U10/12 boys hit a growth spurt and get slow due to body composition, etc., just as much as I've seen a scrawny 9-year old put on muscle composition and size down the road and gain speed.

There a few true wunderkinds.

Fast runners can often be slow with the ball and slow at decision-making. Mental quickness, skill and agility buys a lot of extra time on the field.

"Speed is often confused with insight. When I start running earlier than the others, I appear faster."

“You play football with your head, and your legs are there to help you.”

The master


Players who are not typically fast runners can excel in football if they have sharp feet and quick speed of thought. It is important they be exposed to 'speed of play'. If you have a highly skilled player, technically sound on a lower team--but they only ever play and practice with lower team at slower speed---they cannot get used to the fast play. It becomes self-fulfilling. Pulisic went abroad to get that 'speed of play'. It does not exist in the MLS.

love all of this. Someone told me once about soccer:

Insight can largely compensate for a lack of speed, whereas speed can hardly compensate for a lack of insight.

I still see clubs taking kids because they can run goal post to goal post fast, even though they don't have a good understanding of the game.

True. If you can see the game at a higher level, then you can react earlier and perform in a superior fashion, even to those who might be athletically more gifted.

+1,000000000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do Gunston and LMVSC compare? We are in the area and looking.

If you are in that area, I would check out Alexandria.

I would check out either LMVSC or Alexandria. Both have great programs.

[Anonymous]

But--in regards to that mental acumen, that is not how US soccer is played. Therein lies the BIGGEST problem about the sport in this country. We still pick primarily on linear physical aspects and the predominant style of play (all the way up to USMNT) is not 'thinking' soccer. Every watch D1 soccer games? Not pretty, very physical. US travel/DA coaches are primarily in that same mindset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But--in regards to that mental acumen, that is not how US soccer is played. Therein lies the BIGGEST problem about the sport in this country. We still pick primarily on linear physical aspects and the predominant style of play (all the way up to USMNT) is not 'thinking' soccer. Every watch D1 soccer games? Not pretty, very physical. US travel/DA coaches are primarily in that same mindset.

will the next US soccer fed president do anything about this? doubtful. our system would have to be taken down to the studs.