Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss Part II

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Let's rephrase the statement: ODSL has some ass-kicking teams, many predominantly Hispanic and some parent-coached, who aren't in NCSL for whatever reason (sometimes field issues, sometimes by choice). Dynamite, VISTA and a few others have some teams that routinely go into tournaments and clobber high-level NCSL teams. IFC actually has entered the occasional team in EDP.

It's a pity we don't have a single competition that would bring together the good teams from CCL (maybe half of them), VPL (maybe a third of them), ECNL (all 1 of them on the boys side), EDP (most of D1 and some of D2), NCSL (most of D1, some of D2) and ODSL (a couple of teams from D1). That would be a great, competitive league or tournament. Alas, none of these folks want to play nicely with each other.

There is, and it is modeled after the Champions League in Europe. It's called the State Cup, pretty much any team can register. It would be perfect for the top teams in all of the leagues to be invited for smaller price than is currently being charged, and have guaranteed 2 games.

Except that ECNL and DA teams do not play in any State Cup, and the advent of the NPL State Cup this year means that VPL teams will play in the NPL state cup, CCL and NCSL and (maybe) ODSL teams will play in the VYSA State Cup, and there is still no way for all the different teams in all the different leagues to play each other. Also, VYSA State Cup being single elimination makes it less meaningful regardless.

Yeah, I wasn't thinking of DA, and ECNL for boys and girls aren't really that many teams, in VA anyway.

The first teams and winners of VPL, CCL, and NCSL are awesome teams. Any team that wins their division in EDP is going to be a great team. The single-elimination would have to either be changed or the price be dropped so that teams that want to join don't see it as time waster if the will only get one-game out of it. VYSA State Cup WILL have to step up their game if they plan on getting any VPL teams to join; they have the upper-hand now with the recognition and pathway to Region 1 and National, vs VPL going through their recently created National Cup. Competition is overall good, I do believe. VYSA generally has a monopoly on state-wide champion so it would be great if they eased up on their fees or decided to put more time in finding out how to schedule games so that it doesn't have to be single-game elimination, maybe leg 1 and leg 2 and OT and PK if there is a draw. Away goals shouldn't matter in youth soccer. I see that as feasible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the really good kids don't play for their high schools- they keep playing for the good clubs.

I assumed that this was the case. And further that clubs might not even allow kids to do high school soccer. I figured that the level of high school soccer would generally be beneath that of the travel clubs. Am I totally off here?

if they are playing for one of the clubs- the contract says they can't play for their high school soocer team (they can play other high school sports). I am sure there are some really competitive high school teams but they do not have players who are on a travel team.

This is simply not true. All high school players at the three schools near me in Fairfax County are travel players.

That doesn't mean all travel players play in high school. If you're in Development Academy, you're not allowed to play high school, and some other clubs discourage their best players from playing. But there enough mid-to-high-level travel players on high school teams that it's nearly impossible to make a high school team if you're playing low-level travel or rec league.

I would agree with the bolded as a general matter but there are many exceptions. My son's SFL (rec) team has eight freshmen playing high school JV soccer this fall. These are boys who never played travel soccer but made the JV teams at their WCAC, IAC, MAC, etc. schools.

4-5 more boys on this same team will easily make their Fairfax County public high school JV teams this coming spring.

Whether all of them eventually make it to the varsity level at their schools remains to be seen, but odds are that several of them will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the really good kids don't play for their high schools- they keep playing for the good clubs.

I assumed that this was the case. And further that clubs might not even allow kids to do high school soccer. I figured that the level of high school soccer would generally be beneath that of the travel clubs. Am I totally off here?

if they are playing for one of the clubs- the contract says they can't play for their high school soocer team (they can play other high school sports). I am sure there are some really competitive high school teams but they do not have players who are on a travel team.

This is simply not true. All high school players at the three schools near me in Fairfax County are travel players.

That doesn't mean all travel players play in high school. If you're in Development Academy, you're not allowed to play high school, and some other clubs discourage their best players from playing. But there enough mid-to-high-level travel players on high school teams that it's nearly impossible to make a high school team if you're playing low-level travel or rec league.

I would agree with the bolded as a general matter but there are many exceptions. My son's SFL (rec) team has eight freshmen playing high school JV soccer this fall. These are boys who never played travel soccer but made the JV teams at their WCAC, IAC, MAC, etc. schools.

4-5 more boys on this same team will easily make their Fairfax County public high school JV teams this coming spring.

Whether all of them eventually make it to the varsity level at their schools remains to be seen, but odds are that several of them will.

Out of curiosity, where specifically are you?

In Vienna (Madison, Marshall, Oakton), you can pretty much forget about it unless you're on a VYS Red or Black team or play at another club (Loudoun, Arlington, BRYC, etc.).

Though I did hear a rumor that VYS was going to tell its Red kids not to play in high school. That would seriously affect Madison's girls juggernaut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^
This is pretty funny. I stopped reading after "great random teams in NCSL or ODSL". There are zero great teams in ODSL.

I don't know about great, but don't overlook the ODSL teams that can't meet NCSL requirements (and thus can't join NCSL) yet have talented rosters. In most cases it's a team that a parent coaches because his son or daughter just happens to be that age, and the players are skilled because they've grown up with the game in family settings. Great? Probably not, but they'll can certainly blow teams out.

Agree to an extent. Let's say it more clearly: ODSL has some ass-kicking teams of poor Hispanic kids being coached by their crazy dads. Greatness isn't out of reach.

What makes you think we're poor you ass-wipe!

I moved to an independent club with my son because I was sick of the 1hr long training sessions from E-licensed coaches following a curriculum some TD thought up a few years and as they were phoning it in to their 2nd training session since they had taken up 3 teams to make some money on the side they weren't providing any instruction at all or correcting the boys when they say the drills being executed incorrectly. The current team were on has 3 practices a week by a coach, whose son is on the team(why else would he do it), we have 2 hour practice sessions that start after he gets home from work which is usually by 6pm. If you get there late, no worries as he sometimes has work issues and other parents start the kids on the warm-ups. The trainer changes the drills and what we work depending on how the team is doing in the games, we don't have a season and practice during December/January/February and the team as a whole registers in the indoor leagues as well. Even though I am paying less at this point than pretty much all of the clubs around the area would charge for 10-months of soccer, DS team as a whole is getting way more in training time vs games. We are NOT required to show up in our training kits at 4:45pm for practice or have a fancy logo on our shirts or have some kind of misplaced ego because were on the "RED" or "BLUE" team or play in CCL1 or whatever stupid shiny piece the soccer clubs have come up with to separate money from their parents. I guarantee you, soccer basis, my son's experience is better than your son's experience.

I love you. I did the similar thing with my kids. We left one of the big clubs because it was a factory. Coaches had too many teams and the training wasn't as good. They barely could remember their names.

In the young years, it's all about individual development. I don't care about Clubs. I feel bad for people that didn't come from a soccer background because they get fooled by all the pomp and circumstance and talk of State Cup and Acadamies, etc.

What's your experience been like? Have you talked to other parents that stayed at the club you were with? Does their view of their experience at the same time you were there different from yours? Do share.

Yes. The normal parents with good players are all absolutely miserable, but hesitant to make the move for various reasons, e.g., carpools, perceived status, fear, false hope. Then, the others are your typical kiss-asses living vicariously through their "mediocre at best" A team/junior Club DA kid.

I was hesitant with my older one, but it was fucking misery the first two years and now at U13 (3 years training away from big club) his development is light years above the former teammates. A lot of those kids got cut, moved down, or remained status quo.

Most former smart players hate the travel system and are aware it's ruining US youth soccer.

28 years and we probably won't even qualify for the World Cup. Pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the really good kids don't play for their high schools- they keep playing for the good clubs.

I assumed that this was the case. And further that clubs might not even allow kids to do high school soccer. I figured that the level of high school soccer would generally be beneath that of the travel clubs. Am I totally off here?

if they are playing for one of the clubs- the contract says they can't play for their high school soocer team (they can play other high school sports). I am sure there are some really competitive high school teams but they do not have players who are on a travel team.

This is simply not true. All high school players at the three schools near me in Fairfax County are travel players.

That doesn't mean all travel players play in high school. If you're in Development Academy, you're not allowed to play high school, and some other clubs discourage their best players from playing. But there enough mid-to-high-level travel players on high school teams that it's nearly impossible to make a high school team if you're playing low-level travel or rec league.

I would agree with the bolded as a general matter but there are many exceptions. My son's SFL (rec) team has eight freshmen playing high school JV soccer this fall. These are boys who never played travel soccer but made the JV teams at their WCAC, IAC, MAC, etc. schools.

4-5 more boys on this same team will easily make their Fairfax County public high school JV teams this coming spring.

Whether all of them eventually make it to the varsity level at their schools remains to be seen, but odds are that several of them will.

Out of curiosity, where specifically are you?

In Vienna (Madison, Marshall, Oakton), you can pretty much forget about it unless you're on a VYS Red or Black team or play at another club (Loudoun, Arlington, BRYC, etc.).

Though I did hear a rumor that VYS was going to tell its Red kids not to play in high school. That would seriously affect Madison's girls juggernaut.

Where are we? West Potomac, Hayfield, Mount Vernon area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I moved to an independent club with my son because I was sick of the 1hr long training sessions from E-licensed coaches following a curriculum some TD thought up a few years and as they were phoning it in to their 2nd training session since they had taken up 3 teams to make some money on the side they weren't providing any instruction at all or correcting the boys when they say the drills being executed incorrectly. The current team were on has 3 practices a week by a coach, whose son is on the team(why else would he do it), we have 2 hour practice sessions that start after he gets home from work which is usually by 6pm. If you get there late, no worries as he sometimes has work issues and other parents start the kids on the warm-ups. The trainer changes the drills and what we work depending on how the team is doing in the games, we don't have a season and practice during December/January/February and the team as a whole registers in the indoor leagues as well. Even though I am paying less at this point than pretty much all of the clubs around the area would charge for 10-months of soccer, DS team as a whole is getting way more in training time vs games. We are NOT required to show up in our training kits at 4:45pm for practice or have a fancy logo on our shirts or have some kind of misplaced ego because were on the "RED" or "BLUE" team or play in CCL1 or whatever stupid shiny piece the soccer clubs have come up with to separate money from their parents. I guarantee you, soccer basis, my son's experience is better than your son's experience.

It would be great if there were more options for quality independent teams. Some of those teams can be great but they are hard to get started. finding a coach, field space and enough interested players can be difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^
This is pretty funny. I stopped reading after "great random teams in NCSL or ODSL". There are zero great teams in ODSL.

I don't know about great, but don't overlook the ODSL teams that can't meet NCSL requirements (and thus can't join NCSL) yet have talented rosters. In most cases it's a team that a parent coaches because his son or daughter just happens to be that age, and the players are skilled because they've grown up with the game in family settings. Great? Probably not, but they'll can certainly blow teams out.

Agree to an extent. Let's say it more clearly: ODSL has some ass-kicking teams of poor Hispanic kids being coached by their crazy dads. Greatness isn't out of reach.

Insensitive and true. Talent can't be denied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I moved to an independent club with my son because I was sick of the 1hr long training sessions from E-licensed coaches following a curriculum some TD thought up a few years and as they were phoning it in to their 2nd training session since they had taken up 3 teams to make some money on the side they weren't providing any instruction at all or correcting the boys when they say the drills being executed incorrectly. The current team were on has 3 practices a week by a coach, whose son is on the team(why else would he do it), we have 2 hour practice sessions that start after he gets home from work which is usually by 6pm. If you get there late, no worries as he sometimes has work issues and other parents start the kids on the warm-ups. The trainer changes the drills and what we work depending on how the team is doing in the games, we don't have a season and practice during December/January/February and the team as a whole registers in the indoor leagues as well. Even though I am paying less at this point than pretty much all of the clubs around the area would charge for 10-months of soccer, DS team as a whole is getting way more in training time vs games. We are NOT required to show up in our training kits at 4:45pm for practice or have a fancy logo on our shirts or have some kind of misplaced ego because were on the "RED" or "BLUE" team or play in CCL1 or whatever stupid shiny piece the soccer clubs have come up with to separate money from their parents. I guarantee you, soccer basis, my son's experience is better than your son's experience.

It would be great if there were more options for quality independent teams. Some of those teams can be great but they are hard to get started. finding a coach, field space and enough interested players can be difficult.

The fields are monopolized by a few big County Clubs. It is virtually impossible for an independent to get regular field space anywhere.

More and more obstacles have been put up to prevent smaller, independents from being able to compete.

It's a travesty. It's part of the reason we are mediocre at best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I moved to an independent club with my son because I was sick of the 1hr long training sessions from E-licensed coaches following a curriculum some TD thought up a few years and as they were phoning it in to their 2nd training session since they had taken up 3 teams to make some money on the side they weren't providing any instruction at all or correcting the boys when they say the drills being executed incorrectly. The current team were on has 3 practices a week by a coach, whose son is on the team(why else would he do it), we have 2 hour practice sessions that start after he gets home from work which is usually by 6pm. If you get there late, no worries as he sometimes has work issues and other parents start the kids on the warm-ups. The trainer changes the drills and what we work depending on how the team is doing in the games, we don't have a season and practice during December/January/February and the team as a whole registers in the indoor leagues as well. Even though I am paying less at this point than pretty much all of the clubs around the area would charge for 10-months of soccer, DS team as a whole is getting way more in training time vs games. We are NOT required to show up in our training kits at 4:45pm for practice or have a fancy logo on our shirts or have some kind of misplaced ego because were on the "RED" or "BLUE" team or play in CCL1 or whatever stupid shiny piece the soccer clubs have come up with to separate money from their parents. I guarantee you, soccer basis, my son's experience is better than your son's experience.

It would be great if there were more options for quality independent teams. Some of those teams can be great but they are hard to get started. finding a coach, field space and enough interested players can be difficult.

The fields are monopolized by a few big County Clubs. It is virtually impossible for an independent to get regular field space anywhere.

More and more obstacles have been put up to prevent smaller, independents from being able to compete.

It's a travesty. It's part of the reason we are mediocre at best.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^
This is pretty funny. I stopped reading after "great random teams in NCSL or ODSL". There are zero great teams in ODSL.

I don't know about great, but don't overlook the ODSL teams that can't meet NCSL requirements (and thus can't join NCSL) yet have talented rosters. In most cases it's a team that a parent coaches because his son or daughter just happens to be that age, and the players are skilled because they've grown up with the game in family settings. Great? Probably not, but they'll can certainly blow teams out.

Agree to an extent. Let's say it more clearly: ODSL has some ass-kicking teams of poor Hispanic kids being coached by their crazy dads. Greatness isn't out of reach.

Greatness isnt out of reach? Please elobarate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I moved to an independent club with my son because I was sick of the 1hr long training sessions from E-licensed coaches following a curriculum some TD thought up a few years and as they were phoning it in to their 2nd training session since they had taken up 3 teams to make some money on the side they weren't providing any instruction at all or correcting the boys when they say the drills being executed incorrectly. The current team were on has 3 practices a week by a coach, whose son is on the team(why else would he do it), we have 2 hour practice sessions that start after he gets home from work which is usually by 6pm. If you get there late, no worries as he sometimes has work issues and other parents start the kids on the warm-ups. The trainer changes the drills and what we work depending on how the team is doing in the games, we don't have a season and practice during December/January/February and the team as a whole registers in the indoor leagues as well. Even though I am paying less at this point than pretty much all of the clubs around the area would charge for 10-months of soccer, DS team as a whole is getting way more in training time vs games. We are NOT required to show up in our training kits at 4:45pm for practice or have a fancy logo on our shirts or have some kind of misplaced ego because were on the "RED" or "BLUE" team or play in CCL1 or whatever stupid shiny piece the soccer clubs have come up with to separate money from their parents. I guarantee you, soccer basis, my son's experience is better than your son's experience.

It would be great if there were more options for quality independent teams. Some of those teams can be great but they are hard to get started. finding a coach, field space and enough interested players can be difficult.

The fields are monopolized by a few big County Clubs. It is virtually impossible for an independent to get regular field space anywhere.

More and more obstacles have been put up to prevent smaller, independents from being able to compete.

It's a travesty. It's part of the reason we are mediocre at best.

+1

+1,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^
This is pretty funny. I stopped reading after "great random teams in NCSL or ODSL". There are zero great teams in ODSL.

I don't know about great, but don't overlook the ODSL teams that can't meet NCSL requirements (and thus can't join NCSL) yet have talented rosters. In most cases it's a team that a parent coaches because his son or daughter just happens to be that age, and the players are skilled because they've grown up with the game in family settings. Great? Probably not, but they'll can certainly blow teams out.

Agree to an extent. Let's say it more clearly: ODSL has some ass-kicking teams of poor Hispanic kids being coached by their crazy dads. Greatness isn't out of reach.

Greatness isnt out of reach? Please elobarate

Money can't buy athletic ability. It can't buy a family that lives and breathes soccer. Children from Herndon and Wheaton and Hybla Valley are just as capable of becoming great soccer players as your DS from Great Falls, and they may have advantages you're afraid to recognize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^
This is pretty funny. I stopped reading after "great random teams in NCSL or ODSL". There are zero great teams in ODSL.

I don't know about great, but don't overlook the ODSL teams that can't meet NCSL requirements (and thus can't join NCSL) yet have talented rosters. In most cases it's a team that a parent coaches because his son or daughter just happens to be that age, and the players are skilled because they've grown up with the game in family settings. Great? Probably not, but they'll can certainly blow teams out.

Agree to an extent. Let's say it more clearly: ODSL has some ass-kicking teams of poor Hispanic kids being coached by their crazy dads. Greatness isn't out of reach.

Greatness isnt out of reach? Please elobarate

Money can't buy athletic ability. It can't buy a family that lives and breathes soccer. Children from Herndon and Wheaton and Hybla Valley are just as capable of becoming great soccer players as your DS from Great Falls, and they may have advantages you're afraid to recognize.

Pump your brakes Ms. Social justice snowflake.

Money can buy talent...ask Neymar.
Money does buy talent...ask the Emirates
Want opportunity then make yourself valuable....called capitalism.
Want your kid to play travel soccer...make more money or ask for a scholarship.

There are no poor places in Nova...please stop
Survival or travel soccer?...pick survival
Not all Hispanics like soccer
Watching soccer doesn't make you talented...much like NFL
Your parents liking the Redskins won't make you a Redskin.
The majority of the world watches soccer and the majority still suck.

I'm bored...going to watch the Redskins

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^
This is pretty funny. I stopped reading after "great random teams in NCSL or ODSL". There are zero great teams in ODSL.

I don't know about great, but don't overlook the ODSL teams that can't meet NCSL requirements (and thus can't join NCSL) yet have talented rosters. In most cases it's a team that a parent coaches because his son or daughter just happens to be that age, and the players are skilled because they've grown up with the game in family settings. Great? Probably not, but they'll can certainly blow teams out.

Agree to an extent. Let's say it more clearly: ODSL has some ass-kicking teams of poor Hispanic kids being coached by their crazy dads. Greatness isn't out of reach.

Greatness isnt out of reach? Please elobarate

Money can't buy athletic ability. It can't buy a family that lives and breathes soccer. Children from Herndon and Wheaton and Hybla Valley are just as capable of becoming great soccer players as your DS from Great Falls, and they may have advantages you're afraid to recognize.

Pump your brakes Ms. Social justice snowflake.

Money can buy talent...ask Neymar.
Money does buy talent...ask the Emirates
Want opportunity then make yourself valuable....called capitalism.
Want your kid to play travel soccer...make more money or ask for a scholarship.

There are no poor places in Nova...please stop
Survival or travel soccer?...pick survival
Not all Hispanics like soccer
Watching soccer doesn't make you talented...much like NFL
Your parents liking the Redskins won't make you a Redskin.
The majority of the world watches soccer and the majority still suck.

I'm bored...going to watch the Redskins

I'm bored going to watch DC United.

[Anonymous]

Where is the OP (suspected FCV girls parent) who was talking smack last week and positing scores because he/she was on a high. This is why is better to be humble.

FCV vs Penn Fusion

FCV U14 - Lost
FCV U15 - Lost
FCV U16/17 - Lost
FCV U18/19 - Lost