what do tryouts for soccer look like at your FCPS high school?

[Anonymous]

My daughter went to the soccer interest meeting earlier this week and she was stunned at the cafeteria being filled with girls interested in trying out. She has played ECNL and if you look at the HS soccer record- they are not good. She has enjoyed other high school sports so wants to be on the team but just wondering what other high schools numbers look like or any BTDT feedback?

The coach also seemed to really talk down about the club soccer and made it clear that his practices are priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter went to the soccer interest meeting earlier this week and she was stunned at the cafeteria being filled with girls interested in trying out. She has played ECNL and if you look at the HS soccer record- they are not good. She has enjoyed other high school sports so wants to be on the team but just wondering what other high schools numbers look like or any BTDT feedback?

The coach also seemed to really talk down about the club soccer and made it clear that his practices are priority.

I don't know what other VA high schools look like, but my ds hs soccer coach says that high school soccer is much better than club.

[Anonymous]

At most of the FCPS high schools I know of, school practice is after school and club practice is later at night so they don’t conflict.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter went to the soccer interest meeting earlier this week and she was stunned at the cafeteria being filled with girls interested in trying out. She has played ECNL and if you look at the HS soccer record- they are not good. She has enjoyed other high school sports so wants to be on the team but just wondering what other high schools numbers look like or any BTDT feedback?

The coach also seemed to really talk down about the club soccer and made it clear that his practices are priority.

I don't know what other VA high schools look like, but my ds hs soccer coach says that high school soccer is much better than club.

That isn't even remotely true for boys. High school coaches can be dictators and say whatever they want, but club soccer is where colleges recruit. High school soccer is for fun and to represent your school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At most of the FCPS high schools I know of, school practice is after school and club practice is later at night so they don’t conflict.

I guess that depends on your view of over usage injuries. Unless the club practice takes a real step back in intensity, multiple two a days every week (really two an afternoons) for months on end is too much

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At most of the FCPS high schools I know of, school practice is after school and club practice is later at night so they don’t conflict.

Our hs coach (boys) explicitly said do NOT double practice. In season the boys who play club only go to weekend games. Many clubs don't even hold in season practices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter went to the soccer interest meeting earlier this week and she was stunned at the cafeteria being filled with girls interested in trying out. She has played ECNL and if you look at the HS soccer record- they are not good. She has enjoyed other high school sports so wants to be on the team but just wondering what other high schools numbers look like or any BTDT feedback?

The coach also seemed to really talk down about the club soccer and made it clear that his practices are priority.

Our club pretty much stops all practices and games during HS season in the Spring. We might do one tourney. However if you plan to play in college know that HS is notorious for overuse injuries (5 days a week 2 hours daily) and overly physical play. HS coaches also vary since a lot are just teachers who like soccer or played in HS and don't necessarily have to have a license or experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter went to the soccer interest meeting earlier this week and she was stunned at the cafeteria being filled with girls interested in trying out. She has played ECNL and if you look at the HS soccer record- they are not good. She has enjoyed other high school sports so wants to be on the team but just wondering what other high schools numbers look like or any BTDT feedback?

The coach also seemed to really talk down about the club soccer and made it clear that his practices are priority.

Doesn't surprise me regarding the level of interest considering the number of players in the area. Players of all skill ranges want to play for their high school. People tend to forget how large of a pool the lower leagues or even rec leagues have. Overall the DMV area has a ton of soccer players.

I'd be concerned that the coach is already talking down club practices, but it's not like you can do much about who your HS soccer coach is. Make sure you know what you're getting into before you commit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter went to the soccer interest meeting earlier this week and she was stunned at the cafeteria being filled with girls interested in trying out. She has played ECNL and if you look at the HS soccer record- they are not good. She has enjoyed other high school sports so wants to be on the team but just wondering what other high schools numbers look like or any BTDT feedback?

The coach also seemed to really talk down about the club soccer and made it clear that his practices are priority.

It is common for the best players to play both high school and travel. However, they take travel more seriously because it's high competition and more college scouts are present. This is why high school coaches don't like their players doing travel during the season. Also, schedules do 100% conflict and most players will take travel games/practice over high school team games/practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At most of the FCPS high schools I know of, school practice is after school and club practice is later at night so they don’t conflict.

I guess that depends on your view of over usage injuries. Unless the club practice takes a real step back in intensity, multiple two a days every week (really two an afternoons) for months on end is too much

Exactly. Travel teams practice three times a week. Add in high school and that's eight practices Monday through Friday. Also, games often conflict and with homework, etc it's normal for kids to skip high school practice for travel team practice.

[Anonymous]

At our club, the very top team plays 10 months, but the next tiers all skip the high school season and startup after. There are also teams that form and play during those months for kids not on a high school team (for whatever reason).

[Anonymous]

Are the HS teams a mix of skill level? I am just curious what the odds are making it to JV or Varsity if 100 girls showed up to the interest meeting.

I know the girls who play ECNL at the HS but I am sure there are other skilled players- but there also seemed to be new to soccer girls going to tryouts?

[Anonymous]

HS soccer definitely has a different feel than club. My DD did both last year and liked both for different reasons (Club more skilled and competitive, HS fun and social). JV and Varsity teams tend to be MUCH larger than club teams with some kids not seeing much field time at all. They all seem to have fun and have teamwork. Varsity and Club coaches both want you to prioritize their games/practices, so definitely a balancing act.

[Anonymous]

There will be ECNL-level players who don't make it and there will be non-ECNL players who do make it. It is a crapshoot with so many kids--it's unreasonable to expect the coaching staff to really be able to evaluate 100+ kids at a few days of tryouts, and keep in mind a lot of the tryouts are just watching small-sided scrimmages that have nothing to do with the ability to be impactful 11v11 on a full field whether it is stamina, positioning, long-range vision and technical ability etc. Good luck to your DD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There will be ECNL-level players who don't make it and there will be non-ECNL players who do make it. It is a crapshoot with so many kids--it's unreasonable to expect the coaching staff to really be able to evaluate 100+ kids at a few days of tryouts, and keep in mind a lot of the tryouts are just watching small-sided scrimmages that have nothing to do with the ability to be impactful 11v11 on a full field whether it is stamina, positioning, long-range vision and technical ability etc. Good luck to your DD.

Long-range vision is key #goals