Soccer Coach in Northern VA - Ask me anything

[Anonymous]

I think we can see where asknova is affiliated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So girls u9-10, if you had to pick...Bethesda Soccer Club, Stoddert or Arlington?

BRYC

[Anonymous]

asksoccernova wrote:The 2008's (U9s) are a victim of the age group change from US Soccer last year.

Basically what has happened is that you have players who already played travel soccer (along with training) for a full year who were "held back" for a year at U9.
This has really messed things up, because you have players with a full year of experience mixed in with kids playing travel soccer (and with no advanced training yet) for the first time ever.

Its VERY obvious which players fall into which category when you see them in competitive games.

This favors large clubs because they have more players who are "repeating" U9 when in fact those players "should" be playing U10. I think this happened at Arlington, as one of their teams had a player at the Bethesda Thanksgiving tournament who was executing skills and decisions that aren't even taught to U9s because they don't have that level of spatial-reasoning ability developed yet after 1 season.

At that tournament, there were also girls playing in the U9 (2008) bracket who were dedicated goalkeepers and that you could tell had a lot of training, which doesn't add up for a player in their first season of U9 travel soccer.



Arlington -

1. Red
2. White

3. Blue
4. Black

5. Silver
6. Gold

One coach works with 2 teams.

2008s U9: If your player is not on Red/White, don't go to Arlington for U9. There is a major gap in the level of play between Red/White and the other teams. It will be REALLY hard to make Red/White unless your player is very, very good because players have been held back from playing U10 already with a year of experience.

2007s U10: Excellent coaching staff with Red/White and Blue/Black but I'm sure still very hard to make a good team because of so many players in Arlington, and players "held back" from U11 that played U10 last year.


Bethesda -

2008s U9 - you want to be on Academy Blue. Theres a big gap between Blue and White.
2009s U10 - don't know this age group very well but I would think its a competitive group since bethesda has its act together *most* of the time


Stoddert -

I don't know Stoddert as well at these age groups, but I've heard that U9 is not that competitive, while U10 is better organized.

The age change didn't allow anyone to play an extra year. Actually, it was the opposite. Most U8 players went up to U9, but some had to go from U8 straight to U10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

asksoccernova wrote:The 2008's (U9s) are a victim of the age group change from US Soccer last year.

Basically what has happened is that you have players who already played travel soccer (along with training) for a full year who were "held back" for a year at U9.
This has really messed things up, because you have players with a full year of experience mixed in with kids playing travel soccer (and with no advanced training yet) for the first time ever.

Its VERY obvious which players fall into which category when you see them in competitive games.

This favors large clubs because they have more players who are "repeating" U9 when in fact those players "should" be playing U10. I think this happened at Arlington, as one of their teams had a player at the Bethesda Thanksgiving tournament who was executing skills and decisions that aren't even taught to U9s because they don't have that level of spatial-reasoning ability developed yet after 1 season.

At that tournament, there were also girls playing in the U9 (2008) bracket who were dedicated goalkeepers and that you could tell had a lot of training, which doesn't add up for a player in their first season of U9 travel soccer.



Arlington -

1. Red
2. White

3. Blue
4. Black

5. Silver
6. Gold

One coach works with 2 teams.

2008s U9: If your player is not on Red/White, don't go to Arlington for U9. There is a major gap in the level of play between Red/White and the other teams. It will be REALLY hard to make Red/White unless your player is very, very good because players have been held back from playing U10 already with a year of experience.

2007s U10: Excellent coaching staff with Red/White and Blue/Black but I'm sure still very hard to make a good team because of so many players in Arlington, and players "held back" from U11 that played U10 last year.


Bethesda -

2008s U9 - you want to be on Academy Blue. Theres a big gap between Blue and White.
2009s U10 - don't know this age group very well but I would think its a competitive group since bethesda has its act together *most* of the time


Stoddert -

I don't know Stoddert as well at these age groups, but I've heard that U9 is not that competitive, while U10 is better organized.

The age change didn't allow anyone to play an extra year. Actually, it was the opposite. Most U8 players went up to U9, but some had to go from U8 straight to U10.

Now this is correct.

[Anonymous]

^^yes. Some first year kids had to skip the U9 year and go directly to U10.

That is a big difference initially. Though many clubs purposely put a few younger kids on at the U9 so they can drop them down to U9 again the following year as experienced players.

[Anonymous]

I've seen lots of parallels between the sport and the GT/AAP school programs in this area. Get them in as young as possible to mark their spot. Many who seem gifted in these younger years just do to an early introduction of skills---drop off the curve later when actual genetics/intelligence comes into play and others now have been taught the skill. It's hard for some of these mini pressured "geniusss" to take down the road. The grit often isn't there either. Peaking at 9 is tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've seen lots of parallels between the sport and the GT/AAP school programs in this area. Get them in as young as possible to mark their spot. Many who seem gifted in these younger years just do to an early introduction of skills---drop off the curve later when actual genetics/intelligence comes into play and others now have been taught the skill. It's hard for some of these mini pressured "geniusss" to take down the road. The grit often isn't there either. Peaking at 9 is tough.

Two of my kids friends that are DA U14 did not make their travel Club team at U9. We also know two that have moved from the D team to the A team after a growth spurt at 14.

[Anonymous]

Wow. Six teams in Arlington? No wonder the not-soccer sports are all complaining about field allotment. There can't possibly be that much talent in such a small county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Six teams in Arlington? No wonder the not-soccer sports are all complaining about field allotment. There can't possibly be that much talent in such a small county.

While the amount of "talent" is rather subjective the overwhelming popularity of soccer and the numbers of families who are willing to support such a large player pool is not subjective.

Perhaps at clubs the size of Arlington, SAC, and Loudoun the 3rd teams on down should only practice twice a week and be structured in such a way so the kids can actually play multiple sports. This might help them more in the long run whether it is soccer or not. Often the kids are placed on the lower teams for a combination of reasons; lack of size, speed, and general athleticism. And yes, a lack of soccer skills is likely evident being encouraged to play other sports may actually help improve the overall athlete in a way that a third soccer practice a week will not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

asksoccernova wrote:The 2008's (U9s) are a victim of the age group change from US Soccer last year.

Basically what has happened is that you have players who already played travel soccer (along with training) for a full year who were "held back" for a year at U9.
This has really messed things up, because you have players with a full year of experience mixed in with kids playing travel soccer (and with no advanced training yet) for the first time ever.

Its VERY obvious which players fall into which category when you see them in competitive games.

This favors large clubs because they have more players who are "repeating" U9 when in fact those players "should" be playing U10. I think this happened at Arlington, as one of their teams had a player at the Bethesda Thanksgiving tournament who was executing skills and decisions that aren't even taught to U9s because they don't have that level of spatial-reasoning ability developed yet after 1 season.

At that tournament, there were also girls playing in the U9 (2008) bracket who were dedicated goalkeepers and that you could tell had a lot of training, which doesn't add up for a player in their first season of U9 travel soccer.



Arlington -

1. Red
2. White

3. Blue
4. Black

5. Silver
6. Gold

One coach works with 2 teams.

2008s U9: If your player is not on Red/White, don't go to Arlington for U9. There is a major gap in the level of play between Red/White and the other teams. It will be REALLY hard to make Red/White unless your player is very, very good because players have been held back from playing U10 already with a year of experience.

2007s U10: Excellent coaching staff with Red/White and Blue/Black but I'm sure still very hard to make a good team because of so many players in Arlington, and players "held back" from U11 that played U10 last year.


Bethesda -

2008s U9 - you want to be on Academy Blue. Theres a big gap between Blue and White.
2009s U10 - don't know this age group very well but I would think its a competitive group since bethesda has its act together *most* of the time


Stoddert -

I don't know Stoddert as well at these age groups, but I've heard that U9 is not that competitive, while U10 is better organized.

The age change didn't allow anyone to play an extra year. Actually, it was the opposite. Most U8 players went up to U9, but some had to go from U8 straight to U10.

Now this is correct.

Yes, the coach has confused newbies on this board. This 2016-17 year's U9 teams are composed of 2008 birth year players that finished U8 last year, as well as U7 last year. Most U7 and U8 programs are rec, not travel, so no one had any advantage.


This 2016-17 year's U10 teams are composed of 2007 birth year players that finished U9 last year, as well as U8 last year. If you look at many big clubs U10 teams, the kids who played U9 travel last year dominate the A teams at the club, and the kids who played U8 rec last year are down on the C, D, and below teams. So, I guess that was the advantage of being born in the early part of the 2007 birth year.

[Anonymous]

Coach I had a question to get your input on. I have boy currently playing U9 travel with BRYC. With their move to ECNL they will no longer be in a league at the younger ages (u13 and below) and plan on replacing the weekend games with scrimmages which I assume can only be with their teammates since the other clubs will be in a league. I understand the games aren't training, however, we left rec for more competitive play and I am concerned he might get bored. Do we stick out with the same club or look for alternatives? Not really considering options long term since he could change sports or no longer be interested in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Coach I had a question to get your input on. I have boy currently playing U9 travel with BRYC. With their move to ECNL they will no longer be in a league at the younger ages (u13 and below) and plan on replacing the weekend games with scrimmages which I assume can only be with their teammates since the other clubs will be in a league. I understand the games aren't training, however, we left rec for more competitive play and I am concerned he might get bored. Do we stick out with the same club or look for alternatives? Not really considering options long term since he could change sports or no longer be interested in the future.

I have a kid playing at BRYC and have coached travel in another club. I would not leave BRYC for the reason you are considering so long as you and your son like the coach, and the training your son is receiving is good.

First, I am sure that most scrimmages at BRYC will NOT be with their own teammates. The club will set up friendlies with CCL teams when those other teams do not have games. Ditto with NCSL teams. In addition, some of the intra-club scrimmages will be against older and younger age groups within BRYC.

In short, I think you will find that tournaments and friendlies will provide enough competitive play to complement the excellent training your son receives at BRYC. Plus you will have more of a life on weekends not having to travel as much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Coach I had a question to get your input on. I have boy currently playing U9 travel with BRYC. With their move to ECNL they will no longer be in a league at the younger ages (u13 and below) and plan on replacing the weekend games with scrimmages which I assume can only be with their teammates since the other clubs will be in a league. I understand the games aren't training, however, we left rec for more competitive play and I am concerned he might get bored. Do we stick out with the same club or look for alternatives? Not really considering options long term since he could change sports or no longer be interested in the future.

I have a kid playing at BRYC and have coached travel in another club. I would not leave BRYC for the reason you are considering so long as you and your son like the coach, and the training your son is receiving is good.

First, I am sure that most scrimmages at BRYC will NOT be with their own teammates. The club will set up friendlies with CCL teams when those other teams do not have games. Ditto with NCSL teams. In addition, some of the intra-club scrimmages will be against older and younger age groups within BRYC.

In short, I think you will find that tournaments and friendlies will provide enough competitive play to complement the excellent training your son receives at BRYC. Plus you will have more of a life on weekends not having to travel as much.

Not the PP. How many kids is BRYC going to keep at this level for their training program prior to U13? I assume you still have to try out and make it. Does it include the Non-Elite side of the program. Is their goal to create/develop their own players to feed into the ECNL program and not rely on kids coming from other clubs to try-out. Curious about how this will work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Coach I had a question to get your input on. I have boy currently playing U9 travel with BRYC. With their move to ECNL they will no longer be in a league at the younger ages (u13 and below) and plan on replacing the weekend games with scrimmages which I assume can only be with their teammates since the other clubs will be in a league. I understand the games aren't training, however, we left rec for more competitive play and I am concerned he might get bored. Do we stick out with the same club or look for alternatives? Not really considering options long term since he could change sports or no longer be interested in the future.

I have a kid playing at BRYC and have coached travel in another club. I would not leave BRYC for the reason you are considering so long as you and your son like the coach, and the training your son is receiving is good.

First, I am sure that most scrimmages at BRYC will NOT be with their own teammates. The club will set up friendlies with CCL teams when those other teams do not have games. Ditto with NCSL teams. In addition, some of the intra-club scrimmages will be against older and younger age groups within BRYC.

In short, I think you will find that tournaments and friendlies will provide enough competitive play to complement the excellent training your son receives at BRYC. Plus you will have more of a life on weekends not having to travel as much.

Not the PP. How many kids is BRYC going to keep at this level for their training program prior to U13? I assume you still have to try out and make it. Does it include the Non-Elite side of the program. Is their goal to create/develop their own players to feed into the ECNL program and not rely on kids coming from other clubs to try-out. Curious about how this will work.

Prior to ECNL the coaches from U9/U10 told us that all the kids are accepted into the club. The tryouts didnt really matter. Not sure if that will change next season or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Coach I had a question to get your input on. I have boy currently playing U9 travel with BRYC. With their move to ECNL they will no longer be in a league at the younger ages (u13 and below) and plan on replacing the weekend games with scrimmages which I assume can only be with their teammates since the other clubs will be in a league. I understand the games aren't training, however, we left rec for more competitive play and I am concerned he might get bored. Do we stick out with the same club or look for alternatives? Not really considering options long term since he could change sports or no longer be interested in the future.

I have a kid playing at BRYC and have coached travel in another club. I would not leave BRYC for the reason you are considering so long as you and your son like the coach, and the training your son is receiving is good.

First, I am sure that most scrimmages at BRYC will NOT be with their own teammates. The club will set up friendlies with CCL teams when those other teams do not have games. Ditto with NCSL teams. In addition, some of the intra-club scrimmages will be against older and younger age groups within BRYC.

In short, I think you will find that tournaments and friendlies will provide enough competitive play to complement the excellent training your son receives at BRYC. Plus you will have more of a life on weekends not having to travel as much.

Great feedback and more information is supposed to come in regards to the scrimmages. I question the friendlies with other clubs considering those clubs are typically practicing 3x a week with games on weekends. You think this would be in addition to?