When to start playing in the burbs
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Anonymous
| At what age would you move your child out of the DC soccer travel teams to more competitive teams in either VA or MD? It seems like DC clubs lose talented kids as they get older - why aren't DC teams as good? |
Anonymous
| Because DC-proper sucks to raise kids in so the talent all moves to the burbs with their parents to find a mildly better environment in which to have a family? |
Anonymous
| I would say the sooner you join a more competitive team the better, so you're not playing catch up. I think DC teams aren't strong because so many families leave for VA and MD after elementary school. |
Anonymous
| Too many clubs in a small city. |
Anonymous
Yeah, give us the opiods and meth burbs instead Kids with big house and backyard in bedroom on screens all day 😂 |
Anonymous
"It seems like DC clubs lose talented kids as they get older" All clubs loose kids who are very good and want to play in higher leagues. If a players has been playing in DC Soccer and doing the extra skills clinics since age 5 and they are athletically gifted in some sense, they will probably want to leave by U13 to play in MLS Next, ECNL or GA. All clubs hate losing players who 'chase leagues.' Talk with anyone on the girls side of ASA and they have the same problem, as do many clubs. "At what age would you move your child out of the DC soccer travel teams to more competitive teams in either VA or MD?" Now, if you know you want to get on a top team, there are two decent paths I have seen work out. Path #1) Your kid looks like they could be on the US Olympic 100m dash team and is crazy fast. You could move over at any time. I have seen abnormally fast kids who look like sprinters, just show up and are offered spots almost immediately. (No coach can resist the idea of having physically more dominant players). Path #2) Your kid is average size and very technical. Move them over early to start getting on a team by U11. The teams are full of very technical players, who are average size. It will be otherwise hard for them to standout, with so many other talented kids at tryouts. "- why aren't DC teams as good?" Not just DC Teams, but other areas as well. I have noticed more pockets of concentrated soccer options offered in some others and none in others. Look at the McLean-Annandale to Springfield area and you will find a ton of extra soccer skills training and soccer fitness training being offered. It is easy for teammates in those areas to have team training and also go and do technical skills or fitness training that is close by. I have to drive at least 40 minutes in traffic to participate in such training. I would assume, that in DC you have a similar challenge... not enough, top notch skills clinics and fitness training. Lastly, good club leadership will attract and retain quality coaching staff. My old club had a lot of turnover. Every coach, I thought was good, left the club after 1 year. Then I attended a coaching clinic run by my old club... it was only helpful for the grassroots coaches. It wasn't a very good clinic for the travel coaches. It was very basic. Then, I saw how a few bigger clubs run their coaching clinics... and let's say, some clubs 1000% do a much better job of directing and leading their coaches. Those coaches get more out of the system and stick around, which makes the club better. If you see a lot of turnover in your club, it will be hard for the club to build a quality program that is as competitive. |
Anonymous
| In many of The Burbs, we value the high school team. So much better for the player, for their experience overall high school experience. They have a social group, at school. They have a stronger identity, at school. They have classmates cheering for them. Don't be so quick to look for something else. Consider what really is most important. |
Anonymous
Whenever they start showing promise and are obviously playing above their teammates. The big year is 12 so around 9 or 10 you need to make the move. |
Anonymous
We moved at U12 to a club that had an MLSNext team. DS is now on an MLSNext team. |
Anonymous
How is HS soccer better for a Bethesda MLS Next player? How long is HS season? Why wouldn't the Bethesda MLS Next player have the same friends as the HS player at his school? |
Anonymous
| I would move a child before 10yo. |
Anonymous
Hey man…the Pimmit Hills lady turned out to be right. Having worked in DC for a long time, in NE, SE, and Downtown, and did grad school in DC with some night classes, I’m pretty sure the city has its own opioid and meth issues. NW is more heroin, pot and coke though, so I can understand your comment if you’re from Chevy Chase, you don’t venture into the city up there. |
Anonymous
Big house and backyard sounds perfect for a soccer-crazy kid. No? I didn’t know DC didn’t have screens! That’s awesome. |
Anonymous
| This is tricky, OP. What does soccer mean to your kid? Are they super passionate about it or is it just a hobby? That would determine if you even need to find a more competitive team. If they are talented and love the sport, definitely make the move sooner. DC won’t provide what you’re looking for. |
Anonymous
Yeah, because all the suburbanites in MoCo with fake medical Marijuana cards make the drug use there more civilized and decent 🙄 |