2016 girl, Arlington pre-academy or McLean green?

[Anonymous]

Parents, which team will offer better player development? Arlington appears to be a more stable and well-organized club, with a clear pathway for strong players to progress. On the other hand, McLean has Mike Stankovic coaching that team, which is appealing, I guess? I’d really appreciate any input or insight you might have.

[Anonymous]

A troll post if I've ever seen one.

[Anonymous]

Neither. If you want your girl to be a baller join a boys team.

[Anonymous]

This is interesting. I just looked up Stankovic, and if McLean truly somehow landed a person of this stature to coach a U10 team, that is truly unheard of and earth-shattering. This guy coached and trained World Cup teams. I would have to say this is a massive advantage to any girl on that team in terms of development; I would think a coach like that would have a wealth of knowledge and expertise and see things to coach up players multiple times beyond the level of a "typical" coach from McLean, Arlington, or really any money-grabbing, flavor-of-the-week travel youth soccer club that always preach about development but don't actually care about it. So in terms of coaching, big advantage McLean here. But of course other factors like location and teammates matter as well. My U11 son plays for a small club that is nearby and with a great group of teammates, with a good coach. This has worked for us and he hopes to write his own ticket at MLSN tryouts next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is interesting. I just looked up Stankovic, and if McLean truly somehow landed a person of this stature to coach a U10 team, that is truly unheard of and earth-shattering. This guy coached and trained World Cup teams. I would have to say this is a massive advantage to any girl on that team in terms of development; I would think a coach like that would have a wealth of knowledge and expertise and see things to coach up players multiple times beyond the level of a "typical" coach from McLean, Arlington, or really any money-grabbing, flavor-of-the-week travel youth soccer club that always preach about development but don't actually care about it. So in terms of coaching, big advantage McLean here. But of course other factors like location and teammates matter as well. My U11 son plays for a small club that is nearby and with a great group of teammates, with a good coach. This has worked for us and he hopes to write his own ticket at MLSN tryouts next year.

Which club is your son at? Is it one that gets talked about here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents, which team will offer better player development? Arlington appears to be a more stable and well-organized club, with a clear pathway for strong players to progress. On the other hand, McLean has Mike Stankovic coaching that team, which is appealing, I guess? I’d really appreciate any input or insight you might have.

If Arlington so well organized why haven’t they released coaches yet for 2016 top team?
I’d go with McLean at least you know who the coaches are

[Anonymous]

Looks like Arlington has tryouts for the Pre ECNL and ECNL RL teams on 4/28. Would expect coaches for those teams to be out this week.

[Anonymous]

If they truly have Stankovic, well the decision is simple:
A coach with a D license or
A world cup coach with Pro A License.
I would ask Stankovic, what he sees in your player and what kind of long term commitment he makes to her development.
The biggest problem with youth soccer is that they all talk about development, but it is about winning at all cost.

[Anonymous]

If your daughter is good enough to be picked by a coach like Stankovic, her chances of getting to ECNL or any other high level club in 3 years is much much higher.
Go for it, dont lose the opposrtunity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your daughter is good enough to be picked by a coach like Stankovic, her chances of getting to ECNL or any other high level club in 3 years is much much higher.
Go for it, dont lose the opposrtunity.

Go for where the coach will develope not hope for wishful thinking about upping chances into getting into a league. Look at some current teams and see how many legacy players were cut being replaced by outside club members. Dont believe the hype!

[Anonymous]

The more interesting question is why is he coaching this one U10 team at McLean and no other team at McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your daughter is good enough to be picked by a coach like Stankovic, her chances of getting to ECNL or any other high level club in 3 years is much much higher.
Go for it, dont lose the opposrtunity.

Very few girls at the 2016 McLean soccer tryout. They used to be able to field 4 girls teams in the U9 age groups but in recent years, they are only able to field 3 girls teams. Probably less girls interested in playing soccer.

[Anonymous]

Not saying this Stankovic is necessarily a good or bad coach. I know nothing of him, but it also sounds like no one here has actually seen him coach either. The reality is coaching at the senior level and coaching a u10 team are ENTIRELY different things. Experience at the senior level has almost zero carry over to the younger youth levels. He may very well have the aptitude for both, but this is a clear appeal to authority fallacy. The same is true for licensure. USSF licensure has ZERO reflection on someones actual coaching ability.

[Anonymous]

He apparently was a significant coaching presence in the youth academy of Red Star Belgrade, perhaps speaking to his youth coaching chops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not saying this Stankovic is necessarily a good or bad coach. I know nothing of him, but it also sounds like no one here has actually seen him coach either. The reality is coaching at the senior level and coaching a u10 team are ENTIRELY different things. Experience at the senior level has almost zero carry over to the younger youth levels. He may very well have the aptitude for both, but this is a clear appeal to authority fallacy. The same is true for licensure. USSF licensure has ZERO reflection on someones actual coaching ability.

My reaction exactly. Genuinely surprised by the assumptions that he would necessarily make a great kid coach.