Riverbend FC

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Why would Loudoun remain connected to NVA now that they have their own GA and Aspire? Wouldn't they be better suited keeping all of their talent going forward? Are NVA employees still part of Loudoun staff and therefore the partnership. How can the pathway to NVA be Loudoun top teams and RBFC Aspire. Does Loudoun receive kickbacks for allowing NVA to use their fields? If the partnership broke, how would NVA get fields? Does Loudoun also have MLSN homegrown on the boys side or only NVA? This is all a bit confusing the way it is currently set-up.

Im pretty sure the ED and TD of Loudoun are the ones that run NVA

Still boggles the mind that folks don't understand Loudoun/NVA are two separate brands operated by the same people/organization. There is zero daylight between the too. Just look at your registration receipts.

Loudoun is becoming more like a feeder club to NVA and customers are catching on. and NVA can't financially operate on its own so brought Riverbend as another feeder club but more as extra revenue. Nothing more than that.

It’s kind of comical how confidently people post on here without actually understanding the structure.

Loudoun and NVA are already operated under the same ownership umbrella and share a lot of the same resources. But because both clubs compete in GA, there can’t just be free roster movement between them during the season.

Riverbend is different. It’s being positioned as an Aspire pathway club, which does allow in-season player movement with NVA. It also gives NVA a stronger footprint in a different county and creates a more direct pathway for Fairfax-area players into the system.

This isn’t some overnight “2027 season” play. They’re clearly building a long-term player development pipeline and regional structure that will probably take a few years to fully develop.

You lost me at "aspire pathway"

That’s fine, but that’s literally how the structure works.

GA clubs in the same league can’t freely move players back and forth in-season, which is why the Aspire designation matters here. Riverbend gives them a development and movement pathway that Loudoun can’t provide under current GA rules.

You don’t have to like the strategy, but there’s a difference between disagreeing with it and pretending it doesn’t exist.

Again I ask, how is Riverbend giving them anything when they have no players?

The Riverbend Aspire setup actually creates something that a lot of clubs in the area currently don’t have: a real internal pathway for girls who develop later or want to push to a higher level.

Right now at GFR, the highest level on the girls side is ECNL-RL, which depending on the team is probably comparable to Aspire anyway. But if a player there outgrows that environment and wants GA-level opportunities, the only real option is usually leaving the club and trying out somewhere else.

With Riverbend being connected into the NVA structure through Aspire, their top players will likely have opportunities to train with, guest play, and potentially move into the NVA GA environment over time. That’s a very different model than just being capped at one level inside your own club.

People keep acting like this is only about branding or league labels, but from a player development standpoint, the pathway piece is the real story. And it will take a few seasons to build I think, but who knows.

This will never happen with Riverbend. They have no ability to attract this level of player and the players that they are attempting to strong arm into the GA Aspire teams from LE are mid-level NCSL players AT BEST. There will never be an opportunity for those players to train with, guest play or move into the NVA GA environment. There is not enough patience in the world to see that happen.

You may be right, but who knows how this pans out. I've seen some strong players on GFR teams with no where to go, ECNL teams in the area won't even let them try out. I do know this, there is a lot of talent in Fairfax who do not have access to travel soccer because of the cost. Perhaps that will be RBFC's plan, to tap into that pool. I have heard that they have very deep pockets and are committed to building for the long haul.

Why would an ECNL team not let any top GFR players tryout?

Fairfax Union for instance would not consider a player from ECNL RL. They will pull from local GA teams but not RL.

Not true. FVU will take any player that is capable of competing at that level, regardless of where they are currently playing. This is silly.

Facts are facts. We see their rosters

hahaha. There are certainly kids from GFR on various NoVa ECNL-NL rosters, including kids that went straight from older RL teams. But please do go on and tell us all the provenance of all 250 FVU kids.

125 FVU kids, and not one played GFR ECNL RL

On the girls side that is correct for current players.

Now there are girls who played at GFR before U13 and are now on ECNL teams. And there are girls from years ago that did it.

Yes, I said GFR ECRL

So excluding anyone who went at the logical u13 age?

Yes, it will be difficult to go to FVU once you are on GFR ECRL

Not sure there’s any basis for that.

But some of them could definitely make NVA GA without any detour through RbFC.

The basis is there are no girls on FVU currently that started as GFR RL players. I dont know what else you are looking for.

Funny, if I were an ECNL coach I would be pursuing several GFR players especially on the girls side. I believe their 2013s are mid Atlantic champions and 2014s are solid too.

I wouldn't doubt it. GFR covers a lot of territory, and I've seen real talent at the younger ages. My guess is the top GFR players at those ages made their play for a higher level a few months ago.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Why would Loudoun remain connected to NVA now that they have their own GA and Aspire? Wouldn't they be better suited keeping all of their talent going forward? Are NVA employees still part of Loudoun staff and therefore the partnership. How can the pathway to NVA be Loudoun top teams and RBFC Aspire. Does Loudoun receive kickbacks for allowing NVA to use their fields? If the partnership broke, how would NVA get fields? Does Loudoun also have MLSN homegrown on the boys side or only NVA? This is all a bit confusing the way it is currently set-up.

Im pretty sure the ED and TD of Loudoun are the ones that run NVA

Still boggles the mind that folks don't understand Loudoun/NVA are two separate brands operated by the same people/organization. There is zero daylight between the too. Just look at your registration receipts.

Loudoun is becoming more like a feeder club to NVA and customers are catching on. and NVA can't financially operate on its own so brought Riverbend as another feeder club but more as extra revenue. Nothing more than that.

It’s kind of comical how confidently people post on here without actually understanding the structure.

Loudoun and NVA are already operated under the same ownership umbrella and share a lot of the same resources. But because both clubs compete in GA, there can’t just be free roster movement between them during the season.

Riverbend is different. It’s being positioned as an Aspire pathway club, which does allow in-season player movement with NVA. It also gives NVA a stronger footprint in a different county and creates a more direct pathway for Fairfax-area players into the system.

This isn’t some overnight “2027 season” play. They’re clearly building a long-term player development pipeline and regional structure that will probably take a few years to fully develop.

You lost me at "aspire pathway"

That’s fine, but that’s literally how the structure works.

GA clubs in the same league can’t freely move players back and forth in-season, which is why the Aspire designation matters here. Riverbend gives them a development and movement pathway that Loudoun can’t provide under current GA rules.

You don’t have to like the strategy, but there’s a difference between disagreeing with it and pretending it doesn’t exist.

Again I ask, how is Riverbend giving them anything when they have no players?

The Riverbend Aspire setup actually creates something that a lot of clubs in the area currently don’t have: a real internal pathway for girls who develop later or want to push to a higher level.

Right now at GFR, the highest level on the girls side is ECNL-RL, which depending on the team is probably comparable to Aspire anyway. But if a player there outgrows that environment and wants GA-level opportunities, the only real option is usually leaving the club and trying out somewhere else.

With Riverbend being connected into the NVA structure through Aspire, their top players will likely have opportunities to train with, guest play, and potentially move into the NVA GA environment over time. That’s a very different model than just being capped at one level inside your own club.

People keep acting like this is only about branding or league labels, but from a player development standpoint, the pathway piece is the real story. And it will take a few seasons to build I think, but who knows.

This will never happen with Riverbend. They have no ability to attract this level of player and the players that they are attempting to strong arm into the GA Aspire teams from LE are mid-level NCSL players AT BEST. There will never be an opportunity for those players to train with, guest play or move into the NVA GA environment. There is not enough patience in the world to see that happen.

You may be right, but who knows how this pans out. I've seen some strong players on GFR teams with no where to go, ECNL teams in the area won't even let them try out. I do know this, there is a lot of talent in Fairfax who do not have access to travel soccer because of the cost. Perhaps that will be RBFC's plan, to tap into that pool. I have heard that they have very deep pockets and are committed to building for the long haul.

Why would an ECNL team not let any top GFR players tryout?

Fairfax Union for instance would not consider a player from ECNL RL. They will pull from local GA teams but not RL.

Not true. FVU will take any player that is capable of competing at that level, regardless of where they are currently playing. This is silly.

Facts are facts. We see their rosters

hahaha. There are certainly kids from GFR on various NoVa ECNL-NL rosters, including kids that went straight from older RL teams. But please do go on and tell us all the provenance of all 250 FVU kids.

125 FVU kids, and not one played GFR ECNL RL

On the girls side that is correct for current players.

Now there are girls who played at GFR before U13 and are now on ECNL teams. And there are girls from years ago that did it.

Yes, I said GFR ECRL

So excluding anyone who went at the logical u13 age?

Yes, it will be difficult to go to FVU once you are on GFR ECRL

Not sure there’s any basis for that.

But some of them could definitely make NVA GA without any detour through RbFC.

The basis is there are no girls on FVU currently that started as GFR RL players. I dont know what else you are looking for.

That assumes that they tried to and didn’t make it. But why would they want to go to that Charlie Foxtrot?

Very true, but my point was its not a pathway for top GFR ECRL players who want to move to ECNL or GA.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Why would Loudoun remain connected to NVA now that they have their own GA and Aspire? Wouldn't they be better suited keeping all of their talent going forward? Are NVA employees still part of Loudoun staff and therefore the partnership. How can the pathway to NVA be Loudoun top teams and RBFC Aspire. Does Loudoun receive kickbacks for allowing NVA to use their fields? If the partnership broke, how would NVA get fields? Does Loudoun also have MLSN homegrown on the boys side or only NVA? This is all a bit confusing the way it is currently set-up.

Im pretty sure the ED and TD of Loudoun are the ones that run NVA

Still boggles the mind that folks don't understand Loudoun/NVA are two separate brands operated by the same people/organization. There is zero daylight between the too. Just look at your registration receipts.

Loudoun is becoming more like a feeder club to NVA and customers are catching on. and NVA can't financially operate on its own so brought Riverbend as another feeder club but more as extra revenue. Nothing more than that.

It’s kind of comical how confidently people post on here without actually understanding the structure.

Loudoun and NVA are already operated under the same ownership umbrella and share a lot of the same resources. But because both clubs compete in GA, there can’t just be free roster movement between them during the season.

Riverbend is different. It’s being positioned as an Aspire pathway club, which does allow in-season player movement with NVA. It also gives NVA a stronger footprint in a different county and creates a more direct pathway for Fairfax-area players into the system.

This isn’t some overnight “2027 season” play. They’re clearly building a long-term player development pipeline and regional structure that will probably take a few years to fully develop.

You lost me at "aspire pathway"

That’s fine, but that’s literally how the structure works.

GA clubs in the same league can’t freely move players back and forth in-season, which is why the Aspire designation matters here. Riverbend gives them a development and movement pathway that Loudoun can’t provide under current GA rules.

You don’t have to like the strategy, but there’s a difference between disagreeing with it and pretending it doesn’t exist.

Again I ask, how is Riverbend giving them anything when they have no players?

The Riverbend Aspire setup actually creates something that a lot of clubs in the area currently don’t have: a real internal pathway for girls who develop later or want to push to a higher level.

Right now at GFR, the highest level on the girls side is ECNL-RL, which depending on the team is probably comparable to Aspire anyway. But if a player there outgrows that environment and wants GA-level opportunities, the only real option is usually leaving the club and trying out somewhere else.

With Riverbend being connected into the NVA structure through Aspire, their top players will likely have opportunities to train with, guest play, and potentially move into the NVA GA environment over time. That’s a very different model than just being capped at one level inside your own club.

People keep acting like this is only about branding or league labels, but from a player development standpoint, the pathway piece is the real story. And it will take a few seasons to build I think, but who knows.

This will never happen with Riverbend. They have no ability to attract this level of player and the players that they are attempting to strong arm into the GA Aspire teams from LE are mid-level NCSL players AT BEST. There will never be an opportunity for those players to train with, guest play or move into the NVA GA environment. There is not enough patience in the world to see that happen.

You may be right, but who knows how this pans out. I've seen some strong players on GFR teams with no where to go, ECNL teams in the area won't even let them try out. I do know this, there is a lot of talent in Fairfax who do not have access to travel soccer because of the cost. Perhaps that will be RBFC's plan, to tap into that pool. I have heard that they have very deep pockets and are committed to building for the long haul.

Why would an ECNL team not let any top GFR players tryout?

Fairfax Union for instance would not consider a player from ECNL RL. They will pull from local GA teams but not RL.

Not true. FVU will take any player that is capable of competing at that level, regardless of where they are currently playing. This is silly.

Facts are facts. We see their rosters

hahaha. There are certainly kids from GFR on various NoVa ECNL-NL rosters, including kids that went straight from older RL teams. But please do go on and tell us all the provenance of all 250 FVU kids.

125 FVU kids, and not one played GFR ECNL RL

On the girls side that is correct for current players.

Now there are girls who played at GFR before U13 and are now on ECNL teams. And there are girls from years ago that did it.

Yes, I said GFR ECRL

So excluding anyone who went at the logical u13 age?

Yes, it will be difficult to go to FVU once you are on GFR ECRL

Not sure there’s any basis for that.

But some of them could definitely make NVA GA without any detour through RbFC.

The basis is there are no girls on FVU currently that started as GFR RL players. I dont know what else you are looking for.

Funny, if I were an ECNL coach I would be pursuing several GFR players especially on the girls side. I believe their 2013s are mid Atlantic champions and 2014s are solid too.

I wouldn't doubt it. GFR covers a lot of territory, and I've seen real talent at the younger ages. My guess is the top GFR players at those ages made their play for a higher level a few months ago.

and, believe it or not, some of the really good gfr players are perfectly content playing at gfr.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Why would Loudoun remain connected to NVA now that they have their own GA and Aspire? Wouldn't they be better suited keeping all of their talent going forward? Are NVA employees still part of Loudoun staff and therefore the partnership. How can the pathway to NVA be Loudoun top teams and RBFC Aspire. Does Loudoun receive kickbacks for allowing NVA to use their fields? If the partnership broke, how would NVA get fields? Does Loudoun also have MLSN homegrown on the boys side or only NVA? This is all a bit confusing the way it is currently set-up.

Im pretty sure the ED and TD of Loudoun are the ones that run NVA

Still boggles the mind that folks don't understand Loudoun/NVA are two separate brands operated by the same people/organization. There is zero daylight between the too. Just look at your registration receipts.

Loudoun is becoming more like a feeder club to NVA and customers are catching on. and NVA can't financially operate on its own so brought Riverbend as another feeder club but more as extra revenue. Nothing more than that.

It’s kind of comical how confidently people post on here without actually understanding the structure.

Loudoun and NVA are already operated under the same ownership umbrella and share a lot of the same resources. But because both clubs compete in GA, there can’t just be free roster movement between them during the season.

Riverbend is different. It’s being positioned as an Aspire pathway club, which does allow in-season player movement with NVA. It also gives NVA a stronger footprint in a different county and creates a more direct pathway for Fairfax-area players into the system.

This isn’t some overnight “2027 season” play. They’re clearly building a long-term player development pipeline and regional structure that will probably take a few years to fully develop.

You lost me at "aspire pathway"

That’s fine, but that’s literally how the structure works.

GA clubs in the same league can’t freely move players back and forth in-season, which is why the Aspire designation matters here. Riverbend gives them a development and movement pathway that Loudoun can’t provide under current GA rules.

You don’t have to like the strategy, but there’s a difference between disagreeing with it and pretending it doesn’t exist.

Again I ask, how is Riverbend giving them anything when they have no players?

The Riverbend Aspire setup actually creates something that a lot of clubs in the area currently don’t have: a real internal pathway for girls who develop later or want to push to a higher level.

Right now at GFR, the highest level on the girls side is ECNL-RL, which depending on the team is probably comparable to Aspire anyway. But if a player there outgrows that environment and wants GA-level opportunities, the only real option is usually leaving the club and trying out somewhere else.

With Riverbend being connected into the NVA structure through Aspire, their top players will likely have opportunities to train with, guest play, and potentially move into the NVA GA environment over time. That’s a very different model than just being capped at one level inside your own club.

People keep acting like this is only about branding or league labels, but from a player development standpoint, the pathway piece is the real story. And it will take a few seasons to build I think, but who knows.

This will never happen with Riverbend. They have no ability to attract this level of player and the players that they are attempting to strong arm into the GA Aspire teams from LE are mid-level NCSL players AT BEST. There will never be an opportunity for those players to train with, guest play or move into the NVA GA environment. There is not enough patience in the world to see that happen.

You may be right, but who knows how this pans out. I've seen some strong players on GFR teams with no where to go, ECNL teams in the area won't even let them try out. I do know this, there is a lot of talent in Fairfax who do not have access to travel soccer because of the cost. Perhaps that will be RBFC's plan, to tap into that pool. I have heard that they have very deep pockets and are committed to building for the long haul.

Why would an ECNL team not let any top GFR players tryout?

Fairfax Union for instance would not consider a player from ECNL RL. They will pull from local GA teams but not RL.

Not true. FVU will take any player that is capable of competing at that level, regardless of where they are currently playing. This is silly.

Facts are facts. We see their rosters

hahaha. There are certainly kids from GFR on various NoVa ECNL-NL rosters, including kids that went straight from older RL teams. But please do go on and tell us all the provenance of all 250 FVU kids.

125 FVU kids, and not one played GFR ECNL RL

On the girls side that is correct for current players.

Now there are girls who played at GFR before U13 and are now on ECNL teams. And there are girls from years ago that did it.

Yes, I said GFR ECRL

So excluding anyone who went at the logical u13 age?

Yes, it will be difficult to go to FVU once you are on GFR ECRL

Not sure there’s any basis for that.

But some of them could definitely make NVA GA without any detour through RbFC.

The basis is there are no girls on FVU currently that started as GFR RL players. I dont know what else you are looking for.

Funny, if I were an ECNL coach I would be pursuing several GFR players especially on the girls side. I believe their 2013s are mid Atlantic champions and 2014s are solid too.

I wouldn't doubt it. GFR covers a lot of territory, and I've seen real talent at the younger ages. My guess is the top GFR players at those ages made their play for a higher level a few months ago.

and, believe it or not, some of the really good gfr players are perfectly content playing at gfr.

I believe you, and I think this is the way. We all forget sometimes that our kids want to play with their friends and playing high school soccer is a great experience for them. Hour long commutes to practice 4 times a week kills the joy pretty quickly.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Why would Loudoun remain connected to NVA now that they have their own GA and Aspire? Wouldn't they be better suited keeping all of their talent going forward? Are NVA employees still part of Loudoun staff and therefore the partnership. How can the pathway to NVA be Loudoun top teams and RBFC Aspire. Does Loudoun receive kickbacks for allowing NVA to use their fields? If the partnership broke, how would NVA get fields? Does Loudoun also have MLSN homegrown on the boys side or only NVA? This is all a bit confusing the way it is currently set-up.

Im pretty sure the ED and TD of Loudoun are the ones that run NVA

Still boggles the mind that folks don't understand Loudoun/NVA are two separate brands operated by the same people/organization. There is zero daylight between the too. Just look at your registration receipts.

Loudoun is becoming more like a feeder club to NVA and customers are catching on. and NVA can't financially operate on its own so brought Riverbend as another feeder club but more as extra revenue. Nothing more than that.

It’s kind of comical how confidently people post on here without actually understanding the structure.

Loudoun and NVA are already operated under the same ownership umbrella and share a lot of the same resources. But because both clubs compete in GA, there can’t just be free roster movement between them during the season.

Riverbend is different. It’s being positioned as an Aspire pathway club, which does allow in-season player movement with NVA. It also gives NVA a stronger footprint in a different county and creates a more direct pathway for Fairfax-area players into the system.

This isn’t some overnight “2027 season” play. They’re clearly building a long-term player development pipeline and regional structure that will probably take a few years to fully develop.

You lost me at "aspire pathway"

That’s fine, but that’s literally how the structure works.

GA clubs in the same league can’t freely move players back and forth in-season, which is why the Aspire designation matters here. Riverbend gives them a development and movement pathway that Loudoun can’t provide under current GA rules.

You don’t have to like the strategy, but there’s a difference between disagreeing with it and pretending it doesn’t exist.

Again I ask, how is Riverbend giving them anything when they have no players?

The Riverbend Aspire setup actually creates something that a lot of clubs in the area currently don’t have: a real internal pathway for girls who develop later or want to push to a higher level.

Right now at GFR, the highest level on the girls side is ECNL-RL, which depending on the team is probably comparable to Aspire anyway. But if a player there outgrows that environment and wants GA-level opportunities, the only real option is usually leaving the club and trying out somewhere else.

With Riverbend being connected into the NVA structure through Aspire, their top players will likely have opportunities to train with, guest play, and potentially move into the NVA GA environment over time. That’s a very different model than just being capped at one level inside your own club.

People keep acting like this is only about branding or league labels, but from a player development standpoint, the pathway piece is the real story. And it will take a few seasons to build I think, but who knows.

This will never happen with Riverbend. They have no ability to attract this level of player and the players that they are attempting to strong arm into the GA Aspire teams from LE are mid-level NCSL players AT BEST. There will never be an opportunity for those players to train with, guest play or move into the NVA GA environment. There is not enough patience in the world to see that happen.

You may be right, but who knows how this pans out. I've seen some strong players on GFR teams with no where to go, ECNL teams in the area won't even let them try out. I do know this, there is a lot of talent in Fairfax who do not have access to travel soccer because of the cost. Perhaps that will be RBFC's plan, to tap into that pool. I have heard that they have very deep pockets and are committed to building for the long haul.

Why would an ECNL team not let any top GFR players tryout?

Fairfax Union for instance would not consider a player from ECNL RL. They will pull from local GA teams but not RL.

Not true. FVU will take any player that is capable of competing at that level, regardless of where they are currently playing. This is silly.

Facts are facts. We see their rosters

hahaha. There are certainly kids from GFR on various NoVa ECNL-NL rosters, including kids that went straight from older RL teams. But please do go on and tell us all the provenance of all 250 FVU kids.

125 FVU kids, and not one played GFR ECNL RL

On the girls side that is correct for current players.

Now there are girls who played at GFR before U13 and are now on ECNL teams. And there are girls from years ago that did it.

Yes, I said GFR ECRL

So excluding anyone who went at the logical u13 age?

Yes, it will be difficult to go to FVU once you are on GFR ECRL

Not sure there’s any basis for that.

But some of them could definitely make NVA GA without any detour through RbFC.

The basis is there are no girls on FVU currently that started as GFR RL players. I dont know what else you are looking for.

Funny, if I were an ECNL coach I would be pursuing several GFR players especially on the girls side. I believe their 2013s are mid Atlantic champions and 2014s are solid too.

I wouldn't doubt it. GFR covers a lot of territory, and I've seen real talent at the younger ages. My guess is the top GFR players at those ages made their play for a higher level a few months ago.

and, believe it or not, some of the really good gfr players are perfectly content playing at gfr.

I believe you, and I think this is the way. We all forget sometimes that our kids want to play with their friends and playing high school soccer is a great experience for them. Hour long commutes to practice 4 times a week kills the joy pretty quickly.

Exactly. And that's they RBFC should stick to this concept rather than trying to rope kids into NVA Aspire. You don't have a "pathway" you have ONE option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would Loudoun remain connected to NVA now that they have their own GA and Aspire? Wouldn't they be better suited keeping all of their talent going forward? Are NVA employees still part of Loudoun staff and therefore the partnership. How can the pathway to NVA be Loudoun top teams and RBFC Aspire. Does Loudoun receive kickbacks for allowing NVA to use their fields? If the partnership broke, how would NVA get fields? Does Loudoun also have MLSN homegrown on the boys side or only NVA? This is all a bit confusing the way it is currently set-up.

Im pretty sure the ED and TD of Loudoun are the ones that run NVA

Still boggles the mind that folks don't understand Loudoun/NVA are two separate brands operated by the same people/organization. There is zero daylight between the too. Just look at your registration receipts.

Loudoun is becoming more like a feeder club to NVA and customers are catching on. and NVA can't financially operate on its own so brought Riverbend as another feeder club but more as extra revenue. Nothing more than that.

It’s kind of comical how confidently people post on here without actually understanding the structure.

Loudoun and NVA are already operated under the same ownership umbrella and share a lot of the same resources. But because both clubs compete in GA, there can’t just be free roster movement between them during the season.

Riverbend is different. It’s being positioned as an Aspire pathway club, which does allow in-season player movement with NVA. It also gives NVA a stronger footprint in a different county and creates a more direct pathway for Fairfax-area players into the system.

This isn’t some overnight “2027 season” play. They’re clearly building a long-term player development pipeline and regional structure that will probably take a few years to fully develop.

You lost me at "aspire pathway"

That’s fine, but that’s literally how the structure works.

GA clubs in the same league can’t freely move players back and forth in-season, which is why the Aspire designation matters here. Riverbend gives them a development and movement pathway that Loudoun can’t provide under current GA rules.

You don’t have to like the strategy, but there’s a difference between disagreeing with it and pretending it doesn’t exist.

Again I ask, how is Riverbend giving them anything when they have no players?

The Riverbend Aspire setup actually creates something that a lot of clubs in the area currently don’t have: a real internal pathway for girls who develop later or want to push to a higher level.

Right now at GFR, the highest level on the girls side is ECNL-RL, which depending on the team is probably comparable to Aspire anyway. But if a player there outgrows that environment and wants GA-level opportunities, the only real option is usually leaving the club and trying out somewhere else.

With Riverbend being connected into the NVA structure through Aspire, their top players will likely have opportunities to train with, guest play, and potentially move into the NVA GA environment over time. That’s a very different model than just being capped at one level inside your own club.

People keep acting like this is only about branding or league labels, but from a player development standpoint, the pathway piece is the real story. And it will take a few seasons to build I think, but who knows.

This will never happen with Riverbend. They have no ability to attract this level of player and the players that they are attempting to strong arm into the GA Aspire teams from LE are mid-level NCSL players AT BEST. There will never be an opportunity for those players to train with, guest play or move into the NVA GA environment. There is not enough patience in the world to see that happen.

You may be right, but who knows how this pans out. I've seen some strong players on GFR teams with no where to go, ECNL teams in the area won't even let them try out. I do know this, there is a lot of talent in Fairfax who do not have access to travel soccer because of the cost. Perhaps that will be RBFC's plan, to tap into that pool. I have heard that they have very deep pockets and are committed to building for the long haul.

Why would an ECNL team not let any top GFR players tryout?

Fairfax Union for instance would not consider a player from ECNL RL. They will pull from local GA teams but not RL.

Not true. FVU will take any player that is capable of competing at that level, regardless of where they are currently playing. This is silly.

Facts are facts. We see their rosters

hahaha. There are certainly kids from GFR on various NoVa ECNL-NL rosters, including kids that went straight from older RL teams. But please do go on and tell us all the provenance of all 250 FVU kids.

125 FVU kids, and not one played GFR ECNL RL

Sorry, I won't take the word of someone who can't even do basic math. So I scanned through the rosters. There are several ex-GFR in just the three age groups I know. Why are you lying?

6 FVU girls teams and an average of 21 players per team. GFR ECRL starts at U13

You know there are boys teams at both clubs, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would Loudoun remain connected to NVA now that they have their own GA and Aspire? Wouldn't they be better suited keeping all of their talent going forward? Are NVA employees still part of Loudoun staff and therefore the partnership. How can the pathway to NVA be Loudoun top teams and RBFC Aspire. Does Loudoun receive kickbacks for allowing NVA to use their fields? If the partnership broke, how would NVA get fields? Does Loudoun also have MLSN homegrown on the boys side or only NVA? This is all a bit confusing the way it is currently set-up.

Im pretty sure the ED and TD of Loudoun are the ones that run NVA

Still boggles the mind that folks don't understand Loudoun/NVA are two separate brands operated by the same people/organization. There is zero daylight between the too. Just look at your registration receipts.

Loudoun is becoming more like a feeder club to NVA and customers are catching on. and NVA can't financially operate on its own so brought Riverbend as another feeder club but more as extra revenue. Nothing more than that.

It’s kind of comical how confidently people post on here without actually understanding the structure.

Loudoun and NVA are already operated under the same ownership umbrella and share a lot of the same resources. But because both clubs compete in GA, there can’t just be free roster movement between them during the season.

Riverbend is different. It’s being positioned as an Aspire pathway club, which does allow in-season player movement with NVA. It also gives NVA a stronger footprint in a different county and creates a more direct pathway for Fairfax-area players into the system.

This isn’t some overnight “2027 season” play. They’re clearly building a long-term player development pipeline and regional structure that will probably take a few years to fully develop.

You lost me at "aspire pathway"

That’s fine, but that’s literally how the structure works.

GA clubs in the same league can’t freely move players back and forth in-season, which is why the Aspire designation matters here. Riverbend gives them a development and movement pathway that Loudoun can’t provide under current GA rules.

You don’t have to like the strategy, but there’s a difference between disagreeing with it and pretending it doesn’t exist.

Again I ask, how is Riverbend giving them anything when they have no players?

The Riverbend Aspire setup actually creates something that a lot of clubs in the area currently don’t have: a real internal pathway for girls who develop later or want to push to a higher level.

Right now at GFR, the highest level on the girls side is ECNL-RL, which depending on the team is probably comparable to Aspire anyway. But if a player there outgrows that environment and wants GA-level opportunities, the only real option is usually leaving the club and trying out somewhere else.

With Riverbend being connected into the NVA structure through Aspire, their top players will likely have opportunities to train with, guest play, and potentially move into the NVA GA environment over time. That’s a very different model than just being capped at one level inside your own club.

People keep acting like this is only about branding or league labels, but from a player development standpoint, the pathway piece is the real story. And it will take a few seasons to build I think, but who knows.

This will never happen with Riverbend. They have no ability to attract this level of player and the players that they are attempting to strong arm into the GA Aspire teams from LE are mid-level NCSL players AT BEST. There will never be an opportunity for those players to train with, guest play or move into the NVA GA environment. There is not enough patience in the world to see that happen.

You may be right, but who knows how this pans out. I've seen some strong players on GFR teams with no where to go, ECNL teams in the area won't even let them try out. I do know this, there is a lot of talent in Fairfax who do not have access to travel soccer because of the cost. Perhaps that will be RBFC's plan, to tap into that pool. I have heard that they have very deep pockets and are committed to building for the long haul.

Why would an ECNL team not let any top GFR players tryout?

Fairfax Union for instance would not consider a player from ECNL RL. They will pull from local GA teams but not RL.

Not true. FVU will take any player that is capable of competing at that level, regardless of where they are currently playing. This is silly.

Facts are facts. We see their rosters

hahaha. There are certainly kids from GFR on various NoVa ECNL-NL rosters, including kids that went straight from older RL teams. But please do go on and tell us all the provenance of all 250 FVU kids.

125 FVU kids, and not one played GFR ECNL RL

Sorry, I won't take the word of someone who can't even do basic math. So I scanned through the rosters. There are several ex-GFR in just the three age groups I know. Why are you lying?

6 FVU girls teams and an average of 21 players per team. GFR ECRL starts at U13

You know there are boys teams at both clubs, right?

Yes but generally they can’t play for GA Aspire, which is what started this discussion.

Which makes me wonder, does RbFC have an NVA MLSN2 team too? Or no NVA “pathway” for the boys?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would Loudoun remain connected to NVA now that they have their own GA and Aspire? Wouldn't they be better suited keeping all of their talent going forward? Are NVA employees still part of Loudoun staff and therefore the partnership. How can the pathway to NVA be Loudoun top teams and RBFC Aspire. Does Loudoun receive kickbacks for allowing NVA to use their fields? If the partnership broke, how would NVA get fields? Does Loudoun also have MLSN homegrown on the boys side or only NVA? This is all a bit confusing the way it is currently set-up.

Im pretty sure the ED and TD of Loudoun are the ones that run NVA

Still boggles the mind that folks don't understand Loudoun/NVA are two separate brands operated by the same people/organization. There is zero daylight between the too. Just look at your registration receipts.

Loudoun is becoming more like a feeder club to NVA and customers are catching on. and NVA can't financially operate on its own so brought Riverbend as another feeder club but more as extra revenue. Nothing more than that.

It’s kind of comical how confidently people post on here without actually understanding the structure.

Loudoun and NVA are already operated under the same ownership umbrella and share a lot of the same resources. But because both clubs compete in GA, there can’t just be free roster movement between them during the season.

Riverbend is different. It’s being positioned as an Aspire pathway club, which does allow in-season player movement with NVA. It also gives NVA a stronger footprint in a different county and creates a more direct pathway for Fairfax-area players into the system.

This isn’t some overnight “2027 season” play. They’re clearly building a long-term player development pipeline and regional structure that will probably take a few years to fully develop.

You lost me at "aspire pathway"

That’s fine, but that’s literally how the structure works.

GA clubs in the same league can’t freely move players back and forth in-season, which is why the Aspire designation matters here. Riverbend gives them a development and movement pathway that Loudoun can’t provide under current GA rules.

You don’t have to like the strategy, but there’s a difference between disagreeing with it and pretending it doesn’t exist.

Again I ask, how is Riverbend giving them anything when they have no players?

The Riverbend Aspire setup actually creates something that a lot of clubs in the area currently don’t have: a real internal pathway for girls who develop later or want to push to a higher level.

Right now at GFR, the highest level on the girls side is ECNL-RL, which depending on the team is probably comparable to Aspire anyway. But if a player there outgrows that environment and wants GA-level opportunities, the only real option is usually leaving the club and trying out somewhere else.

With Riverbend being connected into the NVA structure through Aspire, their top players will likely have opportunities to train with, guest play, and potentially move into the NVA GA environment over time. That’s a very different model than just being capped at one level inside your own club.

People keep acting like this is only about branding or league labels, but from a player development standpoint, the pathway piece is the real story. And it will take a few seasons to build I think, but who knows.

This will never happen with Riverbend. They have no ability to attract this level of player and the players that they are attempting to strong arm into the GA Aspire teams from LE are mid-level NCSL players AT BEST. There will never be an opportunity for those players to train with, guest play or move into the NVA GA environment. There is not enough patience in the world to see that happen.

You may be right, but who knows how this pans out. I've seen some strong players on GFR teams with no where to go, ECNL teams in the area won't even let them try out. I do know this, there is a lot of talent in Fairfax who do not have access to travel soccer because of the cost. Perhaps that will be RBFC's plan, to tap into that pool. I have heard that they have very deep pockets and are committed to building for the long haul.

Why would an ECNL team not let any top GFR players tryout?

Fairfax Union for instance would not consider a player from ECNL RL. They will pull from local GA teams but not RL.

Not true. FVU will take any player that is capable of competing at that level, regardless of where they are currently playing. This is silly.

Facts are facts. We see their rosters

hahaha. There are certainly kids from GFR on various NoVa ECNL-NL rosters, including kids that went straight from older RL teams. But please do go on and tell us all the provenance of all 250 FVU kids.

125 FVU kids, and not one played GFR ECNL RL

On the girls side that is correct for current players.

Now there are girls who played at GFR before U13 and are now on ECNL teams. And there are girls from years ago that did it.

Yes, I said GFR ECRL

So excluding anyone who went at the logical u13 age?

Yes, it will be difficult to go to FVU once you are on GFR ECRL

Not sure there’s any basis for that.

But some of them could definitely make NVA GA without any detour through RbFC.

The basis is there are no girls on FVU currently that started as GFR RL players. I dont know what else you are looking for.

Funny, if I were an ECNL coach I would be pursuing several GFR players especially on the girls side. I believe their 2013s are mid Atlantic champions and 2014s are solid too.

I wouldn't doubt it. GFR covers a lot of territory, and I've seen real talent at the younger ages. My guess is the top GFR players at those ages made their play for a higher level a few months ago.

and, believe it or not, some of the really good gfr players are perfectly content playing at gfr.

I believe you, and I think this is the way. We all forget sometimes that our kids want to play with their friends and playing high school soccer is a great experience for them. Hour long commutes to practice 4 times a week kills the joy pretty quickly.

Exactly. And that's they RBFC should stick to this concept rather than trying to rope kids into NVA Aspire. You don't have a "pathway" you have ONE option.

It really comes down to Aspire or ECRL.
Can’t have two in the same league so close to each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would Loudoun remain connected to NVA now that they have their own GA and Aspire? Wouldn't they be better suited keeping all of their talent going forward? Are NVA employees still part of Loudoun staff and therefore the partnership. How can the pathway to NVA be Loudoun top teams and RBFC Aspire. Does Loudoun receive kickbacks for allowing NVA to use their fields? If the partnership broke, how would NVA get fields? Does Loudoun also have MLSN homegrown on the boys side or only NVA? This is all a bit confusing the way it is currently set-up.

Im pretty sure the ED and TD of Loudoun are the ones that run NVA

Still boggles the mind that folks don't understand Loudoun/NVA are two separate brands operated by the same people/organization. There is zero daylight between the too. Just look at your registration receipts.

Loudoun is becoming more like a feeder club to NVA and customers are catching on. and NVA can't financially operate on its own so brought Riverbend as another feeder club but more as extra revenue. Nothing more than that.

It’s kind of comical how confidently people post on here without actually understanding the structure.

Loudoun and NVA are already operated under the same ownership umbrella and share a lot of the same resources. But because both clubs compete in GA, there can’t just be free roster movement between them during the season.

Riverbend is different. It’s being positioned as an Aspire pathway club, which does allow in-season player movement with NVA. It also gives NVA a stronger footprint in a different county and creates a more direct pathway for Fairfax-area players into the system.

This isn’t some overnight “2027 season” play. They’re clearly building a long-term player development pipeline and regional structure that will probably take a few years to fully develop.

You lost me at "aspire pathway"

That’s fine, but that’s literally how the structure works.

GA clubs in the same league can’t freely move players back and forth in-season, which is why the Aspire designation matters here. Riverbend gives them a development and movement pathway that Loudoun can’t provide under current GA rules.

You don’t have to like the strategy, but there’s a difference between disagreeing with it and pretending it doesn’t exist.

Again I ask, how is Riverbend giving them anything when they have no players?

The Riverbend Aspire setup actually creates something that a lot of clubs in the area currently don’t have: a real internal pathway for girls who develop later or want to push to a higher level.

Right now at GFR, the highest level on the girls side is ECNL-RL, which depending on the team is probably comparable to Aspire anyway. But if a player there outgrows that environment and wants GA-level opportunities, the only real option is usually leaving the club and trying out somewhere else.

With Riverbend being connected into the NVA structure through Aspire, their top players will likely have opportunities to train with, guest play, and potentially move into the NVA GA environment over time. That’s a very different model than just being capped at one level inside your own club.

People keep acting like this is only about branding or league labels, but from a player development standpoint, the pathway piece is the real story. And it will take a few seasons to build I think, but who knows.

This will never happen with Riverbend. They have no ability to attract this level of player and the players that they are attempting to strong arm into the GA Aspire teams from LE are mid-level NCSL players AT BEST. There will never be an opportunity for those players to train with, guest play or move into the NVA GA environment. There is not enough patience in the world to see that happen.

You may be right, but who knows how this pans out. I've seen some strong players on GFR teams with no where to go, ECNL teams in the area won't even let them try out. I do know this, there is a lot of talent in Fairfax who do not have access to travel soccer because of the cost. Perhaps that will be RBFC's plan, to tap into that pool. I have heard that they have very deep pockets and are committed to building for the long haul.

Why would an ECNL team not let any top GFR players tryout?

Fairfax Union for instance would not consider a player from ECNL RL. They will pull from local GA teams but not RL.

Not true. FVU will take any player that is capable of competing at that level, regardless of where they are currently playing. This is silly.

Facts are facts. We see their rosters

hahaha. There are certainly kids from GFR on various NoVa ECNL-NL rosters, including kids that went straight from older RL teams. But please do go on and tell us all the provenance of all 250 FVU kids.

125 FVU kids, and not one played GFR ECNL RL

On the girls side that is correct for current players.

Now there are girls who played at GFR before U13 and are now on ECNL teams. And there are girls from years ago that did it.

Yes, I said GFR ECRL

So excluding anyone who went at the logical u13 age?

Yes, it will be difficult to go to FVU once you are on GFR ECRL

Not sure there’s any basis for that.

But some of them could definitely make NVA GA without any detour through RbFC.

The basis is there are no girls on FVU currently that started as GFR RL players. I dont know what else you are looking for.

This is flatly untrue. Why do you continue to lie?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would Loudoun remain connected to NVA now that they have their own GA and Aspire? Wouldn't they be better suited keeping all of their talent going forward? Are NVA employees still part of Loudoun staff and therefore the partnership. How can the pathway to NVA be Loudoun top teams and RBFC Aspire. Does Loudoun receive kickbacks for allowing NVA to use their fields? If the partnership broke, how would NVA get fields? Does Loudoun also have MLSN homegrown on the boys side or only NVA? This is all a bit confusing the way it is currently set-up.

Im pretty sure the ED and TD of Loudoun are the ones that run NVA

Still boggles the mind that folks don't understand Loudoun/NVA are two separate brands operated by the same people/organization. There is zero daylight between the too. Just look at your registration receipts.

Loudoun is becoming more like a feeder club to NVA and customers are catching on. and NVA can't financially operate on its own so brought Riverbend as another feeder club but more as extra revenue. Nothing more than that.

It’s kind of comical how confidently people post on here without actually understanding the structure.

Loudoun and NVA are already operated under the same ownership umbrella and share a lot of the same resources. But because both clubs compete in GA, there can’t just be free roster movement between them during the season.

Riverbend is different. It’s being positioned as an Aspire pathway club, which does allow in-season player movement with NVA. It also gives NVA a stronger footprint in a different county and creates a more direct pathway for Fairfax-area players into the system.

This isn’t some overnight “2027 season” play. They’re clearly building a long-term player development pipeline and regional structure that will probably take a few years to fully develop.

You lost me at "aspire pathway"

That’s fine, but that’s literally how the structure works.

GA clubs in the same league can’t freely move players back and forth in-season, which is why the Aspire designation matters here. Riverbend gives them a development and movement pathway that Loudoun can’t provide under current GA rules.

You don’t have to like the strategy, but there’s a difference between disagreeing with it and pretending it doesn’t exist.

Again I ask, how is Riverbend giving them anything when they have no players?

The Riverbend Aspire setup actually creates something that a lot of clubs in the area currently don’t have: a real internal pathway for girls who develop later or want to push to a higher level.

Right now at GFR, the highest level on the girls side is ECNL-RL, which depending on the team is probably comparable to Aspire anyway. But if a player there outgrows that environment and wants GA-level opportunities, the only real option is usually leaving the club and trying out somewhere else.

With Riverbend being connected into the NVA structure through Aspire, their top players will likely have opportunities to train with, guest play, and potentially move into the NVA GA environment over time. That’s a very different model than just being capped at one level inside your own club.

People keep acting like this is only about branding or league labels, but from a player development standpoint, the pathway piece is the real story. And it will take a few seasons to build I think, but who knows.

This will never happen with Riverbend. They have no ability to attract this level of player and the players that they are attempting to strong arm into the GA Aspire teams from LE are mid-level NCSL players AT BEST. There will never be an opportunity for those players to train with, guest play or move into the NVA GA environment. There is not enough patience in the world to see that happen.

You may be right, but who knows how this pans out. I've seen some strong players on GFR teams with no where to go, ECNL teams in the area won't even let them try out. I do know this, there is a lot of talent in Fairfax who do not have access to travel soccer because of the cost. Perhaps that will be RBFC's plan, to tap into that pool. I have heard that they have very deep pockets and are committed to building for the long haul.

Why would an ECNL team not let any top GFR players tryout?

Fairfax Union for instance would not consider a player from ECNL RL. They will pull from local GA teams but not RL.

Not true. FVU will take any player that is capable of competing at that level, regardless of where they are currently playing. This is silly.

Facts are facts. We see their rosters

hahaha. There are certainly kids from GFR on various NoVa ECNL-NL rosters, including kids that went straight from older RL teams. But please do go on and tell us all the provenance of all 250 FVU kids.

125 FVU kids, and not one played GFR ECNL RL

Sorry, I won't take the word of someone who can't even do basic math. So I scanned through the rosters. There are several ex-GFR in just the three age groups I know. Why are you lying?

6 FVU girls teams and an average of 21 players per team. GFR ECRL starts at U13

You know there are boys teams at both clubs, right?

Yes but generally they can’t play for GA Aspire, which is what started this discussion.

Which makes me wonder, does RbFC have an NVA MLSN2 team too? Or no NVA “pathway” for the boys?

No, RBFC will just be Aspire not MLS Next.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would Loudoun remain connected to NVA now that they have their own GA and Aspire? Wouldn't they be better suited keeping all of their talent going forward? Are NVA employees still part of Loudoun staff and therefore the partnership. How can the pathway to NVA be Loudoun top teams and RBFC Aspire. Does Loudoun receive kickbacks for allowing NVA to use their fields? If the partnership broke, how would NVA get fields? Does Loudoun also have MLSN homegrown on the boys side or only NVA? This is all a bit confusing the way it is currently set-up.

Im pretty sure the ED and TD of Loudoun are the ones that run NVA

Still boggles the mind that folks don't understand Loudoun/NVA are two separate brands operated by the same people/organization. There is zero daylight between the too. Just look at your registration receipts.

Loudoun is becoming more like a feeder club to NVA and customers are catching on. and NVA can't financially operate on its own so brought Riverbend as another feeder club but more as extra revenue. Nothing more than that.

It’s kind of comical how confidently people post on here without actually understanding the structure.

Loudoun and NVA are already operated under the same ownership umbrella and share a lot of the same resources. But because both clubs compete in GA, there can’t just be free roster movement between them during the season.

Riverbend is different. It’s being positioned as an Aspire pathway club, which does allow in-season player movement with NVA. It also gives NVA a stronger footprint in a different county and creates a more direct pathway for Fairfax-area players into the system.

This isn’t some overnight “2027 season” play. They’re clearly building a long-term player development pipeline and regional structure that will probably take a few years to fully develop.

You lost me at "aspire pathway"

That’s fine, but that’s literally how the structure works.

GA clubs in the same league can’t freely move players back and forth in-season, which is why the Aspire designation matters here. Riverbend gives them a development and movement pathway that Loudoun can’t provide under current GA rules.

You don’t have to like the strategy, but there’s a difference between disagreeing with it and pretending it doesn’t exist.

Again I ask, how is Riverbend giving them anything when they have no players?

The Riverbend Aspire setup actually creates something that a lot of clubs in the area currently don’t have: a real internal pathway for girls who develop later or want to push to a higher level.

Right now at GFR, the highest level on the girls side is ECNL-RL, which depending on the team is probably comparable to Aspire anyway. But if a player there outgrows that environment and wants GA-level opportunities, the only real option is usually leaving the club and trying out somewhere else.

With Riverbend being connected into the NVA structure through Aspire, their top players will likely have opportunities to train with, guest play, and potentially move into the NVA GA environment over time. That’s a very different model than just being capped at one level inside your own club.

People keep acting like this is only about branding or league labels, but from a player development standpoint, the pathway piece is the real story. And it will take a few seasons to build I think, but who knows.

This will never happen with Riverbend. They have no ability to attract this level of player and the players that they are attempting to strong arm into the GA Aspire teams from LE are mid-level NCSL players AT BEST. There will never be an opportunity for those players to train with, guest play or move into the NVA GA environment. There is not enough patience in the world to see that happen.

You may be right, but who knows how this pans out. I've seen some strong players on GFR teams with no where to go, ECNL teams in the area won't even let them try out. I do know this, there is a lot of talent in Fairfax who do not have access to travel soccer because of the cost. Perhaps that will be RBFC's plan, to tap into that pool. I have heard that they have very deep pockets and are committed to building for the long haul.

Why would an ECNL team not let any top GFR players tryout?

Fairfax Union for instance would not consider a player from ECNL RL. They will pull from local GA teams but not RL.

Not true. FVU will take any player that is capable of competing at that level, regardless of where they are currently playing. This is silly.

Facts are facts. We see their rosters

hahaha. There are certainly kids from GFR on various NoVa ECNL-NL rosters, including kids that went straight from older RL teams. But please do go on and tell us all the provenance of all 250 FVU kids.

125 FVU kids, and not one played GFR ECNL RL

On the girls side that is correct for current players.

Now there are girls who played at GFR before U13 and are now on ECNL teams. And there are girls from years ago that did it.

Yes, I said GFR ECRL

So excluding anyone who went at the logical u13 age?

Yes, it will be difficult to go to FVU once you are on GFR ECRL

Not sure there’s any basis for that.

But some of them could definitely make NVA GA without any detour through RbFC.

The basis is there are no girls on FVU currently that started as GFR RL players. I dont know what else you are looking for.

This is flatly untrue. Why do you continue to lie?

you do know what we are talking about here right?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Why would Loudoun remain connected to NVA now that they have their own GA and Aspire? Wouldn't they be better suited keeping all of their talent going forward? Are NVA employees still part of Loudoun staff and therefore the partnership. How can the pathway to NVA be Loudoun top teams and RBFC Aspire. Does Loudoun receive kickbacks for allowing NVA to use their fields? If the partnership broke, how would NVA get fields? Does Loudoun also have MLSN homegrown on the boys side or only NVA? This is all a bit confusing the way it is currently set-up.

Im pretty sure the ED and TD of Loudoun are the ones that run NVA

Still boggles the mind that folks don't understand Loudoun/NVA are two separate brands operated by the same people/organization. There is zero daylight between the too. Just look at your registration receipts.

Loudoun is becoming more like a feeder club to NVA and customers are catching on. and NVA can't financially operate on its own so brought Riverbend as another feeder club but more as extra revenue. Nothing more than that.

It’s kind of comical how confidently people post on here without actually understanding the structure.

Loudoun and NVA are already operated under the same ownership umbrella and share a lot of the same resources. But because both clubs compete in GA, there can’t just be free roster movement between them during the season.

Riverbend is different. It’s being positioned as an Aspire pathway club, which does allow in-season player movement with NVA. It also gives NVA a stronger footprint in a different county and creates a more direct pathway for Fairfax-area players into the system.

This isn’t some overnight “2027 season” play. They’re clearly building a long-term player development pipeline and regional structure that will probably take a few years to fully develop.

You lost me at "aspire pathway"

That’s fine, but that’s literally how the structure works.

GA clubs in the same league can’t freely move players back and forth in-season, which is why the Aspire designation matters here. Riverbend gives them a development and movement pathway that Loudoun can’t provide under current GA rules.

You don’t have to like the strategy, but there’s a difference between disagreeing with it and pretending it doesn’t exist.

Again I ask, how is Riverbend giving them anything when they have no players?

The Riverbend Aspire setup actually creates something that a lot of clubs in the area currently don’t have: a real internal pathway for girls who develop later or want to push to a higher level.

Right now at GFR, the highest level on the girls side is ECNL-RL, which depending on the team is probably comparable to Aspire anyway. But if a player there outgrows that environment and wants GA-level opportunities, the only real option is usually leaving the club and trying out somewhere else.

With Riverbend being connected into the NVA structure through Aspire, their top players will likely have opportunities to train with, guest play, and potentially move into the NVA GA environment over time. That’s a very different model than just being capped at one level inside your own club.

People keep acting like this is only about branding or league labels, but from a player development standpoint, the pathway piece is the real story. And it will take a few seasons to build I think, but who knows.

This will never happen with Riverbend. They have no ability to attract this level of player and the players that they are attempting to strong arm into the GA Aspire teams from LE are mid-level NCSL players AT BEST. There will never be an opportunity for those players to train with, guest play or move into the NVA GA environment. There is not enough patience in the world to see that happen.

You may be right, but who knows how this pans out. I've seen some strong players on GFR teams with no where to go, ECNL teams in the area won't even let them try out. I do know this, there is a lot of talent in Fairfax who do not have access to travel soccer because of the cost. Perhaps that will be RBFC's plan, to tap into that pool. I have heard that they have very deep pockets and are committed to building for the long haul.

Why would an ECNL team not let any top GFR players tryout?

Fairfax Union for instance would not consider a player from ECNL RL. They will pull from local GA teams but not RL.

Not true. FVU will take any player that is capable of competing at that level, regardless of where they are currently playing. This is silly.

Facts are facts. We see their rosters

hahaha. There are certainly kids from GFR on various NoVa ECNL-NL rosters, including kids that went straight from older RL teams. But please do go on and tell us all the provenance of all 250 FVU kids.

125 FVU kids, and not one played GFR ECNL RL

On the girls side that is correct for current players.

Now there are girls who played at GFR before U13 and are now on ECNL teams. And there are girls from years ago that did it.

Yes, I said GFR ECRL

So excluding anyone who went at the logical u13 age?

Yes, it will be difficult to go to FVU once you are on GFR ECRL

Not sure there’s any basis for that.

But some of them could definitely make NVA GA without any detour through RbFC.

The basis is there are no girls on FVU currently that started as GFR RL players. I dont know what else you are looking for.

Funny, if I were an ECNL coach I would be pursuing several GFR players especially on the girls side. I believe their 2013s are mid Atlantic champions and 2014s are solid too.

I wouldn't doubt it. GFR covers a lot of territory, and I've seen real talent at the younger ages. My guess is the top GFR players at those ages made their play for a higher level a few months ago.

and, believe it or not, some of the really good gfr players are perfectly content playing at gfr.

I believe you, and I think this is the way. We all forget sometimes that our kids want to play with their friends and playing high school soccer is a great experience for them. Hour long commutes to practice 4 times a week kills the joy pretty quickly.

Exactly. And that's they RBFC should stick to this concept rather than trying to rope kids into NVA Aspire. You don't have a "pathway" you have ONE option.

It really comes down to Aspire or ECRL.
Can’t have two in the same league so close to each other.

Don’t think RbFC had a shot at RL regardless. Not even sure about NCSL without Loudoun patronage. Aspire or EDP perhaps?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would Loudoun remain connected to NVA now that they have their own GA and Aspire? Wouldn't they be better suited keeping all of their talent going forward? Are NVA employees still part of Loudoun staff and therefore the partnership. How can the pathway to NVA be Loudoun top teams and RBFC Aspire. Does Loudoun receive kickbacks for allowing NVA to use their fields? If the partnership broke, how would NVA get fields? Does Loudoun also have MLSN homegrown on the boys side or only NVA? This is all a bit confusing the way it is currently set-up.

Im pretty sure the ED and TD of Loudoun are the ones that run NVA

Still boggles the mind that folks don't understand Loudoun/NVA are two separate brands operated by the same people/organization. There is zero daylight between the too. Just look at your registration receipts.

Loudoun is becoming more like a feeder club to NVA and customers are catching on. and NVA can't financially operate on its own so brought Riverbend as another feeder club but more as extra revenue. Nothing more than that.

It’s kind of comical how confidently people post on here without actually understanding the structure.

Loudoun and NVA are already operated under the same ownership umbrella and share a lot of the same resources. But because both clubs compete in GA, there can’t just be free roster movement between them during the season.

Riverbend is different. It’s being positioned as an Aspire pathway club, which does allow in-season player movement with NVA. It also gives NVA a stronger footprint in a different county and creates a more direct pathway for Fairfax-area players into the system.

This isn’t some overnight “2027 season” play. They’re clearly building a long-term player development pipeline and regional structure that will probably take a few years to fully develop.

You lost me at "aspire pathway"

That’s fine, but that’s literally how the structure works.

GA clubs in the same league can’t freely move players back and forth in-season, which is why the Aspire designation matters here. Riverbend gives them a development and movement pathway that Loudoun can’t provide under current GA rules.

You don’t have to like the strategy, but there’s a difference between disagreeing with it and pretending it doesn’t exist.

Again I ask, how is Riverbend giving them anything when they have no players?

The Riverbend Aspire setup actually creates something that a lot of clubs in the area currently don’t have: a real internal pathway for girls who develop later or want to push to a higher level.

Right now at GFR, the highest level on the girls side is ECNL-RL, which depending on the team is probably comparable to Aspire anyway. But if a player there outgrows that environment and wants GA-level opportunities, the only real option is usually leaving the club and trying out somewhere else.

With Riverbend being connected into the NVA structure through Aspire, their top players will likely have opportunities to train with, guest play, and potentially move into the NVA GA environment over time. That’s a very different model than just being capped at one level inside your own club.

People keep acting like this is only about branding or league labels, but from a player development standpoint, the pathway piece is the real story. And it will take a few seasons to build I think, but who knows.

This will never happen with Riverbend. They have no ability to attract this level of player and the players that they are attempting to strong arm into the GA Aspire teams from LE are mid-level NCSL players AT BEST. There will never be an opportunity for those players to train with, guest play or move into the NVA GA environment. There is not enough patience in the world to see that happen.

You may be right, but who knows how this pans out. I've seen some strong players on GFR teams with no where to go, ECNL teams in the area won't even let them try out. I do know this, there is a lot of talent in Fairfax who do not have access to travel soccer because of the cost. Perhaps that will be RBFC's plan, to tap into that pool. I have heard that they have very deep pockets and are committed to building for the long haul.

Why would an ECNL team not let any top GFR players tryout?

Fairfax Union for instance would not consider a player from ECNL RL. They will pull from local GA teams but not RL.

Not true. FVU will take any player that is capable of competing at that level, regardless of where they are currently playing. This is silly.

Facts are facts. We see their rosters

hahaha. There are certainly kids from GFR on various NoVa ECNL-NL rosters, including kids that went straight from older RL teams. But please do go on and tell us all the provenance of all 250 FVU kids.

125 FVU kids, and not one played GFR ECNL RL

On the girls side that is correct for current players.

Now there are girls who played at GFR before U13 and are now on ECNL teams. And there are girls from years ago that did it.

Yes, I said GFR ECRL

So excluding anyone who went at the logical u13 age?

Yes, it will be difficult to go to FVU once you are on GFR ECRL

Not sure there’s any basis for that.

But some of them could definitely make NVA GA without any detour through RbFC.

The basis is there are no girls on FVU currently that started as GFR RL players. I dont know what else you are looking for.

Funny, if I were an ECNL coach I would be pursuing several GFR players especially on the girls side. I believe their 2013s are mid Atlantic champions and 2014s are solid too.

I wouldn't doubt it. GFR covers a lot of territory, and I've seen real talent at the younger ages. My guess is the top GFR players at those ages made their play for a higher level a few months ago.

and, believe it or not, some of the really good gfr players are perfectly content playing at gfr.

I believe you, and I think this is the way. We all forget sometimes that our kids want to play with their friends and playing high school soccer is a great experience for them. Hour long commutes to practice 4 times a week kills the joy pretty quickly.

Exactly. And that's they RBFC should stick to this concept rather than trying to rope kids into NVA Aspire. You don't have a "pathway" you have ONE option.

It really comes down to Aspire or ECRL.
Can’t have two in the same league so close to each other.

Don’t think RbFC had a shot at RL regardless. Not even sure about NCSL without Loudoun patronage. Aspire or EDP perhaps?

They didnt have a shot at ECRL because GFR was a ECRL club right down the road.
Aspire is a lot better than NCSL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would Loudoun remain connected to NVA now that they have their own GA and Aspire? Wouldn't they be better suited keeping all of their talent going forward? Are NVA employees still part of Loudoun staff and therefore the partnership. How can the pathway to NVA be Loudoun top teams and RBFC Aspire. Does Loudoun receive kickbacks for allowing NVA to use their fields? If the partnership broke, how would NVA get fields? Does Loudoun also have MLSN homegrown on the boys side or only NVA? This is all a bit confusing the way it is currently set-up.

Im pretty sure the ED and TD of Loudoun are the ones that run NVA

Still boggles the mind that folks don't understand Loudoun/NVA are two separate brands operated by the same people/organization. There is zero daylight between the too. Just look at your registration receipts.

Loudoun is becoming more like a feeder club to NVA and customers are catching on. and NVA can't financially operate on its own so brought Riverbend as another feeder club but more as extra revenue. Nothing more than that.

It’s kind of comical how confidently people post on here without actually understanding the structure.

Loudoun and NVA are already operated under the same ownership umbrella and share a lot of the same resources. But because both clubs compete in GA, there can’t just be free roster movement between them during the season.

Riverbend is different. It’s being positioned as an Aspire pathway club, which does allow in-season player movement with NVA. It also gives NVA a stronger footprint in a different county and creates a more direct pathway for Fairfax-area players into the system.

This isn’t some overnight “2027 season” play. They’re clearly building a long-term player development pipeline and regional structure that will probably take a few years to fully develop.

You lost me at "aspire pathway"

That’s fine, but that’s literally how the structure works.

GA clubs in the same league can’t freely move players back and forth in-season, which is why the Aspire designation matters here. Riverbend gives them a development and movement pathway that Loudoun can’t provide under current GA rules.

You don’t have to like the strategy, but there’s a difference between disagreeing with it and pretending it doesn’t exist.

Again I ask, how is Riverbend giving them anything when they have no players?

The Riverbend Aspire setup actually creates something that a lot of clubs in the area currently don’t have: a real internal pathway for girls who develop later or want to push to a higher level.

Right now at GFR, the highest level on the girls side is ECNL-RL, which depending on the team is probably comparable to Aspire anyway. But if a player there outgrows that environment and wants GA-level opportunities, the only real option is usually leaving the club and trying out somewhere else.

With Riverbend being connected into the NVA structure through Aspire, their top players will likely have opportunities to train with, guest play, and potentially move into the NVA GA environment over time. That’s a very different model than just being capped at one level inside your own club.

People keep acting like this is only about branding or league labels, but from a player development standpoint, the pathway piece is the real story. And it will take a few seasons to build I think, but who knows.

This will never happen with Riverbend. They have no ability to attract this level of player and the players that they are attempting to strong arm into the GA Aspire teams from LE are mid-level NCSL players AT BEST. There will never be an opportunity for those players to train with, guest play or move into the NVA GA environment. There is not enough patience in the world to see that happen.

You may be right, but who knows how this pans out. I've seen some strong players on GFR teams with no where to go, ECNL teams in the area won't even let them try out. I do know this, there is a lot of talent in Fairfax who do not have access to travel soccer because of the cost. Perhaps that will be RBFC's plan, to tap into that pool. I have heard that they have very deep pockets and are committed to building for the long haul.

Why would an ECNL team not let any top GFR players tryout?

Fairfax Union for instance would not consider a player from ECNL RL. They will pull from local GA teams but not RL.

Not true. FVU will take any player that is capable of competing at that level, regardless of where they are currently playing. This is silly.

Facts are facts. We see their rosters

hahaha. There are certainly kids from GFR on various NoVa ECNL-NL rosters, including kids that went straight from older RL teams. But please do go on and tell us all the provenance of all 250 FVU kids.

125 FVU kids, and not one played GFR ECNL RL

On the girls side that is correct for current players.

Now there are girls who played at GFR before U13 and are now on ECNL teams. And there are girls from years ago that did it.

Yes, I said GFR ECRL

So excluding anyone who went at the logical u13 age?

Yes, it will be difficult to go to FVU once you are on GFR ECRL

Not sure there’s any basis for that.

But some of them could definitely make NVA GA without any detour through RbFC.

The basis is there are no girls on FVU currently that started as GFR RL players. I dont know what else you are looking for.

Funny, if I were an ECNL coach I would be pursuing several GFR players especially on the girls side. I believe their 2013s are mid Atlantic champions and 2014s are solid too.

I wouldn't doubt it. GFR covers a lot of territory, and I've seen real talent at the younger ages. My guess is the top GFR players at those ages made their play for a higher level a few months ago.

and, believe it or not, some of the really good gfr players are perfectly content playing at gfr.

I believe you, and I think this is the way. We all forget sometimes that our kids want to play with their friends and playing high school soccer is a great experience for them. Hour long commutes to practice 4 times a week kills the joy pretty quickly.

Exactly. And that's they RBFC should stick to this concept rather than trying to rope kids into NVA Aspire. You don't have a "pathway" you have ONE option.

It really comes down to Aspire or ECRL.
Can’t have two in the same league so close to each other.

Don’t think RbFC had a shot at RL regardless. Not even sure about NCSL without Loudoun patronage. Aspire or EDP perhaps?

They didnt have a shot at ECRL because GFR was a ECRL club right down the road.
Aspire is a lot better than NCSL

Is it? Maybe someday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would Loudoun remain connected to NVA now that they have their own GA and Aspire? Wouldn't they be better suited keeping all of their talent going forward? Are NVA employees still part of Loudoun staff and therefore the partnership. How can the pathway to NVA be Loudoun top teams and RBFC Aspire. Does Loudoun receive kickbacks for allowing NVA to use their fields? If the partnership broke, how would NVA get fields? Does Loudoun also have MLSN homegrown on the boys side or only NVA? This is all a bit confusing the way it is currently set-up.

Im pretty sure the ED and TD of Loudoun are the ones that run NVA

Still boggles the mind that folks don't understand Loudoun/NVA are two separate brands operated by the same people/organization. There is zero daylight between the too. Just look at your registration receipts.

Loudoun is becoming more like a feeder club to NVA and customers are catching on. and NVA can't financially operate on its own so brought Riverbend as another feeder club but more as extra revenue. Nothing more than that.

It’s kind of comical how confidently people post on here without actually understanding the structure.

Loudoun and NVA are already operated under the same ownership umbrella and share a lot of the same resources. But because both clubs compete in GA, there can’t just be free roster movement between them during the season.

Riverbend is different. It’s being positioned as an Aspire pathway club, which does allow in-season player movement with NVA. It also gives NVA a stronger footprint in a different county and creates a more direct pathway for Fairfax-area players into the system.

This isn’t some overnight “2027 season” play. They’re clearly building a long-term player development pipeline and regional structure that will probably take a few years to fully develop.

You lost me at "aspire pathway"

That’s fine, but that’s literally how the structure works.

GA clubs in the same league can’t freely move players back and forth in-season, which is why the Aspire designation matters here. Riverbend gives them a development and movement pathway that Loudoun can’t provide under current GA rules.

You don’t have to like the strategy, but there’s a difference between disagreeing with it and pretending it doesn’t exist.

Again I ask, how is Riverbend giving them anything when they have no players?

The Riverbend Aspire setup actually creates something that a lot of clubs in the area currently don’t have: a real internal pathway for girls who develop later or want to push to a higher level.

Right now at GFR, the highest level on the girls side is ECNL-RL, which depending on the team is probably comparable to Aspire anyway. But if a player there outgrows that environment and wants GA-level opportunities, the only real option is usually leaving the club and trying out somewhere else.

With Riverbend being connected into the NVA structure through Aspire, their top players will likely have opportunities to train with, guest play, and potentially move into the NVA GA environment over time. That’s a very different model than just being capped at one level inside your own club.

People keep acting like this is only about branding or league labels, but from a player development standpoint, the pathway piece is the real story. And it will take a few seasons to build I think, but who knows.

This will never happen with Riverbend. They have no ability to attract this level of player and the players that they are attempting to strong arm into the GA Aspire teams from LE are mid-level NCSL players AT BEST. There will never be an opportunity for those players to train with, guest play or move into the NVA GA environment. There is not enough patience in the world to see that happen.

You may be right, but who knows how this pans out. I've seen some strong players on GFR teams with no where to go, ECNL teams in the area won't even let them try out. I do know this, there is a lot of talent in Fairfax who do not have access to travel soccer because of the cost. Perhaps that will be RBFC's plan, to tap into that pool. I have heard that they have very deep pockets and are committed to building for the long haul.

Why would an ECNL team not let any top GFR players tryout?

Fairfax Union for instance would not consider a player from ECNL RL. They will pull from local GA teams but not RL.

Not true. FVU will take any player that is capable of competing at that level, regardless of where they are currently playing. This is silly.

Facts are facts. We see their rosters

hahaha. There are certainly kids from GFR on various NoVa ECNL-NL rosters, including kids that went straight from older RL teams. But please do go on and tell us all the provenance of all 250 FVU kids.

125 FVU kids, and not one played GFR ECNL RL

On the girls side that is correct for current players.

Now there are girls who played at GFR before U13 and are now on ECNL teams. And there are girls from years ago that did it.

Yes, I said GFR ECRL

So excluding anyone who went at the logical u13 age?

Yes, it will be difficult to go to FVU once you are on GFR ECRL

Not sure there’s any basis for that.

But some of them could definitely make NVA GA without any detour through RbFC.

The basis is there are no girls on FVU currently that started as GFR RL players. I dont know what else you are looking for.

Funny, if I were an ECNL coach I would be pursuing several GFR players especially on the girls side. I believe their 2013s are mid Atlantic champions and 2014s are solid too.

I wouldn't doubt it. GFR covers a lot of territory, and I've seen real talent at the younger ages. My guess is the top GFR players at those ages made their play for a higher level a few months ago.

and, believe it or not, some of the really good gfr players are perfectly content playing at gfr.

I believe you, and I think this is the way. We all forget sometimes that our kids want to play with their friends and playing high school soccer is a great experience for them. Hour long commutes to practice 4 times a week kills the joy pretty quickly.

Exactly. And that's they RBFC should stick to this concept rather than trying to rope kids into NVA Aspire. You don't have a "pathway" you have ONE option.

It really comes down to Aspire or ECRL.
Can’t have two in the same league so close to each other.

Don’t think RbFC had a shot at RL regardless. Not even sure about NCSL without Loudoun patronage. Aspire or EDP perhaps?

They didnt have a shot at ECRL because GFR was a ECRL club right down the road.
Aspire is a lot better than NCSL

Is it? Maybe someday.

Aspire is undoubtedly better. Right now, today. It’s essentially the equivalent of RL, maybe not in the DMV - but nationally it is.