Herndon club

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many Sterling 11 v 11 teams share 1 field for practices at a time? Herndon schedules 4 or more and its terrible.

Normally there are two teams sharing each quarter of the turf fields during peak practice times. Plus, keeper training is also sharing. Then they have a larger number at once during technical development sessions. Sometimes a coach isn't there and then they combine the ages. Our girl's team frequently has to share with older girls a few years older or two boy's teams when coaches don't show up. Normally, whatever coach is there just has them scrimmage when that happens. So you'll have 8-9 year olds scrimmaging with 13/14 year olds. Or 13/14 year olds scrimmaging with 16/17 year olds. It's definitely not ideal. Then you throw in other clubs using the fields for scrimmages and it pushes people to the grass fields, which are not really maintained very well. Long grass, not marked, holes in the ground, even worse bugs, etc. But, I think that's pretty common for area fields.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its crazy to me that the light for the fields aren't on a switch anyone can access and turn on and off. Waiting for a worker to come turn the lights on every day sounds nuts.

It's seriously so dumb. And so embarassing when you are hosting another club for a scrimmage and everyone is just sitting there in the dark. One night a bunch of parents pulled their cars in for headlights so some could play. There were 4 games of kids and parents just sitting there in the pitch black for almost an hour, surrounded by woods. It was really setting up for a great horror movie. It's also terrible advertising for the club when other clubs are there for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm shocked-- they made the Sterling girls buy 4 uniforms???

Yes. It was very expensive. The Sterling uniforms are shockingly expensive for a lower cost team. Each jersey is $70. Plus all the bottoms, warm up pants, jacket, bag, etc. They were more expensive than our uniforms at two other clubs even though the club fees are less. I have no idea what someone is talking about with dual badges on one top. Not even sure how that would work since Sterling isn't officially in ECNL.

that's ridiculous, 4 uniforms is absurd. and they could only wear the Herndon ones this year b/c its the end of the 2 year cycle.

It was the last year for the Sterling ones too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its crazy to me that the light for the fields aren't on a switch anyone can access and turn on and off. Waiting for a worker to come turn the lights on every day sounds nuts.

It's seriously so dumb. And so embarassing when you are hosting another club for a scrimmage and everyone is just sitting there in the dark. One night a bunch of parents pulled their cars in for headlights so some could play. There were 4 games of kids and parents just sitting there in the pitch black for almost an hour, surrounded by woods. It was really setting up for a great horror movie. It's also terrible advertising for the club when other clubs are there for that.

They’re county fields though. While I’m sure it was embarrassing, it wasn’t Sterlings fault that Loudoun didn’t turn the lights on like they should have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure how that's fair to anyone. I get that Sterling probably made that deal last year when the kids were already signed up but now that you know ahead of time that if you tryout at Sterling vs. Herndon you will pay $600+ less why would I go to Herndon tryouts? I would go and tryout as a "sterling" player.

I talked about this many pages ago, but I understand why it would be super annoying as a Herndon parent. You are free to go try out at Sterling. You also have to consider you then have different coaching. The fees at Sterling are probably lower due to facility costs and coaching expenses, not just about tournaments. You will also have to buy two sets of uniforms which adds cost. Sterling still plays as Sterling for tournaments and scrimmages as well as needing the Herndon uniforms for ECNL-RL games. Also, I'm pretty sure Sterling's goal is to use this as a justification to jump on the GA bandwagon with all the other local teams. So chasing them for ECNL-RL wouldn't make a lot of sense. Also, if you have an older girl who would start the recruitment process soon, then it makes no sense to chase down another club with no real pathway, no lengthy recruiting relationships, etc. If the only goal is to pay less, I'm pretty sure Sterling fees won't be the same for the next year. They pretty much told us it would only be the first year. Unless you totally hate Herndon or have an extremely young girl, it makes no sense to jump just for a maybe lower cost. Just my two cents.

Herndon doesn't have a college pathway for girls (even for boys, it's quite a stretch). This sound like it was written by JC trying to sell Herndon. The girl side is in shambles and don't get distracted by NA getting competitive coach of the year. IYKYK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure how that's fair to anyone. I get that Sterling probably made that deal last year when the kids were already signed up but now that you know ahead of time that if you tryout at Sterling vs. Herndon you will pay $600+ less why would I go to Herndon tryouts? I would go and tryout as a "sterling" player.

I talked about this many pages ago, but I understand why it would be super annoying as a Herndon parent. You are free to go try out at Sterling. You also have to consider you then have different coaching. The fees at Sterling are probably lower due to facility costs and coaching expenses, not just about tournaments. You will also have to buy two sets of uniforms which adds cost. Sterling still plays as Sterling for tournaments and scrimmages as well as needing the Herndon uniforms for ECNL-RL games. Also, I'm pretty sure Sterling's goal is to use this as a justification to jump on the GA bandwagon with all the other local teams. So chasing them for ECNL-RL wouldn't make a lot of sense. Also, if you have an older girl who would start the recruitment process soon, then it makes no sense to chase down another club with no real pathway, no lengthy recruiting relationships, etc. If the only goal is to pay less, I'm pretty sure Sterling fees won't be the same for the next year. They pretty much told us it would only be the first year. Unless you totally hate Herndon or have an extremely young girl, it makes no sense to jump just for a maybe lower cost. Just my two cents.

Herndon doesn't have a college pathway for girls (even for boys, it's quite a stretch). This sound like it was written by JC trying to sell Herndon. The girl side is in shambles and don't get distracted by NA getting competitive coach of the year. IYKYK.

No I'm just a Sterling mom that has been very PO'd about how this year has gone and wouldn't want to directly put another parent in this position. I never would've brought my kiddo here if I had known.

[Anonymous]

Well it looks like the boys are still going to Spain next week!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well it looks like the boys are still going to Spain next week!

Really? I would say this trip is financially impossible without Herndon soccer kicking in a hefty contribution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well it looks like the boys are still going to Spain next week!

Really? I would say this trip is financially impossible without Herndon soccer kicking in a hefty contribution.

Yup per the email asking if some players want to scrimmage the boys before their trip next week.

[Anonymous]

I guess there is no way to know how much of our money Herndon is spending to send some very average little kids to Spain.

[Anonymous]

Our team doesn't even get any of the 4 scrimmages we paid for and they are flying little kids to Europe, this club is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know when they usually post the coach slate for next year? We are new this year and might consider staying despite all the problems but it would depend on the assigned coach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know when they usually post the coach slate for next year? We are new this year and might consider staying despite all the problems but it would depend on the assigned coach.

It feels like everyone is late posting their coaches this year. We are in the same boat as you. It’s hard to know what to do when other potential options haven’t announced their coaches either. We are looking at one other place that has announced coaches. I feel like that’s probably a sign that they have their act together a bit more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know when they usually post the coach slate for next year? We are new this year and might consider staying despite all the problems but it would depend on the assigned coach.

Last year, it was the day of the first try out and they had a lot of place holders and coaches who left later in the spring. So even if they post it, don't 100% rely on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know when they usually post the coach slate for next year? We are new this year and might consider staying despite all the problems but it would depend on the assigned coach.

It feels like everyone is late posting their coaches this year. We are in the same boat as you. It’s hard to know what to do when other potential options haven’t announced their coaches either. We are looking at one other place that has announced coaches. I feel like that’s probably a sign that they have their act together a bit more.

Agree, the next closest club to us is Valor. which had an ID session but has not posted any of their coaches. GFR seems to have their act together with so many coaches hired and listed. BRYC is a last resort given how weak their teams were.