Searching for a Good U9 Travel Program

[Anonymous]

I think Vienna has a really strong u-little program (I’m familiar with it at least up through U-10) and if you’re already in Vienna it’s really something you should look into.

I’ve also heard really good things about Alexandria, although that’s quite a distance for you.

Feedback on McLean and Arlington seems to run the gamut. They appear to be solid clubs from my outside view.

I would avoid SYC (screaming coaches).

[Anonymous]

Not sure if there were reasons you avoided VYS initially but my son is on the U9 team with VYS and we all love it. The coach (who also teaches U10) is great and the group of kids is wonderful. They haven’t won a lot of games yet but my son is having so much fun that he doesn’t seem to care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if there were reasons you avoided VYS initially but my son is on the U9 team with VYS and we all love it. The coach (who also teaches U10) is great and the group of kids is wonderful. They haven’t won a lot of games yet but my son is having so much fun that he doesn’t seem to care.

Is this post fr?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if there were reasons you avoided VYS initially but my son is on the U9 team with VYS and we all love it. The coach (who also teaches U10) is great and the group of kids is wonderful. They haven’t won a lot of games yet but my son is having so much fun that he doesn’t seem to care.

Is this post fr?

Why wouldn’t it be? Is it so difficult to believe that kids can have fun playing soccer even if they haven’t “won a lot of games” less than 1 month into the season?

Like other clubs, Vienna fields multiple teams at the U9 and U10 age groups. Their teams are competitive with the other teams in the area. We’ve had good experiences with the coaches at that age level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If its development youre looking for. PAC is the club you want to check out in that area of VA.

I 2nd this

[Anonymous]

OP- are you looking for a top level team? Somewhere in the middle?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have multiple kids in various sports and while our oldest is doing well and enjoying his travel soccer team, our younger son is on a U9 team in the same club and having a not-so-great experience. He thrives based on encouragement and so far, the coaching has been extremely impersonal. It’s also clear that the coach plays favorites, but we expected that. We don’t put too much stake in it all at this age and don’t need anything super intense, but also recognize that these are formative years in a sport that he considers his favorite. Are there any U9 travel teams in the area you’ve had a positive experience with? A coach that wants to actually form a relationship and help the kids grow without too many politics?

I assume your DS is at McLean, hence the issues. If you are not at McLean, then steer clear. Having already experienced the boys program at McLean U9-U12 I can confidently say they do not develop their talent and have poor coaches at that age group. Politics, favorites, yelling, belittling, you name it. I'd go to VYS at that age before McLean. Another option, which seems to match what you are looking for is Premier AC in Falls Church. That age group practices at Luther Jackson MS in Merrifield. The coaches are very supportive and move up with the team sometimes all the way. It's a smaller club and other coaches will get to know your son so it's a more personable experience.

Sorry, I missed this yesterday. This is super insightful, thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The coaches for the Red/White/Blue u9/u10 teams at Alexandria are great (I can't speak to the other teams as the coaches are new). They also stick with the team for 2 years before transitioning to a new coach at u11. It is always a stark difference between their coaching style and other teams we have played where the coaches are constantly screaming. It might be a bit far from Vienna though.

Honestly, if it makes the experience more enjoyable and challenging for him, we’ll make the distance work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have multiple kids in various sports and while our oldest is doing well and enjoying his travel soccer team, our younger son is on a U9 team in the same club and having a not-so-great experience. He thrives based on encouragement and so far, the coaching has been extremely impersonal. It’s also clear that the coach plays favorites, but we expected that. We don’t put too much stake in it all at this age and don’t need anything super intense, but also recognize that these are formative years in a sport that he considers his favorite. Are there any U9 travel teams in the area you’ve had a positive experience with? A coach that wants to actually form a relationship and help the kids grow without too many politics?

I assume your DS is at McLean, hence the issues. If you are not at McLean, then steer clear. Having already experienced the boys program at McLean U9-U12 I can confidently say they do not develop their talent and have poor coaches at that age group. Politics, favorites, yelling, belittling, you name it. I'd go to VYS at that age before McLean. Another option, which seems to match what you are looking for is Premier AC in Falls Church. That age group practices at Luther Jackson MS in Merrifield. The coaches are very supportive and move up with the team sometimes all the way. It's a smaller club and other coaches will get to know your son so it's a more personable experience.

+1

Really good to know about MYS.
Parents/families that have multiple high performing kids in the program are definitely shown favoritism and even allowed to sway the decision making of the club. This is true of both the girls and boys side for U9-12. On top of that, the coaching is not great especially at the youngest years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think with any club, the experience will vary based on specific team selection. Ask for DS to attend a few practices and feel it out.

Totally agree, I’d just like to get a feel for where to even start since we thought we’d found a good place for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Vienna has a really strong u-little program (I’m familiar with it at least up through U-10) and if you’re already in Vienna it’s really something you should look into.

I’ve also heard really good things about Alexandria, although that’s quite a distance for you.

Feedback on McLean and Arlington seems to run the gamut. They appear to be solid clubs from my outside view.

I would avoid SYC (screaming coaches).

We did VYS house, just didn’t make the transition with them over to travel but might need to reconsider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP- are you looking for a top level team? Somewhere in the middle?

If we can find a top team that’s a good fit both ways, that would be ideal. He’s currently playing for a top team, so we do want him to be challenged and to continuing to develop his technical skills. But also feel like that’s not happening, so if a mid tier team can offer more, then that’s where we’d go. Like I said, we’re not trying to be too intense at this age, but do want him to rise to the level of play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If its development youre looking for. PAC is the club you want to check out in that area of VA.

I 2nd this

Thank you both, we’ll definitely check out PAC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure if there were reasons you avoided VYS initially but my son is on the U9 team with VYS and we all love it. The coach (who also teaches U10) is great and the group of kids is wonderful. They haven’t won a lot of games yet but my son is having so much fun that he doesn’t seem to care.

Is this post fr?

Why wouldn’t it be? Is it so difficult to believe that kids can have fun playing soccer even if they haven’t “won a lot of games” less than 1 month into the season?

Like other clubs, Vienna fields multiple teams at the U9 and U10 age groups. Their teams are competitive with the other teams in the area. We’ve had good experiences with the coaches at that age level.

What is difficult to believe is that the parent seems OK with it. If your DC team is constantly losing, and they are in the appropriate bracket, doesn't that say more about the coaching than the players? The fact the parent is ok with it because the kid is "having fun" bothers me. I guess it doesn't bother others as well.

[Anonymous]

If you can make it to Alexandria, do it. However, that drive from Vienna to Simpson, if that's where they are practicing, could be brutal. We only last a year and had to find something closer. If they are Ben Brenman, that helps. Another thought...don't do PAC. It's a slow train to nowhere. Each year, maybe one kid is good enough to move to a top team at another club. There is no better development there than anywhere else.