Soccer ,,Travel Team Colors & Designations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This much emotional investment when your kid is 9...going to be a tough road ahead for you, and even more so for your poor kid. Seriously, it's bad enough to care about this stuff in your OWN club. If you care about the team rankings in other clubs, you need a new hobby.

+++1,000,000

It's sick. They are 8-9. Really, wtf does it matter?

Oh yea---my kid is the BEST, right?!?!!!

It is a rough road when Jr. doesn't pan out by MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, I feel you. I remember when we first entered travel soccer, I assumed the Gold team must be the top team, then probably Silver....right?

And that mattered why?

[Anonymous]

Our A team is filled with former 4th team players at U14.

Have fun now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This much emotional investment when your kid is 9...going to be a tough road ahead for you, and even more so for your poor kid. Seriously, it's bad enough to care about this stuff in your OWN club. If you care about the team rankings in other clubs, you need a new hobby.

"Is that Bethesda's B team or D team?" is a legitimate question. Particularly when you have a coach who tends to get your team in a bracket that's either too high or too low for its current ability level.

Also, on a pragmatic level, this sort of information-sharing helps us shut down the trash-talking idiots who come here and say Club X can't be that good because his DS's team just beat their team.

Agree. It's also just generally useful to get to know what the local soccer scene looks like so you can make informed decisions about your child's path as you go along. Same reason it's good to talk to parents of other teams at games and tournaments. The more connected you feel, the more likely you are to want to put in the time needed to support your kid. Plus it makes it more fun. I feel really sorry for people like the PP who smugly assume that their narrow view is the only right one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain to me the various travel team levels. We're still somewhat new to travel and I'm trying to understand the rank order of a bunch of teams at the u10 level. For Example, can anyone rank order the following teams so I've got a definitive guide who my son is playing from week to week and where they are at their club?

Bethesda blue, green, white?
Arlington Red, white?
Stoddert black, blue, white?
Alexandria?
PPA?
Pipeline black, red, gold?
CSA?
CYA?
Potomac?
And more if you've got them!

Thank you!

Bethesda U10 boys (the girls have a different set-up) is:

Academy I
Academy II
Blue
Green
White
Black
Other--not sure about the other colors

Bethesda is really watering down their brand. I can't believe there are parents willing to spend thousands of dollars to be on the 6th team, which is certainly no better than MSI.

[Anonymous]

^^^ let's be real. The designations made after a few hours of tryouts at 8 years old are f*cking ridiculous anyways.

But--a kid put that far down has almost zero chance to fight their way up through the bureaucracy unless they switch Clubs down the road and get a fresh set of eyes.

It's virtually impossible to predict which 8-year olds are going to be stellar players in their teens. There are so many factors at play.

What has happened is Clubs/DA, etc. in this area still only bother to actually look at a very small percentage of players and the ones sorted out at the beginning even when mediocre at best down the road hold their Civil Servant position.

I have seen many really great players leave a Club and become standouts/D1 recruits after being shit on by a Club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^ let's be real. The designations made after a few hours of tryouts at 8 years old are f*cking ridiculous anyways.

But--a kid put that far down has almost zero chance to fight their way up through the bureaucracy unless they switch Clubs down the road and get a fresh set of eyes.

It's virtually impossible to predict which 8-year olds are going to be stellar players in their teens. There are so many factors at play.

What has happened is Clubs/DA, etc. in this area still only bother to actually look at a very small percentage of players and the ones sorted out at the beginning even when mediocre at best down the road hold their Civil Servant position.

I have seen many really great players leave a Club and become standouts/D1 recruits after being shit on by a Club.

And by "lookout", I mean really take care to develop them equally as the others. It's really gotten ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain to me the various travel team levels. We're still somewhat new to travel and I'm trying to understand the rank order of a bunch of teams at the u10 level. For Example, can anyone rank order the following teams so I've got a definitive guide who my son is playing from week to week and where they are at their club?

Bethesda blue, green, white?
Arlington Red, white?
Stoddert black, blue, white?
Alexandria?
PPA?
Pipeline black, red, gold?
CSA?
CYA?
Potomac?
And more if you've got them!

Thank you!

Bethesda U10 boys (the girls have a different set-up) is:

Academy I
Academy II
Blue
Green
White
Black
Other--not sure about the other colors

Bethesda is really watering down their brand. I can't believe there are parents willing to spend thousands of dollars to be on the 6th team, which is certainly no better than MSI.

The lower level teams get significantly better training than most MSI (and PPA) teams, but whether they are loaded with talent at U9 or U10, I can't say. As the kids get older, the number of the lower level teams shrinks. There are only 2 or 3 teams below the DA in middle school, and by high school you just have Blue, or maybe Blue and Green, below the DA.

[Anonymous]

I am sure this post was started by the goofy guy in my neighborhood that told me his U9 son is going to be a professional player.

Neither of the parents can chew gum or walk at the same time.

They need their glory somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain to me the various travel team levels. We're still somewhat new to travel and I'm trying to understand the rank order of a bunch of teams at the u10 level. For Example, can anyone rank order the following teams so I've got a definitive guide who my son is playing from week to week and where they are at their club?

Bethesda blue, green, white?
Arlington Red, white?
Stoddert black, blue, white?
Alexandria?
PPA?
Pipeline black, red, gold?
CSA?
CYA?
Potomac?
And more if you've got them!

Thank you!

Bethesda U10 boys (the girls have a different set-up) is:

Academy I
Academy II
Blue
Green
White
Black
Other--not sure about the other colors

Bethesda is really watering down their brand. I can't believe there are parents willing to spend thousands of dollars to be on the 6th team, which is certainly no better than MSI.

The lower level teams get significantly better training than most MSI (and PPA) teams, but whether they are loaded with talent at U9 or U10, I can't say. As the kids get older, the number of the lower level teams shrinks. There are only 2 or 3 teams below the DA in middle school, and by high school you just have Blue, or maybe Blue and Green, below the DA.

This can be a challenge. My DC looked at Bethesda in high school but there was one team for his age group (this was right before the DA). He tried out and got an offer but didn't really like the coach so joined another club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am sure this post was started by the goofy guy in my neighborhood that told me his U9 son is going to be a professional player.

Neither of the parents can chew gum or walk at the same time.

They need their glory somewhere.

Even the former professional players I know do not say that about their young kids. In fact, they are the most unassuming and realistic.

If your kid is on a path to be a great sportsman, the very worse thing you can do for them is tell them how WONDERFUL and better than everyone they are. The best players are the ones that never think they are good enough. They are always seeking to improve. It doesn't matter what great results they accomplish in a game. They tend to focus on the one thing they didn't do right.

The prima donna kids I see running around have no reason to have that ego.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This much emotional investment when your kid is 9...going to be a tough road ahead for you, and even more so for your poor kid. Seriously, it's bad enough to care about this stuff in your OWN club. If you care about the team rankings in other clubs, you need a new hobby.

"Is that Bethesda's B team or D team?" is a legitimate question. Particularly when you have a coach who tends to get your team in a bracket that's either too high or too low for its current ability level.

Also, on a pragmatic level, this sort of information-sharing helps us shut down the trash-talking idiots who come here and say Club X can't be that good because his DS's team just beat their team.

Agree. It's also just generally useful to get to know what the local soccer scene looks like so you can make informed decisions about your child's path as you go along. Same reason it's good to talk to parents of other teams at games and tournaments. The more connected you feel, the more likely you are to want to put in the time needed to support your kid. Plus it makes it more fun. I feel really sorry for people like the PP who smugly assume that their narrow view is the only right one.

No need to feel sorry for me. I don't feel sorry for those of you who spend your free time figuring out the color rankings of other teams in your league, but I do think, after years of experience, that you're all a little crazy. If your heart is going to get broken when your gold/silver/blue/brown kid is moved down a level, or give him a hard time when he loses to the wrong-level team, or try to gear him up with a lot of extra sleep and some extra agility training in the backyard because ohmigod he's playing a higher level team this week, then you're WAY overly invested in your child's hobby, and everyone around you, including your kid's coach, sees it. Your own kid will point it out to you when he's 12 if you don't freak him/her out too much and scare her from bringing it up. Happened to me as a child (my mom was NUTS about the sport she had me playing, sounding just like many of you), and I won't let it happen to my own kids.

My boys have played at all levels of travel soccer in a big club here. They've moved up and down. They're good players and they love soccer, but neither is the next Messi, nor is anyone they've ever played with or against. They're a bunch of nice kids spending their free time playing a great sport, which is better than spending their free time playing Call of Duty. That's it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This much emotional investment when your kid is 9...going to be a tough road ahead for you, and even more so for your poor kid. Seriously, it's bad enough to care about this stuff in your OWN club. If you care about the team rankings in other clubs, you need a new hobby.

"Is that Bethesda's B team or D team?" is a legitimate question. Particularly when you have a coach who tends to get your team in a bracket that's either too high or too low for its current ability level.

Also, on a pragmatic level, this sort of information-sharing helps us shut down the trash-talking idiots who come here and say Club X can't be that good because his DS's team just beat their team.

Agree. It's also just generally useful to get to know what the local soccer scene looks like so you can make informed decisions about your child's path as you go along. Same reason it's good to talk to parents of other teams at games and tournaments. The more connected you feel, the more likely you are to want to put in the time needed to support your kid. Plus it makes it more fun. I feel really sorry for people like the PP who smugly assume that their narrow view is the only right one.

No need to feel sorry for me. I don't feel sorry for those of you who spend your free time figuring out the color rankings of other teams in your league, but I do think, after years of experience, that you're all a little crazy. If your heart is going to get broken when your gold/silver/blue/brown kid is moved down a level, or give him a hard time when he loses to the wrong-level team, or try to gear him up with a lot of extra sleep and some extra agility training in the backyard because ohmigod he's playing a higher level team this week, then you're WAY overly invested in your child's hobby, and everyone around you, including your kid's coach, sees it. Your own kid will point it out to you when he's 12 if you don't freak him/her out too much and scare her from bringing it up. Happened to me as a child (my mom was NUTS about the sport she had me playing, sounding just like many of you), and I won't let it happen to my own kids.

My boys have played at all levels of travel soccer in a big club here. They've moved up and down. They're good players and they love soccer, but neither is the next Messi, nor is anyone they've ever played with or against. They're a bunch of nice kids spending their free time playing a great sport, which is better than spending their free time playing Call of Duty. That's it!

I love these tired posts in soccer threads. This is almost the Godwin's law of soccer discussion threads. No matter what simple question about soccer there is it always ends up with some bore making a comment like "I feel sorry for these parents who think they have the next Messi or Alex Morgan".

Jesus all somebody did was ask what the order clubs use to designate their A, B, C etc teams and you think that means they are freaking out or believe their kid is Messi. Your post is about as original as butter on toast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This much emotional investment when your kid is 9...going to be a tough road ahead for you, and even more so for your poor kid. Seriously, it's bad enough to care about this stuff in your OWN club. If you care about the team rankings in other clubs, you need a new hobby.

"Is that Bethesda's B team or D team?" is a legitimate question. Particularly when you have a coach who tends to get your team in a bracket that's either too high or too low for its current ability level.

Also, on a pragmatic level, this sort of information-sharing helps us shut down the trash-talking idiots who come here and say Club X can't be that good because his DS's team just beat their team.

Agree. It's also just generally useful to get to know what the local soccer scene looks like so you can make informed decisions about your child's path as you go along. Same reason it's good to talk to parents of other teams at games and tournaments. The more connected you feel, the more likely you are to want to put in the time needed to support your kid. Plus it makes it more fun. I feel really sorry for people like the PP who smugly assume that their narrow view is the only right one.

No need to feel sorry for me. I don't feel sorry for those of you who spend your free time figuring out the color rankings of other teams in your league, but I do think, after years of experience, that you're all a little crazy. If your heart is going to get broken when your gold/silver/blue/brown kid is moved down a level, or give him a hard time when he loses to the wrong-level team, or try to gear him up with a lot of extra sleep and some extra agility training in the backyard because ohmigod he's playing a higher level team this week, then you're WAY overly invested in your child's hobby, and everyone around you, including your kid's coach, sees it. Your own kid will point it out to you when he's 12 if you don't freak him/her out too much and scare her from bringing it up. Happened to me as a child (my mom was NUTS about the sport she had me playing, sounding just like many of you), and I won't let it happen to my own kids.

My boys have played at all levels of travel soccer in a big club here. They've moved up and down. They're good players and they love soccer, but neither is the next Messi, nor is anyone they've ever played with or against. They're a bunch of nice kids spending their free time playing a great sport, which is better than spending their free time playing Call of Duty. That's it!

Ok, but why do you make the assumption that taking an interest in the various levels of teams at area clubs means that the OP or anyone else is obsessed with what level their child is at and heading for heartbreak? Seems like a huge reach. Some parents are intellectually curious and like to know the lay of the land, while others are content to just focus on what's in front of them. If you are the sort that takes an interest beyond your kids and your immediate family, you can start to figure out a lot about which clubs here and elsewhere do a good job with skills, and which ones send kids to DAs, good college programs, and the pros. And you do need to be able to figure out how various clubs operate to get there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This much emotional investment when your kid is 9...going to be a tough road ahead for you, and even more so for your poor kid. Seriously, it's bad enough to care about this stuff in your OWN club. If you care about the team rankings in other clubs, you need a new hobby.

"Is that Bethesda's B team or D team?" is a legitimate question. Particularly when you have a coach who tends to get your team in a bracket that's either too high or too low for its current ability level.

Also, on a pragmatic level, this sort of information-sharing helps us shut down the trash-talking idiots who come here and say Club X can't be that good because his DS's team just beat their team.

Agree. It's also just generally useful to get to know what the local soccer scene looks like so you can make informed decisions about your child's path as you go along. Same reason it's good to talk to parents of other teams at games and tournaments. The more connected you feel, the more likely you are to want to put in the time needed to support your kid. Plus it makes it more fun. I feel really sorry for people like the PP who smugly assume that their narrow view is the only right one.

No need to feel sorry for me. I don't feel sorry for those of you who spend your free time figuring out the color rankings of other teams in your league, but I do think, after years of experience, that you're all a little crazy. If your heart is going to get broken when your gold/silver/blue/brown kid is moved down a level, or give him a hard time when he loses to the wrong-level team, or try to gear him up with a lot of extra sleep and some extra agility training in the backyard because ohmigod he's playing a higher level team this week, then you're WAY overly invested in your child's hobby, and everyone around you, including your kid's coach, sees it. Your own kid will point it out to you when he's 12 if you don't freak him/her out too much and scare her from bringing it up. Happened to me as a child (my mom was NUTS about the sport she had me playing, sounding just like many of you), and I won't let it happen to my own kids.

My boys have played at all levels of travel soccer in a big club here. They've moved up and down. They're good players and they love soccer, but neither is the next Messi, nor is anyone they've ever played with or against. They're a bunch of nice kids spending their free time playing a great sport, which is better than spending their free time playing Call of Duty. That's it!

I love these tired posts in soccer threads. This is almost the Godwin's law of soccer discussion threads. No matter what simple question about soccer there is it always ends up with some bore making a comment like "I feel sorry for these parents who think they have the next Messi or Alex Morgan".

Jesus all somebody did was ask what the order clubs use to designate their A, B, C etc teams and you think that means they are freaking out or believe their kid is Messi. Your post is about as original as butter on toast.

As is this thread, which is one of the crazier helicopter soccer parent topics on this forum. Crazy parents busily ranking other people's kids and screaming on the sidelines. The coaches can't stand any of you, and everyone feels sorry for your kids, but at least you all find some company here. The Bethesda-whatever-color U12 team couldn't beat a pickup team of Uruguayan 6-year-olds, but hey, at least it keeps you busy.