Should McLean Pre-ECNL players consider Spirit DA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can email the TD and he will invite your DD out to a practice now. They are always interested in the younger players and getting that pipeline going. If you can afford it and are on Green, she will likely make a team even as an 08.

That's concerning (for WS).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Topic. I have heard McLean is a feeder for Spirit geographically. Would it be better for a good 08 on Green to go play up at Spirit next year if given the chance? Is this a better option then playing in the uneven competition of NCSL that does not have divisions at U11 and U12? How would you approach this and go about this with Spirit-VA?

I hate this sort of question. It sucks that families must choose year by year the best option for their DD rather than taking a longer term view. But that is how it is.

It's a big strong to say McLean is a feeder for Spirit. Kid's come and go these days with so many good options nearby. Last year, McLean lost a bunch of 05's, and another bunch came in. They're doing just fine.

Frankly, for a serious 08 player, I would focus less on the club than on making a comprehensive training program that supplements what the club is providing. It is not reasonable to expect any club to develop your player optimally. If that is what you expect, you will be disappointed at any location. Spirit is not a panacea. To really excel, the player must be doing supplementary technical work on the side, preferably with some sort of coaching.

Consider your DD's destination. If you think you are headed the DA route, then by all means, put Spirit, FCV, or Arlington on your evaluation list. Contact the coaches, ask if your DD can work out with the team. If ECNL, consider McLean, BRYC, Bethesda, VDA. Same goes for the next tier, and so on.

That's a very well put together post. It's probably one of the best I've read on this subject. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can email the TD and he will invite your DD out to a practice now. They are always interested in the younger players and getting that pipeline going. If you can afford it and are on Green, she will likely make a team even as an 08.

That's concerning (for WS).

Why? Is an entire McLean 08 team moving over? It is really that concerning that a couple of kids would play up one year?

For WS and the players it would make sense to play kids up a year in a developmental year that doesn’t even matter competively as much as it could developmentally in the long run. Those kids who get year playing up at a higher level will benefit when they return to age when the games really matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can email the TD and he will invite your DD out to a practice now. They are always interested in the younger players and getting that pipeline going. If you can afford it and are on Green, she will likely make a team even as an 08.

How much does it cost (roughly)?

http://washingtonspirit.com/da/development-academy-fees-and-faq/

Given the cost, it sounds like it would be a perfect fit for affluent McLean parents.

McLean ECNL costs are similar to DA costs. The amount of travel involved in U13 ECNL was greater than the amount of travel in U13 DA. The substitution rules in ECNL are more restrictive than DA at U13/14.

If your daughter does not love soccer she should not do DA or ECNL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can email the TD and he will invite your DD out to a practice now. They are always interested in the younger players and getting that pipeline going. If you can afford it and are on Green, she will likely make a team even as an 08.

That's concerning (for WS).

Why? Is an entire McLean 08 team moving over? It is really that concerning that a couple of kids would play up one year?

For WS and the players it would make sense to play kids up a year in a developmental year that doesn’t even matter competively as much as it could developmentally in the long run. Those kids who get year playing up at a higher level will benefit when they return to age when the games really matter.

+1000

For Spirit it is not about winning games. It is about developing players. If given the opportunity to play up a year in the most competitive league with great coaches, why wouldn’t you. Many players playing up may end up playing with their own age when older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can email the TD and he will invite your DD out to a practice now. They are always interested in the younger players and getting that pipeline going. If you can afford it and are on Green, she will likely make a team even as an 08.

That's concerning (for WS).

Why? Is an entire McLean 08 team moving over? It is really that concerning that a couple of kids would play up one year?

For WS and the players it would make sense to play kids up a year in a developmental year that doesn’t even matter competively as much as it could developmentally in the long run. Those kids who get year playing up at a higher level will benefit when they return to age when the games really matter.

Ridiculously high cost?

[Anonymous]

This is easy. Playing in Mclean in ncsl is a waste of money. The coaches have sad track records there and turnover, except Watson. The 2007s in general are not strong like 05 and 06s in DMV, so 100% it is an option worth doing for any 08. There are many 08s better then 07s that could develop now in DA. I would ignore all saying otherwise as there are so many options now and it gets younger and younger. Players stopped going to Mclean 2 years ago. A lot has changed

[Anonymous]

why don't they join arlington instead? then they can have 7 teams teams in the age group instead of 6.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why don't they join arlington instead? then they can have 7 teams teams in the age group instead of 6.

But seriously arlington 07 is really weak so McLean 07s and 08s could potentially get a U13 DA spot with Arlington next year too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why don't they join arlington instead? then they can have 7 teams teams in the age group instead of 6.

But seriously arlington 07 is really weak so McLean 07s and 08s could potentially get a U13 DA spot with Arlington next year too.

At a certain point, if playing up really becomes as rampant as some would advocate for, then everyone will be playing up. At which point, it returns to playing in your own age group.

I'm not sure when and where playing in your own age group became less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why don't they join arlington instead? then they can have 7 teams teams in the age group instead of 6.

But seriously arlington 07 is really weak so McLean 07s and 08s could potentially get a U13 DA spot with Arlington next year too.

At a certain point, if playing up really becomes as rampant as some would advocate for, then everyone will be playing up. At which point, it returns to playing in your own age group.

I'm not sure when and where playing in your own age group became less.

If there were not so many U13 DA/ECNL teams then there would be less opportunity to play up. The non NOVA teams that you compete against in these leagues will have fewer players playing up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why don't they join arlington instead? then they can have 7 teams teams in the age group instead of 6.

But seriously arlington 07 is really weak so McLean 07s and 08s could potentially get a U13 DA spot with Arlington next year too.

At a certain point, if playing up really becomes as rampant as some would advocate for, then everyone will be playing up. At which point, it returns to playing in your own age group.

I'm not sure when and where playing in your own age group became less.

If there were not so many U13 DA/ECNL teams then there would be less opportunity to play up. The non NOVA teams that you compete against in these leagues will have fewer players playing up.

That is very true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why don't they join arlington instead? then they can have 7 teams teams in the age group instead of 6.

But seriously arlington 07 is really weak so McLean 07s and 08s could potentially get a U13 DA spot with Arlington next year too.

2007 girls are just one of those things in this town. Too many B level players with parents who don't see that it all is a little forced, if you know what I mean ... so it does create opportunity for 2008s. U12 is universally accepted as a wasted year in the 9v9 small field format, so a 2008 in the top-3 of her club should definitely consider skipping it. It makes no sense to put U12 teams in NCSL when CCL at least gives competition against Loudoun and Beach and Arlington. Loudoun 08s are weak, so another reason to play up if you have the right player. McLean is not big enough to survive, but not small enough either to just go away. Basically stuck in the middle. WS DA is probably easiest way to play up.

[Anonymous]

I find any club that has to use playing up as a recruitment tool concerning. That's a clear sign of problems filling rosters and a talent pool issue. I have never heard of any club worth its salt ever doing that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can email the TD and he will invite your DD out to a practice now. They are always interested in the younger players and getting that pipeline going. If you can afford it and are on Green, she will likely make a team even as an 08.

That's concerning (for WS).

Why? Is an entire McLean 08 team moving over? It is really that concerning that a couple of kids would play up one year?

For WS and the players it would make sense to play kids up a year in a developmental year that doesn’t even matter competively as much as it could developmentally in the long run. Those kids who get year playing up at a higher level will benefit when they return to age when the games really matter.

+1000

For Spirit it is not about winning games. It is about developing players. If given the opportunity to play up a year in the most competitive league with great coaches, why wouldn’t you. Many players playing up may end up playing with their own age when older.

This is true, although the few play ups Spirit has are typically the best players at their own age groups from what I’ve seen. Either they play up at their previous clubs already or are superstars on their age group squads. So it’s not as though just any 08s would be assured of nabbing a spot with the 07s, just the very top players.