Classic / Select / Not-travel-and-not-rec options in MD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would also point out that the people on this board tend to be anti-Classic snobs. My DD plays Classic and the level of play in her division is excellent. The world does not revolve around travel, especially when one has more than one child and not-endless resources!

People are not Classic snobs. There is just a Classic guy out there who is touting Classic as a pathway to elite travel soccer. That specific claim has been challenged but that does not mean people are anti Classic soccer.

Classic is a place where kids can find some quality competition for a low price.

[Anonymous]

MD fusion

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would also point out that the people on this board tend to be anti-Classic snobs. My DD plays Classic and the level of play in her division is excellent. The world does not revolve around travel, especially when one has more than one child and not-endless resources!

People are not Classic snobs. There is just a Classic guy out there who is touting Classic as a pathway to elite travel soccer. That specific claim has been challenged but that does not mean people are anti Classic soccer.

Classic is a place where kids can find some quality competition for a low price.

+1. My DD went from Rec, to Classic to now Travel. I have no doubt that this was the perfect path for my DD. It would have been very wasteful if she joined Travel at U8/U9.

[Anonymous]

But how does one go about finding a "good" classic team? I mean, for parents who don't know soccer, or aren't able to, say, attend a bunch of games and practices and try to observe and discern whether the kids at a given age level are playing competitive soccer or just kickball --

Wouldn't playing on, say, a C team at a big club be a way of ensuring that even if the kids aren't top level, at least they're being professionally coached and given the best opportunities available for someone at their level of play? Even if these kids are never destined for anyone's A team. Maybe they're really paying for the brand: At least there is some quality control, and it's not just a crapshoot.

I hear a lot of people saying, play Select, play Classic, but for the average parent, where do they go? Most people don't have the time or resources to thoroughly research their 5th grader's potential soccer teams.

[Anonymous]

Just research this thread. There are many references to good classic/select teams. If you have the time and funds to pay a travel team $3,000 to play on the C team and travel all over the DMV then do so. Classic/select is a viable option if you find the right coach.

To be honest, I noticed that while my DC was playing in NCSL D2 and EDP Div 4 that many of the teams we played were less competitive than the classic teams we played the year before in terms of talent and coaching. This was at U12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MD fusion

+1
MD Fusion team in SAM Select. These groups are gaining popularity with talented younger players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MD fusion

+1
MD Fusion team in SAM Select. These groups are gaining popularity with talented younger players.

+2 have heard this

Families with talented kids looking to get out of the Potomac and Bethesda BS

Actual coaches that played pro in South America etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MD fusion

+1
MD Fusion team in SAM Select. These groups are gaining popularity with talented younger players.

All of their teams play in the MSI Classic league except for 1 team that plays in SAM Select.

When my DD played in Classic, they played against the MD Fusion Dragons. The Dragons were a good team. I’m surprised that they don’t place any of their teams in NCSL or similar travel leagues.

[Anonymous]

I have a kid on an MSI Classic team. Not parent coached but still not an exorbitant cost. Practices 2x/week most of the year. Coach is just great: tough and smart. I keep wondering if/when it will all fall apart, but for my kid - super competitive, strong player but never gonna be a phenom - it's been the best of all worlds. We literally stumbled onto this team. I literally can't imagine how people have the time/capacity to get informed about all the options and figure out what is right for their kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MD fusion

+1
MD Fusion team in SAM Select. These groups are gaining popularity with talented younger players.

All of their teams play in the MSI Classic league except for 1 team that plays in SAM Select.

When my DD played in Classic, they played against the MD Fusion Dragons. The Dragons were a good team. I’m surprised that they don’t place any of their teams in NCSL or similar travel leagues.

They're playing U10 in SAM Select next fall with a bunch of the best rec kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid on an MSI Classic team. Not parent coached but still not an exorbitant cost. Practices 2x/week most of the year. Coach is just great: tough and smart. I keep wondering if/when it will all fall apart, but for my kid - super competitive, strong player but never gonna be a phenom - it's been the best of all worlds. We literally stumbled onto this team. I literally can't imagine how people have the time/capacity to get informed about all the options and figure out what is right for their kid.

I completely agree. It's insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any clubs based out of the eastern half of the county? Silver Spring, even Kensington?

There are three PPA teams based in Kensington. One for rising 3rd graders, one for rising 5th and one for rising 6th graders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But how does one go about finding a "good" classic team? I mean, for parents who don't know soccer, or aren't able to, say, attend a bunch of games and practices and try to observe and discern whether the kids at a given age level are playing competitive soccer or just kickball --

Wouldn't playing on, say, a C team at a big club be a way of ensuring that even if the kids aren't top level, at least they're being professionally coached and given the best opportunities available for someone at their level of play? Even if these kids are never destined for anyone's A team. Maybe they're really paying for the brand: At least there is some quality control, and it's not just a crapshoot.

I hear a lot of people saying, play Select, play Classic, but for the average parent, where do they go? Most people don't have the time or resources to thoroughly research their 5th grader's potential soccer teams.

Simple.
If you have the time and money, I see no issue with going to a lower team of a reputable club. If you'd like something less intense, pick a Sam Select team with practices nearby. The level of competition can be better that NCSL or other travel leagues and certainly better than Classic. In 5th, Classic games rarely look like soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But how does one go about finding a "good" classic team? I mean, for parents who don't know soccer, or aren't able to, say, attend a bunch of games and practices and try to observe and discern whether the kids at a given age level are playing competitive soccer or just kickball --

Wouldn't playing on, say, a C team at a big club be a way of ensuring that even if the kids aren't top level, at least they're being professionally coached and given the best opportunities available for someone at their level of play? Even if these kids are never destined for anyone's A team. Maybe they're really paying for the brand: At least there is some quality control, and it's not just a crapshoot.

I hear a lot of people saying, play Select, play Classic, but for the average parent, where do they go? Most people don't have the time or resources to thoroughly research their 5th grader's potential soccer teams.

Simple.
If you have the time and money, I see no issue with going to a lower team of a reputable club. If you'd like something less intense, pick a Sam Select team with practices nearby. The level of competition can be better that NCSL or other travel leagues and certainly better than Classic. In 5th, Classic games rarely look like soccer.

What does this even mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.esyda.org/teams/elite/u16

Have been consistently winning SAM select for a few seasons now. Could be a good fit for someone who doesn't want the $ and commitment of travel but wants to play with talented players.

I’d bear in mind that winning SAM Select doesn’t necessarily mean the players are talented in terms of technical skill and possession-based play. Many teams at the younger ages play the direct kick and run method which wins games but doesn’t work out too well when the kids get older. These are teams where the coaches mainly just want to win partially to appease the parents. You may want to observe a game or two and/or a practice before committing.