Bethesda Tournament vs McLean Tournament

[Anonymous]

I think much of the club / tournament selection stuff is a bit of you scratch my back I scratch yours. Some clubs will go to Bethesda because they expect XX number of Bethesda teams to come to their tournament in return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

FPYCparent wrote:DD's 2008 FPYC squad will be at McLean and not Bethesda this fall. No need to travel to Poolesville again for a similar experience at their current level of play.

I'd like to think many/most McLean teams (U12 and younger, at least) would be staying home as well. They are also guaranteeing turf fields, which should mean something in November.

Yeah, I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that McLean gets decimated every year at the BSC tournament.

A lot of the biggest VA Clubs do when they have to play MD teams, just like this past weekend. Their regular season is against weak teams so they have false sense of superiority until they step outside their box.

What do you think the leading factor is for this? Just a soft northern VA culture? Something else?

Really good question. On the boys side, Maryland boys begin sooner (U8 leagues) and top teams play each other weekly, or at least more often than pre-U12 boys across the river. Top teams in any given year are not playing each other weekly in Virginia. That is a factor. I think these advantages level off over time. My impression is they are more physical at earlier ages and often more skillful. But there are certainly occasional exceptions that prove the general rule. A lot of the younger boys team parents are shocked when they see how much more physical the Maryland teams can be. Not dirty, just physical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

FPYCparent wrote:DD's 2008 FPYC squad will be at McLean and not Bethesda this fall. No need to travel to Poolesville again for a similar experience at their current level of play.

I'd like to think many/most McLean teams (U12 and younger, at least) would be staying home as well. They are also guaranteeing turf fields, which should mean something in November.

Yeah, I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that McLean gets decimated every year at the BSC tournament.

A lot of the biggest VA Clubs do when they have to play MD teams, just like this past weekend. Their regular season is against weak teams so they have false sense of superiority until they step outside their box.

What do you think the leading factor is for this? Just a soft northern VA culture? Something else?

Really good question. On the boys side, Maryland boys begin sooner (U8 leagues) and top teams play each other weekly, or at least more often than pre-U12 boys across the river. Top teams in any given year are not playing each other weekly in Virginia. That is a factor. I think these advantages level off over time. My impression is they are more physical at earlier ages and often more skillful. But there are certainly occasional exceptions that prove the general rule. A lot of the younger boys team parents are shocked when they see how much more physical the Maryland teams can be. Not dirty, just physical.

All true. Even within Maryland, teams outside of MoCo are more physical and harder. Nothing bad about being from a wealthier area, but when it comes to sports, it makes the kids softer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

FPYCparent wrote:DD's 2008 FPYC squad will be at McLean and not Bethesda this fall. No need to travel to Poolesville again for a similar experience at their current level of play.

I'd like to think many/most McLean teams (U12 and younger, at least) would be staying home as well. They are also guaranteeing turf fields, which should mean something in November.

Yeah, I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that McLean gets decimated every year at the BSC tournament.

A lot of the biggest VA Clubs do when they have to play MD teams, just like this past weekend. Their regular season is against weak teams so they have false sense of superiority until they step outside their box.

What do you think the leading factor is for this? Just a soft northern VA culture? Something else?

Really good question. On the boys side, Maryland boys begin sooner (U8 leagues) and top teams play each other weekly, or at least more often than pre-U12 boys across the river. Top teams in any given year are not playing each other weekly in Virginia. That is a factor. I think these advantages level off over time. My impression is they are more physical at earlier ages and often more skillful. But there are certainly occasional exceptions that prove the general rule. A lot of the younger boys team parents are shocked when they see how much more physical the Maryland teams can be. Not dirty, just physical.

All true. Even within Maryland, teams outside of MoCo are more physical and harder. Nothing bad about being from a wealthier area, but when it comes to sports, it makes the kids softer.

Agree. Baltimore and SAC teams have always been more gritty and physical in our experience, and that carries through up to the DA level. Baltimore Armour is a good club with a lot of good coaches and players, but your kids will end up bruised and battered after a match up with them.

In general I think the MoCo to Baltimore corridor offers a more straightforward development path than what's available in NoVa. There is much less talent dilution due to fewer clubs, so practices for kids below the A team tend to be better in general. Also, Baltimore has been a soccer town since the 1930s at least. It's like St. Louis in that tons of immigrants from soccer playing countries came for work and brought the game with them. That sort of culture is hard to replicate.

[Anonymous]

FPYCparent wrote:RE: VA vs. MD …

Anyone else think that the leagues that these clubs choose to play in matter?

I'm seeing nearly 60 2008/U12 girls teams playing EDP, and all but four of them (3 VA, 1, WV) hail from Maryland. I think there are less than ten or so MD-based teams in this age group that play in a league other than EDP. (Why even bother with any other league? Yes, I'm looking at you, MSI.)

There is a similar number of total teams in northern Virginia, but we're all split by ECNL RL (VPL), CCL, NCSL, ODSL. If the Virginia clubs could come together under a similar model (or simply join EDP), perhaps the overall competitiveness of the VA teams would rise as there would be more matches among equally-capable teams.

Admittedly, I haven't looked at other age groups … and I understand that there are more boys' teams from VA in EDP, but the contrast here is almost damning. Aside from DA and ECNL at U13 and older, there seems to be no logical reason to be so splintered.

This is what we used to have in the good old (but still relatively recent) days. My now freshman in college played in NCSL, as did the majority of clubs in the metro area. Every serious team was absolutely driven to try to get to the top division (there were usually 10 or so divisions) and avoid relegation to D2. Over the 4 years he played in NCSL, there were about 12 teams (more than half from NoVa) battling to win or stay in the top division, and the rivalries were incredible. A handful of kids from almost all of those top teams ended up playing DA and are playing in college now. WAGS was similar for girls. You have to travel so much farther to find anything close that level of competition now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

FPYCparent wrote:RE: VA vs. MD …

Anyone else think that the leagues that these clubs choose to play in matter?

I'm seeing nearly 60 2008/U12 girls teams playing EDP, and all but four of them (3 VA, 1, WV) hail from Maryland. I think there are less than ten or so MD-based teams in this age group that play in a league other than EDP. (Why even bother with any other league? Yes, I'm looking at you, MSI.)

There is a similar number of total teams in northern Virginia, but we're all split by ECNL RL (VPL), CCL, NCSL, ODSL. If the Virginia clubs could come together under a similar model (or simply join EDP), perhaps the overall competitiveness of the VA teams would rise as there would be more matches among equally-capable teams.

Admittedly, I haven't looked at other age groups … and I understand that there are more boys' teams from VA in EDP, but the contrast here is almost damning. Aside from DA and ECNL at U13 and older, there seems to be no logical reason to be so splintered.

This is what we used to have in the good old (but still relatively recent) days. My now freshman in college played in NCSL, as did the majority of clubs in the metro area. Every serious team was absolutely driven to try to get to the top division (there were usually 10 or so divisions) and avoid relegation to D2. Over the 4 years he played in NCSL, there were about 12 teams (more than half from NoVa) battling to win or stay in the top division, and the rivalries were incredible. A handful of kids from almost all of those top teams ended up playing DA and are playing in college now. WAGS was similar for girls. You have to travel so much farther to find anything close that level of competition now.

YES! I'm an oldie here and that's how it used to be. CCL killed it. EDP still has pro/rel and there is a hunger not to get relegated. Things are just too easy for some of the teams in these VA leagues and the kids grow complacent and have a false sense of greatness (as do the parents).

My kids have been in NCSL, CCL2, CCL and even though almost all our games are in MD and we are in VA---the competition is much tougher and the kids on the teams have developed so much better than our former team in a different league where they blew everyoune out all of the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

FPYCparent wrote:RE: VA vs. MD …

Anyone else think that the leagues that these clubs choose to play in matter?

I'm seeing nearly 60 2008/U12 girls teams playing EDP, and all but four of them (3 VA, 1, WV) hail from Maryland. I think there are less than ten or so MD-based teams in this age group that play in a league other than EDP. (Why even bother with any other league? Yes, I'm looking at you, MSI.)

There is a similar number of total teams in northern Virginia, but we're all split by ECNL RL (VPL), CCL, NCSL, ODSL. If the Virginia clubs could come together under a similar model (or simply join EDP), perhaps the overall competitiveness of the VA teams would rise as there would be more matches among equally-capable teams.

Admittedly, I haven't looked at other age groups … and I understand that there are more boys' teams from VA in EDP, but the contrast here is almost damning. Aside from DA and ECNL at U13 and older, there seems to be no logical reason to be so splintered.

This is what we used to have in the good old (but still relatively recent) days. My now freshman in college played in NCSL, as did the majority of clubs in the metro area. Every serious team was absolutely driven to try to get to the top division (there were usually 10 or so divisions) and avoid relegation to D2. Over the 4 years he played in NCSL, there were about 12 teams (more than half from NoVa) battling to win or stay in the top division, and the rivalries were incredible. A handful of kids from almost all of those top teams ended up playing DA and are playing in college now. WAGS was similar for girls. You have to travel so much farther to find anything close that level of competition now.

YES! I'm an oldie here and that's how it used to be. CCL killed it. EDP still has pro/rel and there is a hunger not to get relegated. Things are just too easy for some of the teams in these VA leagues and the kids grow complacent and have a false sense of greatness (as do the parents).

My kids have been in NCSL, CCL2, CCL and even though almost all our games are in MD and we are in VA---the competition is much tougher and the kids on the teams have developed so much better than our former team in a different league where they blew everyoune out all of the time.

and--fypc is correct. My kids are both boys and there are definitely more boys teams than girls teams from VA---but in both my kids' divisions there is only one other VA team, 7 MD teams.

[Anonymous]

Wondering if the next soccer phenom is worried about playing in DA, ECNL, EDP, blah blah blah....Their aren't, they are playing the game as much as possible against whomever steps on the field. Idiots, keep chasing the perfect league. It doesn't exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wondering if the next soccer phenom is worried about playing in DA, ECNL, EDP, blah blah blah....Their aren't, they are playing the game as much as possible against whomever steps on the field. Idiots, keep chasing the perfect league. It doesn't exist.

Yep. I think that is the point others are also making. Just without the insults and misspellings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wondering if the next soccer phenom is worried about playing in DA, ECNL, EDP, blah blah blah....Their aren't, they are playing the game as much as possible against whomever steps on the field. Idiots, keep chasing the perfect league. It doesn't exist.

They aren’t- but they need challenge by age 13. Game competition is important in the older years, less so below 12. And, you don’t have to be in DA to get that competition as we see local DA teams lose to non-DA times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

FPYCparent wrote:DD's 2008 FPYC squad will be at McLean and not Bethesda this fall. No need to travel to Poolesville again for a similar experience at their current level of play.

I'd like to think many/most McLean teams (U12 and younger, at least) would be staying home as well. They are also guaranteeing turf fields, which should mean something in November.

Yeah, I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that McLean gets decimated every year at the BSC tournament.

A lot of the biggest VA Clubs do when they have to play MD teams, just like this past weekend. Their regular season is against weak teams so they have false sense of superiority until they step outside their box.

What do you think the leading factor is for this? Just a soft northern VA culture? Something else?

More minorities in MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

FPYCparent wrote:DD's 2008 FPYC squad will be at McLean and not Bethesda this fall. No need to travel to Poolesville again for a similar experience at their current level of play.

I'd like to think many/most McLean teams (U12 and younger, at least) would be staying home as well. They are also guaranteeing turf fields, which should mean something in November.

Yeah, I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that McLean gets decimated every year at the BSC tournament.

A lot of the biggest VA Clubs do when they have to play MD teams, just like this past weekend. Their regular season is against weak teams so they have false sense of superiority until they step outside their box.

What do you think the leading factor is for this? Just a soft northern VA culture? Something else?

More minorities in MD.

Maybe in the Baltimore vicinity based teams but not at BSC, Potomac or MSI teams.......mostly White players. I see more minority in Northern VA teams.

[Anonymous]

It’s surprising that a few posters are saying that MD teams are better than BA teams. If you only include the DC Metro Area (no Baltimore, Pipelines, etc), is MD still better than VA teams?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s surprising that a few posters are saying that MD teams are better than BA teams. If you only include the DC Metro Area (no Baltimore, Pipelines, etc), is MD still better than VA teams?

All of the teams my kids play in EDP in MD are from Ellicott City, Baltimore, Crofton, Eastern Shore---and yes---most are stronger than the inside the beltway VA teams we play. It seems the majority of different Clubs in are division are in the Baltimore/Ellicott area. No Potomac teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

FPYCparent wrote:DD's 2008 FPYC squad will be at McLean and not Bethesda this fall. No need to travel to Poolesville again for a similar experience at their current level of play.

I'd like to think many/most McLean teams (U12 and younger, at least) would be staying home as well. They are also guaranteeing turf fields, which should mean something in November.

Yeah, I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that McLean gets decimated every year at the BSC tournament.

A lot of the biggest VA Clubs do when they have to play MD teams, just like this past weekend. Their regular season is against weak teams so they have false sense of superiority until they step outside their box.

What do you think the leading factor is for this? Just a soft northern VA culture? Something else?

More minorities in MD.

Maybe in the Baltimore vicinity based teams but not at BSC, Potomac or MSI teams.......mostly White players. I see more minority in Northern VA teams.

BSC is very diverse on the boys' side at least.