Anyone attend the Boys Arlington ID session

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the group I watched there were probably 25-30 boys, of which probably 15 were from the DA (FT and PT players), half dozen Red players and a half dozen new boys from other teams.

At a U12 session? Were they kids playing up in U13 DA this year? Arlington did not have DA at U12 this year and it would be strange to have PT players on a non-DA team. I know they had 'DA' in the name, but it was not a 'DA' team. From what is described at the ID session---almost entirely Arlington players--it seems 'DA' is just in name anyways. If you aren't drawing players from outside of the Club, then it is just a club team. I think at the older years there is more variety of kids, but in the younger years they are just Arlington teams.

Yes. The U12 “DA.” Definitely marketing to a certain type of parent. They know their target market. On PT players, they play a few U11 players up on the U12 teams from time to time. It is a recruiting and retention tool for Arlington, whose coaches want to make the club a recruiting magnet. Good luck with that. Let the competition continue. Looks like other teams in that age group are doing just fine despite not being “DA” teams. I truly hope they improve their methods. They seem to be wasting a lot of resources and credibility, which does nobody in NOVA any good who wants a strong and full alternative to DCU closer to DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yes. And that was the case last year at the ID sessions this time of year. 99% of the kids were current Arlington players. My kids entire ASA team was there. I don't know if it changes later in the year. But, the ID sessions seem just to be a formality.

Most top players know those things are a complete waste of time.

This is not the right way to think about these ID sessions or the DA tryout process overall. My two sons play for a DA (tho not Arlington), so I've seen 4+ years of these cycles at all the age groups. If a "top player" is someone who already plays (like, a starter) for another DA...sure, they don't have to "try out" at all. They may even get recruited (by the other players as much as the coach, honestly). And, at the older ages, some non-DA players are already known to the coaches and wider club community--they may not have to try out either. But for everyone else, and all players at the young ages (U12 pre-academy, U13, U14), the coaches need to see them play, and play against their current players. I'd say that can take two forms...

At U12, my younger son went to an open ID session, just as you're describing for Arlington. 30 minutes in, the coach pulled him out and invited him to the team. The players they really, really want--they only need to see a few plays or a few touches to know they have "it". Believe me, they can tell that quickly; even I can tell by now. But there aren't enough of those players to make a whole team--even for a DA. So...

My older son was different; he was a very good player, but may not stand out in any one session or scrimmage. At U15, he approached the DA coach the winter before and asked to come to their off-season training sessions (when there wasn't a game every week to dominate training). He was able to prove himself over a few weeks, without having to stand out during any one particular session. He knew he made the team for the next year before they had official ID sessions.

If your player is like my younger son--send them to any ID session, even at the last minute, confident that they'll get spotted, no matter how jaded the coaches. But if your player is like my older son, that won't work. You need to go the extra mile to get them seen more times, in more situations, without so many other dudes clouding the picture. If the club doesn't have ID sessions until April or May, reach out now (Jan) and ask if you can drop in to a training session; then keep doing it until they tell you it's a no. If they have early ID sessions (like Arlington), follow up and ask to drop in to training afterwards.

The good news is that more than half of DA rosters are make up of this second kind of player, and they can go on to great things! But lots of parents have convinced themselves that they have the first kind of player, it's just that the coaches suck at running a tryout process. Better to assume they are the second kind of player and be pleasantly surprised when they get invited to join at the end of the first training session.

I hope this is helpful to parents at the beginning of this process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the group I watched there were probably 25-30 boys, of which probably 15 were from the DA (FT and PT players), half dozen Red players and a half dozen new boys from other teams.

At a U12 session? Were they kids playing up in U13 DA this year? Arlington did not have DA at U12 this year and it would be strange to have PT players on a non-DA team. I know they had 'DA' in the name, but it was not a 'DA' team. From what is described at the ID session---almost entirely Arlington players--it seems 'DA' is just in name anyways. If you aren't drawing players from outside of the Club, then it is just a club team. I think at the older years there is more variety of kids, but in the younger years they are just Arlington teams.

I was commenting on the U14 and U15 groups, but fwiw Arlington has a "pre-DA" at U12 this year and they have Arlington Red and other kids 'guest train' and 'guest play' with the side throughout the season, so while not formally a DA with FT/PT players that's kind of how they are treating it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yes. And that was the case last year at the ID sessions this time of year. 99% of the kids were current Arlington players. My kids entire ASA team was there. I don't know if it changes later in the year. But, the ID sessions seem just to be a formality.

Most top players know those things are a complete waste of time.

This is not the right way to think about these ID sessions or the DA tryout process overall. My two sons play for a DA (tho not Arlington), so I've seen 4+ years of these cycles at all the age groups. If a "top player" is someone who already plays (like, a starter) for another DA...sure, they don't have to "try out" at all. They may even get recruited (by the other players as much as the coach, honestly). And, at the older ages, some non-DA players are already known to the coaches and wider club community--they may not have to try out either. But for everyone else, and all players at the young ages (U12 pre-academy, U13, U14), the coaches need to see them play, and play against their current players. I'd say that can take two forms...

At U12, my younger son went to an open ID session, just as you're describing for Arlington. 30 minutes in, the coach pulled him out and invited him to the team. The players they really, really want--they only need to see a few plays or a few touches to know they have "it". Believe me, they can tell that quickly; even I can tell by now. But there aren't enough of those players to make a whole team--even for a DA. So...

My older son was different; he was a very good player, but may not stand out in any one session or scrimmage. At U15, he approached the DA coach the winter before and asked to come to their off-season training sessions (when there wasn't a game every week to dominate training). He was able to prove himself over a few weeks, without having to stand out during any one particular session. He knew he made the team for the next year before they had official ID sessions.

If your player is like my younger son--send them to any ID session, even at the last minute, confident that they'll get spotted, no matter how jaded the coaches. But if your player is like my older son, that won't work. You need to go the extra mile to get them seen more times, in more situations, without so many other dudes clouding the picture. If the club doesn't have ID sessions until April or May, reach out now (Jan) and ask if you can drop in to a training session; then keep doing it until they tell you it's a no. If they have early ID sessions (like Arlington), follow up and ask to drop in to training afterwards.

The good news is that more than half of DA rosters are make up of this second kind of player, and they can go on to great things! But lots of parents have convinced themselves that they have the first kind of player, it's just that the coaches suck at running a tryout process. Better to assume they are the second kind of player and be pleasantly surprised when they get invited to join at the end of the first training session.

I hope this is helpful to parents at the beginning of this process.

This is great insight and experience. Please share more broadly when appropriate on other issues - many would appreciate more of this and less of the other sniping that can go on.

[Anonymous]

They seem to have canceled the Jan 18 session. Any idea why? Were there just not enough players?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They seem to have canceled the Jan 18 session. Any idea why? Were there just not enough players?

The weather. Geezuz.

[Anonymous]

I heard they were making some cuts after the first session, did anyone receive an email?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They seem to have canceled the Jan 18 session. Any idea why? Were there just not enough players?

Just the weather. It will be rescheduled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard they were making some cuts after the first session, did anyone receive an email?

These are just ID Sessions, so not really cuts. They did email some players and ask them not to attend the second session.

[Anonymous]

Were players supposed to attend both sessions?

That was not clear in original posting on their web site...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Were players supposed to attend both sessions?

That was not clear in original posting on their web site...

Players can attend one or both, unless they were asked not to attend the 2nd date.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yes. And that was the case last year at the ID sessions this time of year. 99% of the kids were current Arlington players. My kids entire ASA team was there. I don't know if it changes later in the year. But, the ID sessions seem just to be a formality.

Most top players know those things are a complete waste of time.

This is not the right way to think about these ID sessions or the DA tryout process overall. My two sons play for a DA (tho not Arlington), so I've seen 4+ years of these cycles at all the age groups. If a "top player" is someone who already plays (like, a starter) for another DA...sure, they don't have to "try out" at all. They may even get recruited (by the other players as much as the coach, honestly). And, at the older ages, some non-DA players are already known to the coaches and wider club community--they may not have to try out either. But for everyone else, and all players at the young ages (U12 pre-academy, U13, U14), the coaches need to see them play, and play against their current players. I'd say that can take two forms...

At U12, my younger son went to an open ID session, just as you're describing for Arlington. 30 minutes in, the coach pulled him out and invited him to the team. The players they really, really want--they only need to see a few plays or a few touches to know they have "it". Believe me, they can tell that quickly; even I can tell by now. But there aren't enough of those players to make a whole team--even for a DA. So...

My older son was different; he was a very good player, but may not stand out in any one session or scrimmage. At U15, he approached the DA coach the winter before and asked to come to their off-season training sessions (when there wasn't a game every week to dominate training). He was able to prove himself over a few weeks, without having to stand out during any one particular session. He knew he made the team for the next year before they had official ID sessions.

If your player is like my younger son--send them to any ID session, even at the last minute, confident that they'll get spotted, no matter how jaded the coaches. But if your player is like my older son, that won't work. You need to go the extra mile to get them seen more times, in more situations, without so many other dudes clouding the picture. If the club doesn't have ID sessions until April or May, reach out now (Jan) and ask if you can drop in to a training session; then keep doing it until they tell you it's a no. If they have early ID sessions (like Arlington), follow up and ask to drop in to training afterwards.

The good news is that more than half of DA rosters are make up of this second kind of player, and they can go on to great things! But lots of parents have convinced themselves that they have the first kind of player, it's just that the coaches suck at running a tryout process. Better to assume they are the second kind of player and be pleasantly surprised when they get invited to join at the end of the first training session.

I hope this is helpful to parents at the beginning of this process.

Does this hold for position also? I have seen really good offensive mids almost disappear ID/tryouts session. Those sessions are not really conducive to midfield play. Passing or trying a give an go and you will not get the ball back. Move to space and the ball never comes. The defenders and strikers seem to do the best in those sesssions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yes. And that was the case last year at the ID sessions this time of year. 99% of the kids were current Arlington players. My kids entire ASA team was there. I don't know if it changes later in the year. But, the ID sessions seem just to be a formality.

Most top players know those things are a complete waste of time.

This is not the right way to think about these ID sessions or the DA tryout process overall. My two sons play for a DA (tho not Arlington), so I've seen 4+ years of these cycles at all the age groups. If a "top player" is someone who already plays (like, a starter) for another DA...sure, they don't have to "try out" at all. They may even get recruited (by the other players as much as the coach, honestly). And, at the older ages, some non-DA players are already known to the coaches and wider club community--they may not have to try out either. But for everyone else, and all players at the young ages (U12 pre-academy, U13, U14), the coaches need to see them play, and play against their current players. I'd say that can take two forms...

At U12, my younger son went to an open ID session, just as you're describing for Arlington. 30 minutes in, the coach pulled him out and invited him to the team. The players they really, really want--they only need to see a few plays or a few touches to know they have "it". Believe me, they can tell that quickly; even I can tell by now. But there aren't enough of those players to make a whole team--even for a DA. So...

My older son was different; he was a very good player, but may not stand out in any one session or scrimmage. At U15, he approached the DA coach the winter before and asked to come to their off-season training sessions (when there wasn't a game every week to dominate training). He was able to prove himself over a few weeks, without having to stand out during any one particular session. He knew he made the team for the next year before they had official ID sessions.

If your player is like my younger son--send them to any ID session, even at the last minute, confident that they'll get spotted, no matter how jaded the coaches. But if your player is like my older son, that won't work. You need to go the extra mile to get them seen more times, in more situations, without so many other dudes clouding the picture. If the club doesn't have ID sessions until April or May, reach out now (Jan) and ask if you can drop in to a training session; then keep doing it until they tell you it's a no. If they have early ID sessions (like Arlington), follow up and ask to drop in to training afterwards.

The good news is that more than half of DA rosters are make up of this second kind of player, and they can go on to great things! But lots of parents have convinced themselves that they have the first kind of player, it's just that the coaches suck at running a tryout process. Better to assume they are the second kind of player and be pleasantly surprised when they get invited to join at the end of the first training session.

I hope this is helpful to parents at the beginning of this process.

Does this hold for position also? I have seen really good offensive mids almost disappear ID/tryouts session. Those sessions are not really conducive to midfield play. Passing or trying a give an go and you will not get the ball back. Move to space and the ball never comes. The defenders and strikers seem to do the best in those sesssions.

Probably. Tendencies come out. Midfielders create plays and sequences. Defenders need only show themselves as good ball winners, and Strikers often ball hog in an effort to score. I've seen exactly what you described at ID sessions, NTCs, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yes. And that was the case last year at the ID sessions this time of year. 99% of the kids were current Arlington players. My kids entire ASA team was there. I don't know if it changes later in the year. But, the ID sessions seem just to be a formality.

Most top players know those things are a complete waste of time.

This is not the right way to think about these ID sessions or the DA tryout process overall. My two sons play for a DA (tho not Arlington), so I've seen 4+ years of these cycles at all the age groups. If a "top player" is someone who already plays (like, a starter) for another DA...sure, they don't have to "try out" at all. They may even get recruited (by the other players as much as the coach, honestly). And, at the older ages, some non-DA players are already known to the coaches and wider club community--they may not have to try out either. But for everyone else, and all players at the young ages (U12 pre-academy, U13, U14), the coaches need to see them play, and play against their current players. I'd say that can take two forms...

At U12, my younger son went to an open ID session, just as you're describing for Arlington. 30 minutes in, the coach pulled him out and invited him to the team. The players they really, really want--they only need to see a few plays or a few touches to know they have "it". Believe me, they can tell that quickly; even I can tell by now. But there aren't enough of those players to make a whole team--even for a DA. So...

My older son was different; he was a very good player, but may not stand out in any one session or scrimmage. At U15, he approached the DA coach the winter before and asked to come to their off-season training sessions (when there wasn't a game every week to dominate training). He was able to prove himself over a few weeks, without having to stand out during any one particular session. He knew he made the team for the next year before they had official ID sessions.

If your player is like my younger son--send them to any ID session, even at the last minute, confident that they'll get spotted, no matter how jaded the coaches. But if your player is like my older son, that won't work. You need to go the extra mile to get them seen more times, in more situations, without so many other dudes clouding the picture. If the club doesn't have ID sessions until April or May, reach out now (Jan) and ask if you can drop in to a training session; then keep doing it until they tell you it's a no. If they have early ID sessions (like Arlington), follow up and ask to drop in to training afterwards.

The good news is that more than half of DA rosters are make up of this second kind of player, and they can go on to great things! But lots of parents have convinced themselves that they have the first kind of player, it's just that the coaches suck at running a tryout process. Better to assume they are the second kind of player and be pleasantly surprised when they get invited to join at the end of the first training session.

I hope this is helpful to parents at the beginning of this process.

Does this hold for position also? I have seen really good offensive mids almost disappear ID/tryouts session. Those sessions are not really conducive to midfield play. Passing or trying a give an go and you will not get the ball back. Move to space and the ball never comes. The defenders and strikers seem to do the best in those sesssions.

Given that a large percentage of kids on that field were DA, I would hope that those not passing to a player in space would result in a player not getting selected. I saw a lot of kick the ball down the field too. That said, on the U14 DA, the left defensive player was skilled not just with his feet, but he played smart too. Was a pleasure to watch. If Arlington is just looking for strong fast tall kids, don't really want my son in that non-learning environment. But if they are teaching where to go, when to go, build from the back, then I hope he gets selected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yes. And that was the case last year at the ID sessions this time of year. 99% of the kids were current Arlington players. My kids entire ASA team was there. I don't know if it changes later in the year. But, the ID sessions seem just to be a formality.

Most top players know those things are a complete waste of time.

This is not the right way to think about these ID sessions or the DA tryout process overall. My two sons play for a DA (tho not Arlington), so I've seen 4+ years of these cycles at all the age groups. If a "top player" is someone who already plays (like, a starter) for another DA...sure, they don't have to "try out" at all. They may even get recruited (by the other players as much as the coach, honestly). And, at the older ages, some non-DA players are already known to the coaches and wider club community--they may not have to try out either. But for everyone else, and all players at the young ages (U12 pre-academy, U13, U14), the coaches need to see them play, and play against their current players. I'd say that can take two forms...

At U12, my younger son went to an open ID session, just as you're describing for Arlington. 30 minutes in, the coach pulled him out and invited him to the team. The players they really, really want--they only need to see a few plays or a few touches to know they have "it". Believe me, they can tell that quickly; even I can tell by now. But there aren't enough of those players to make a whole team--even for a DA. So...

My older son was different; he was a very good player, but may not stand out in any one session or scrimmage. At U15, he approached the DA coach the winter before and asked to come to their off-season training sessions (when there wasn't a game every week to dominate training). He was able to prove himself over a few weeks, without having to stand out during any one particular session. He knew he made the team for the next year before they had official ID sessions.

If your player is like my younger son--send them to any ID session, even at the last minute, confident that they'll get spotted, no matter how jaded the coaches. But if your player is like my older son, that won't work. You need to go the extra mile to get them seen more times, in more situations, without so many other dudes clouding the picture. If the club doesn't have ID sessions until April or May, reach out now (Jan) and ask if you can drop in to a training session; then keep doing it until they tell you it's a no. If they have early ID sessions (like Arlington), follow up and ask to drop in to training afterwards.

The good news is that more than half of DA rosters are make up of this second kind of player, and they can go on to great things! But lots of parents have convinced themselves that they have the first kind of player, it's just that the coaches suck at running a tryout process. Better to assume they are the second kind of player and be pleasantly surprised when they get invited to join at the end of the first training session.

I hope this is helpful to parents at the beginning of this process.

Does this hold for position also? I have seen really good offensive mids almost disappear ID/tryouts session. Those sessions are not really conducive to midfield play. Passing or trying a give an go and you will not get the ball back. Move to space and the ball never comes. The defenders and strikers seem to do the best in those sesssions.

Given that a large percentage of kids on that field were DA, I would hope that those not passing to a player in space would result in a player not getting selected. I saw a lot of kick the ball down the field too. That said, on the U14 DA, the left defensive player was skilled not just with his feet, but he played smart too. Was a pleasure to watch. If Arlington is just looking for strong fast tall kids, don't really want my son in that non-learning environment. But if they are teaching where to go, when to go, build from the back, then I hope he gets selected.

I don't understand the qualifier in bold above? Why does the number of DA kids on the field have to do with whether or not a kid should be selected for not passing to a kid in space?

Also, say your kid is given an offer (and you can afford it and you can handle the logistics of getting there, and playing ion HS in not a big deal, etc), why would you stay with your current team? What is the end game? What is the goal for your son? And anyone can answer this question not just the prior poster. Thanks