DC soccer landscape

[Anonymous]

OP, your first grader is young, your 4th grader is not. What soccer were they playing before? Was your 4th grader on a rec or travel team?

I would go with PPA or Stoddert for a start - unless you really like driving or happen to live in the palisades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain the DC soccer landscape to my? My kids are young (first grade and fourth grade girls) and we are new here (NWDC). Am trying to get my head wrapped around how things work / what to expect. Interested in competitive play but also meeting local community/friends.

Inside NWDC-Stoddert, DCYFC, PPA. Stoddert is expensive and coaching/program not the best, describe as a club of convenience(ie practice can be 6 minutes from your house). DCYFC does well with the younger ages but is very small. They also offer a program for pre u9 that is age appropriate and fun for the kids. PPA don’t have any experience with hear it is hit or miss.

Upper NW Maryland- Potomac and BSC are the big ones. BSC is the bigger name but practices can be in upper Montgomery County, technical emphasis, boys side very competitive. Potomac is a step up from stoddert. There are a few small clubs that do a good job in lower Montgomery just do not remember their names.

Lower NW Virginia -Arlington- close to practice fields and home game, lot of teams per age group, known for athleticism not technical skills at older ages*. McLean little further out, heavier emphasis on technical skills. Seems to be a little turmoil at the club right now.

All the clubs are looking for aggressive kids who are fast, physical or big for their age for their top team. Look for a club that is convenient and teaches technical skills at u9-u12. Do not believe the hype if your kid makes a top team. It is not elite soccer. If the coach screams or belittles the kids leave and go to another club.

* There are two basic philosophies for development that are practiced. One they get the best athletes and max them out through conditioning and strength training. The other takes the best athletes and makes them the best they can be technically. Each club leans one way or the other but all the clubs do both- ie club A will devote more practice time to physical conditioning vs technical development. Club B will spend more time on technical drill vs conditioning. Each favors a certain type of kid because the style of play is dependent on which type of development is emphasized. Match your kid to the style of play.

Note that the descriptions of Arlington vs McLean may be correct for girls - I don't know. But it would be 100% the other way around for the boys where Arlington focuses heavily on technical skills.

Definitely not what I have seen from Arlington boys at those ages. Kick, run fast, charge hard, repeat.

The poster's comment was "known for athleticism not technical skills at older ages", so I was referring to the academy age groups - U12 and up. I believe there is also a movement to change the philosophy at the younger ages now too - but no idea if it's bearing fruit yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda and Arlington are your best bets. Big clubs with lots of options as kids gets older. Good fields/facilities.

Neither is necessarily or likely to be the best bet for 95% of kids. This is advice for parents who know nothing about soccer and simply take comfort among other lemmings when they make decisions. It is also how clubs can maintain five or six “elite” travel teams. Don’t be a sucker unless you are sucker. Look for the best fit for your kid given their skills and potential and the coaching and development you see on the field.

Get over your self homeboy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please explain the DC soccer landscape to my? My kids are young (first grade and fourth grade girls) and we are new here (NWDC). Am trying to get my head wrapped around how things work / what to expect. Interested in competitive play but also meeting local community/friends.

Inside NWDC-Stoddert, DCYFC, PPA. Stoddert is expensive and coaching/program not the best, describe as a club of convenience(ie practice can be 6 minutes from your house). DCYFC does well with the younger ages but is very small. They also offer a program for pre u9 that is age appropriate and fun for the kids. PPA don’t have any experience with hear it is hit or miss.

Upper NW Maryland- Potomac and BSC are the big ones. BSC is the bigger name but practices can be in upper Montgomery County, technical emphasis, boys side very competitive. Potomac is a step up from stoddert. There are a few small clubs that do a good job in lower Montgomery just do not remember their names.

Lower NW Virginia -Arlington- close to practice fields and home game, lot of teams per age group, known for athleticism not technical skills at older ages*. McLean little further out, heavier emphasis on technical skills. Seems to be a little turmoil at the club right now.

All the clubs are looking for aggressive kids who are fast, physical or big for their age for their top team. Look for a club that is convenient and teaches technical skills at u9-u12. Do not believe the hype if your kid makes a top team. It is not elite soccer. If the coach screams or belittles the kids leave and go to another club.

* There are two basic philosophies for development that are practiced. One they get the best athletes and max them out through conditioning and strength training. The other takes the best athletes and makes them the best they can be technically. Each club leans one way or the other but all the clubs do both- ie club A will devote more practice time to physical conditioning vs technical development. Club B will spend more time on technical drill vs conditioning. Each favors a certain type of kid because the style of play is dependent on which type of development is emphasized. Match your kid to the style of play.

Note that the descriptions of Arlington vs McLean may be correct for girls - I don't know. But it would be 100% the other way around for the boys where Arlington focuses heavily on technical skills.

Definitely not what I have seen from Arlington boys at those ages. Kick, run fast, charge hard, repeat.

OP has girls, so irrelevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not what I have seen from Arlington boys at those ages. Kick, run fast, charge hard, repeat.

Clearly, you haven't watched any of the Arlington Academy or Red teams play.

[Anonymous]

Where in NW are you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not what I have seen from Arlington boys at those ages. Kick, run fast, charge hard, repeat.

Clearly, you haven't watched any of the Arlington Academy or Red teams play.

At least not in the last few years. I believe he may have had a point 5 years ago - but definitely no longer the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not what I have seen from Arlington boys at those ages. Kick, run fast, charge hard, repeat.

Clearly, you haven't watched any of the Arlington Academy or Red teams play.

At least not in the last few years. I believe he may have had a point 5 years ago - but definitely no longer the case.

And here I thought the Spin Doctors had broken up many years ago. Cmon folks. I have seen both teams play across the past three years. Some talented kids but not much teaching or development appears to occur over the years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not what I have seen from Arlington boys at those ages. Kick, run fast, charge hard, repeat.

Clearly, you haven't watched any of the Arlington Academy or Red teams play.

At least not in the last few years. I believe he may have had a point 5 years ago - but definitely no longer the case.

And here I thought the Spin Doctors had broken up many years ago. Cmon folks. I have seen both teams play across the past three years. Some talented kids but not much teaching or development appears to occur over the years.

Sorry, you obviously don't know what you are talking about. Go out and watch some games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not what I have seen from Arlington boys at those ages. Kick, run fast, charge hard, repeat.

Clearly, you haven't watched any of the Arlington Academy or Red teams play.

At least not in the last few years. I believe he may have had a point 5 years ago - but definitely no longer the case.

And here I thought the Spin Doctors had broken up many years ago. Cmon folks. I have seen both teams play across the past three years. Some talented kids but not much teaching or development appears to occur over the years.

Sorry, you obviously don't know what you are talking about. Go out and watch some games.

The feeling is mutual, my friend. Take the same kids from SYC over the same period and they are doing circles around those Arlington teams even though started behind Arlington at early ages. Truth hurts. You could see all of this coming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not what I have seen from Arlington boys at those ages. Kick, run fast, charge hard, repeat.

Clearly, you haven't watched any of the Arlington Academy or Red teams play.

At least not in the last few years. I believe he may have had a point 5 years ago - but definitely no longer the case.

And here I thought the Spin Doctors had broken up many years ago. Cmon folks. I have seen both teams play across the past three years. Some talented kids but not much teaching or development appears to occur over the years.

Sorry, you obviously don't know what you are talking about. Go out and watch some games.

The feeling is mutual, my friend. Take the same kids from SYC over the same period and they are doing circles around those Arlington teams even though started behind Arlington at early ages. Truth hurts. You could see all of this coming.

It’s true. I think Arlington parents really do not understand technical skill and development. Beating a player by pushing the ball by and out running the player is not technical play. Their teams seem to be a collection of individuals.

[Anonymous]

Jeez. Can’t believe you guys hijacking this thread.

OP, if you are in upper NW, near the MD line, I would strongly recommend Potomac. The U8 head coach is fantastic, really good, he creates such a fun environment for the kids to learn with no fear of failure. There are also a load of new kids joined in the last 6 months so your guy will fit in straight away.

Of course the downside is that training is mostly in Potomac and North Bethesda and games are out at the Soccerplex (but that would also be true of Bethesda).

[Anonymous]

To add to my post above, I can only share my experience of the U8 program, no idea how good it would be for your 4th grader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not what I have seen from Arlington boys at those ages. Kick, run fast, charge hard, repeat.

Clearly, you haven't watched any of the Arlington Academy or Red teams play.

At least not in the last few years. I believe he may have had a point 5 years ago - but definitely no longer the case.

And here I thought the Spin Doctors had broken up many years ago. Cmon folks. I have seen both teams play across the past three years. Some talented kids but not much teaching or development appears to occur over the years.

No you haven't You have an agenda and you're full of it. I have actually seen them play and the PP is wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not what I have seen from Arlington boys at those ages. Kick, run fast, charge hard, repeat.

Clearly, you haven't watched any of the Arlington Academy or Red teams play.

At least not in the last few years. I believe he may have had a point 5 years ago - but definitely no longer the case.

And here I thought the Spin Doctors had broken up many years ago. Cmon folks. I have seen both teams play across the past three years. Some talented kids but not much teaching or development appears to occur over the years.

No you haven't You have an agenda and you're full of it. I have actually seen them play and the PP is wrong.

You are absolutely nuts. People can go see this for themselves. They need not believe either of us. But I have seen these teams play for the past few years, and more than once is too many for anybody who knows anything about the game.