U13 - Arlington or Alexandria?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The stupidity here is amazing. Worrying about MLS vs ECNL or ASA vs Alexandria at age 12 (U13). Find a team in either league but focus on the quality of coaching and time on field for touches. Going to a team at that age for a league badge is not smart. Going to a team for either badge or league and only getting spare minutes at this age is moronic. Up to U15 or 8th / 9th grade should be playing at a high level and developing skills, field awareness on and off the ball, etc. if your goal is collegiate play then spend time with either league of ECNL or MLS. I would discount MLS only slightly not for to quality of players or teams - but longevity of the league. But in the short run, that does not matter.

I didn't really see any earlier post that would justify this rant. The OP asked for info, so people gave it to him. Some focused either on the overall level of play and the coaching, others with a different perspective on the commute / carpool options. There were two posters who mentioned MLSNext, and neither seemed to place much emphasis on it and both clearly mentioned coaching as important. I didn't see anyone suggesting that the OP should aim for his kid to be a bench player and only get spare minutes or anything about a badge.

Go and find a different thread where someone has actually taken the position that you wish to argue with .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The stupidity here is amazing. Worrying about MLS vs ECNL or ASA vs Alexandria at age 12 (U13). Find a team in either league but focus on the quality of coaching and time on field for touches. Going to a team at that age for a league badge is not smart. Going to a team for either badge or league and only getting spare minutes at this age is moronic. Up to U15 or 8th / 9th grade should be playing at a high level and developing skills, field awareness on and off the ball, etc. if your goal is collegiate play then spend time with either league of ECNL or MLS. I would discount MLS only slightly not for to quality of players or teams - but longevity of the league. But in the short run, that does not matter.

I agree. Travel should start at U15. You can still have A, B, or C teams, but the +100 mile travel shouldn't start until U15, if you are in a large metro area like DC. I understand if you're in a smaller area and can't get competition. DC has plenty of competition at U12-U14. That is the make or break age group. Some kids don't develop through puberty or go off and do something else. Sending U10 kids 200 miles away makes no sense.

Hmm. So the kids from remote areas should travel and play who....?

Also - which U10 kids travel 200 miles away, and how often do they have to do that? I always hear this - but I think it comes from parents whose kids don't participate in these leagues, because - in reality - the long trips are rare. They really only happen a 2/3 times a year - at least in all the leagues my DS has played in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The stupidity here is amazing. Worrying about MLS vs ECNL or ASA vs Alexandria at age 12 (U13). Find a team in either league but focus on the quality of coaching and time on field for touches. Going to a team at that age for a league badge is not smart. Going to a team for either badge or league and only getting spare minutes at this age is moronic. Up to U15 or 8th / 9th grade should be playing at a high level and developing skills, field awareness on and off the ball, etc. if your goal is collegiate play then spend time with either league of ECNL or MLS. I would discount MLS only slightly not for to quality of players or teams - but longevity of the league. But in the short run, that does not matter.

I agree. Travel should start at U15. You can still have A, B, or C teams, but the +100 mile travel shouldn't start until U15, if you are in a large metro area like DC. I understand if you're in a smaller area and can't get competition. DC has plenty of competition at U12-U14. That is the make or break age group. Some kids don't develop through puberty or go off and do something else. Sending U10 kids 200 miles away makes no sense.

Hmm. So the kids from remote areas should travel and play who....?

Also - which U10 kids travel 200 miles away, and how often do they have to do that? I always hear this - but I think it comes from parents whose kids don't participate in these leagues, because - in reality - the long trips are rare. They really only happen a 2/3 times a year - at least in all the leagues my DS has played in.

Only the SYC Samba Boyz and Girlz travel that far away for their national schedule and premier Texas tournament invite respectively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The stupidity here is amazing. Worrying about MLS vs ECNL or ASA vs Alexandria at age 12 (U13). Find a team in either league but focus on the quality of coaching and time on field for touches. Going to a team at that age for a league badge is not smart. Going to a team for either badge or league and only getting spare minutes at this age is moronic. Up to U15 or 8th / 9th grade should be playing at a high level and developing skills, field awareness on and off the ball, etc. if your goal is collegiate play then spend time with either league of ECNL or MLS. I would discount MLS only slightly not for to quality of players or teams - but longevity of the league. But in the short run, that does not matter.

I agree. Travel should start at U15. You can still have A, B, or C teams, but the +100 mile travel shouldn't start until U15, if you are in a large metro area like DC. I understand if you're in a smaller area and can't get competition. DC has plenty of competition at U12-U14. That is the make or break age group. Some kids don't develop through puberty or go off and do something else. Sending U10 kids 200 miles away makes no sense.

Hmm. So the kids from remote areas should travel and play who....?

Also - which U10 kids travel 200 miles away, and how often do they have to do that? I always hear this - but I think it comes from parents whose kids don't participate in these leagues, because - in reality - the long trips are rare. They really only happen a 2/3 times a year - at least in all the leagues my DS has played in.

Only the SYC Samba Boyz and Girlz travel that far away for their national schedule and premier Texas tournament invite respectively.

National torunaments are a lot of travel - but I don't think that's relevant to the argument really. They happen during the summer, they only happen if the team is good enough to qualify and hence perhaps demosntrates it's at a level which merits more travel - and the chance to compete for a national title is a special occasion which is very exciting, and a great memory for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The stupidity here is amazing. Worrying about MLS vs ECNL or ASA vs Alexandria at age 12 (U13). Find a team in either league but focus on the quality of coaching and time on field for touches. Going to a team at that age for a league badge is not smart. Going to a team for either badge or league and only getting spare minutes at this age is moronic. Up to U15 or 8th / 9th grade should be playing at a high level and developing skills, field awareness on and off the ball, etc. if your goal is collegiate play then spend time with either league of ECNL or MLS. I would discount MLS only slightly not for to quality of players or teams - but longevity of the league. But in the short run, that does not matter.

I agree. Travel should start at U15. You can still have A, B, or C teams, but the +100 mile travel shouldn't start until U15, if you are in a large metro area like DC. I understand if you're in a smaller area and can't get competition. DC has plenty of competition at U12-U14. That is the make or break age group. Some kids don't develop through puberty or go off and do something else. Sending U10 kids 200 miles away makes no sense.

Hmm. So the kids from remote areas should travel and play who....?

Also - which U10 kids travel 200 miles away, and how often do they have to do that? I always hear this - but I think it comes from parents whose kids don't participate in these leagues, because - in reality - the long trips are rare. They really only happen a 2/3 times a year - at least in all the leagues my DS has played in.

Only the SYC Samba Boyz and Girlz travel that far away for their national schedule and premier Texas tournament invite respectively.

Don’t exclude the salsa sistas, Seoul brothers, or achy breaks bubbas from that list - they make the rounds too.

[Anonymous]

The stupidity here is amazing. Worrying about MLS vs ECNL or ASA vs Alexandria at age 12 (U13). Find a team in either league but focus on the quality of coaching and time on field for touches. Going to a team at that age for a league badge is not smart. Going to a team for either badge or league and only getting spare minutes at this age is moronic. Up to U15 or 8th / 9th grade should be playing at a high level and developing skills, field awareness on and off the ball, etc. if your goal is collegiate play then spend time with either league of ECNL or MLS. I would discount MLS only slightly not for to quality of players or teams - but longevity of the league. But in the short run, that does not matter.

OP here. You need to chill. We live such that either team's practices would likely be roughly equivalent. We're considering whether one club vs. the other will help him improve. I anticipate that no matter where he plays, his future focus in life will not be on sports as an adult. Given that either club is expensive, we're looking to spend our money on the best experience for him.

[Anonymous]

I find it interesting that OP never clarified how old her kid is even though it was asked at least twice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it interesting that OP never clarified how old her kid is even though it was asked at least twice.

I find it interesting that you find that interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it interesting that OP never clarified how old her kid is even though it was asked at least twice.

I find it interesting that you find that interesting.

Just makes me wonder if this was a sincere question or someone just trying to pit the two clubs against each other. My answer to OP’s question would differ depending on which age we’re talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it interesting that OP never clarified how old her kid is even though it was asked at least twice.

I find it interesting that you find that interesting.

Just makes me wonder if this was a sincere question or someone just trying to pit the two clubs against each other. My answer to OP’s question would differ depending on which age we’re talking about.

Who knows? If so, it didn't really work since most responses that compared the two just noted that they were both good clubs with good coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it interesting that OP never clarified how old her kid is even though it was asked at least twice.

I find it interesting that you find that interesting.

Just makes me wonder if this was a sincere question or someone just trying to pit the two clubs against each other. My answer to OP’s question would differ depending on which age we’re talking about.

Who knows? If so, it didn't really work since most responses that compared the two just noted that they were both good clubs with good coaches.

Having been at both with my kids at different points and times for various reasons, yes--they are both good clubs with solid coaching. I think due to the proximity people like to pit them against one another. And--we have had coaches at one move to the other and vice versa.

I guess it's like a loudoun-fcv or an syc-bryc thing...you will attack the closest competition.

[Anonymous]

SYC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it interesting that OP never clarified how old her kid is even though it was asked at least twice.

I find it interesting that you find that interesting.

Just makes me wonder if this was a sincere question or someone just trying to pit the two clubs against each other. My answer to OP’s question would differ depending on which age we’re talking about.

Who knows? If so, it didn't really work since most responses that compared the two just noted that they were both good clubs with good coaches.

Having been at both with my kids at different points and times for various reasons, yes--they are both good clubs with solid coaching. I think due to the proximity people like to pit them against one another. And--we have had coaches at one move to the other and vice versa.

I guess it's like a loudoun-fcv or an syc-bryc thing...you will attack the closest competition.

Except as far as I can tell most parents from both these clubs are fairly complimentary about the other. The Loudoun-FCV thing is in a special category of its own

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it interesting that OP never clarified how old her kid is even though it was asked at least twice.

I find it interesting that you find that interesting.

Just makes me wonder if this was a sincere question or someone just trying to pit the two clubs against each other. My answer to OP’s question would differ depending on which age we’re talking about.

Who knows? If so, it didn't really work since most responses that compared the two just noted that they were both good clubs with good coaches.

Having been at both with my kids at different points and times for various reasons, yes--they are both good clubs with solid coaching. I think due to the proximity people like to pit them against one another. And--we have had coaches at one move to the other and vice versa.

I guess it's like a loudoun-fcv or an syc-bryc thing...you will attack the closest competition.

Many of the kids and families know each other well and the clubs frequently have their top teams scrimmage. It is a good relationship versus a lot of the other crap you see in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SYC

Yep. Be one of 30 players who can be rostered for any given match, even if you are rostered at other clubs. No thanks.