PAC tryouts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is moving from NCSL to EDP going to effectively change anything from a competitive standpoint? Is it to draw more talent to the club by marketing EDP for next year? EDP and NCSL both have promotion and relegation and outside of the top 1 or 2 flights in EDP, is there a real difference between the two leagues from PAC's perspective?

It will not change anything. They are trying to market EDP as better league to draw more kids in.

New poster. I don't think it's meant to draw more kids in as much as keep talent. I agree with other posters that PAC does an excellent job developing players. At a certain point, though, those players want a chance to compete in a more competitive league or get a different kind of exposure. EDP opens up those possibilities so those kids don't automatically think they have to move to Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone fill me in on the program at PAC in Falls Church? They apparently have several tryouts through the first week on June, but other local teams will have had offers out by then (e.g. Arlington, McLean). Are they not competitors? Is the program just different and they attract different players? I can't find much on their website about the teams. Thanks in advance.

I am not sure why PAC offers so many tryout dates. I think maybe it's because tryouts are run more like "joining a training" session than typical tryouts. But they definitely don't wait till the end to make offers.

There are definitely some age groups that are much stronger than others. I think that's true of any small club . You'd have to ask about your kid's age group or go to the tryout and talk to the coach.

[Anonymous]

it's not like PAC teams are tearing it up in NCSL D1...

[Anonymous]

The strongest PAC teams played in CCL this year. PAC teams often do often tear up Division 1 and then lose their strongest players to clubs that play in more competitive leagues. It also placed a couple of its stronger players in a program in the UK. I think the strength of PAC is the coaching and the attention to the technical development from early on. But it is not a club that has the depth to replace key players so, yes, you'll see teams struggle in Division 1 after these kinds of moves.

Another thing to add that others haven't said is that, maybe because it's a very small club or maybe because of the personalities, there is definitely loyalty from the club toward its players. My guess of why they moved to EDP is to give the current stronger teams a place to develop and grow.

As for the negatives, of course there are negatives. (We have been at a couple clubs and there are negatives everywhere.) There isn't much or almost any administrative help at PAC, which can lead to the disorganization that a PP mentioned. I have heard that from several families. My family has been lucky to have great managers so we haven't experienced that at all. Other clubs my kids have played for are disorganized in a totally different way, like scheduling multiple practices in the same field and then canceling a team's practice last minute. There is a kind of disrespect toward the players that I have never felt at PAC. But, again, I admit that a couple of volunteers have gone out of their way to make my family's experience smooth. It could be very frustrating otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The strongest PAC teams played in CCL this year. PAC teams often do often tear up Division 1 and then lose their strongest players to clubs that play in more competitive leagues. It also placed a couple of its stronger players in a program in the UK. I think the strength of PAC is the coaching and the attention to the technical development from early on. But it is not a club that has the depth to replace key players so, yes, you'll see teams struggle in Division 1 after these kinds of moves.

Another thing to add that others haven't said is that, maybe because it's a very small club or maybe because of the personalities, there is definitely loyalty from the club toward its players. My guess of why they moved to EDP is to give the current stronger teams a place to develop and grow.

As for the negatives, of course there are negatives. (We have been at a couple clubs and there are negatives everywhere.) There isn't much or almost any administrative help at PAC, which can lead to the disorganization that a PP mentioned. I have heard that from several families. My family has been lucky to have great managers so we haven't experienced that at all. Other clubs my kids have played for are disorganized in a totally different way, like scheduling multiple practices in the same field and then canceling a team's practice last minute. There is a kind of disrespect toward the players that I have never felt at PAC. But, again, I admit that a couple of volunteers have gone out of their way to make my family's experience smooth. It could be very frustrating otherwise.

Totally agree but its like anywhere else. You have some team managers that are welcoming and pleasant to parents through out the club. You also have a few who would look at you like how dare you approach me. I have never seen a club with coaches more personable than at PAC. Always helpful and know virtually every player U9-U17 by first name and are willing to help each one get better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. would you say it is a club to start with and then move on to more competitive teams after a few years or can players on A & B teams from nearby big clubs come to PAC and still develop?

Both. More the former. Plenty of B team players from Arlington or McLean or Vienna might play top team at pac and get better training.

Why do you assume that PAC offers better training than B teams from Arlington, McLean or Vienna? I know that B teams from the first two clubs usually beat PAC's top teams. Not sure about Vienna's B team, but as a club they do pretty good job, particularly on the girls side.

You really don’t understand development. It is about how much you improve over a few years, not whether one team is better than the other at any given point in time. My kid was at pac and plays at a different club that beats the top teams other areas clubs, so yes, I have seen how these clubs are doing with the same kids over a period of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. would you say it is a club to start with and then move on to more competitive teams after a few years or can players on A & B teams from nearby big clubs come to PAC and still develop?

Both. More the former. Plenty of B team players from Arlington or McLean or Vienna might play top team at pac and get better training.

Why do you assume that PAC offers better training than B teams from Arlington, McLean or Vienna? I know that B teams from the first two clubs usually beat PAC's top teams. Not sure about Vienna's B team, but as a club they do pretty good job, particularly on the girls side.

You really don’t understand development. It is about how much you improve over a few years, not whether one team is better than the other at any given point in time. My kid was at pac and plays at a different club that beats the top teams other areas clubs, so yes, I have seen how these clubs are doing with the same kids over a period of time.

small clubs have problems with development, especially if they either have B teams or are no cut. Players on a B team on a small club will be playing and training with kids who are just shy of A to players who may be new to the game. This is even worse if there is just an A team with no cuts because you may have so very good players and some marginal players. It's hard to have drills that are appropriate and helpful to all of the players. Meanwhile Arlington can group players across 4 or 5 levels so that kids are playing with and training with like skilled players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. would you say it is a club to start with and then move on to more competitive teams after a few years or can players on A & B teams from nearby big clubs come to PAC and still develop?

Both. More the former. Plenty of B team players from Arlington or McLean or Vienna might play top team at pac and get better training.

Why do you assume that PAC offers better training than B teams from Arlington, McLean or Vienna? I know that B teams from the first two clubs usually beat PAC's top teams. Not sure about Vienna's B team, but as a club they do pretty good job, particularly on the girls side.

You really don’t understand development. It is about how much you improve over a few years, not whether one team is better than the other at any given point in time. My kid was at pac and plays at a different club that beats the top teams other areas clubs, so yes, I have seen how these clubs are doing with the same kids over a period of time.

small clubs have problems with development, especially if they either have B teams or are no cut. Players on a B team on a small club will be playing and training with kids who are just shy of A to players who may be new to the game. This is even worse if there is just an A team with no cuts because you may have so very good players and some marginal players. It's hard to have drills that are appropriate and helpful to all of the players. Meanwhile Arlington can group players across 4 or 5 levels so that kids are playing with and training with like skilled players.

I use to think this. And you can also make the case that it is more enjoyable to play on teams where kids are all a similar level. But in my experience, my kid improved a lot more at PAC than at McLean.

I don't think this is an every day practice, but PAC coaches will pull out kids from different teams and age groups to go up or even down in training. There are ways around the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. would you say it is a club to start with and then move on to more competitive teams after a few years or can players on A & B teams from nearby big clubs come to PAC and still develop?

Both. More the former. Plenty of B team players from Arlington or McLean or Vienna might play top team at pac and get better training.

Why do you assume that PAC offers better training than B teams from Arlington, McLean or Vienna? I know that B teams from the first two clubs usually beat PAC's top teams. Not sure about Vienna's B team, but as a club they do pretty good job, particularly on the girls side.

You really don’t understand development. It is about how much you improve over a few years, not whether one team is better than the other at any given point in time. My kid was at pac and plays at a different club that beats the top teams other areas clubs, so yes, I have seen how these clubs are doing with the same kids over a period of time.

How does your kid play at two different clubs? If Pac allows this Im out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. would you say it is a club to start with and then move on to more competitive teams after a few years or can players on A & B teams from nearby big clubs come to PAC and still develop?

Both. More the former. Plenty of B team players from Arlington or McLean or Vienna might play top team at pac and get better training.

Why do you assume that PAC offers better training than B teams from Arlington, McLean or Vienna? I know that B teams from the first two clubs usually beat PAC's top teams. Not sure about Vienna's B team, but as a club they do pretty good job, particularly on the girls side.

You really don’t understand development. It is about how much you improve over a few years, not whether one team is better than the other at any given point in time. My kid was at pac and plays at a different club that beats the top teams other areas clubs, so yes, I have seen how these clubs are doing with the same kids over a period of time.

small clubs have problems with development, especially if they either have B teams or are no cut. Players on a B team on a small club will be playing and training with kids who are just shy of A to players who may be new to the game. This is even worse if there is just an A team with no cuts because you may have so very good players and some marginal players. It's hard to have drills that are appropriate and helpful to all of the players. Meanwhile Arlington can group players across 4 or 5 levels so that kids are playing with and training with like skilled players.

I use to think this. And you can also make the case that it is more enjoyable to play on teams where kids are all a similar level. But in my experience, my kid improved a lot more at PAC than at McLean.

I don't think this is an every day practice, but PAC coaches will pull out kids from different teams and age groups to go up or even down in training. There are ways around the issue.

was your kid one of the better players? The rest are being pushed by playing with the better players, but what about the better players? My kid is at another small club but is on a team where everyone is at around the same level, so you can see them getting better

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. would you say it is a club to start with and then move on to more competitive teams after a few years or can players on A & B teams from nearby big clubs come to PAC and still develop?

Both. More the former. Plenty of B team players from Arlington or McLean or Vienna might play top team at pac and get better training.

Why do you assume that PAC offers better training than B teams from Arlington, McLean or Vienna? I know that B teams from the first two clubs usually beat PAC's top teams. Not sure about Vienna's B team, but as a club they do pretty good job, particularly on the girls side.

You really don’t understand development. It is about how much you improve over a few years, not whether one team is better than the other at any given point in time. My kid was at pac and plays at a different club that beats the top teams other areas clubs, so yes, I have seen how these clubs are doing with the same kids over a period of time.

small clubs have problems with development, especially if they either have B teams or are no cut. Players on a B team on a small club will be playing and training with kids who are just shy of A to players who may be new to the game. This is even worse if there is just an A team with no cuts because you may have so very good players and some marginal players. It's hard to have drills that are appropriate and helpful to all of the players. Meanwhile Arlington can group players across 4 or 5 levels so that kids are playing with and training with like skilled players.

I use to think this. And you can also make the case that it is more enjoyable to play on teams where kids are all a similar level. But in my experience, my kid improved a lot more at PAC than at McLean.

I don't think this is an every day practice, but PAC coaches will pull out kids from different teams and age groups to go up or even down in training. There are ways around the issue.

was your kid one of the better players? The rest are being pushed by playing with the better players, but what about the better players? My kid is at another small club but is on a team where everyone is at around the same level, so you can see them getting better

As a parent considering PAC this is exactly what I am asking as well. Coming from bigger club that was a strong team will my DC be left out of the development if the focus is catching the other players up to speed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. would you say it is a club to start with and then move on to more competitive teams after a few years or can players on A & B teams from nearby big clubs come to PAC and still develop?

Both. More the former. Plenty of B team players from Arlington or McLean or Vienna might play top team at pac and get better training.

Why do you assume that PAC offers better training than B teams from Arlington, McLean or Vienna? I know that B teams from the first two clubs usually beat PAC's top teams. Not sure about Vienna's B team, but as a club they do pretty good job, particularly on the girls side.

You really don’t understand development. It is about how much you improve over a few years, not whether one team is better than the other at any given point in time. My kid was at pac and plays at a different club that beats the top teams other areas clubs, so yes, I have seen how these clubs are doing with the same kids over a period of time.

small clubs have problems with development, especially if they either have B teams or are no cut. Players on a B team on a small club will be playing and training with kids who are just shy of A to players who may be new to the game. This is even worse if there is just an A team with no cuts because you may have so very good players and some marginal players. It's hard to have drills that are appropriate and helpful to all of the players. Meanwhile Arlington can group players across 4 or 5 levels so that kids are playing with and training with like skilled players.

I think what you dont see is that at PAC. If a player is dedicated to getting better and willing to commit to putting in the work Pac will do everything in their power to help the player maximize their development. Where as a at a bigger club like Arlington outside of the top team the commitment to the individual player drops off dramatically.This leaves development limited to team training and not maximizing that players development. Hope that makes sense. In a nutshell if Arlington put as much pride into development as PAC does. They would be top 10 in the country with the player pool they have. Winning is important but at no half as important as getting better everyday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. would you say it is a club to start with and then move on to more competitive teams after a few years or can players on A & B teams from nearby big clubs come to PAC and still develop?

Both. More the former. Plenty of B team players from Arlington or McLean or Vienna might play top team at pac and get better training.

Why do you assume that PAC offers better training than B teams from Arlington, McLean or Vienna? I know that B teams from the first two clubs usually beat PAC's top teams. Not sure about Vienna's B team, but as a club they do pretty good job, particularly on the girls side.

You really don’t understand development. It is about how much you improve over a few years, not whether one team is better than the other at any given point in time. My kid was at pac and plays at a different club that beats the top teams other areas clubs, so yes, I have seen how these clubs are doing with the same kids over a period of time.

How does your kid play at two different clubs? If Pac allows this Im out.

No, you can’t be in two clubs. This poster probably means her child moved clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. would you say it is a club to start with and then move on to more competitive teams after a few years or can players on A & B teams from nearby big clubs come to PAC and still develop?

Both. More the former. Plenty of B team players from Arlington or McLean or Vienna might play top team at pac and get better training.

Why do you assume that PAC offers better training than B teams from Arlington, McLean or Vienna? I know that B teams from the first two clubs usually beat PAC's top teams. Not sure about Vienna's B team, but as a club they do pretty good job, particularly on the girls side.

You really don’t understand development. It is about how much you improve over a few years, not whether one team is better than the other at any given point in time. My kid was at pac and plays at a different club that beats the top teams other areas clubs, so yes, I have seen how these clubs are doing with the same kids over a period of time.

small clubs have problems with development, especially if they either have B teams or are no cut. Players on a B team on a small club will be playing and training with kids who are just shy of A to players who may be new to the game. This is even worse if there is just an A team with no cuts because you may have so very good players and some marginal players. It's hard to have drills that are appropriate and helpful to all of the players. Meanwhile Arlington can group players across 4 or 5 levels so that kids are playing with and training with like skilled players.

I use to think this. And you can also make the case that it is more enjoyable to play on teams where kids are all a similar level. But in my experience, my kid improved a lot more at PAC than at McLean.

I don't think this is an every day practice, but PAC coaches will pull out kids from different teams and age groups to go up or even down in training. There are ways around the issue.

was your kid one of the better players? The rest are being pushed by playing with the better players, but what about the better players? My kid is at another small club but is on a team where everyone is at around the same level, so you can see them getting better

As a parent considering PAC this is exactly what I am asking as well. Coming from bigger club that was a strong team will my DC be left out of the development if the focus is catching the other players up to speed

Absolutely not. But be honest if your child coming from a bigger stronger club doesn't mean as an individual player they are that much ahead of most any other player. If they were a dominant player on the bigger club maybe you should be looking to move even bigger platform. I will be honest if the Pac coaches see your player would be better suited for a higher level they will recommend it and help you find a team and placement if you ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DP. would you say it is a club to start with and then move on to more competitive teams after a few years or can players on A & B teams from nearby big clubs come to PAC and still develop?

Both. More the former. Plenty of B team players from Arlington or McLean or Vienna might play top team at pac and get better training.

Why do you assume that PAC offers better training than B teams from Arlington, McLean or Vienna? I know that B teams from the first two clubs usually beat PAC's top teams. Not sure about Vienna's B team, but as a club they do pretty good job, particularly on the girls side.

You really don’t understand development. It is about how much you improve over a few years, not whether one team is better than the other at any given point in time. My kid was at pac and plays at a different club that beats the top teams other areas clubs, so yes, I have seen how these clubs are doing with the same kids over a period of time.

small clubs have problems with development, especially if they either have B teams or are no cut. Players on a B team on a small club will be playing and training with kids who are just shy of A to players who may be new to the game. This is even worse if there is just an A team with no cuts because you may have so very good players and some marginal players. It's hard to have drills that are appropriate and helpful to all of the players. Meanwhile Arlington can group players across 4 or 5 levels so that kids are playing with and training with like skilled players.

I use to think this. And you can also make the case that it is more enjoyable to play on teams where kids are all a similar level. But in my experience, my kid improved a lot more at PAC than at McLean.

I don't think this is an every day practice, but PAC coaches will pull out kids from different teams and age groups to go up or even down in training. There are ways around the issue.

was your kid one of the better players? The rest are being pushed by playing with the better players, but what about the better players? My kid is at another small club but is on a team where everyone is at around the same level, so you can see them getting better

As a parent considering PAC this is exactly what I am asking as well. Coming from bigger club that was a strong team will my DC be left out of the development if the focus is catching the other players up to speed

Absolutely not. But be honest if your child coming from a bigger stronger club doesn't mean as an individual player they are that much ahead of most any other player. If they were a dominant player on the bigger club maybe you should be looking to move even bigger platform. I will be honest if the Pac coaches see your player would be better suited for a higher level they will recommend it and help you find a team and placement if you ask.

Yep, if you kid is Arlington Academy/Red and dominating, there isn't anything that PAC can do for them. If they are Alrington Blue, then PAC may be a better experience than Alrington