Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue at VYS travel TODAY is simply lack of value...same price for much less soccer development. Travel soccer is expensive and there should be value for the money spent.

This is exactly right. If you compare what you get with VYS travel with other clubs, you pay more but get less. Compare McLean and BRYC, where you pay less than VYS but you get three training sessions instead of two per week.

In terms of working for a paycheck, the issue is that unlike other clubs, at VYS, they cut a deal where Eddie Lima still gets to run his training company so that VYS can pay him less. As a result, Eddie only hires his trainers and coaches, and those of other companies, -- such as the son of the guy who helps hire the VYSA ODP trainers -- that can help him, with quality and coaching competence a secondary consideration. Since so many of the trainers work for Eddie and he gets a cut of their earnings since they also work for him, VYS trainers can overcharge and overschedule practices with impunity because Eddie makes more money the more they cheat the VYS parents. Wonder if Eddie's supposed boss wasn't ao concerned about keeping his daughter on a travel team, if he would have looked after the interests of VYS' parents.

So, they're only practicing two times a week instead of three, but they're overscheduling practices?

I get the concern about many (not all) of the trainers working for Eddie. The rest here is conjecture.

I don't get the axes that many here want to grind against VYS. A couple of disgruntled parents? Or people trying to feel better about their kids going for (and often paying more for) the brand names elsewhere?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue at VYS travel TODAY is simply lack of value...same price for much less soccer development. Travel soccer is expensive and there should be value for the money spent.

This is exactly right. If you compare what you get with VYS travel with other clubs, you pay more but get less. Compare McLean and BRYC, where you pay less than VYS but you get three training sessions instead of two per week.

In terms of working for a paycheck, the issue is that unlike other clubs, at VYS, they cut a deal where Eddie Lima still gets to run his training company so that VYS can pay him less. As a result, Eddie only hires his trainers and coaches, and those of other companies, -- such as the son of the guy who helps hire the VYSA ODP trainers -- that can help him, with quality and coaching competence a secondary consideration. Since so many of the trainers work for Eddie and he gets a cut of their earnings since they also work for him, VYS trainers can overcharge and overschedule practices with impunity because Eddie makes more money the more they cheat the VYS parents. Wonder if Eddie's supposed boss wasn't ao concerned about keeping his daughter on a travel team, if he would have looked after the interests of VYS' parents.

Complete and utter BS. Both BRYC and McLean are more expensive than Vienna.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue at VYS travel TODAY is simply lack of value...same price for much less soccer development. Travel soccer is expensive and there should be value for the money spent.

This is exactly right. If you compare what you get with VYS travel with other clubs, you pay more but get less. Compare McLean and BRYC, where you pay less than VYS but you get three training sessions instead of two per week.

In terms of working for a paycheck, the issue is that unlike other clubs, at VYS, they cut a deal where Eddie Lima still gets to run his training company so that VYS can pay him less. As a result, Eddie only hires his trainers and coaches, and those of other companies, -- such as the son of the guy who helps hire the VYSA ODP trainers -- that can help him, with quality and coaching competence a secondary consideration. Since so many of the trainers work for Eddie and he gets a cut of their earnings since they also work for him, VYS trainers can overcharge and overschedule practices with impunity because Eddie makes more money the more they cheat the VYS parents. Wonder if Eddie's supposed boss wasn't ao concerned about keeping his daughter on a travel team, if he would have looked after the interests of VYS' parents.

Complete and utter BS. Both BRYC and McLean are more expensive than Vienna.

It's easy to make unsupported statements; any chance you're willing to provide some support. VYS is too afraid to publish their fees on their website but if you're so confident you're right, why don't you tell us what you paid at VYS?

Here are the 2013-14 fees of McLean (http://www.mcleansoccer.org/page/show/60992-registration) and BRYC (http://brycsoccer.com/aboutus2011/13-14fees/index_E.html). Arlington also publishes their fees on their website (http://arlingtonsoccer.com/travelsoccer/tryouts-fees-registration/) and so I understand, their top teams also get three training sessions a week in the fall and winter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue at VYS travel TODAY is simply lack of value...same price for much less soccer development. Travel soccer is expensive and there should be value for the money spent.

This is exactly right. If you compare what you get with VYS travel with other clubs, you pay more but get less. Compare McLean and BRYC, where you pay less than VYS but you get three training sessions instead of two per week.

In terms of working for a paycheck, the issue is that unlike other clubs, at VYS, they cut a deal where Eddie Lima still gets to run his training company so that VYS can pay him less. As a result, Eddie only hires his trainers and coaches, and those of other companies, -- such as the son of the guy who helps hire the VYSA ODP trainers -- that can help him, with quality and coaching competence a secondary consideration. Since so many of the trainers work for Eddie and he gets a cut of their earnings since they also work for him, VYS trainers can overcharge and overschedule practices with impunity because Eddie makes more money the more they cheat the VYS parents. Wonder if Eddie's supposed boss wasn't ao concerned about keeping his daughter on a travel team, if he would have looked after the interests of VYS' parents.

Complete and utter BS. Both BRYC and McLean are more expensive than Vienna.

It's easy to make unsupported statements; any chance you're willing to provide some support. VYS is too afraid to publish their fees on their website but if you're so confident you're right, why don't you tell us what you paid at VYS?

Here are the 2013-14 fees of McLean (http://www.mcleansoccer.org/page/show/60992-registration) and BRYC (http://brycsoccer.com/aboutus2011/13-14fees/index_E.html). Arlington also publishes their fees on their website (http://arlingtonsoccer.com/travelsoccer/tryouts-fees-registration/) and so I understand, their top teams also get three training sessions a week in the fall and winter.

Thanks for posting the fee information. Seems like the VA clubs (if these are representative) don't include tournament fees in their totals. Depending how many tournaments a team does, those can add up as the entry fees are typically $600-800 per team. The annual fee for our Maryland club includes up to 5 tournaments, plus the one our club sponsors. Also, anyone know why McLean's fees are so high relative to the others?

[Anonymous]

Summing up the heart of the VYS discussion, it sounds like the biggest problem is simply that VYS doesn't do a good job of training its players. According to several posters, the travel training is too hands-off, too doctrinaire about SSGs and players discovering everything on their own, too infrequent, and too expensive, and the House training is too boring and pointless to prepare players to sneak into travel. On the other hand, the pre-travel crossover training is pretty good. Interesting points, even if some of the complaints are bound to be the normal parent grumbling all clubs have to deal with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue at VYS travel TODAY is simply lack of value...same price for much less soccer development. Travel soccer is expensive and there should be value for the money spent.

This is exactly right. If you compare what you get with VYS travel with other clubs, you pay more but get less. Compare McLean and BRYC, where you pay less than VYS but you get three training sessions instead of two per week.

In terms of working for a paycheck, the issue is that unlike other clubs, at VYS, they cut a deal where Eddie Lima still gets to run his training company so that VYS can pay him less. As a result, Eddie only hires his trainers and coaches, and those of other companies, -- such as the son of the guy who helps hire the VYSA ODP trainers -- that can help him, with quality and coaching competence a secondary consideration. Since so many of the trainers work for Eddie and he gets a cut of their earnings since they also work for him, VYS trainers can overcharge and overschedule practices with impunity because Eddie makes more money the more they cheat the VYS parents. Wonder if Eddie's supposed boss wasn't ao concerned about keeping his daughter on a travel team, if he would have looked after the interests of VYS' parents.

Complete and utter BS. Both BRYC and McLean are more expensive than Vienna.

It's easy to make unsupported statements; any chance you're willing to provide some support. VYS is too afraid to publish their fees on their website but if you're so confident you're right, why don't you tell us what you paid at VYS?

Here are the 2013-14 fees of McLean (http://www.mcleansoccer.org/page/show/60992-registration) and BRYC (http://brycsoccer.com/aboutus2011/13-14fees/index_E.html). Arlington also publishes their fees on their website (http://arlingtonsoccer.com/travelsoccer/tryouts-fees-registration/) and so I understand, their top teams also get three training sessions a week in the fall and winter.

Funny story about VYS: I had two parents go to the info session for rising U9. One came back and said, "Oh, it's great -- they have basic practices twice a week, but you can end up practicing 4-5 times a week if you go to this other optional stuff. Another: "It's crazy -- some kids will practice five times a week!"

So Arlington U9 adds up to be about $2,295 for the year for a U9 team: http://arlingtonsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ASA-U9-Boys-Blue-Team-Information-Sheet.pdf

Braddock Road's U9s have a base fee of $1,390, but that doesn't include a lot. The other fees likely add up close to a grand total of nearly $2,000: http://brycsoccer.com/aboutus2011/13-14fees/index_E.html

And McLean clocks in over $1,900 before the team fees: http://www.mcleansoccer.org/page/show/60992-registration

From asking around, I heard VYS was around $1,500 a year ago for U9.

I've also heard FPYC was surprisingly expensive, but I haven't verified it -- does anyone know?

But it's funny how we've had page after page of "Oh, VYS charges more and gives less" as a basic assumption based on nothing, and now it's incumbent on others to substantiate that it ISN'T true. Guilty until proven innocent, apparently.

VYS has a different approach than other clubs. It's an interesting debate over which approach is best suited to whom. But some of the unfounded accusations here beg a basic question: What's your problem?

[Anonymous]

If your child is interested in joining a particular travel soccer program, I'd suggest contacting the coach well before tryout season. Ask if your child can come participate in a practice or two during the season; ask some questions; talk to the team manager and other parents. Go watch one of their matches - see how the coach behaves in a game. This allows you to get a sense of the team/club/coach and allows the coach to evaluate your child outside of the frenzy of tryouts. I find tryouts to be hectic - coaches have to make decisions on lots of players based on very limited views and with little information (esp at the U9/U10 level where players are very undeveloped).

I think good coaches respect parents who do their homework. And this approach gives you an opportunity to develop at least a level of recognition/familiarity with the coach. The coach can also give you honest feedback as to whether your kid has a chance in tryouts. You can tell your kid we're just learning more about this team and let them play in a setting that is less stressful/intense than a group tryout. I can't speak for all coaches, but both of my kids' travel coaches have been open to this and in several cases, those players have eventually joined the club. When we have a prospective player come out, the coach asks a couple of kids to make that kid feel welcome, warm up with them, etc. At the younger ages (U9/U10), the kids don't see this as a threat - they're just out playing soccer - it's like when a new kid comes to their class.

I think coaches also appreciate genuine interest in their team/club versus parents who trot their kids out to 3 different clubs' tryouts to see where they get the best offer. I see a lot of parents chasing top team status instead of looking for the best environment for their kid's development and enjoyment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue at VYS travel TODAY is simply lack of value...same price for much less soccer development. Travel soccer is expensive and there should be value for the money spent.

This is exactly right. If you compare what you get with VYS travel with other clubs, you pay more but get less. Compare McLean and BRYC, where you pay less than VYS but you get three training sessions instead of two per week.

In terms of working for a paycheck, the issue is that unlike other clubs, at VYS, they cut a deal where Eddie Lima still gets to run his training company so that VYS can pay him less. As a result, Eddie only hires his trainers and coaches, and those of other companies, -- such as the son of the guy who helps hire the VYSA ODP trainers -- that can help him, with quality and coaching competence a secondary consideration. Since so many of the trainers work for Eddie and he gets a cut of their earnings since they also work for him, VYS trainers can overcharge and overschedule practices with impunity because Eddie makes more money the more they cheat the VYS parents. Wonder if Eddie's supposed boss wasn't ao concerned about keeping his daughter on a travel team, if he would have looked after the interests of VYS' parents.

Complete and utter BS. Both BRYC and McLean are more expensive than Vienna.

It's easy to make unsupported statements; any chance you're willing to provide some support. VYS is too afraid to publish their fees on their website but if you're so confident you're right, why don't you tell us what you paid at VYS?

Here are the 2013-14 fees of McLean (http://www.mcleansoccer.org/page/show/60992-registration) and BRYC (http://brycsoccer.com/aboutus2011/13-14fees/index_E.html). Arlington also publishes their fees on their website (http://arlingtonsoccer.com/travelsoccer/tryouts-fees-registration/) and so I understand, their top teams also get three training sessions a week in the fall and winter.

Funny story about VYS: I had two parents go to the info session for rising U9. One came back and said, "Oh, it's great -- they have basic practices twice a week, but you can end up practicing 4-5 times a week if you go to this other optional stuff. Another: "It's crazy -- some kids will practice five times a week!"

So Arlington U9 adds up to be about $2,295 for the year for a U9 team: http://arlingtonsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ASA-U9-Boys-Blue-Team-Information-Sheet.pdf

Braddock Road's U9s have a base fee of $1,390, but that doesn't include a lot. The other fees likely add up close to a grand total of nearly $2,000: http://brycsoccer.com/aboutus2011/13-14fees/index_E.html

And McLean clocks in over $1,900 before the team fees: http://www.mcleansoccer.org/page/show/60992-registration

From asking around, I heard VYS was around $1,500 a year ago for U9.

I've also heard FPYC was surprisingly expensive, but I haven't verified it -- does anyone know?

But it's funny how we've had page after page of "Oh, VYS charges more and gives less" as a basic assumption based on nothing, and now it's incumbent on others to substantiate that it ISN'T true. Guilty until proven innocent, apparently.

VYS has a different approach than other clubs. It's an interesting debate over which approach is best suited to whom. But some of the unfounded accusations here beg a basic question: What's your problem?

You're obviously a VYS defender as you've had several posters challenge the value VYS provides. Yes, those are opinions, but it's more than what you've offered up. Also, VYS is the club that is refusing to publish its fees; other clubs apparently have less to hide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're obviously a VYS defender as you've had several posters challenge the value VYS provides. Yes, those are opinions, but it's more than what you've offered up. Also, VYS is the club that is refusing to publish its fees; other clubs apparently have less to hide.

There are multiple "VYS defenders" in this thread. I've put in a few posts but not all of them. And I readily concede that the VYS approach, though it's probably closest to what USSF preaches, is not for everyone. And that there are unnecessary politics in VYS, just like there are in most clubs. (I know plenty of stories about McLean and a few other clubs, but they're secondhand, and I don't see much point in just throwing them out. I also like FPYC's youth programs, I know good things about PAC, and I have nothing but good impressions of BRYC and LMV ... whatever Lee Mount Vernon's abbreviation is.)

But "what I've offered up" is actual numbers. Others have offered up actual falsehoods.

Plenty of clubs don't publish their numbers. I'd attribute it to poor website maintenance (which afflicts about 70% of NoVa clubs) rather than having "something to hide." What are they hiding, anyway? They have informational meetings -- you're welcome to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue at VYS travel TODAY is simply lack of value...same price for much less soccer development. Travel soccer is expensive and there should be value for the money spent.

This is exactly right. If you compare what you get with VYS travel with other clubs, you pay more but get less. Compare McLean and BRYC, where you pay less than VYS but you get three training sessions instead of two per week.

In terms of working for a paycheck, the issue is that unlike other clubs, at VYS, they cut a deal where Eddie Lima still gets to run his training company so that VYS can pay him less. As a result, Eddie only hires his trainers and coaches, and those of other companies, -- such as the son of the guy who helps hire the VYSA ODP trainers -- that can help him, with quality and coaching competence a secondary consideration. Since so many of the trainers work for Eddie and he gets a cut of their earnings since they also work for him, VYS trainers can overcharge and overschedule practices with impunity because Eddie makes more money the more they cheat the VYS parents. Wonder if Eddie's supposed boss wasn't ao concerned about keeping his daughter on a travel team, if he would have looked after the interests of VYS' parents.

Complete and utter BS. Both BRYC and McLean are more expensive than Vienna.

It's easy to make unsupported statements; any chance you're willing to provide some support. VYS is too afraid to publish their fees on their website but if you're so confident you're right, why don't you tell us what you paid at VYS?

Here are the 2013-14 fees of McLean (http://www.mcleansoccer.org/page/show/60992-registration) and BRYC (http://brycsoccer.com/aboutus2011/13-14fees/index_E.html). Arlington also publishes their fees on their website (http://arlingtonsoccer.com/travelsoccer/tryouts-fees-registration/) and so I understand, their top teams also get three training sessions a week in the fall and winter.

Funny story about VYS: I had two parents go to the info session for rising U9. One came back and said, "Oh, it's great -- they have basic practices twice a week, but you can end up practicing 4-5 times a week if you go to this other optional stuff. Another: "It's crazy -- some kids will practice five times a week!"

So Arlington U9 adds up to be about $2,295 for the year for a U9 team: http://arlingtonsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ASA-U9-Boys-Blue-Team-Information-Sheet.pdf

Braddock Road's U9s have a base fee of $1,390, but that doesn't include a lot. The other fees likely add up close to a grand total of nearly $2,000: http://brycsoccer.com/aboutus2011/13-14fees/index_E.html

And McLean clocks in over $1,900 before the team fees: http://www.mcleansoccer.org/page/show/60992-registration

From asking around, I heard VYS was around $1,500 a year ago for U9.

I've also heard FPYC was surprisingly expensive, but I haven't verified it -- does anyone know?

But it's funny how we've had page after page of "Oh, VYS charges more and gives less" as a basic assumption based on nothing, and now it's incumbent on others to substantiate that it ISN'T true. Guilty until proven innocent, apparently.

VYS has a different approach than other clubs. It's an interesting debate over which approach is best suited to whom. But some of the unfounded accusations here beg a basic question: What's your problem?

You're obviously a VYS defender as you've had several posters challenge the value VYS provides. Yes, those are opinions, but it's more than what you've offered up. Also, VYS is the club that is refusing to publish its fees; other clubs apparently have less to hide.

Why is Arlington the most expensive in the area???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OK, Q for those who've been around the block with travel soccer:

DS, U9 next fall, will probably have a choice between (1) playing in an academy-style program that fields NCSL teams, and in which he doesn't know any of the kids right now, or (2) playing on an ODSL team in his current league with kids he knows.

I know he would choose (2) -- he very much likes the known quantity. But from reading this thread, I wonder if we would be making a mistake by not getting into a more structured program at U9, when there are more spots up for grabs? Or are we risking burnout by pushing him too much at age 8?

At U9? ODSL. Keep it fun for him. If it's U12, maybe he takes the NCSL opportunity so he's ready for high school.[/quote]

This. My son's NCSL team got picked up a number of boys from ODSL at U-12 or 13. They're now some of the best players on the team. Lots of things change in middle school.

In soccer---this is so TRUE and happens all of the time. The stars at 8-9 are often not the stars in the teen years. Judging by some of the placements I've recently seen at U-9 levels---a lot is mis-identification as well. They don't have very much time to evaluate. We are shocked at some of the players that didnt' make the cut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another question -- We went to see a club DS might join play in a tournament game this weekend, and the team apparently had moved some of its players down to the "B" team and was playing with several "guest" players, who were very good, on the "A" squad.

Is this a common occurrence at U9 and U10? Is this a way to try out new kids, or is the team just trying to do anything to win? This whole world is such mystery to me.

A little of both. And possibly replacing some absent players -- some teams lose players on Memorial Day weekend.

If they're bumping out the original B teamers for "guests" and downgraded "A" players, that might be a sign to steer clear.

But why should a kid get put on an 'A team' at 9 and have that spot as a birthright for the next several years. If there is a better player below--that player deserves the spot. The player growth changes. The stars change.

I'd be more concerned with a club that had 'zero' player movement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The issue at VYS travel TODAY is simply lack of value...same price for much less soccer development. Travel soccer is expensive and there should be value for the money spent.

This is exactly right. If you compare what you get with VYS travel with other clubs, you pay more but get less. Compare McLean and BRYC, where you pay less than VYS but you get three training sessions instead of two per week.

In terms of working for a paycheck, the issue is that unlike other clubs, at VYS, they cut a deal where Eddie Lima still gets to run his training company so that VYS can pay him less. As a result, Eddie only hires his trainers and coaches, and those of other companies, -- such as the son of the guy who helps hire the VYSA ODP trainers -- that can help him, with quality and coaching competence a secondary consideration. Since so many of the trainers work for Eddie and he gets a cut of their earnings since they also work for him, VYS trainers can overcharge and overschedule practices with impunity because Eddie makes more money the more they cheat the VYS parents. Wonder if Eddie's supposed boss wasn't ao concerned about keeping his daughter on a travel team, if he would have looked after the interests of VYS' parents.

Complete and utter BS. Both BRYC and McLean are more expensive than Vienna.

It's easy to make unsupported statements; any chance you're willing to provide some support. VYS is too afraid to publish their fees on their website but if you're so confident you're right, why don't you tell us what you paid at VYS?

Here are the 2013-14 fees of McLean (http://www.mcleansoccer.org/page/show/60992-registration) and BRYC (http://brycsoccer.com/aboutus2011/13-14fees/index_E.html). Arlington also publishes their fees on their website (http://arlingtonsoccer.com/travelsoccer/tryouts-fees-registration/) and so I understand, their top teams also get three training sessions a week in the fall and winter.

Funny story about VYS: I had two parents go to the info session for rising U9. One came back and said, "Oh, it's great -- they have basic practices twice a week, but you can end up practicing 4-5 times a week if you go to this other optional stuff. Another: "It's crazy -- some kids will practice five times a week!"

So Arlington U9 adds up to be about $2,295 for the year for a U9 team: http://arlingtonsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ASA-U9-Boys-Blue-Team-Information-Sheet.pdf

Braddock Road's U9s have a base fee of $1,390, but that doesn't include a lot. The other fees likely add up close to a grand total of nearly $2,000: http://brycsoccer.com/aboutus2011/13-14fees/index_E.html

And McLean clocks in over $1,900 before the team fees: http://www.mcleansoccer.org/page/show/60992-registration

From asking around, I heard VYS was around $1,500 a year ago for U9.

I've also heard FPYC was surprisingly expensive, but I haven't verified it -- does anyone know?

But it's funny how we've had page after page of "Oh, VYS charges more and gives less" as a basic assumption based on nothing, and now it's incumbent on others to substantiate that it ISN'T true. Guilty until proven innocent, apparently.

VYS has a different approach than other clubs. It's an interesting debate over which approach is best suited to whom. But some of the unfounded accusations here beg a basic question: What's your problem?

You're obviously a VYS defender as you've had several posters challenge the value VYS provides. Yes, those are opinions, but it's more than what you've offered up. Also, VYS is the club that is refusing to publish its fees; other clubs apparently have less to hide.

Why is Arlington the most expensive in the area???

No reason to assume it is. Arlington just helpfully provided an estimate for the total annual amount including the fee parents pay to the club plus uniform and team fees, and the poster included their estimated total. The other amounts posted above are for fees paid to the club alone, without team fees or uniform costs included.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child is interested in joining a particular travel soccer program, I'd suggest contacting the coach well before tryout season. Ask if your child can come participate in a practice or two during the season; ask some questions; talk to the team manager and other parents. Go watch one of their matches - see how the coach behaves in a game. This allows you to get a sense of the team/club/coach and allows the coach to evaluate your child outside of the frenzy of tryouts. I find tryouts to be hectic - coaches have to make decisions on lots of players based on very limited views and with little information (esp at the U9/U10 level where players are very undeveloped).

I think good coaches respect parents who do their homework. And this approach gives you an opportunity to develop at least a level of recognition/familiarity with the coach. The coach can also give you honest feedback as to whether your kid has a chance in tryouts. You can tell your kid we're just learning more about this team and let them play in a setting that is less stressful/intense than a group tryout. I can't speak for all coaches, but both of my kids' travel coaches have been open to this and in several cases, those players have eventually joined the club. When we have a prospective player come out, the coach asks a couple of kids to make that kid feel welcome, warm up with them, etc. At the younger ages (U9/U10), the kids don't see this as a threat - they're just out playing soccer - it's like when a new kid comes to their class.

I think coaches also appreciate genuine interest in their team/club versus parents who trot their kids out to 3 different clubs' tryouts to see where they get the best offer. I see a lot of parents chasing top team status instead of looking for the best environment for their kid's development and enjoyment.

Ugh. It seems the more a parent has in nose up the coach's ass---the more likely their kid grabs a top spot. Also--if the family has siblings already on travel---the younger gets a spot whether he/she deserves it or not. There are just way too many kids in a lot of the programs to be fairly assessed. A lot is nepotism---like snagging a job with the Feds.

[Anonymous]

This article is about baseball, but explains the problems associated with so much focus on travel teams regardless of the sport.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/stealing-home-how-travel-teams-are-eroding-community-baseball/2014/05/23/5af95d34-df6e-11e3-9743-bb9b59cde7b9_story.html