How good does a kid have to be to make travel

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
3. took DC to several tryouts for travel and classic. At one classic tryout, the coach also coached at a major club and is still on the staff of that club. He was the one who opened my eyes. He was coaching his son on classic and said that with him coaching his son in classic, he was ensuring that his son was getting the better development than he would get at the large club.

I remember him saying referencing the A team at his club and the level of competitiveness and coach was so much more superior that his kid would develop better in classic. His classic teams played up a year and did tournaments.

Opened your eyes? So the coaches son has access to professional coaching, his Dad? C’mon. Did his kid require special attention or opportunity that only a Dad would provide. How many professional coaches also coach rec or classic and provide same level of training?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then if you follow the logic, a kid does not have to do C, D travel to make it to elite soccer. Move from rec at u9/u10 and several years of classic under the right training and then B team by U13/14 and then to ECNL/DA by U14/U15. It is a viable path of you can't manage travel. It is not travel by U10 or bust.

.

Not realistic to go from playing Classic at U12/U13 to ECNL DA at U14/U15. Too large of a gap in the speed of play. Also way too many excellent players on other A and B teams around the DMV vying for those few available ECNL and DA roster spots that come available.

If progression to ECNL/DA is possible from Classic it would be slower -- more like the PP whose DD went from ODSL to ECNL.

[Anonymous]

If you can do travel then do travel but classic/select or a good independent travel team with successful coach is a much better option then doing travel on a D, D team. Sorry but I have seen too many cases where parents here travel and sign up expecting a certain product and being deeply disappointed. The C,D team are just money makers for the clubs. They aren't focused on developing those kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can do travel then do travel but classic/select or a good independent travel team with successful coach is a much better option then doing travel on a D, D team. Sorry but I have seen too many cases where parents here travel and sign up expecting a certain product and being deeply disappointed. The C,D team are just money makers for the clubs. They aren't focused on developing those kids.

This point has been pretty unanimously agreed upon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can do travel then do travel but classic/select or a good independent travel team with successful coach is a much better option then doing travel on a D, D team. Sorry but I have seen too many cases where parents here travel and sign up expecting a certain product and being deeply disappointed. The C,D team are just money makers for the clubs. They aren't focused on developing those kids.

After you get into C, D, etc team territory, you’re pretty much just a rec team that’s getting swindled.

[Anonymous]

I've been following this thread with interest as DS is very good at soccer and loves to play and IIUC would be eligible to start on a travel team next fall, assuming he makes a team.

So two questions that haven't been clearly answered in this thread:

1) When you are offered a spot on a team do you know at that time whether you are getting and "A" team offer or not (or even "B") so you can decide if it is worth the hassle and expense?

2) How good are the various leagues at assessing talent, especially based on initial tryouts, when they haven't had the advantage of watching kids for a full season? And do kids get moved on and off the "A" team if those assessments turn out to be wrong, either in or out of season?

Also curious - DS has a good friend from his school who is also very good at soccer - assuming he also tries out what is the possibility we can engineer it so they get on the same team? We both have longer commutes and getting home 2 nights a week to get DS to a soccer practice out of the neighborhood is going to be really hard but if we could split the duties with someone it could make the difference in our ability to do this.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been following this thread with interest as DS is very good at soccer and loves to play and IIUC would be eligible to start on a travel team next fall, assuming he makes a team.

So two questions that haven't been clearly answered in this thread:

1) When you are offered a spot on a team do you know at that time whether you are getting and "A" team offer or not (or even "B") so you can decide if it is worth the hassle and expense?

2) How good are the various leagues at assessing talent, especially based on initial tryouts, when they haven't had the advantage of watching kids for a full season? And do kids get moved on and off the "A" team if those assessments turn out to be wrong, either in or out of season?

Also curious - DS has a good friend from his school who is also very good at soccer - assuming he also tries out what is the possibility we can engineer it so they get on the same team? We both have longer commutes and getting home 2 nights a week to get DS to a soccer practice out of the neighborhood is going to be really hard but if we could split the duties with someone it could make the difference in our ability to do this.

Thanks

1. A/B teams are generally worth it. Unless the clubs philosophy is to train Academy style, i.e. a player pool where the A and B teams essentially train together except for game day rosters you will most likely be offered a spot for a specific team. The team name provided may not mean anything to you so ask the coach if it is the first or second team.

2. Leagues do not asses talent. This is a constant irritation to me on these threads as people simply confuse clubs, league, teams as if they are interchangeable. They are not. Teams play/train in Clubs and Clubs join Leagues. A club will have several teams in any given age group and those teams within the age group may play in different leagues.

3. I would not try and "engineer" your son and friend to be on the same team. If that is what you want then play rec or classic. That doesn't mean that both kids don't make the same travel team but frankly it is obnoxious to even ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been following this thread with interest as DS is very good at soccer and loves to play and IIUC would be eligible to start on a travel team next fall, assuming he makes a team.

So two questions that haven't been clearly answered in this thread:

1) When you are offered a spot on a team do you know at that time whether you are getting and "A" team offer or not (or even "B") so you can decide if it is worth the hassle and expense?

2) How good are the various leagues at assessing talent, especially based on initial tryouts, when they haven't had the advantage of watching kids for a full season? And do kids get moved on and off the "A" team if those assessments turn out to be wrong, either in or out of season?

Also curious - DS has a good friend from his school who is also very good at soccer - assuming he also tries out what is the possibility we can engineer it so they get on the same team? We both have longer commutes and getting home 2 nights a week to get DS to a soccer practice out of the neighborhood is going to be really hard but if we could split the duties with someone it could make the difference in our ability to do this.

Thanks

1. A/B teams are generally worth it. Unless the clubs philosophy is to train Academy style, i.e. a player pool where the A and B teams essentially train together except for game day rosters you will most likely be offered a spot for a specific team. The team name provided may not mean anything to you so ask the coach if it is the first or second team.

2. Leagues do not asses talent. This is a constant irritation to me on these threads as people simply confuse clubs, league, teams as if they are interchangeable. They are not. Teams play/train in Clubs and Clubs join Leagues. A club will have several teams in any given age group and those teams within the age group may play in different leagues.

3. I would not try and "engineer" your son and friend to be on the same team. If that is what you want then play rec or classic. That doesn't mean that both kids don't make the same travel team but frankly it is obnoxious to even ask.

Typically, the offer indicates if you are on a Blue Team, White Team, etc. Find out the color corresponds to A Team, B team, etc.

Regarding #3, check with the coach to see if the teams practices together. They don’t necessarily need to be on the same team to practice together. Assuming your concern is getting to/from practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been following this thread with interest as DS is very good at soccer and loves to play and IIUC would be eligible to start on a travel team next fall, assuming he makes a team.

So two questions that haven't been clearly answered in this thread:

1) When you are offered a spot on a team do you know at that time whether you are getting and "A" team offer or not (or even "B") so you can decide if it is worth the hassle and expense?

2) How good are the various leagues at assessing talent, especially based on initial tryouts, when they haven't had the advantage of watching kids for a full season? And do kids get moved on and off the "A" team if those assessments turn out to be wrong, either in or out of season?

Also curious - DS has a good friend from his school who is also very good at soccer - assuming he also tries out what is the possibility we can engineer it so they get on the same team? We both have longer commutes and getting home 2 nights a week to get DS to a soccer practice out of the neighborhood is going to be really hard but if we could split the duties with someone it could make the difference in our ability to do this.

Thanks

1. A/B teams are generally worth it. Unless the clubs philosophy is to train Academy style, i.e. a player pool where the A and B teams essentially train together except for game day rosters you will most likely be offered a spot for a specific team. The team name provided may not mean anything to you so ask the coach if it is the first or second team.

2. Leagues do not asses talent. This is a constant irritation to me on these threads as people simply confuse clubs, league, teams as if they are interchangeable. They are not. Teams play/train in Clubs and Clubs join Leagues. A club will have several teams in any given age group and those teams within the age group may play in different leagues.

3. I would not try and "engineer" your son and friend to be on the same team. If that is what you want then play rec or classic. That doesn't mean that both kids don't make the same travel team but frankly it is obnoxious to even ask.

Definitely agree with #3. Clubs have no need to accommodate those types of requests, nor should they. If your kid and his friend try out at the same club and end up on the same team, that's a bonus for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been following this thread with interest as DS is very good at soccer and loves to play and IIUC would be eligible to start on a travel team next fall, assuming he makes a team.

So two questions that haven't been clearly answered in this thread:

1) When you are offered a spot on a team do you know at that time whether you are getting and "A" team offer or not (or even "B") so you can decide if it is worth the hassle and expense?

2) How good are the various leagues at assessing talent, especially based on initial tryouts, when they haven't had the advantage of watching kids for a full season? And do kids get moved on and off the "A" team if those assessments turn out to be wrong, either in or out of season?

Also curious - DS has a good friend from his school who is also very good at soccer - assuming he also tries out what is the possibility we can engineer it so they get on the same team? We both have longer commutes and getting home 2 nights a week to get DS to a soccer practice out of the neighborhood is going to be really hard but if we could split the duties with someone it could make the difference in our ability to do this.

Thanks

1. A/B teams are generally worth it. Unless the clubs philosophy is to train Academy style, i.e. a player pool where the A and B teams essentially train together except for game day rosters you will most likely be offered a spot for a specific team. The team name provided may not mean anything to you so ask the coach if it is the first or second team.

2. Leagues do not asses talent. This is a constant irritation to me on these threads as people simply confuse clubs, league, teams as if they are interchangeable. They are not. Teams play/train in Clubs and Clubs join Leagues. A club will have several teams in any given age group and those teams within the age group may play in different leagues.

3. I would not try and "engineer" your son and friend to be on the same team. If that is what you want then play rec or classic. That doesn't mean that both kids don't make the same travel team but frankly it is obnoxious to even ask.

Definitely agree with #3. Clubs have no need to accommodate those types of requests, nor should they. If your kid and his friend try out at the same club and end up on the same team, that's a bonus for you.

Thanks for the responses but why in the world would clubs not try to accommodate such a request? It helps the parents (who are paying a lot for the privilege to participate) and I'm having a hard time fathoming what the injury or burden is to the club? Particularly since these clubs are apparently competing both for money and talent it seems odd to not stretch to help parents with logistics which might also help to ensure participation.

We are talking about elementary and middle school kids here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been following this thread with interest as DS is very good at soccer and loves to play and IIUC would be eligible to start on a travel team next fall, assuming he makes a team.

So two questions that haven't been clearly answered in this thread:

1) When you are offered a spot on a team do you know at that time whether you are getting and "A" team offer or not (or even "B") so you can decide if it is worth the hassle and expense?

2) How good are the various leagues at assessing talent, especially based on initial tryouts, when they haven't had the advantage of watching kids for a full season? And do kids get moved on and off the "A" team if those assessments turn out to be wrong, either in or out of season?

Also curious - DS has a good friend from his school who is also very good at soccer - assuming he also tries out what is the possibility we can engineer it so they get on the same team? We both have longer commutes and getting home 2 nights a week to get DS to a soccer practice out of the neighborhood is going to be really hard but if we could split the duties with someone it could make the difference in our ability to do this.

Thanks

1. A/B teams are generally worth it. Unless the clubs philosophy is to train Academy style, i.e. a player pool where the A and B teams essentially train together except for game day rosters you will most likely be offered a spot for a specific team. The team name provided may not mean anything to you so ask the coach if it is the first or second team.

2. Leagues do not asses talent. This is a constant irritation to me on these threads as people simply confuse clubs, league, teams as if they are interchangeable. They are not. Teams play/train in Clubs and Clubs join Leagues. A club will have several teams in any given age group and those teams within the age group may play in different leagues.

3. I would not try and "engineer" your son and friend to be on the same team. If that is what you want then play rec or classic. That doesn't mean that both kids don't make the same travel team but frankly it is obnoxious to even ask.

Definitely agree with #3. Clubs have no need to accommodate those types of requests, nor should they. If your kid and his friend try out at the same club and end up on the same team, that's a bonus for you.

Thanks for the responses but why in the world would clubs not try to accommodate such a request? It helps the parents (who are paying a lot for the privilege to participate) and I'm having a hard time fathoming what the injury or burden is to the club? Particularly since these clubs are apparently competing both for money and talent it seems odd to not stretch to help parents with logistics which might also help to ensure participation.

We are talking about elementary and middle school kids here.

Because they are trying to create teams of similar skill sets. If the players are not of the same quality one player should not be on a team that they are not at the proper level. This could work both ways, either a player who is to advanced for the team or a player who is not skilled enough.

Travel soccer is intended to be merit based and not social based. Even clubs have a hard time fielding such social based requests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been following this thread with interest as DS is very good at soccer and loves to play and IIUC would be eligible to start on a travel team next fall, assuming he makes a team.

So two questions that haven't been clearly answered in this thread:

1) When you are offered a spot on a team do you know at that time whether you are getting and "A" team offer or not (or even "B") so you can decide if it is worth the hassle and expense?

2) How good are the various leagues at assessing talent, especially based on initial tryouts, when they haven't had the advantage of watching kids for a full season? And do kids get moved on and off the "A" team if those assessments turn out to be wrong, either in or out of season?

Also curious - DS has a good friend from his school who is also very good at soccer - assuming he also tries out what is the possibility we can engineer it so they get on the same team? We both have longer commutes and getting home 2 nights a week to get DS to a soccer practice out of the neighborhood is going to be really hard but if we could split the duties with someone it could make the difference in our ability to do this.

Thanks

1. A/B teams are generally worth it. Unless the clubs philosophy is to train Academy style, i.e. a player pool where the A and B teams essentially train together except for game day rosters you will most likely be offered a spot for a specific team. The team name provided may not mean anything to you so ask the coach if it is the first or second team.

2. Leagues do not asses talent. This is a constant irritation to me on these threads as people simply confuse clubs, league, teams as if they are interchangeable. They are not. Teams play/train in Clubs and Clubs join Leagues. A club will have several teams in any given age group and those teams within the age group may play in different leagues.

3. I would not try and "engineer" your son and friend to be on the same team. If that is what you want then play rec or classic. That doesn't mean that both kids don't make the same travel team but frankly it is obnoxious to even ask.

Definitely agree with #3. Clubs have no need to accommodate those types of requests, nor should they. If your kid and his friend try out at the same club and end up on the same team, that's a bonus for you.

Thanks for the responses but why in the world would clubs not try to accommodate such a request? It helps the parents (who are paying a lot for the privilege to participate) and I'm having a hard time fathoming what the injury or burden is to the club? Particularly since these clubs are apparently competing both for money and talent it seems odd to not stretch to help parents with logistics which might also help to ensure participation.

We are talking about elementary and middle school kids here.

The burden is that no club is going to offer your son a position on the A team and then say, "sure we will make sure that his friend, who maybe isn't of the same skill level, is on the same team" (or vice versa). Especially if these kids are middle school aged. Boys are a bit different, but there are girls at my daughter's club (not in the DC area) who verbally commit to D1 colleges as freshmen in HS. Those girls are not getting placed on teams with their friends. Point being, if you are looking for a sport or activity that is accommodating to parents, club soccer might not be the place for your child.

[Anonymous]

If your or your friends child is that good, maybe a coach might make that none or both choice towards both just to get that one. Depends on the need and the team. I feel like I have heard that happening before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been following this thread with interest as DS is very good at soccer and loves to play and IIUC would be eligible to start on a travel team next fall, assuming he makes a team.

So two questions that haven't been clearly answered in this thread:

1) When you are offered a spot on a team do you know at that time whether you are getting and "A" team offer or not (or even "B") so you can decide if it is worth the hassle and expense?

2) How good are the various leagues at assessing talent, especially based on initial tryouts, when they haven't had the advantage of watching kids for a full season? And do kids get moved on and off the "A" team if those assessments turn out to be wrong, either in or out of season?

Also curious - DS has a good friend from his school who is also very good at soccer - assuming he also tries out what is the possibility we can engineer it so they get on the same team? We both have longer commutes and getting home 2 nights a week to get DS to a soccer practice out of the neighborhood is going to be really hard but if we could split the duties with someone it could make the difference in our ability to do this.

Thanks

1. A/B teams are generally worth it. Unless the clubs philosophy is to train Academy style, i.e. a player pool where the A and B teams essentially train together except for game day rosters you will most likely be offered a spot for a specific team. The team name provided may not mean anything to you so ask the coach if it is the first or second team.

2. Leagues do not asses talent. This is a constant irritation to me on these threads as people simply confuse clubs, league, teams as if they are interchangeable. They are not. Teams play/train in Clubs and Clubs join Leagues. A club will have several teams in any given age group and those teams within the age group may play in different leagues.

3. I would not try and "engineer" your son and friend to be on the same team. If that is what you want then play rec or classic. That doesn't mean that both kids don't make the same travel team but frankly it is obnoxious to even ask.

Definitely agree with #3. Clubs have no need to accommodate those types of requests, nor should they. If your kid and his friend try out at the same club and end up on the same team, that's a bonus for you.

Thanks for the responses but why in the world would clubs not try to accommodate such a request? It helps the parents (who are paying a lot for the privilege to participate) and I'm having a hard time fathoming what the injury or burden is to the club? Particularly since these clubs are apparently competing both for money and talent it seems odd to not stretch to help parents with logistics which might also help to ensure participation.

We are talking about elementary and middle school kids here.

Try your kids out for the same clubs - hopefully you have a few options - and maybe they get offers for the same club and team. Having friends on the team is a very much overlooked part of the equation (which is obvious from the other responses) but it is important for your child in getting enjoyment out of the experience and wanting to continue to play, especially when kids are little -- I'm assuming he's 7 based on him just being eligible in the coming year. Put your kid into the best environment for him, even if that means you go to a 'lesser' club or he's not on the 'A' team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been following this thread with interest as DS is very good at soccer and loves to play and IIUC would be eligible to start on a travel team next fall, assuming he makes a team.

So two questions that haven't been clearly answered in this thread:

1) When you are offered a spot on a team do you know at that time whether you are getting and "A" team offer or not (or even "B") so you can decide if it is worth the hassle and expense?

2) How good are the various leagues at assessing talent, especially based on initial tryouts, when they haven't had the advantage of watching kids for a full season? And do kids get moved on and off the "A" team if those assessments turn out to be wrong, either in or out of season?

Also curious - DS has a good friend from his school who is also very good at soccer - assuming he also tries out what is the possibility we can engineer it so they get on the same team? We both have longer commutes and getting home 2 nights a week to get DS to a soccer practice out of the neighborhood is going to be really hard but if we could split the duties with someone it could make the difference in our ability to do this.

Thanks

1. A/B teams are generally worth it. Unless the clubs philosophy is to train Academy style, i.e. a player pool where the A and B teams essentially train together except for game day rosters you will most likely be offered a spot for a specific team. The team name provided may not mean anything to you so ask the coach if it is the first or second team.

2. Leagues do not asses talent. This is a constant irritation to me on these threads as people simply confuse clubs, league, teams as if they are interchangeable. They are not. Teams play/train in Clubs and Clubs join Leagues. A club will have several teams in any given age group and those teams within the age group may play in different leagues.

3. I would not try and "engineer" your son and friend to be on the same team. If that is what you want then play rec or classic. That doesn't mean that both kids don't make the same travel team but frankly it is obnoxious to even ask.

Definitely agree with #3. Clubs have no need to accommodate those types of requests, nor should they. If your kid and his friend try out at the same club and end up on the same team, that's a bonus for you.

Thanks for the responses but why in the world would clubs not try to accommodate such a request? It helps the parents (who are paying a lot for the privilege to participate) and I'm having a hard time fathoming what the injury or burden is to the club? Particularly since these clubs are apparently competing both for money and talent it seems odd to not stretch to help parents with logistics which might also help to ensure participation.

We are talking about elementary and middle school kids here.

You can't fathom it because you haven't thought it through.

It's a competitive process. There only so many spots on each team, and kids are supposed to make it (or not) based on merit. If one kid gets a spot that was "engineered" rather than earned, it means that another kid gets cut even though he or she deserved to make it. How fair is that?

In other words, if you try to "engineer" a kid on the team who doesn't deserve to be there based on merit, you are basically asking the club to screw over another child just to accommodate your convenience. That's why the PP said such a request would be obnoxious.