Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss

[Anonymous]

I saw the little "107" on Padres and said to myself, "glad this is part of my past"

From a distance I can say that travel soccer is fun for a while but very different come high school. Pay attention, and don't hang on too long when it is time to stop. I can also tell you that red soccer is very fun in HS. Level of play isn't bad, either.

[Anonymous]

Oops. That's pages, and now onto 108.

[Anonymous]

So my son is born in 2006 and plays U10. He's on the club's top team but is one of the team's weaker players (relatively speaking of course). Next year, when they go birth year, I believe that he get pushed down to the 2005's 2nd team because of the 2005s currently playing U11. If he stayed with his 2006 team, he easily would be one of the top players on the top team. I talked to him about it and he insists on playing on the 2005 team. He also has good friends on the 2006s and I think he would like that team too. I'm not really sure what is best for him developmentally. Because I don't know how to figure this out, I believe the best approach is to do what he wants to do and go with the 2005 team. I'm also OK with this because he would be playing with the older kids and better competition, and, if it doesn't work out, we can always do the 2006 team the following year. I'm afraid the reverse (playing 2006 and then trying for the 2005 team the following year) would be more difficult to do because he would be playing against weaker kids and may not push himself as much for an entire year. Any one have any points to consider?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So my son is born in 2006 and plays U10. He's on the club's top team but is one of the team's weaker players (relatively speaking of course). Next year, when they go birth year, I believe that he get pushed down to the 2005's 2nd team because of the 2005s currently playing U11. If he stayed with his 2006 team, he easily would be one of the top players on the top team. I talked to him about it and he insists on playing on the 2005 team. He also has good friends on the 2006s and I think he would like that team too. I'm not really sure what is best for him developmentally. Because I don't know how to figure this out, I believe the best approach is to do what he wants to do and go with the 2005 team. I'm also OK with this because he would be playing with the older kids and better competition, and, if it doesn't work out, we can always do the 2006 team the following year. I'm afraid the reverse (playing 2006 and then trying for the 2005 team the following year) would be more difficult to do because he would be playing against weaker kids and may not push himself as much for an entire year. Any one have any points to consider?

Have you heard from your club about what approach they will be taking/what the leagues will allow? We haven't, but my understanding is that our club intends to try to put the younger kids in their right age group, with rare exceptions. The older teams may choose to try to stick together if the leagues permit liberal playing up. My son is a late Dec. 2005 (team is 70 percent 2006 and 2007) and I'm expecting that he will not be playing with most of his teammates next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So my son is born in 2006 and plays U10. He's on the club's top team but is one of the team's weaker players (relatively speaking of course). Next year, when they go birth year, I believe that he get pushed down to the 2005's 2nd team because of the 2005s currently playing U11. If he stayed with his 2006 team, he easily would be one of the top players on the top team. I talked to him about it and he insists on playing on the 2005 team. He also has good friends on the 2006s and I think he would like that team too. I'm not really sure what is best for him developmentally. Because I don't know how to figure this out, I believe the best approach is to do what he wants to do and go with the 2005 team. I'm also OK with this because he would be playing with the older kids and better competition, and, if it doesn't work out, we can always do the 2006 team the following year. I'm afraid the reverse (playing 2006 and then trying for the 2005 team the following year) would be more difficult to do because he would be playing against weaker kids and may not push himself as much for an entire year. Any one have any points to consider?

Have you heard from your club about what approach they will be taking/what the leagues will allow? We haven't, but my understanding is that our club intends to try to put the younger kids in their right age group, with rare exceptions. The older teams may choose to try to stick together if the leagues permit liberal playing up. My son is a late Dec. 2005 (team is 70 percent 2006 and 2007) and I'm expecting that he will not be playing with most of his teammates next year.

He should go with his proper age group. He's not outclassing his peers, and that is the only good reason for playing up at that age. I would hope this is what the club will have him do. That said, being on the second team can be fun. Less ridiculousness, fewer tournaments, but still plenty good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Www.vplisgarbage.com

Is that why only 3 Girls CCL teams made top brackets at the Jeff Cup?

Jeff Cup historically skews their brackets toward ECNL and out-of-state teams, if you've ever paid any attention.

Top Bracket
CCL Clubs- 3
VPL/NPL clubs-14
ECNL-9

What is the split of VPL vs non-VA NPL in that 14?
And what is the in-state vs out-of-state in the top brackets?

That would be 4 VPL Clubs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Www.vplisgarbage.com

Is that why only 3 Girls CCL teams made top brackets at the Jeff Cup?

Jeff Cup historically skews their brackets toward ECNL and out-of-state teams, if you've ever paid any attention.

Top Bracket
CCL Clubs- 3
VPL/NPL clubs-14
ECNL-9

What is the split of VPL vs non-VA NPL in that 14?
And what is the in-state vs out-of-state in the top brackets?

So with the split being even in club/league representation stop with the league bashing or chest pounding. They are kids playing soccer. Choose the best situation for your kid and forget the rest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Www.vplisgarbage.com

Is that why only 3 Girls CCL teams made top brackets at the Jeff Cup?

Jeff Cup historically skews their brackets toward ECNL and out-of-state teams, if you've ever paid any attention.

Top Bracket
CCL Clubs- 3
VPL/NPL clubs-14
ECNL-9

What is the split of VPL vs non-VA NPL in that 14?
And what is the in-state vs out-of-state in the top brackets?

So with the split being even in club/league representation stop with the league bashing or chest pounding. They are kids playing soccer. Choose the best situation for your kid and forget the rest.

Seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So my son is born in 2006 and plays U10. He's on the club's top team but is one of the team's weaker players (relatively speaking of course). Next year, when they go birth year, I believe that he get pushed down to the 2005's 2nd team because of the 2005s currently playing U11. If he stayed with his 2006 team, he easily would be one of the top players on the top team. I talked to him about it and he insists on playing on the 2005 team. He also has good friends on the 2006s and I think he would like that team too. I'm not really sure what is best for him developmentally. Because I don't know how to figure this out, I believe the best approach is to do what he wants to do and go with the 2005 team. I'm also OK with this because he would be playing with the older kids and better competition, and, if it doesn't work out, we can always do the 2006 team the following year. I'm afraid the reverse (playing 2006 and then trying for the 2005 team the following year) would be more difficult to do because he would be playing against weaker kids and may not push himself as much for an entire year. Any one have any points to consider?

Have you heard from your club about what approach they will be taking/what the leagues will allow? We haven't, but my understanding is that our club intends to try to put the younger kids in their right age group, with rare exceptions. The older teams may choose to try to stick together if the leagues permit liberal playing up. My son is a late Dec. 2005 (team is 70 percent 2006 and 2007) and I'm expecting that he will not be playing with most of his teammates next year.

He should go with his proper age group. He's not outclassing his peers, and that is the only good reason for playing up at that age. I would hope this is what the club will have him do. That said, being on the second team can be fun. Less ridiculousness, fewer tournaments, but still plenty good.

Why is it the only good reason? I think it being more challenging is a pretty good reason and the fact that most of his friends will be on the older team is also a pretty good reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So my son is born in 2006 and plays U10. He's on the club's top team but is one of the team's weaker players (relatively speaking of course). Next year, when they go birth year, I believe that he get pushed down to the 2005's 2nd team because of the 2005s currently playing U11. If he stayed with his 2006 team, he easily would be one of the top players on the top team. I talked to him about it and he insists on playing on the 2005 team. He also has good friends on the 2006s and I think he would like that team too. I'm not really sure what is best for him developmentally. Because I don't know how to figure this out, I believe the best approach is to do what he wants to do and go with the 2005 team. I'm also OK with this because he would be playing with the older kids and better competition, and, if it doesn't work out, we can always do the 2006 team the following year. I'm afraid the reverse (playing 2006 and then trying for the 2005 team the following year) would be more difficult to do because he would be playing against weaker kids and may not push himself as much for an entire year. Any one have any points to consider?

My son is a year younger than yours (2007 U9) and keeps asking if he can play up so I asked the technical director at his club about it. To summarize, they only care about development and said the most important thing at that age is touches on the ball. Playing in his own age group should mean smaller fields and less players on the field and more touches on the ball. Most of his soccer is training and scrimmages, so playing games against "better competition" shouldn't really matter either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So my son is born in 2006 and plays U10. He's on the club's top team but is one of the team's weaker players (relatively speaking of course). Next year, when they go birth year, I believe that he get pushed down to the 2005's 2nd team because of the 2005s currently playing U11. If he stayed with his 2006 team, he easily would be one of the top players on the top team. I talked to him about it and he insists on playing on the 2005 team. He also has good friends on the 2006s and I think he would like that team too. I'm not really sure what is best for him developmentally. Because I don't know how to figure this out, I believe the best approach is to do what he wants to do and go with the 2005 team. I'm also OK with this because he would be playing with the older kids and better competition, and, if it doesn't work out, we can always do the 2006 team the following year. I'm afraid the reverse (playing 2006 and then trying for the 2005 team the following year) would be more difficult to do because he would be playing against weaker kids and may not push himself as much for an entire year. Any one have any points to consider?

Have you heard from your club about what approach they will be taking/what the leagues will allow? We haven't, but my understanding is that our club intends to try to put the younger kids in their right age group, with rare exceptions. The older teams may choose to try to stick together if the leagues permit liberal playing up. My son is a late Dec. 2005 (team is 70 percent 2006 and 2007) and I'm expecting that he will not be playing with most of his teammates next year.

It's so arbitrary. My son's best friend is one of the best players in his age group and his on one of the lower teams. They really should be having real tryouts going forward with the birth year and not just grouping based on where they were placed at 8. This kid was approached by two other clubs and I know he is training off-season with one of them now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So my son is born in 2006 and plays U10. He's on the club's top team but is one of the team's weaker players (relatively speaking of course). Next year, when they go birth year, I believe that he get pushed down to the 2005's 2nd team because of the 2005s currently playing U11. If he stayed with his 2006 team, he easily would be one of the top players on the top team. I talked to him about it and he insists on playing on the 2005 team. He also has good friends on the 2006s and I think he would like that team too. I'm not really sure what is best for him developmentally. Because I don't know how to figure this out, I believe the best approach is to do what he wants to do and go with the 2005 team. I'm also OK with this because he would be playing with the older kids and better competition, and, if it doesn't work out, we can always do the 2006 team the following year. I'm afraid the reverse (playing 2006 and then trying for the 2005 team the following year) would be more difficult to do because he would be playing against weaker kids and may not push himself as much for an entire year. Any one have any points to consider?

My son is a year younger than yours (2007 U9) and keeps asking if he can play up so I asked the technical director at his club about it. To summarize, they only care about development and said the most important thing at that age is touches on the ball. Playing in his own age group should mean smaller fields and less players on the field and more touches on the ball. Most of his soccer is training and scrimmages, so playing games against "better competition" shouldn't really matter either.

Actually, training and scrimmaging with talented players can have a pretty big impact on how quickly a child develops, more so than playing games against higher level competition, since games happen less frequently. So long as there is a core group of players who can challenge each other in practice, it usually makes sense to play on age. The exception is the case where a child is physically dominating everyone because of size, strength, and/or speed. Kids like that need to be in a position to use learn and use their skills instead of relying on athleticism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So my son is born in 2006 and plays U10. He's on the club's top team but is one of the team's weaker players (relatively speaking of course). Next year, when they go birth year, I believe that he get pushed down to the 2005's 2nd team because of the 2005s currently playing U11. If he stayed with his 2006 team, he easily would be one of the top players on the top team. I talked to him about it and he insists on playing on the 2005 team. He also has good friends on the 2006s and I think he would like that team too. I'm not really sure what is best for him developmentally. Because I don't know how to figure this out, I believe the best approach is to do what he wants to do and go with the 2005 team. I'm also OK with this because he would be playing with the older kids and better competition, and, if it doesn't work out, we can always do the 2006 team the following year. I'm afraid the reverse (playing 2006 and then trying for the 2005 team the following year) would be more difficult to do because he would be playing against weaker kids and may not push himself as much for an entire year. Any one have any points to consider?

My son is a year younger than yours (2007 U9) and keeps asking if he can play up so I asked the technical director at his club about it. To summarize, they only care about development and said the most important thing at that age is touches on the ball. Playing in his own age group should mean smaller fields and less players on the field and more touches on the ball. Most of his soccer is training and scrimmages, so playing games against "better competition" shouldn't really matter either.

Actually, training and scrimmaging with talented players can have a pretty big impact on how quickly a child develops, more so than playing games against higher level competition, since games happen less frequently. So long as there is a core group of players who can challenge each other in practice, it usually makes sense to play on age. The exception is the case where a child is physically dominating everyone because of size, strength, and/or speed. Kids like that need to be in a position to use learn and use their skills instead of relying on athleticism.

Right, so it would make sense to play up if he could because he would be training 3 days a week or whatever with more talented kids. I agree that the games are not that important.

[Anonymous]

I think if you are torn between two teams, take a long look at the coach. The coach could be a huge difference maker in your child's development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think if you are torn between two teams, take a long look at the coach. The coach could be a huge difference maker in your child's development.

I agree. Unfortunately, our club has not announced any of the coaches for the coming birth year teams. Additionally, there are 4-6 teams per age group and they usually only name the 1 coach so if you arent on the team--you could be stuck with a dud. Then, sometimes the head is the dud and one of the assistants is much better. You are locked into it for a year if you are unhappy so it blows.