NoVA Travel Soccer

[Anonymous]

It's travel soccer try-out season again! Following up on last year's thread, we agree with those posters who recommended trying out for more than one program (assuming you are serious about possibly switching clubs). We did not realize how common this is and remained "loyal" to our local community club for several years, to what now appears in retrosepct to be to our son's detriment.

Does anyone have any inside information regarding what is happening with the McLean, Arlington, Braddock Road, Vienna, etc. area teams and tryouts this year? Is it correct that Great Falls is going through some significant restructuring and changes, at least in certain age groups? How do you think the new Northern Division of the Virginia Club Champions League (VCCL) will impact NCSL and the local travel scene?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

What age is your son? Mine is U-15 so I've got some persepctive at that level. McLean is adding a pre-academy program this year although the first round of tryouts have occurred. But that may create some openings in the top U14 and U15 teams in VA clubs. There always seems to be a little more upheaval in the U15 and above clubs with high school commitments, academy options, etc. Also the roster for U16 expands to 22 so there are more options there. There are a surprising number of teams that end up folding or combining in the older groups.

I dont know about the VCCL but last year the ASL formed and pulled off some teams from Great Falls, Bethesda and a couple of other top clubs. I think it has diluted Div 1 of NCSL a bit. Not much impact on the other divisions.

[Anonymous]

You are a bit late, I think. Arlington U12 begins this week, and at least some of the teams around town are done.

I think that the new VCCL will be great. Some of the teams "moving up" really need more and better competition. I can see why diluting Division 1 would be hard for some (irrelevant for us), but for others, more room in NCSL will be great news (the limit of two teams per club was a problem).

If you are looking at all of those clubs, I hope your kid is old enough to drive.

[Anonymous]

Could you give advice to a newbie parent (parent of 8 year old son)...if he is good/great at soccer, but not excellent, how much do you push the travel soccer. Or just leave him at rec league with not as much practice or no professional coaching (the downsides of rec, as I see it)?

[Anonymous]

Ask him if he's interested in trying out, but you have to let him be the driver here. Travel soccer is a HUGE commitment - more frequent practices and games and you can't just decide not to go because you're not in the mood or have a birthday party to attend or something. If he's not excited about the idea, don't go there.

[Anonymous]

sign him up for Soccer Academy (if in Arlington) or the equivalent in your area. Either he'll love the higher level and then you will have your answer, or he won't, in which case you will have your answer.

You can also sign him up for a reasonably rigorous soccer camp, and he'll either love it or he won't.

I would only recommend Travel if your kid isn't able to get what he wants (social, fitness) from his local rec team. It has to come from the kid. It is a huge time commitment, and a big sacrifice. If that is who your kid is, then it is great. If it is not who your kid is, then it would be a big mistake.

[Anonymous]

I think you also need to be careful not to burn him out too early. Another year or two in rec or something like MSI Classic, supplemented with good soccer camps in the summer, can be fine for most kids. If he's really good he'll be able to find a spot on a travel team later.