FC Virginia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Revolution Partner with a chip wrote:

Haha none of this is true. No fields, a coach left just this week, and tryouts have been a wasteland. No one is “taking their kid” to fcv right now. We’re all at the tryouts, we know.

I'm taking my kid to FCV. I was at the tryouts. I've spoken to the coaches. I'm not worried about the fields.

You post sounds more like you didn't leave the relationship on good terms and instead make yourself feel better by tearing down you Ex rather than turning a new leaf and looking forward. I think petty comes to mind when I read your posts.

Signed, Not Adam

Is English your 2nd language?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any info on the boy's youth program??

I'd like to hear all the bad and good please.

There isn’t one?

FCV until 4 years ago was a girls only club.

They kicked open boys and took in the sporting global Barca teams when they moved into other markets. They lost 98% of them.

Loudoun and VRSC teams flatten them, and also offer actual learning opportunities. The FCV boys program is trying to lure kids in with “you made it to the first team!” when the first team is kids that should be having fun in rec, and will have a miserable time in NCSL/EDP.

But hey, they got your $2850!

What about the training, drills or repetition?

Engagement, coaching and communication on/off the field?

Can you add more detail...

Specific dislikes vs things you actually saw that stood out. TIA.

As the PP stated, FCV / St James Soccer / St James Football Club (or whatever it is called) was only a Girl's program previously. You could say that the Boy's program is new, but it is really new. Any comments about current or past training / drills / repetition is moot because these new Coaches will have their own style / strategy / philosophy / etc. Maybe it will be great. Maybe it will be a complete dumpster fire. You have to look at the top and wonder....

Looking at the North roles...from Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/C6RHrNVrHM7/?img_index=1

U09 2016 - Gabe Ascune (joined in April)
U10 2015 - Adam Baumgardner - this site has enough information
U11 2014 - Chris Pruden (joined in March)  
U12 2013 - Zachary Johnson - name is listed, no other info posted
No mention of U13-U19

U13-U19 Boys Director - Christiane Lessa (joined this week)
Director Of Goalkeeping - Chris Lawson (joined in March)
Director of Coaching - Patrick Finney (joined in March)
Director of Player Development - Chris Pruden (joined in March)
Asst Dir of Player Development - "Announcement Coming Soon"
Director of College Placement - Dominic Rutan (promoted to role in Feb)
Director of Soccer - Adam Baumgardner (promoted to role in Feb)

As to Fields - this is where coaches / teams / players are impacted.
Today, FCV uses 7 Fields:
Evergreen / Raventek / VA Revolution Field 4 - Turf.
Bles Park - 3 fields. Grass
Hanson Park. 3 Fields. 1 Field Turf, 2 Fields Grass

Next year, Bles is under construction by the County, and will not be available. VRSC is not renewing FCV's contract (they didn't renew Loudoun years ago, and this contract end was known), so that is not available.
That leaves 3 fields. For the WHOLE North Travel and Rec. Boys and Girls.

AB says that the County will probably allocate the 2 newly built fields to FCV. Probably is not a yes.

So - 3 fields.
Field 1 at Hanson is Turf, but only lined for 11v11. Anyone U12 and younger cannot play games there. AB said he's going to ask the County to line it.
Field 3 at Hanson is Grass, but only lined for 7v7. Only U9-U10 can play games there.
Field 12 at Hanson is Grass, but only lined for 9v9. Only U11-U12 can play games there.

So - if you are U9, U10, U11 or U12 and it rains on game day, what happens?

Anyone who has played for FCV knows with limited field space, comes crowded practices with up to 6 teams practicing on a single field.
Full field scrimmage? No.
Half field scrimmage? No.
Rec practicing next to Travel? Yes.

Chaos? Absolutely.

No club is perfect. I can't tell you how many games I have been at over the years where if I based my future tryout decisions on the coach who is on the other sidelines that I would never consider any other club. It seems to me that irrespective of where FCV may be at this time there are at least a few quality coaches in their ranks. I know a couple personally because my kid played for them in years past and as it stands now my kid has committed to playing for one of the newer FCV coaches who has been at least mentioned in this thread as potentially one who has their act together. When we met the new FCV coach he left us with a good impression, which is really all that matters since I don't expect to have much exposure to many of the other coaches and FCV staff once the season gets going. So it seems to me that unless your son is playing for AB, the situation may not be as bad as some may suggest.

To get better as a player I believe you need good coaching, good competition, and good teammates. Regardless of the club I am confident in the first two criterion on that list based on our choice to play for FCV. I don't know who my kid's teammates will be entirely, but playing on a team that is often outclassed can sometimes allow individual players to distinguish themselves on the field. For a parent of a player who hasn't ever tried out for a national team, one of the biggest obstacles to breaking into a national team as an older player is having an opportunity to develop familiarity with coaches on both sidelines who coach at this level. My player plays against many national ECNL and GA players who play for many of the big clubs mentioned on this board. I am not concerned about my player's ability to compete and benefit from exposure to playing against a high level of competition. So while FCV may be going through some changes, and maybe the club has some characters who may not be liked by many on this board (e.g., AB), there are potentially some opportunities for families who given their own circumstances FCV may be an opportunity worth pursuing.

Really well said! We made the same choice for some of the same reasons for our player. We liked what we saw on the field. We don’t care much about the rest.

Signed,
Also Not Adam

[Anonymous]

There are good coaches. I've said it before. There are some real gems. I wouldn't put my kid with AB, but good coaching does happen at FCV.

[Anonymous]

*did happen

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:North is a dumpster fire. Nobody should trust this group of clowns.

On a serious note can you (or anyone else) be more specific? Why do you say it's a dumpster fire and are there certain coaches to avoid? Certain coaches that are good?

I don’t think you will get more specifics because the poster isn’t going to have them.

I see an agenda behind the negative posts that claim dumpster fire, no fields, caustic environment, bad coaches etc. These are clearly people from outside the club being criticized who feel either threatened, slighted, or simply see an opportunity to advantage themselves by seeding unsubstantiated negativity into the inter-webs about the club. I don’t think the posts point to a parent making the criticisms.

To me the criticisms on this board don’t seem like they come from parents. I think when you read most criticisms they don’t seem to be about issues that would logically come from a parent whose kid plays for the club. Take the reoccurring issue about fields. Why would a parent whose kid isn’t going to play for the club next season care about the fields next season? Does the poster making the criticism believe readers can’t make their own decision about the status of fields? What would it say about a parent who complains about the fields about a club they choose to play for? All the clubs for the current season have fields so this isn’t about now, but next season. Is a parent really going to complain about a club and their field circumstance that they are choosing to play for in the future? That would be a really dumb parent to knowingly choose a club they have an issue with.

Taking a close look at the type of comments being made I suspect it is more club bashing going on than parental bashing of clubs. That means most of the criticisms aren’t well established other than trying to bring another club down as a way to advantage themselves. When you don’t have anything positive to say about yourself just drag the other guy down and Whala! you’ll feel better about yourself.

Specifics?

They let go of JH in February.

All 2015 and 2014 girls moved immediately to VRSC and they were accepted with open arms for Spring. 31 kids gone with one silly decision not to let him finish out the Spring season.

All but 3 (out of 27) 2013 girls leaving because of ED being fired on a random Wednesday.

All but 4 (out of 30) 2012 girls leaving because of ED being fired on a random Wednesday.

11 2009 GA starters gone.

13 2008 GA starters gone.

Potentially two returners in 2007.

I’m sure someone else can post the stats on other age groups.

VRSC, VDA, and Loudoun/NVA all have fields. AND have the Rec numbers to go first in the queue for Loudoun, PW county field allotments.

Firing coaches before you even have a chance to make your case to stay with FCV was incredibly dumb and solely at the hands of AB.

Coaches to avoid? I’ve seen AB be personally asked to leave a boys game at Bles Park. Boys side was gifted like 100 Barca players and now they have one hands’ worth left. Two of their GA coaches have never played. One hasn’t even coached, just reffed! Bastian has it together but he’s driving a Ford Pinto right now.

And it’s “Voila!”. Should probably know that once since Bastian is French.

Curious how do you have 13 starters leave a program. Was the 2008 team good because they had too many kids on the field?

lol - of all the stats in that diatribe/post, that was the one that caught my attention as well.

A lot of players moved from FCV to VRSC, but it doesn’t seem they got as high of a percentage as I thought they would, in particular with the older age groups.

Agreed, I think VRSC was thinking they'd get 80%/90% and they probably got closer to 60%

they went to start n shake things up at vda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are good coaches. I've said it before. There are some real gems. I wouldn't put my kid with AB, but good coaching does happen at FCV.

Yep. Facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Revolution Partner with a chip wrote:

Haha none of this is true. No fields, a coach left just this week, and tryouts have been a wasteland. No one is “taking their kid” to fcv right now. We’re all at the tryouts, we know.

I'm taking my kid to FCV. I was at the tryouts. I've spoken to the coaches. I'm not worried about the fields.

You post sounds more like you didn't leave the relationship on good terms and instead make yourself feel better by tearing down you Ex rather than turning a new leaf and looking forward. I think petty comes to mind when I read your posts.

Signed, Not Adam

Is English your 2nd language?

No, but fat fingered typing is something I can’t help unlike your response. Good day to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are good coaches. I've said it before. There are some real gems. I wouldn't put my kid with AB, but good coaching does happen at FCV.

Yep. Facts.

Old facts. No longer the case unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are good coaches. I've said it before. There are some real gems. I wouldn't put my kid with AB, but good coaching does happen at FCV.

Yep. Facts.

Old facts. No longer the case unfortunately.

We're still talking at cross purposes. Unless you know every coach at every age for both genders, you can't say they don't still have some good coaches. Just like I wouldn't say there aren't dud coaches. I understand there has been movement of some specific coaches both in and out that has caused a lot of upheaval.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are good coaches. I've said it before. There are some real gems. I wouldn't put my kid with AB, but good coaching does happen at FCV.

Yep. Facts.

Old facts. No longer the case unfortunately.

We're still talking at cross purposes. Unless you know every coach at every age for both genders, you can't say they don't still have some good coaches. Just like I wouldn't say there aren't dud coaches. I understand there has been movement of some specific coaches both in and out that has caused a lot of upheaval.

Name one good one on the girls side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Revolution Partner with a chip wrote:

Haha none of this is true. No fields, a coach left just this week, and tryouts have been a wasteland. No one is “taking their kid” to fcv right now. We’re all at the tryouts, we know.

I'm taking my kid to FCV. I was at the tryouts. I've spoken to the coaches. I'm not worried about the fields.

You post sounds more like you didn't leave the relationship on good terms and instead make yourself feel better by tearing down you Ex rather than turning a new leaf and looking forward. I think petty comes to mind when I read your posts.

Signed, Not Adam

Ok Tony.

[Anonymous]

Whatever happened to ED'S assistant on the girls 2012 travel team she used to be always around where did she go to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Revolution Partner with a chip wrote:

Haha none of this is true. No fields, a coach left just this week, and tryouts have been a wasteland. No one is “taking their kid” to fcv right now. We’re all at the tryouts, we know.

I'm taking my kid to FCV. I was at the tryouts. I've spoken to the coaches. I'm not worried about the fields.

You post sounds more like you didn't leave the relationship on good terms and instead make yourself feel better by tearing down you Ex rather than turning a new leaf and looking forward. I think petty comes to mind when I read your posts.

Signed, Not Adam

Ok Tony.

LOL always a come back from the hater crowd.

[Anonymous]

So fields?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So fields?

C'mon give it a break. Everyone knows the announcement is coming tomorrow.