Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss

[Anonymous]

We dropped rec and just did microacademy. My son gained more from the small sided games and footskill drills than rec practices and games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question about the BRYC Micro Academy. We've been told by coaches that our U8 son should try this in the Fall. Do people do this on top of rec or instead of? On top of would mean soccer 4 days a week, which might be a bit much for a first grader in the Fall. Thoughts?

It is soccer with friends, as long as the coaches keep it fun it isn't "to much". Nobody thinks 5 days of school is to much and soccer is likely more fun.

At this age, and to a point at all ages, it is a recreational activity. This is not Navy Seal training. I guess I don't understand how it is "a bit much". You don't need to go to all the training sessions, play it by ear during the week and see how your kid is feeling. But in the long run, the more kids and coaches your kid is exposed to will make things easier down the road in terms of adjusting to different situations and people. Push your kid gently into things that are uncomfortable knowing full well that at this age, taking a night off or two is not the end of the world.

In fact, knowing you have up to four practices can make skipping one or two here and there seem easier on your conscience.

Maybe he'd like to join drama or chess after school, maybe he'd like to ride his bike with friends in the neighborhood, maybe he'd like to just chill and play with Lego, He's six. He'll be adjusting to a new routine and teacher, at six, that can mean they need a little more down time. I'm not sure at that age I would be comfortable having one activity take up that much time, I'd rather let him explore other interests. And as I rule I try not to over commit on the expectation that I'm just going to skip practices. I'd rather model that we take on what we can handle and try hard to make our commitments.

+100

I played D-1 soccer as a woman. I was still turning cartwheels on the field and digging in the dirt during Kindergarten soccer games. My boys are very into soccer, but we did mostly pick-up games at the park until K rec started. The first year was a great experience because our Rec program is school-based and they got to be on team with friends (plus dad was coach). I kept the same schedule in 1st with some camps added in and backyard play with big brother. By 2nd grade, my son did one extra Academy style practice through our Club. The academy practice and regular rec practice plus game on weekends was more than enough and he still had time for park with his friends. My son also had the added benefit of playing pick up games with all the little brothers while the older ones were at Travel practices.

I am against too early specialization path because I do so many kids burn out by middle school. If your kids are playing all the time that's great. Find a place they can informally do just that. We have a park nearby with a turf field where kids self-organize into games nightly. It is much better to pick up the sport this way. They will develop their own style. I am against too much coaching too young.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question about the BRYC Micro Academy. We've been told by coaches that our U8 son should try this in the Fall. Do people do this on top of rec or instead of? On top of would mean soccer 4 days a week, which might be a bit much for a first grader in the Fall. Thoughts?

It is soccer with friends, as long as the coaches keep it fun it isn't "to much". Nobody thinks 5 days of school is to much and soccer is likely more fun.

At this age, and to a point at all ages, it is a recreational activity. This is not Navy Seal training. I guess I don't understand how it is "a bit much". You don't need to go to all the training sessions, play it by ear during the week and see how your kid is feeling. But in the long run, the more kids and coaches your kid is exposed to will make things easier down the road in terms of adjusting to different situations and people. Push your kid gently into things that are uncomfortable knowing full well that at this age, taking a night off or two is not the end of the world.

In fact, knowing you have up to four practices can make skipping one or two here and there seem easier on your conscience.

Maybe he'd like to join drama or chess after school, maybe he'd like to ride his bike with friends in the neighborhood, maybe he'd like to just chill and play with Lego, He's six. He'll be adjusting to a new routine and teacher, at six, that can mean they need a little more down time. I'm not sure at that age I would be comfortable having one activity take up that much time, I'd rather let him explore other interests. And as I rule I try not to over commit on the expectation that I'm just going to skip practices. I'd rather model that we take on what we can handle and try hard to make our commitments.

Then you have your answer so there is no need for you to post your questions here. You implied that four nights of soccer was to much soccer. I was answering to that. So if you have other potential interests then why the fuck are you even mentioning 4 nights of soccer? Sign up for what works for you and your kid on your own. There is no reason to outsource your petty dilemma when you can come to that conclusion all by yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question about the BRYC Micro Academy. We've been told by coaches that our U8 son should try this in the Fall. Do people do this on top of rec or instead of? On top of would mean soccer 4 days a week, which might be a bit much for a first grader in the Fall. Thoughts?

It is soccer with friends, as long as the coaches keep it fun it isn't "to much". Nobody thinks 5 days of school is to much and soccer is likely more fun.

At this age, and to a point at all ages, it is a recreational activity. This is not Navy Seal training. I guess I don't understand how it is "a bit much". You don't need to go to all the training sessions, play it by ear during the week and see how your kid is feeling. But in the long run, the more kids and coaches your kid is exposed to will make things easier down the road in terms of adjusting to different situations and people. Push your kid gently into things that are uncomfortable knowing full well that at this age, taking a night off or two is not the end of the world.

In fact, knowing you have up to four practices can make skipping one or two here and there seem easier on your conscience.

Maybe he'd like to join drama or chess after school, maybe he'd like to ride his bike with friends in the neighborhood, maybe he'd like to just chill and play with Lego, He's six. He'll be adjusting to a new routine and teacher, at six, that can mean they need a little more down time. I'm not sure at that age I would be comfortable having one activity take up that much time, I'd rather let him explore other interests. And as I rule I try not to over commit on the expectation that I'm just going to skip practices. I'd rather model that we take on what we can handle and try hard to make our commitments.

Then you have your answer so there is no need for you to post your questions here. You implied that four nights of soccer was to much soccer. I was answering to that. So if you have other potential interests then why the fuck are you even mentioning 4 nights of soccer? Sign up for what works for you and your kid on your own. There is no reason to outsource your petty dilemma when you can come to that conclusion all by yourself.

Harsh but absolutely spot on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So ODSL, NCSL, and CCL are leagues. CCL is a league created by clubs who wanted a higher level of competition than the NCSL was providing. CCL includes teams like McLean, BRYC, Loudoun, Arlington, and other clubs. Maybe Richmond and Virginia Beach but you can look that up. Each of these clubs promises to send their top two teams to this league. NCSL is another league and includes most of the other NOVA teams...Vienna, Alexandria, Herndon, Great Falls, Reston, and MD and DC teams too. These clubs send their top teams to this league. NCSL also includes like the 3&4th teams from most of the CCL clubs like Loudoun and Arlington. ODSL is a league that basically gets everyone else. The 5&6th teams from the biggest clubs, 3&4th teams from medium clubs, and 1&2nd teams from small clubs. However, it really doesn't mean that CCL teams are better than NSCL team better than ODSL teams. Many 1st teams are competitive across leagues for sure. VPL I think is a league that starts at like U12 and includes Vienna, CYA, SYA, and some other teams. Not sure about that league. EDP is a supplemental league meaning...you play your regular league schedule and you play 5 additional EDP games and these teams in this league are supposed to be very competitive...teams out of NJ, PA, MD, VA. For example, teams from Baltimore Celtic, Joga, DC United, SAC, etc etc. I think all you have to do is apply season by season for EDP and your club doesn't enter, just individual teams.

Hope that helps and I really hope I'm accurate because it does get confusing. : )

Thank you for your help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question about the BRYC Micro Academy. We've been told by coaches that our U8 son should try this in the Fall. Do people do this on top of rec or instead of? On top of would mean soccer 4 days a week, which might be a bit much for a first grader in the Fall. Thoughts?

It is soccer with friends, as long as the coaches keep it fun it isn't "to much". Nobody thinks 5 days of school is to much and soccer is likely more fun.

At this age, and to a point at all ages, it is a recreational activity. This is not Navy Seal training. I guess I don't understand how it is "a bit much". You don't need to go to all the training sessions, play it by ear during the week and see how your kid is feeling. But in the long run, the more kids and coaches your kid is exposed to will make things easier down the road in terms of adjusting to different situations and people. Push your kid gently into things that are uncomfortable knowing full well that at this age, taking a night off or two is not the end of the world.

In fact, knowing you have up to four practices can make skipping one or two here and there seem easier on your conscience.

Maybe he'd like to join drama or chess after school, maybe he'd like to ride his bike with friends in the neighborhood, maybe he'd like to just chill and play with Lego, He's six. He'll be adjusting to a new routine and teacher, at six, that can mean they need a little more down time. I'm not sure at that age I would be comfortable having one activity take up that much time, I'd rather let him explore other interests. And as I rule I try not to over commit on the expectation that I'm just going to skip practices. I'd rather model that we take on what we can handle and try hard to make our commitments.

+100

Then you have your answer so there is no need for you to post your questions here. You implied that four nights of soccer was to much soccer. I was answering to that. So if you have other potential interests then why the fuck are you even mentioning 4 nights of soccer? Sign up for what works for you and your kid on your own. There is no reason to outsource your petty dilemma when you can come to that conclusion all by yourself.

Harsh but absolutely spot on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So ODSL, NCSL, and CCL are leagues. CCL is a league created by clubs who wanted a higher level of competition than the NCSL was providing. CCL includes teams like McLean, BRYC, Loudoun, Arlington, and other clubs. Maybe Richmond and Virginia Beach but you can look that up. Each of these clubs promises to send their top two teams to this league. NCSL is another league and includes most of the other NOVA teams...Vienna, Alexandria, Herndon, Great Falls, Reston, and MD and DC teams too. These clubs send their top teams to this league. NCSL also includes like the 3&4th teams from most of the CCL clubs like Loudoun and Arlington. ODSL is a league that basically gets everyone else. The 5&6th teams from the biggest clubs, 3&4th teams from medium clubs, and 1&2nd teams from small clubs. However, it really doesn't mean that CCL teams are better than NSCL team better than ODSL teams. Many 1st teams are competitive across leagues for sure. VPL I think is a league that starts at like U12 and includes Vienna, CYA, SYA, and some other teams. Not sure about that league. EDP is a supplemental league meaning...you play your regular league schedule and you play 5 additional EDP games and these teams in this league are supposed to be very competitive...teams out of NJ, PA, MD, VA. For example, teams from Baltimore Celtic, Joga, DC United, SAC, etc etc. I think all you have to do is apply season by season for EDP and your club doesn't enter, just individual teams.

Hope that helps and I really hope I'm accurate because it does get confusing. : )

Good effort! One correction: The local CCL league was not created in order to give clubs the option of higher level competition than NCSL and WAGS were providing. For NCSL at least, the promotion/relegation set up was very effective in making sure the competition level was appropriate, and top tournaments and the regional and national leagues were available for teams that dominated division 1.

Competition was the reason that the original CCL south was created, to help make sure teams in Richmond, VA Beach, etc. were able to play other good teams. CCL north was masterminded by a handful of people who were feuding with WAGS and NCSL over various things, some quite petty and personal, and some having to do with annoying and inflexible rules NCSL and WAGS had in place. CCL talks a lot about their "club centric" model, which could in theory be helpful to kids' and coaches' development, but a lot of it boils down to clubs wanting to run their own show. Another driving factor was a desire to be able to tell their membership that they offered something special even if they didn't get awarded a Development Academy, or later, an ECNL slot. I believe the latter factor was also the reason a couple other silly leagues like the Atlantic Soccer League were created.

This area has a much more confusing mix of leagues than most, and I think it would be much better overall all if there were a way to go back to having just the top leagues (DA and ECNL or girls DA) plus a pro/rel league. But at the end of the day, we are fortunate to live in a region that has a strong soccer tradition.

Thank you both for the coherent explanations...pp, you provided insight into the origins of CCL that I hadn't heard before, so that's appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Vienna sends their top team to VPL, not NCSL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vienna sends their top team to VPL, not NCSL.

Is that at U12?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vienna sends their top team to VPL, not NCSL.

Is that at U12?

U11 on up, at least in the fall. In the spring, U15-U19 moves back to NCSL.

[Anonymous]

There seems to be a lot of criticism here for Vienna. Are we criticizing lower-level younger age groups teams (below U14), or are we criticizing the older Travel A-teams? Or are we just criticizing the club administration?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yes. I will suggest a 'sick out' with the other parents who all are bitching about the drive. Nobody wants to leave because the club is local and practices are 10 min away so they put up with this sh*t, but if 95% of the team calls out sick on VA Beach game day maybe they will start making change. Teamsters unite!

NO NO NO.
Parents do not get to dictate to the club or the league what decisions get made. If you don't want to drive and put in the time commitment, DO NOT JOIN THAT TEAM and take the spot away from another kid who IS WILLING to commit. THAT IS LETTING DOWN THE WHOLE TEAM and is a morale buster. You go where it is a good fit for you, you don't join a club then start bitching and moaning and wanting to change things to suit your priorities. If your priority isn't soccer, then soccer isn't for you. END OF STORY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There seems to be a lot of criticism here for Vienna. Are we criticizing lower-level younger age groups teams (below U14), or are we criticizing the older Travel A-teams? Or are we just criticizing the club administration?

It's not particularly coherent criticism. Some people criticize the Board over stuff that happened two years ago, before most of the current Board was serving in their current positions. Or it's the previous technical staff. Or the one before that.

One day: "They need to get rid of Rich Gunney! He's killing the club!"

Then after Gunney departs: "So much turnover! Why would anyone go to Vienna?"

Some of it is legitimate, specific criticism of particular aspects of the club -- the decision to hire Gunney, a couple of other hires around the same time that turned out poorly, maybe pulling the House league teams out of SFL, etc. Some of it is from a former technical staffer and/or a former board member trying to scorch the earth behind them.

The funny thing is that the specific VYS thread has now veered sharply away from talking about VYS.

Bottom line: VYS has some good people and some who are not so good. Gunney's departure has made it easier to keep the good people.

And like every other club in the area, the switch to birth-year age groups means teams will be shaken up, and some people will be very happy while others will be most unhappy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes. I will suggest a 'sick out' with the other parents who all are bitching about the drive. Nobody wants to leave because the club is local and practices are 10 min away so they put up with this sh*t, but if 95% of the team calls out sick on VA Beach game day maybe they will start making change. Teamsters unite!

NO NO NO.
Parents do not get to dictate to the club or the league what decisions get made. If you don't want to drive and put in the time commitment, DO NOT JOIN THAT TEAM and take the spot away from another kid who IS WILLING to commit. THAT IS LETTING DOWN THE WHOLE TEAM and is a morale buster. You go where it is a good fit for you, you don't join a club then start bitching and moaning and wanting to change things to suit your priorities. If your priority isn't soccer, then soccer isn't for you. END OF STORY.

I wonder what would happen if no one was willing to play for the "A" team. I've seen a lot of good players either depart the club or ask to be on a "B" team so they won't have to travel. After a while, the "B" teams in NCSL can easily end up surpassing the "A" team in VPL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes. I will suggest a 'sick out' with the other parents who all are bitching about the drive. Nobody wants to leave because the club is local and practices are 10 min away so they put up with this sh*t, but if 95% of the team calls out sick on VA Beach game day maybe they will start making change. Teamsters unite!

NO NO NO.
Parents do not get to dictate to the club or the league what decisions get made. If you don't want to drive and put in the time commitment, DO NOT JOIN THAT TEAM and take the spot away from another kid who IS WILLING to commit. THAT IS LETTING DOWN THE WHOLE TEAM and is a morale buster. You go where it is a good fit for you, you don't join a club then start bitching and moaning and wanting to change things to suit your priorities. If your priority isn't soccer, then soccer isn't for you. END OF STORY.

I wonder what would happen if no one was willing to play for the "A" team. I've seen a lot of good players either depart the club or ask to be on a "B" team so they won't have to travel. After a while, the "B" teams in NCSL can easily end up surpassing the "A" team in VPL!

Three is always a kid, or at least their parent who will put their kid on the A team. Don't kid yourself. Just because you think the league structure and schedule is ridiculous doesn't mean that everyone else subscribes to that philosophy. These leagues are successful and will continue to be successful. NCLS serves its purpose and CCL and VPL/NPL serve their purpose.

Again, find the right situation for you, your kid and your family. Believe me, your kid will not be missed by the team you are leaving and will be replaced.