Spring Travel Soccer Tryouts 2018

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New poster here, need some advice please. My son (U13) is in his first year of travel soccer and had historically played goalie in rec soccer. This is his first year in both travel as well as in the position of striker. He's had a steep learning curve playing in the field, and it's obvious to me and his coach that he's still apprehensive when players come running up to him with the ball, or when he's expected to be aggressive in taking command of the ball when it's with him. He's gotten better, but his coach doesn't given much direct feedback to him. Tryouts are coming up after Memorial Day, and I just have this knot in my stomach thinking of the possibility that he won't be asked back. He's got so many of his good friends on the team, too.

The coach has given me some good feedback, stating that he's made progress but still has some of the same original concerns. At least there's progress, right? I just don't want him (my son) to be demoralized if he's not asked back, ug. I'm letting him decide if he wants to do tryouts again, and I'll preface it with walking him through the possibility of not making the team and some of the emotions that would come from that, too. I'm also thinking of having him try out with BRYC, since that's closest to where we live.

Anyone who has BTDT, advice would be really appreciated, thanks.

Hire a private coach to work with him until tryouts. We were in the same boat at the U12 level last year and the coaching gave him enough confidence to make the team. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is probably out of date...

Alexandria: Red, White, Blue, Black, Silver
Arlington: Red, White, Blue, Black, Silver, Gold
Beach FC: Red, Black
Bethesda: Blue, Green, White
BRYC: Elite, Blue, Black
Chantilly (CYA): Purple, Gold, Silver, Black (also White)
DC Stoddert: Blue, Red, White
Ellicott City Black, White
Fairfax Police (FPYC): Blue, Gold
Great Falls: Blue, White, Gold
FC Virginia (FCV): ECNL, Elite, Premier
Gunston SC (GSC): Red, White
Herndon: Black, Red, White
LMVSC: Red, White, Blue
Loudon: Red, Black, White, Silver and Gray - Green after Gray at some older ages
Maryland Rush Blue, Gold
Maryland United: Red, White
McLean: Green, White, Gold, Silver
Northern Virginia (NVSC): Blue, White
Premier Athletics (PAC): Navy, White (then Gold and Silver in ODSL)
PWSI: Red, White
Potomac: Blue, White, Black
Reston: Blue, White, Yellow, Green
Richmond Kickers: Red, Black, White
Richmond Strikers: Elite, Black
SAC: Blue, White
SCAA (South County): Green, Classic
Severna Park Green
St. Mary’s Soccer: Black, Red
Sterling: Orange, White
SYA: Red, White, Black
SYC: Blue, Orange, White, Green
Virginia SA (VSA): Red, Blue, Select, Gold, White
Vienna YS (VYS): Red, Black, White (also Silver in ODSL)
Waldorf Soccer Club: Orange

2018 and we can't just say 1st team, 2nd team, 3rd team, etc. All these stupid colors....

[Anonymous]

VYS girls red team is known as the Phoenix team, not by Red like the boys team. I don't know why they do that. So its Phoenix, Black, White. The Phoenix teams have a 3rd practice each week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a question about ASA tryouts (2009 Boys, if it matters). For the kids who make it through the "cattle call" tryouts, does ASA assign them a color team before the deadline to accept/decline the ASA travel roster spot?

DS tried out (with ASA) last year, made the first cut into the travel program, and attended the "sorting" tryout (I don't know what it's called, but the session for all the kids who had made it through the cattle call tryouts, and were now being sorted into the color teams). We were on the fence between doing travel and doing ADP, and ultimately decided on ADP. We declined the travel offer a couple of days before the deadline for decisions, and before DS had been assigned to a color team.

Now we're back in the same travel vs. ADP quandary again this year. DS has had a wonderful ADP experience, but is still interested in travel. If he were to make it through the travel tryouts, it might be helpful to know what team he would be on before deciding whether to accept the roster spot (and forgo ADP). Perhaps the weakest travel team isn't a big enough upgrade over his (rather good) ADP team to justify the increased cost and time commitment?

Does anyone know how this process works? We short-circuited it last year, and didn't get to see how the order of operations works at the tail end of the tryout process. Any thoughts on the relative merits of lower travel teams versus ADP?

Any age after U9 - you will be told the team color with offer.

Only U9s go through the second sorting/placement tryout.

I assume your kid is a U10 this year.

Since you are mentioning ADP I assume this is Arlington—guessing this isn’t ASA (Alexandria also ASA) or Annapolis.

Thanks, PP! Yes, I am asking about Arlington. Sorry for the confusion caused by mentioning ASA (I'm obviously new here!).

DS will be U10 this year, so thanks for explaining how things will differ from the U9 tryout process. It's good to know that the team color will come with the offer. I wonder how good a job the coaches do of "sorting" and placing the kids on to color teams during the tryouts, while also weeding out all of the kids who won't make the travel program at all? I suppose most of the kids who make it through the tryouts will already have played U9, so the coaches will already have a good idea of which color team they will assign them.

Any thoughts on how worthwhile the training/playing experience is on the lower Arlington teams?

Any coming in from ADP at u10 will make blue at best, probably black if good, and the rest gold/silver. ADP is a great program, unless you are red/white level.

One other factor to consider - ADP is not a long term program, so eventually if you child wants to continue to play competitive soccer you will need a new plan. Unless your kid is a super star, it will be hard to break into an Arlington Travel team at that point b/c that is also the year they go from 4 to 6 teams (with addition of DA).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is probably out of date...

Alexandria: Red, White, Blue, Black, Silver
Arlington: Red, White, Blue, Black, Silver, Gold
Beach FC: Red, Black
Bethesda: Blue, Green, White
BRYC: Elite, Blue, Black
Chantilly (CYA): Purple, Gold, Silver, Black (also White)
DC Stoddert: Blue, Red, White
Ellicott City Black, White
Fairfax Police (FPYC): Blue, Gold
Great Falls: Blue, White, Gold
FC Virginia (FCV): ECNL, Elite, Premier
Gunston SC (GSC): Red, White
Herndon: Black, Red, White
LMVSC: Red, White, Blue
Loudon: Red, Black, White, Silver and Gray - Green after Gray at some older ages
Maryland Rush Blue, Gold
Maryland United: Red, White
McLean: Green, White, Gold, Silver
Northern Virginia (NVSC): Blue, White
Premier Athletics (PAC): Navy, White (then Gold and Silver in ODSL)
PWSI: Red, White
Potomac: Blue, White, Black
Reston: Blue, White, Yellow, Green
Richmond Kickers: Red, Black, White
Richmond Strikers: Elite, Black
SAC: Blue, White
SCAA (South County): Green, Classic
Severna Park Green
St. Mary’s Soccer: Black, Red
Sterling: Orange, White
SYA: Red, White, Black
SYC: Blue, Orange, White, Green
Virginia SA (VSA): Red, Blue, Select, Gold, White
Vienna YS (VYS): Red, Black, White (also Silver in ODSL)
Waldorf Soccer Club: Orange

PWSI generally goes NPL, Red, White

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^well-known Type A Arlington parent strategy.

Start ‘em in travel in first/second grade to get ‘em seen.

anyone see the k'garteners at the girls u9 tryouts?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a question about ASA tryouts (2009 Boys, if it matters). For the kids who make it through the "cattle call" tryouts, does ASA assign them a color team before the deadline to accept/decline the ASA travel roster spot?

DS tried out (with ASA) last year, made the first cut into the travel program, and attended the "sorting" tryout (I don't know what it's called, but the session for all the kids who had made it through the cattle call tryouts, and were now being sorted into the color teams). We were on the fence between doing travel and doing ADP, and ultimately decided on ADP. We declined the travel offer a couple of days before the deadline for decisions, and before DS had been assigned to a color team.

Now we're back in the same travel vs. ADP quandary again this year. DS has had a wonderful ADP experience, but is still interested in travel. If he were to make it through the travel tryouts, it might be helpful to know what team he would be on before deciding whether to accept the roster spot (and forgo ADP). Perhaps the weakest travel team isn't a big enough upgrade over his (rather good) ADP team to justify the increased cost and time commitment?

Does anyone know how this process works? We short-circuited it last year, and didn't get to see how the order of operations works at the tail end of the tryout process. Any thoughts on the relative merits of lower travel teams versus ADP?

Any age after U9 - you will be told the team color with offer.

Only U9s go through the second sorting/placement tryout.

I assume your kid is a U10 this year.

Since you are mentioning ADP I assume this is Arlington—guessing this isn’t ASA (Alexandria also ASA) or Annapolis.

Thanks, PP! Yes, I am asking about Arlington. Sorry for the confusion caused by mentioning ASA (I'm obviously new here!).

DS will be U10 this year, so thanks for explaining how things will differ from the U9 tryout process. It's good to know that the team color will come with the offer. I wonder how good a job the coaches do of "sorting" and placing the kids on to color teams during the tryouts, while also weeding out all of the kids who won't make the travel program at all? I suppose most of the kids who make it through the tryouts will already have played U9, so the coaches will already have a good idea of which color team they will assign them.

Any thoughts on how worthwhile the training/playing experience is on the lower Arlington teams?

Any coming in from ADP at u10 will make blue at best, probably black if good, and the rest gold/silver. ADP is a great program, unless you are red/white level.

One other factor to consider - ADP is not a long term program, so eventually if you child wants to continue to play competitive soccer you will need a new plan. Unless your kid is a super star, it will be hard to break into an Arlington Travel team at that point b/c that is also the year they go from 4 to 6 teams (with addition of DA).

ADP adding U12. Many drop at U13 anyway so this is a non-issue. Plus hard to break in unless you did so at U9. If you did not break into red/white at U9 stick with ADP and enjoy soccer. PP wrong and last year all ADP boys went no higher then gold/silver. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^well-known Type A Arlington parent strategy.

Start ‘em in travel in first/second grade to get ‘em seen.

anyone see the k'garteners at the girls u9 tryouts?!

Please tell us you are joking.

[Anonymous]

Question about the Arlington U9 tryout registration:

When registering I was asked what teams am I willing to accept for my son. It asked A? A or B? any team? So what would happen if I selected "A or B" but coaches don't place him there? does he not make the team at all or is he sidelined until those who selected "any team" are filled in? I found it interesting that they gave this option as I did not come across this on any other club registration.

[Anonymous]

BRYC is Elite, then Blue and then they have Black teams that are NCSL/ODSL. They also still have the ODSL teams run out of the rec side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a question about ASA tryouts (2009 Boys, if it matters). For the kids who make it through the "cattle call" tryouts, does ASA assign them a color team before the deadline to accept/decline the ASA travel roster spot?

DS tried out (with ASA) last year, made the first cut into the travel program, and attended the "sorting" tryout (I don't know what it's called, but the session for all the kids who had made it through the cattle call tryouts, and were now being sorted into the color teams). We were on the fence between doing travel and doing ADP, and ultimately decided on ADP. We declined the travel offer a couple of days before the deadline for decisions, and before DS had been assigned to a color team.

Now we're back in the same travel vs. ADP quandary again this year. DS has had a wonderful ADP experience, but is still interested in travel. If he were to make it through the travel tryouts, it might be helpful to know what team he would be on before deciding whether to accept the roster spot (and forgo ADP). Perhaps the weakest travel team isn't a big enough upgrade over his (rather good) ADP team to justify the increased cost and time commitment?

Does anyone know how this process works? We short-circuited it last year, and didn't get to see how the order of operations works at the tail end of the tryout process. Any thoughts on the relative merits of lower travel teams versus ADP?

Any age after U9 - you will be told the team color with offer.

Only U9s go through the second sorting/placement tryout.

I assume your kid is a U10 this year.

Since you are mentioning ADP I assume this is Arlington—guessing this isn’t ASA (Alexandria also ASA) or Annapolis.

Thanks, PP! Yes, I am asking about Arlington. Sorry for the confusion caused by mentioning ASA (I'm obviously new here!).

DS will be U10 this year, so thanks for explaining how things will differ from the U9 tryout process. It's good to know that the team color will come with the offer. I wonder how good a job the coaches do of "sorting" and placing the kids on to color teams during the tryouts, while also weeding out all of the kids who won't make the travel program at all? I suppose most of the kids who make it through the tryouts will already have played U9, so the coaches will already have a good idea of which color team they will assign them.

Any thoughts on how worthwhile the training/playing experience is on the lower Arlington teams?

Any coming in from ADP at u10 will make blue at best, probably black if good, and the rest gold/silver. ADP is a great program, unless you are red/white level.

One other factor to consider - ADP is not a long term program, so eventually if you child wants to continue to play competitive soccer you will need a new plan. Unless your kid is a super star, it will be hard to break into an Arlington Travel team at that point b/c that is also the year they go from 4 to 6 teams (with addition of DA).

ADP adding U12. Many drop at U13 anyway so this is a non-issue. Plus hard to break in unless you did so at U9. If you did not break into red/white at U9 stick with ADP and enjoy soccer. PP wrong and last year all ADP boys went no higher then gold/silver. Good luck.

I just have to comment. This is so ridiculous. The tryout banding, field placement--where kids aren't given a chance at all.

I know two kids that are foreign-born my husband coached in Rec that are some of the best players, better than a lot of the kids from the team that placed fairly high at U9 tryouts. Their parents kept them in ADP for the sole fact that they didn't want to do the American thing of driving all over creation. They play lots of pick-up soccer in their free time. These kids aren't even given a remote chance if they decide to tryout for travel later because if you come from ADP then you can only be placed on the lower teams. All of the career-civil service players ahead of you will remain status quo. It's fairly the same for any kid that was misplaced at U9 tryouts. Good luck trying to jump 6 teams.

I am glad they are adding an age group for ADP because there are many people that love soccer that don't want the horseshit of driving to VA Beach or West Virginia for a game.

Yes- this is not specific to this Club. It's like this at Clubs all across the region which is why we never amount to anything in soccer. People just give up and don't want to deal with it.

The addition of all of these leagues with even more travel has gotten so far out of hand. More leagues, more dilution, more chances for good players whose parents can't support that kind of travel to be left behind. We are make it more exclusive, not less, which US Youth soccer always claims in the goal...yeah, right.

Vent over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question about the Arlington U9 tryout registration:

When registering I was asked what teams am I willing to accept for my son. It asked A? A or B? any team? So what would happen if I selected "A or B" but coaches don't place him there? does he not make the team at all or is he sidelined until those who selected "any team" are filled in? I found it interesting that they gave this option as I did not come across this on any other club registration.

This sh*t makes me laugh. My office had people raise their hand for how much they were willing to produce--50%, 80%, 100%, 110%, etc. Who in their right mind is going to limit their choices or label themselves at the get-go as a slacker?

There are 6 teams they will find somebody to fill all of them. There are enough kids in the mammoth county whose parents will pay.

Aim for the stars kids! Why say 'I am a Gold team player" at age 7? Wtf? Every single kid should be checking the top box.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^well-known Type A Arlington parent strategy.

Start ‘em in travel in first/second grade to get ‘em seen.

anyone see the k'garteners at the girls u9 tryouts?!

Please tell us you are joking.

Dead serious. I am waiting for preschoolers to start showing up next year.

These people want a 'red team' designation so bad and they know if their kid starts travel early they will drop down later to age group and the red team. Of course, totally ignoring the fact that this most likely isn't age-appropriate given the structure and schedule for kids that age. Even in Spain, kids that age practice no more than 60 minutes at a time...and 2 days per week...going to 3 days at age 9. But--hey---this is America. We are better than anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a question about ASA tryouts (2009 Boys, if it matters). For the kids who make it through the "cattle call" tryouts, does ASA assign them a color team before the deadline to accept/decline the ASA travel roster spot?

DS tried out (with ASA) last year, made the first cut into the travel program, and attended the "sorting" tryout (I don't know what it's called, but the session for all the kids who had made it through the cattle call tryouts, and were now being sorted into the color teams). We were on the fence between doing travel and doing ADP, and ultimately decided on ADP. We declined the travel offer a couple of days before the deadline for decisions, and before DS had been assigned to a color team.

Now we're back in the same travel vs. ADP quandary again this year. DS has had a wonderful ADP experience, but is still interested in travel. If he were to make it through the travel tryouts, it might be helpful to know what team he would be on before deciding whether to accept the roster spot (and forgo ADP). Perhaps the weakest travel team isn't a big enough upgrade over his (rather good) ADP team to justify the increased cost and time commitment?

Does anyone know how this process works? We short-circuited it last year, and didn't get to see how the order of operations works at the tail end of the tryout process. Any thoughts on the relative merits of lower travel teams versus ADP?

Any age after U9 - you will be told the team color with offer.

Only U9s go through the second sorting/placement tryout.

I assume your kid is a U10 this year.

Since you are mentioning ADP I assume this is Arlington—guessing this isn’t ASA (Alexandria also ASA) or Annapolis.

Thanks, PP! Yes, I am asking about Arlington. Sorry for the confusion caused by mentioning ASA (I'm obviously new here!).

DS will be U10 this year, so thanks for explaining how things will differ from the U9 tryout process. It's good to know that the team color will come with the offer. I wonder how good a job the coaches do of "sorting" and placing the kids on to color teams during the tryouts, while also weeding out all of the kids who won't make the travel program at all? I suppose most of the kids who make it through the tryouts will already have played U9, so the coaches will already have a good idea of which color team they will assign them.

Any thoughts on how worthwhile the training/playing experience is on the lower Arlington teams?

Any coming in from ADP at u10 will make blue at best, probably black if good, and the rest gold/silver. ADP is a great program, unless you are red/white level.

One other factor to consider - ADP is not a long term program, so eventually if you child wants to continue to play competitive soccer you will need a new plan. Unless your kid is a super star, it will be hard to break into an Arlington Travel team at that point b/c that is also the year they go from 4 to 6 teams (with addition of DA).

ADP adding U12. Many drop at U13 anyway so this is a non-issue. Plus hard to break in unless you did so at U9. If you did not break into red/white at U9 stick with ADP and enjoy soccer. PP wrong and last year all ADP boys went no higher then gold/silver. Good luck.

I just have to comment. This is so ridiculous. The tryout banding, field placement--where kids aren't given a chance at all.

I know two kids that are foreign-born my husband coached in Rec that are some of the best players, better than a lot of the kids from the team that placed fairly high at U9 tryouts. Their parents kept them in ADP for the sole fact that they didn't want to do the American thing of driving all over creation. They play lots of pick-up soccer in their free time. These kids aren't even given a remote chance if they decide to tryout for travel later because if you come from ADP then you can only be placed on the lower teams. All of the career-civil service players ahead of you will remain status quo. It's fairly the same for any kid that was misplaced at U9 tryouts. Good luck trying to jump 6 teams.

I am glad they are adding an age group for ADP because there are many people that love soccer that don't want the horseshit of driving to VA Beach or West Virginia for a game.

Yes- this is not specific to this Club. It's like this at Clubs all across the region which is why we never amount to anything in soccer. People just give up and don't want to deal with it.

The addition of all of these leagues with even more travel has gotten so far out of hand. More leagues, more dilution, more chances for good players whose parents can't support that kind of travel to be left behind. We are make it more exclusive, not less, which US Youth soccer always claims in the goal...yeah, right.

Vent over.

+1 Problem mainly parents. If "unproven" ADP player displaces someone 2-4 teams up - even if they deserve to play there - parents complain, the staff never here's the end of it. Movement? is one team per year. By U13, you can go from Gold to Red, but uphill battle. Clubs don't care about placements before U13. They know cream will rise - not worth battling parents by moving some foreign hot shot from ADP to red, unless that kid is a little Messi. But 99% aren't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a question about ASA tryouts (2009 Boys, if it matters). For the kids who make it through the "cattle call" tryouts, does ASA assign them a color team before the deadline to accept/decline the ASA travel roster spot?

DS tried out (with ASA) last year, made the first cut into the travel program, and attended the "sorting" tryout (I don't know what it's called, but the session for all the kids who had made it through the cattle call tryouts, and were now being sorted into the color teams). We were on the fence between doing travel and doing ADP, and ultimately decided on ADP. We declined the travel offer a couple of days before the deadline for decisions, and before DS had been assigned to a color team.

Now we're back in the same travel vs. ADP quandary again this year. DS has had a wonderful ADP experience, but is still interested in travel. If he were to make it through the travel tryouts, it might be helpful to know what team he would be on before deciding whether to accept the roster spot (and forgo ADP). Perhaps the weakest travel team isn't a big enough upgrade over his (rather good) ADP team to justify the increased cost and time commitment?

Does anyone know how this process works? We short-circuited it last year, and didn't get to see how the order of operations works at the tail end of the tryout process. Any thoughts on the relative merits of lower travel teams versus ADP?

Any age after U9 - you will be told the team color with offer.

Only U9s go through the second sorting/placement tryout.

I assume your kid is a U10 this year.

Since you are mentioning ADP I assume this is Arlington—guessing this isn’t ASA (Alexandria also ASA) or Annapolis.

Thanks, PP! Yes, I am asking about Arlington. Sorry for the confusion caused by mentioning ASA (I'm obviously new here!).

DS will be U10 this year, so thanks for explaining how things will differ from the U9 tryout process. It's good to know that the team color will come with the offer. I wonder how good a job the coaches do of "sorting" and placing the kids on to color teams during the tryouts, while also weeding out all of the kids who won't make the travel program at all? I suppose most of the kids who make it through the tryouts will already have played U9, so the coaches will already have a good idea of which color team they will assign them.

Any thoughts on how worthwhile the training/playing experience is on the lower Arlington teams?

Any coming in from ADP at u10 will make blue at best, probably black if good, and the rest gold/silver. ADP is a great program, unless you are red/white level.

One other factor to consider - ADP is not a long term program, so eventually if you child wants to continue to play competitive soccer you will need a new plan. Unless your kid is a super star, it will be hard to break into an Arlington Travel team at that point b/c that is also the year they go from 4 to 6 teams (with addition of DA).

ADP adding U12. Many drop at U13 anyway so this is a non-issue. Plus hard to break in unless you did so at U9. If you did not break into red/white at U9 stick with ADP and enjoy soccer. PP wrong and last year all ADP boys went no higher then gold/silver. Good luck.

I just have to comment. This is so ridiculous. The tryout banding, field placement--where kids aren't given a chance at all.

I know two kids that are foreign-born my husband coached in Rec that are some of the best players, better than a lot of the kids from the team that placed fairly high at U9 tryouts. Their parents kept them in ADP for the sole fact that they didn't want to do the American thing of driving all over creation. They play lots of pick-up soccer in their free time. These kids aren't even given a remote chance if they decide to tryout for travel later because if you come from ADP then you can only be placed on the lower teams. All of the career-civil service players ahead of you will remain status quo. It's fairly the same for any kid that was misplaced at U9 tryouts. Good luck trying to jump 6 teams.

I am glad they are adding an age group for ADP because there are many people that love soccer that don't want the horseshit of driving to VA Beach or West Virginia for a game.

Yes- this is not specific to this Club. It's like this at Clubs all across the region which is why we never amount to anything in soccer. People just give up and don't want to deal with it.

The addition of all of these leagues with even more travel has gotten so far out of hand. More leagues, more dilution, more chances for good players whose parents can't support that kind of travel to be left behind. We are make it more exclusive, not less, which US Youth soccer always claims in the goal...yeah, right.

Vent over.

then why do you do it? you lack the courage of your own convictions. Do you think that the parents you are speaking of are on this website or any soccer website? Take your rant and go play ADP. Simple.