Should McLean Pre-ECNL players consider Spirit DA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McLean 06 ECNL team continues to struggle. They lost 5-0 to VDA yesterday and 6-0 against BRYC today. Long gone are the days where McLean could pull the top players to their ECNL program. Their 06s have 4 goals for and 48 goals against in 12 league game this year (fall/spring). Is this a sign of things to come or is it just a tough age group for McLean?

Why do you care? Are you some kind of youth sports reporter? Writing a blog?

[Anonymous]

I’m enjoying watching the girls side drama play out. It’s interesting to see whether the coaches and TD can continue to talk to great coaching development or just recruiting at younger ages (u15 and below).

[Anonymous]

Recruiting at the younger ages? I don't see any elite players coming to McLean at the younger age groups. The coaches may be forced to actually develop their own or they will end up like BRYC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Recruiting at the younger ages? I don't see any elite players coming to McLean at the younger age groups. The coaches may be forced to actually develop their own or they will end up like BRYC.

+1

[Anonymous]

If proximity (to practice fields) is a concern (and it should be) then any Mclean pre-ECNL player should be considering either Arlington DA or Spirit DA. Spirit practices in Reston and Arlington practices down by the airport. McLean ECNL is not attracting the top players. For further distances, FCV and Spirit MD are alternative choices (if you prefer DA to ECNL).

[Anonymous]

Yes, Mclean should just have their talent depleted every year at U12, and all the players should stop playing with other kids they have known since they were 5, disrupt their car pools, and try to break into a totally new program sitting in traffic both ways. Makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Mclean should just have their talent depleted every year at U12, and all the players should stop playing with other kids they have known since they were 5, disrupt their car pools, and try to break into a totally new program sitting in traffic both ways. Makes sense.

You do know that most McLean ECNL players did not actually play u9-u12 soccer in Mclean, right? In years past you would have a maximum of 3-4 players make their ECNL club from their u12 feeder (pre-ECNL) team. With the DA (and additional ECNL clubs added)--McLean now has to 'home-grow' (develop) their own talent. They just don't have as big of a pool of players to pull from (locally) than a Loudoun or Arlington (bigger clubs, more zip codes). They have also had significant changes with the coaches on the younger teams (u9-u12 on the girls side). They lost their TD 2 years ago (Diane Drake) and replaced her with an individual that no one has a lot of respect for (Jahon). Hence their current 06 ECNL team's record (1 win and 1 tie in 12 games)...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Mclean should just have their talent depleted every year at U12, and all the players should stop playing with other kids they have known since they were 5, disrupt their car pools, and try to break into a totally new program sitting in traffic both ways. Makes sense.

You do know that most McLean ECNL players did not actually play u9-u12 soccer in Mclean, right? In years past you would have a maximum of 3-4 players make their ECNL club from their u12 feeder (pre-ECNL) team. With the DA (and additional ECNL clubs added)--McLean now has to 'home-grow' (develop) their own talent. They just don't have as big of a pool of players to pull from (locally) than a Loudoun or Arlington (bigger clubs, more zip codes). They have also had significant changes with the coaches on the younger teams (u9-u12 on the girls side). They lost their TD 2 years ago (Diane Drake) and replaced her with an individual that no one has a lot of respect for (Jahon). Hence their current 06 ECNL team's record (1 win and 1 tie in 12 games)...

I think you are referring to Jaon. We have heard that he has pushed a lot of MCLean girls to other clubs (Arlington, Spirit more specifically).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Mclean should just have their talent depleted every year at U12, and all the players should stop playing with other kids they have known since they were 5, disrupt their car pools, and try to break into a totally new program sitting in traffic both ways. Makes sense.

If your daughter is a top player and has aspirations to play in college at any levels, then yes, she should play for the team that gives her the best opportunities. Carpools and playing with her 5 year old friends is not the priority unless she is content playing for her high school team and being on a consistently losing team which is the current 06 group.

[Anonymous]

Didn’t Diane Drake have the 05s at the bottom of ECNL? Aren’t they now towards the top? Diane did McLean a favor by leaving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Mclean should just have their talent depleted every year at U12, and all the players should stop playing with other kids they have known since they were 5, disrupt their car pools, and try to break into a totally new program sitting in traffic both ways. Makes sense.

If your daughter is a top player and has aspirations to play in college at any levels, then yes, she should play for the team that gives her the best opportunities. Carpools and playing with her 5 year old friends is not the priority unless she is content playing for her high school team and being on a consistently losing team which is the current 06 group.

Agreed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn’t Diane Drake have the 05s at the bottom of ECNL? Aren’t they now towards the top? Diane did McLean a favor by leaving.

I think Clyde has the 05s and Cyndi Harkes had their 04s. Cyndi has since left and Clyde is handling both teams. They have a new coach from Loudoun coaching their 06ECNL team (Jenny McMahon).

[Anonymous]

Apparently, Spirit did McLean a favor in the 05 age group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apparently, Spirit did McLean a favor in the 05 age group.

That seems to be the consensus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently, Spirit did McLean a favor in the 05 age group.

That seems to be the consensus.

Interesting