Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just checked out the Virginian, it definitely looks like the better clubs competed in that tournament.

Better clubs maybe, but not the best teams of those clubs

Looks like it's the best teams from most clubs -- Arlington, Alexandria, Braddock Road, FPYC, Great Falls, Herndon, PAC, Sterling, SYC, Vienna -- certainly in lower age groups and to some extent in higher ones.

Judging from my son's age group (U15) and above, it looks like the top teams all were at either Potomac or Delco.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just checked out the Virginian, it definitely looks like the better clubs competed in that tournament.

Better clubs maybe, but not the best teams of those clubs

Looks like it's the best teams from most clubs -- Arlington, Alexandria, Braddock Road, FPYC, Great Falls, Herndon, PAC, Sterling, SYC, Vienna -- certainly in lower age groups and to some extent in higher ones.

Judging from my son's age group (U15) and above, it looks like the top teams all were at either Potomac or Delco.

Many top VA teams were at Virginian for the U9-U11 age groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just saw u10 game, Arlington boys slide tackled about 30 times. Disgusting, such bad coaching and bad parenting (as the parents were yelling at the ref for calling 2 PKs when in the box). Where can one find a true focus on player development and technique? If it exists, please tell me.

Was this Arlington vs Alexandria? Happened to walk by too...

It was Arlington red team.

Alexandria was just as bad. A U10 player went up to the ref after the game and told him he sucked. Another spectator walked up and down the sidelines saying "Arlington sucks" A few parents went up to Arlington parents and said that they should thank the ref.

Embarrassing all around, I'd say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just got this from SCAA. Thought I would post it to get some feedback. Are these club partnerships common? Not sure why it wasnt a local club.

We officially announce the partnership between McLean Youth Soccer (MYS) and South County Athletic Association (SCAA). With this partnership MYS will be offering technical guidance to the SCAA recreation and travel programs, and its coaches as well as MYS age-appropriate recreational training session plans, coaches, clinics, and skill clinics.

The club-to-club relationship between SCAA and MYS is centered on operational and technical guidance as requested by SCAA. The relationship between SCAA and MYS will differ than our past relationship in that SCAA will be branded under its own identity but will have MYS as a valuable resource and we will have a player avenue to access MYS's elite level programs. Under the supervision of the MYS technical leadership, Marcelo Valencia will serve as MYS Technical Consultant to the club. This club-to-club relationship is much more manageable while keeping the uniqueness of each individual club intact.

This is basically SCAA handing their best players over to McLean. Not a partnership, but rather a transfer of talent.

[Anonymous]

I honestly have no idea why parents have to be so frickin intense. It's a game. Let the kids play it and they decide it. Parents don't have to scream instructions and berate officials and all the bulls-it. Can one of you insane parents explain why it's so important to you that you have to yell instructions, scream at refs, and at the parents of other teams? I honestly would love to understand this behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just checked out the Virginian, it definitely looks like the better clubs competed in that tournament.

Better clubs maybe, but not the best teams of those clubs

Looks like it's the best teams from most clubs -- Arlington, Alexandria, Braddock Road, FPYC, Great Falls, Herndon, PAC, Sterling, SYC, Vienna -- certainly in lower age groups and to some extent in higher ones.

Judging from my son's age group (U15) and above, it looks like the top teams all were at either Potomac or Delco.

Many top VA teams were at Virginian for the U9-U11 age groups.

Yes--sorry, I meant to limit my comment to say that top teams at the older age groups generally went elsewhere. Seems like a good, close option for younger teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly have no idea why parents have to be so frickin intense. It's a game. Let the kids play it and they decide it. Parents don't have to scream instructions and berate officials and all the bulls-it. Can one of you insane parents explain why it's so important to you that you have to yell instructions, scream at refs, and at the parents of other teams? I honestly would love to understand this behavior.

I have pondered this question too. I tried to recall if things were this intense when I was a kid playing elite soccer. I do remember one or two parents of the better players who were over-the-top. Both of those players quit playing soccer altogether right before college, despite scholarship offers. But they were outliers. Most parents seemed pretty chill (or at least they hid it). I think maybe it's this area? Lots of govnt workers, lawyers, people with terrible commutes and lots of int'l traveling. Perhaps when the weekends come, they pour all that energy/stress/frustration/disappointment into their kids' activities... I dunno. Just a theory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly have no idea why parents have to be so frickin intense. It's a game. Let the kids play it and they decide it. Parents don't have to scream instructions and berate officials and all the bulls-it. Can one of you insane parents explain why it's so important to you that you have to yell instructions, scream at refs, and at the parents of other teams? I honestly would love to understand this behavior.

I have pondered this question too. I tried to recall if things were this intense when I was a kid playing elite soccer. I do remember one or two parents of the better players who were over-the-top. Both of those players quit playing soccer altogether right before college, despite scholarship offers. But they were outliers. Most parents seemed pretty chill (or at least they hid it). I think maybe it's this area? Lots of govnt workers, lawyers, people with terrible commutes and lots of int'l traveling. Perhaps when the weekends come, they pour all that energy/stress/frustration/disappointment into their kids' activities... I dunno. Just a theory.

I think there is some truth to what you said in regards to pouring everything into the weekend. However, I think it is more widespread than just the area. Other areas are more intense than here in regards to sideline behavior.

I think we simply forget that it is the kids game and that they are just kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just got this from SCAA. Thought I would post it to get some feedback. Are these club partnerships common? Not sure why it wasnt a local club.

We officially announce the partnership between McLean Youth Soccer (MYS) and South County Athletic Association (SCAA). With this partnership MYS will be offering technical guidance to the SCAA recreation and travel programs, and its coaches as well as MYS age-appropriate recreational training session plans, coaches, clinics, and skill clinics.

The club-to-club relationship between SCAA and MYS is centered on operational and technical guidance as requested by SCAA. The relationship between SCAA and MYS will differ than our past relationship in that SCAA will be branded under its own identity but will have MYS as a valuable resource and we will have a player avenue to access MYS's elite level programs. Under the supervision of the MYS technical leadership, Marcelo Valencia will serve as MYS Technical Consultant to the club. This club-to-club relationship is much more manageable while keeping the uniqueness of each individual club intact.

This is basically SCAA handing their best players over to McLean. Not a partnership, but rather a transfer of talent.

I wonder who approached who in this deal? Did SCAA actively seek a new partner, or did McLean sell themselves to them as their savior?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly have no idea why parents have to be so frickin intense. It's a game. Let the kids play it and they decide it. Parents don't have to scream instructions and berate officials and all the bulls-it. Can one of you insane parents explain why it's so important to you that you have to yell instructions, scream at refs, and at the parents of other teams? I honestly would love to understand this behavior.

+1. I don't get it either. Such a terrible example for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly have no idea why parents have to be so frickin intense. It's a game. Let the kids play it and they decide it. Parents don't have to scream instructions and berate officials and all the bulls-it. Can one of you insane parents explain why it's so important to you that you have to yell instructions, scream at refs, and at the parents of other teams? I honestly would love to understand this behavior.

I have pondered this question too. I tried to recall if things were this intense when I was a kid playing elite soccer. I do remember one or two parents of the better players who were over-the-top. Both of those players quit playing soccer altogether right before college, despite scholarship offers. But they were outliers. Most parents seemed pretty chill (or at least they hid it). I think maybe it's this area? Lots of govnt workers, lawyers, people with terrible commutes and lots of int'l traveling. Perhaps when the weekends come, they pour all that energy/stress/frustration/disappointment into their kids' activities... I dunno. Just a theory.

I think there is some truth to what you said in regards to pouring everything into the weekend. However, I think it is more widespread than just the area. Other areas are more intense than here in regards to sideline behavior.

I think we simply forget that it is the kids game and that they are just kids.

This behavior is definitely not unique to the DC area. My daughter's team has played teams from as far north as upstate NY and MA and as far south as Florida (and everywhere in between), and I've seen intense and negative sideline behavior from a number of teams' parents. It's widespread within the sport across the country (or at least on the East coast in my experience). Too bad, really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I honestly have no idea why parents have to be so frickin intense. It's a game. Let the kids play it and they decide it. Parents don't have to scream instructions and berate officials and all the bulls-it. Can one of you insane parents explain why it's so important to you that you have to yell instructions, scream at refs, and at the parents of other teams? I honestly would love to understand this behavior.

I have pondered this question too. I tried to recall if things were this intense when I was a kid playing elite soccer. I do remember one or two parents of the better players who were over-the-top. Both of those players quit playing soccer altogether right before college, despite scholarship offers. But they were outliers. Most parents seemed pretty chill (or at least they hid it). I think maybe it's this area? Lots of govnt workers, lawyers, people with terrible commutes and lots of int'l traveling. Perhaps when the weekends come, they pour all that energy/stress/frustration/disappointment into their kids' activities... I dunno. Just a theory.

I think there is some truth to what you said in regards to pouring everything into the weekend. However, I think it is more widespread than just the area. Other areas are more intense than here in regards to sideline behavior.

I think we simply forget that it is the kids game and that they are just kids.

This behavior is definitely not unique to the DC area. My daughter's team has played teams from as far north as upstate NY and MA and as far south as Florida (and everywhere in between), and I've seen intense and negative sideline behavior from a number of teams' parents. It's widespread within the sport across the country (or at least on the East coast in my experience). Too bad, really.

I think people handle competitiveness differently. Some parents just want to win. Its like when you watch NFL and yell at the TV (thats me). Not making excuses for people just how some folks are. I will admit I was a bit like that when my son started playing (not to the extent of yelling at the ref or other parents) but worked up nonetheless. I have now accepted that if you make it stressful for the child they are not going to want to play. If you suck the fun out of it...guess what..its not fun. When my son gets off the field I simply tell him "I love watching you play" No coaching, no reprimanding. The ear to ear smile alone makes it worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I honestly have no idea why parents have to be so frickin intense. It's a game. Let the kids play it and they decide it. Parents don't have to scream instructions and berate officials and all the bulls-it. Can one of you insane parents explain why it's so important to you that you have to yell instructions, scream at refs, and at the parents of other teams? I honestly would love to understand this behavior.

Because these are the parents who live through their kids. They are proud when the kids do well because it reflects positively on them; they are angry when their kids do poorly because they are embarrassed and they perceive it reflects poorly on them. I just LOVE hearing parents screaming "kick the ball" at soccer games. Like, really?

As a soccer parent myself. I get extremely excited during games just as a spectator because I love to watch the sport. Naturally I am elated when MY kid does something amazing, but it's not MY victory, it's their's. I feel bad for my kid when mistakes happen or plays don't go through, but it's not embarrassing to me and I am certainly not personally offended. The only times I have ever gotten "worked up" is when the opposing team plays dirty and someone ends up getting hurt. But there is no need to scream foul language and harass the kids or other parents.

In general though, parents just need to let the kids have their own victories and learn from their own mistakes, just be supportive. I have seen too many kids berated to tears by disappointed parents after games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: This is basically SCAA handing their best players over to McLean. Not a partnership, but rather a transfer of talent.

I wonder who approached who in this deal? Did SCAA actively seek a new partner, or did McLean sell themselves to them as their savior?

McLean becoming the new FCV. Youth soccer club poaches. They approach under the guise of partnership, but the only thing they really want is the weaker club's best players. The irony with SCAA is that is exactly what FCV did to them with their bogus partnership. That didn't work out, so now they are turning to McLean? I don't get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: This is basically SCAA handing their best players over to McLean. Not a partnership, but rather a transfer of talent.

I wonder who approached who in this deal? Did SCAA actively seek a new partner, or did McLean sell themselves to them as their savior?

McLean becoming the new FCV. Youth soccer club poaches. They approach under the guise of partnership, but the only thing they really want is the weaker club's best players. The irony with SCAA is that is exactly what FCV did to them with their bogus partnership. That didn't work out, so now they are turning to McLean? I don't get it.

I suspect they were seeking out a partnership due to the one with FCV being dissolved. I wonder if they felt they were missing the name recognition. Why would a south county parent take their kid to McLean.