Girls DA 2018-19 Season

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many of you have totally missed the point and are looking to pick a fight just because these are anonymous posts. The roster size and lack of communication are the largest concerns of the parents on the 04 Spirit team followed by the lack of training space and coaches on Monday nights.

The first WS 04 game is in 2 1/2 days and there has been zero communication on the roster. The roster currently stands at 28 when we were specifically told a max of 18-20. The contract that was signed specifically says Washington Spirit Development Academy. Nowhere in the commitment letter does it say your daughter may play EDP. A prior email mentioned it, but the contract specifically states Washington Spirit Development Academy. Ironically no one even has a uniform yet. Now they still have 2 1/2 days, but the recent track record makes this concerning as well. I have to think every other club has delivered uniforms to their players by now. So maybe this becomes a non issue and doesn't need to be harped on, but is more systemic of the overall problems throughout the club.

Concerning field space - if you aren't there to see it, you honestly have no right to provide an opinion. It isn't a 'small amount of space' and we aren't asking for a full field or a half field. But for the first 30+ minutes it is almost a non existent space with ZERO coaches because they are coaching the other teams. The girls on their own decided to do rondo's in a very small space where only a small percentage even participated because there was no coach there. And it wouldn't be an issue if 2-3 teams split half a field. But when each team has 25+ players, it makes it that much more crowded as you get over 70 kids on half a field. We are not against small sided drills and no one is looking for kickball. But when you don't have a coach or a significant patch of grass, it isn't fair to the players and not what everyone signed up for.

And to the parent that said their daughter did not sit out for 1/3rd of the practice, you obviously either weren't there or you are incorrect. If a team plays 8x8 games with 25 players, you have to have 1/3rd sitting out unless your daughter is a goalie. That fact really can't be disputed as it is simple math. So if the practice is supposed to be 90 minutes of touches and the first 30 minutes are wasted, and you sit out for 15 minutes of the 40 minute scrimmage, you end up with 1/2 of the practice getting touches on the ball. I don't think any parent would consider this acceptable for player development.

And I understand people that say complaining here isn't going to solve anything and you are absolutely correct. But communication with the club does not provide any clarity to the questions and concerns. And I thought the idea of a message board was to vent freely on the issues you face and to educate other parents on the positives and negatives of a specific club so that it could help them make an education decision for their child. I know I would have appreciated a parent posting this type of information last year so I would have been more informed going into this season.

The problem, you are not venting as "freely" as you believe you are. In none of your posts have ever mentioned talking with a coach or the TD to resolve the problem. You have never asked the forum for suggestions regarding how to solve the problem. When challenged on your motives and intent you have repeatedly claimed that you are merely "sharing information that is important" claiming sharing is the purpose of the boards. AND now you just state your full intent, which is what you have been accused of over the last several pages when you just stated " I thought the idea of a message board was to vent freely on the issues".

You are not interested in a solution, you want to vent, to smear and to be angry. And in so doing you are representing the other parents, kids and families at the club in very poor light, people who may never know how you have portrayed them while you just casually "freely vented" so that you could just get it off your chest. But those are the people who may never visit this board, but as is evidence there are people here who you likely have to sit next for the coming season. And now you may have ruined your ability to actually speak freely with them, the affected people who actually care about the situation.

For your own happiness you probably should leave the club because you will not be happy and you will only drag others down with you. If you are not honestly and earnestly interested in fixing the problem you should layoff the board and walk away.

My two cents

LOL. Could you tell us what is your agenda in writing such a vitriolic post?
Please also feel free to vent about the things that make you so mad. Anonymous boards are a good place to do so...

So have you reached out to a coach with your concerns or not?

[Anonymous]

Ofcourse. Have been told for over a month that 'rosters are coming out'. We will 'definitely have a max of 18 to 20 on the team and the rest will play EDP'. And regarding field space the answer is 'we understand and are working on it'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ofcourse. Have been told for over a month that 'rosters are coming out'. We will 'definitely have a max of 18 to 20 on the team and the rest will play EDP'. And regarding field space the answer is 'we understand and are working on it'

So that is a no regarding Monday night practices then. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ofcourse. Have been told for over a month that 'rosters are coming out'. We will 'definitely have a max of 18 to 20 on the team and the rest will play EDP'. And regarding field space the answer is 'we understand and are working on it'

Well then by all means, stay angry and vent for all it has helped you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ofcourse. Have been told for over a month that 'rosters are coming out'. We will 'definitely have a max of 18 to 20 on the team and the rest will play EDP'. And regarding field space the answer is 'we understand and are working on it'

Same. I can only ask so many times before I risk my DD getting penalized. At some point, the real answer is that Spirit knows and can't do anything about it - either financially or logistically (maybe like of other venues).

[Anonymous]

As for rosters, Spirit already knows but as a PP pointed out, they don't care. They will take care of their top 15 or so and accept checks from the remainder.

[Anonymous]

I see much craziness has continued in this thread. Thank goodness I work for a living.

I was the poster who indicated no downtime on Monday practice. My kid is a U13, so that may be the difference. I wasn't lying, as was implied. She has never complained about Monday practice either. From what I have seen, we are getting the value for our money. My guess is that those who are on the EDP bubble in the older age group are the ones who are upset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The post was detailed. That's more than just unhappiness. It describes what's going on.

I am an 04 parent and my daughter has never complained about Monday nights. She’s all business too and takes this very seriously. She would complain if she didn’t feel the training met her needs. Most players start rondos on their own as they arrive. Rosters never come out for local games until Thursday night/Friday. Earlier notice for away games. I believe our offer did say player pool. Nothing was guaranteed to us. If yours didn’t say that, then you probably have nothing to worry about.

It is a stressful time for these kids with school starting.

[Anonymous]

No one wants to hear a good story. They'd rather take out the trash. What is funny is how the Arlington and FCV haters are completely silent. No good stuff, no bad stuff, just eating popcorn and watching the smear campaign continue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see much craziness has continued in this thread. Thank goodness I work for a living.

I was the poster who indicated no downtime on Monday practice. My kid is a U13, so that may be the difference. I wasn't lying, as was implied. She has never complained about Monday practice either. From what I have seen, we are getting the value for our money. My guess is that those who are on the EDP bubble in the older age group are the ones who are upset.

I can understand how some parents might be uneasy with the whole EDP issue. The problem is that it's more of an issue with the age group combining and leaving some of last year's 15's hanging out to dry on the DA side. They do have a pilot in Frontier to try to remedy it and hopefully it will expand here next year. That said, there's another cutdown in the next group up, so maybe there's a decision point there for kids who are far from the borderline between playing with the DA team vs the EDP team (or NPL in the case of FCV). If it weren't for clubs trying to give another chance to those kids who would have been cut out, I don't think we'd have any of the complaints that we are hearing now. I'm sure we'd have complaints, but they would be on different issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The post was detailed. That's more than just unhappiness. It describes what's going on.

I am an 04 parent and my daughter has never complained about Monday nights. She’s all business too and takes this very seriously. She would complain if she didn’t feel the training met her needs. Most players start rondos on their own as they arrive. Rosters never come out for local games until Thursday night/Friday. Earlier notice for away games. I believe our offer did say player pool. Nothing was guaranteed to us. If yours didn’t say that, then you probably have nothing to worry about.

It is a stressful time for these kids with school starting.

Another, different 04 parent here. Parents and players who are on the bubble between EDP and DA rosters are seriously stressed and that’s coming out in the posts here. It’s part of playing in an academy, win-your-spot system IMHO. People will either like it or not and then will either stay or go. But no matter what, some of the drama will calm down significantly once the formal U15 DA roster is published on the GDA website, which will have to happen before Saturday.

[Anonymous]

On the positive side, the numbers show that there is strong interest in playing for WS. The coaches can be selective and pick the best 18-20 from the pool for the DA team. This will make the team more competitive this year and further drive interest in the program for upcoming players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On the positive side, the numbers show that there is strong interest in playing for WS. The coaches can be selective and pick the best 18-20 from the pool for the DA team. This will make the team more competitive this year and further drive interest in the program for upcoming players.

That's possible. It's also possible that this whole cluster will have repercussions next year. I'll be interested to see how it plays out.

I'm very curious about Arlington and FCV. I'd like to know about options for next year. Are there any Arlington or FCV parents left on this thread? If so, can you talk about what it's like?

I prefer to look at DA options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On the positive side, the numbers show that there is strong interest in playing for WS. The coaches can be selective and pick the best 18-20 from the pool for the DA team. This will make the team more competitive this year and further drive interest in the program for upcoming players.

That's possible. It's also possible that this whole cluster will have repercussions next year. I'll be interested to see how it plays out.

I'm very curious about Arlington and FCV. I'd like to know about options for next year. Are there any Arlington or FCV parents left on this thread? If so, can you talk about what it's like?

I prefer to look at DA options.

What age is your player now and current club or at least vicinity. Geography in the area plays a major role and if your kid is good some things may not matter as much as you would think.

[Anonymous]

I just want to know how parents from Arlington and FCV see their respective programs running. Geography doesn't matter. We can participate in any of those programs.