Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't think it's easy as saying...if your don't like CCL go play for a NCSL club team. Let's look at Arlington for example. Say they live in Clarendon. Where do they go to find an NCSL team? Alexandria? That commute sucks. Vienna? I don't see why Arlington or any NOVA team needs to drive to VA Beach, Williamsburg, Richmond, Roanoke, etc to find competition. It's ridiculous.

You continue to move the goal posts.

The argument has been made that there is lots of competition within 15 miles of clubs. If you play in NCSL you will never have to drive to VA beach for a league game ever again. So now we need to worry about the proximity of a club based on where you live? Virtually every club has some team in NCSL or ODSL and if not there is a club within reason that does. You also provided a long list of clubs within 40 minutes of Loudoun, virtually every club on your list has a team in NCSL. So exactly what is your problem?

Arlington is in NCSL, so is Vienna. Clearly you simply cannot stomach your kid not playing in CCL because of YOUR fear of a loss of perceived status. You have choice but you would rather change an entire league rather than choose a league that is simply more appropriate to your lifestyle.

CCL will be reducing travel for U9-U10 just don't complain if you have a U9 and a U13 playing in CCL and having U9's play on Saturdays while the older kids play on Sundays to accommodate coaches that might coach teams in the different age groups.

The Club sets the tone. I pulled both my kids from a CCL club this year. The development is light years above the former club, and the coaches are much more personal with constant feedback.

We added about 5-10 min to our practice commute--which is almost nothing---especially when everyone (kids and parents) are so much happier.

Status? CCL? WTH? For U9-U13, it is completely idiotic to be fixated on that stuff. Make sure your kids are having fun, continually learning/development in a conducive environment which provides player incentive and reward for improvement. Period. You will see them blossom. The once a week game is not as important as how they are being trained and if they are being appropriately challenged in practice. You may be getting that with CCL or you may be at a CCL club only focused on winning/physical size young. The clubs aren't all the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any ideas one when ODP will announce where the Fairfax training location is going to be?

I don't claim to know the specifics of what's going on in this case, but generally, it takes longer to get a field in Fairfax County because the County assignor has to first assign the fields and times to the clubs, and that may not have occurred yet for the Fall season. Other locations tend to have less demand for the fields, or the fields are controlled by the club so they can lock the date/time earlier.

[Anonymous]

Part of the problem is that when you try out, they put you on a team without caring if you really would prefer to be in the CCL, VPL, ODSL or NCSL. They don't ask if you are dying to drive to Roanoke or you'd rather not go farther than Boyds. Even if you are offered a spot on the top team, you aren't able to say, actually, could you please downgrade me to ODSL? I don't want to really commit to you that much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Part of the problem is that when you try out, they put you on a team without caring if you really would prefer to be in the CCL, VPL, ODSL or NCSL. They don't ask if you are dying to drive to Roanoke or you'd rather not go farther than Boyds. Even if you are offered a spot on the top team, you aren't able to say, actually, could you please downgrade me to ODSL? I don't want to really commit to you that much.

LOL!!! What a load of crap.

1. Look into the leagues that the club plays in before you tryout.
2. You do not have to accept the offer, you can ask to play on a lower team in a league that fits your lifestyle better.
3. You are the consumer, do not pay for something that you do not really want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't think it's easy as saying...if your don't like CCL go play for a NCSL club team. Let's look at Arlington for example. Say they live in Clarendon. Where do they go to find an NCSL team? Alexandria? That commute sucks. Vienna? I don't see why Arlington or any NOVA team needs to drive to VA Beach, Williamsburg, Richmond, Roanoke, etc to find competition. It's ridiculous.

You continue to move the goal posts.

The argument has been made that there is lots of competition within 15 miles of clubs. If you play in NCSL you will never have to drive to VA beach for a league game ever again. So now we need to worry about the proximity of a club based on where you live? Virtually every club has some team in NCSL or ODSL and if not there is a club within reason that does. You also provided a long list of clubs within 40 minutes of Loudoun, virtually every club on your list has a team in NCSL. So exactly what is your problem?

Arlington is in NCSL, so is Vienna. Clearly you simply cannot stomach your kid not playing in CCL because of YOUR fear of a loss of perceived status. You have choice but you would rather change an entire league rather than choose a league that is simply more appropriate to your lifestyle.

CCL will be reducing travel for U9-U10 just don't complain if you have a U9 and a U13 playing in CCL and having U9's play on Saturdays while the older kids play on Sundays to accommodate coaches that might coach teams in the different age groups.

The Club sets the tone. I pulled both my kids from a CCL club this year. The development is light years above the former club, and the coaches are much more personal with constant feedback.

We added about 5-10 min to our practice commute--which is almost nothing---especially when everyone (kids and parents) are so much happier.

Status? CCL? WTH? For U9-U13, it is completely idiotic to be fixated on that stuff. Make sure your kids are having fun, continually learning/development in a conducive environment which provides player incentive and reward for improvement. Period. You will see them blossom. The once a week game is not as important as how they are being trained and if they are being appropriately challenged in practice. You may be getting that with CCL or you may be at a CCL club only focused on winning/physical size young. The clubs aren't all the same.

Here ya go. A perfect example of doing what is right for your kids and family.

This does not have to be so hard people. We have an embarrassment of riches with choices for soccer in this area in regards to both leagues and clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Part of the problem is that when you try out, they put you on a team without caring if you really would prefer to be in the CCL, VPL, ODSL or NCSL. They don't ask if you are dying to drive to Roanoke or you'd rather not go farther than Boyds. Even if you are offered a spot on the top team, you aren't able to say, actually, could you please downgrade me to ODSL? I don't want to really commit to you that much.

LOL!!! What a load of crap.

1. Look into the leagues that the club plays in before you tryout.
2. You do not have to accept the offer, you can ask to play on a lower team in a league that fits your lifestyle better.
3. You are the consumer, do not pay for something that you do not really want.

What he said. It's really not that difficult to find a team / club that fits your needs, it just may not be your home town club but if you're not willing to drive 10-15 minutes further for practice, that's your problem.

[Anonymous]

i am loving the sanity and reality checks in these posts lately.

[Anonymous]

I find it funny that people get so defensive about their choices that they assume no more than one person may choose something else.

I wrote the 07/18/2016 18:03 post. I don't live in Annandale, and I didn't write the "15 miles" post. I also don't have a kid in CCL.

Plenty of people have issues with the travel, and it holds back the league.

I think CCL's administrators are well-intentioned, and I think they're trying to deal with the travel. But the bottom line is that you're still driving to Roanoke for a game that's not as good as they game you could have in Reston.

To answer another question: Who would Loudoun's fifth and sixth teams play? Same as now -- ODSL teams. Except they might have more local teams in the league.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it funny that people get so defensive about their choices that they assume no more than one person may choose something else.

I wrote the 07/18/2016 18:03 post. I don't live in Annandale, and I didn't write the "15 miles" post. I also don't have a kid in CCL.

Plenty of people have issues with the travel, and it holds back the league.

I think CCL's administrators are well-intentioned, and I think they're trying to deal with the travel. But the bottom line is that you're still driving to Roanoke for a game that's not as good as they game you could have in Reston.

To answer another question: Who would Loudoun's fifth and sixth teams play? Same as now -- ODSL teams. Except they might have more local teams in the league.

Again, don't join the team that plays in a league that travels so far. Nobody is being defensive but complaining about travel that is avoidable if you make a simple choice.

It really doesn't matter if you made any of the posts that I referred to or not, the solution is the same regardless, put your kid on a team in a local league. I am sorry that you want the status without the inconvenience. If everyone agreed with you the leagues would fold, but they don't because people listen listen to the sales pitch.

The only way the leagues will change if people actually vote with their feet, but for every kid that walks there are 5 ready, willing and waiting to fill their spots. So either suck it up or leave, but your first world problem is your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any ideas one when ODP will announce where the Fairfax training location is going to be?

I don't claim to know the specifics of what's going on in this case, but generally, it takes longer to get a field in Fairfax County because the County assignor has to first assign the fields and times to the clubs, and that may not have occurred yet for the Fall season. Other locations tend to have less demand for the fields, or the fields are controlled by the club so they can lock the date/time earlier.

Thanks. Are they "usually" in a certain area? Have they been in the same general spot in recent years or can it be really be ANYWHERE in Fairfax County?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any ideas one when ODP will announce where the Fairfax training location is going to be?

I don't claim to know the specifics of what's going on in this case, but generally, it takes longer to get a field in Fairfax County because the County assignor has to first assign the fields and times to the clubs, and that may not have occurred yet for the Fall season. Other locations tend to have less demand for the fields, or the fields are controlled by the club so they can lock the date/time earlier.

Thanks. Are they "usually" in a certain area? Have they been in the same general spot in recent years or can it be really be ANYWHERE in Fairfax County?

Good luck and for the Love of God, if your kid makes the Regional ODP please just don't come here and complain about having to travel to Boston for a game when there is perfectly good competition with your 15 mile radius.

[Anonymous]

The amount of travel will depend on the level of the team. There is no reason for 2nd teams, Odsl or red teams traveling more than an hour for games. Our states top teams in each age group will most likely be traveling all around the region and east coast. They do this to play top competition and to be showcased at top events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any ideas one when ODP will announce where the Fairfax training location is going to be?

I don't claim to know the specifics of what's going on in this case, but generally, it takes longer to get a field in Fairfax County because the County assignor has to first assign the fields and times to the clubs, and that may not have occurred yet for the Fall season. Other locations tend to have less demand for the fields, or the fields are controlled by the club so they can lock the date/time earlier.

Thanks. Are they "usually" in a certain area? Have they been in the same general spot in recent years or can it be really be ANYWHERE in Fairfax County?

Good luck and for the Love of God, if your kid makes the Regional ODP please just don't come here and complain about having to travel to Boston for a game when there is perfectly good competition with your 15 mile radius.

My understanding is that because ODP doesn't have a "right" to use fields in Northern Virginia, it has to rely on a club to provide the fields or pay to rent private fields - not sure what they're doing at Evergreen. Because it is club-dependent, it depends on which club steps up. The last two years, the girls district academy has been at Oakton HS, using Vienna's "right" to the field. Before that, I believe they were at PWSI's Howison fields. Whether it will still be at Oakton will depend on (a) if the county allocates that field and time slot to Vienna and then (b) if Vienna wants to let ODP use it. You'll need to find someone with inside knowledge at VYS or VYSA to learn those answers. Or, just wait a little longer.

I thought the only games that Regional ODP teams played were at the interregional camps in Florida, or on international trips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it funny that people get so defensive about their choices that they assume no more than one person may choose something else.

I wrote the 07/18/2016 18:03 post. I don't live in Annandale, and I didn't write the "15 miles" post. I also don't have a kid in CCL.

Plenty of people have issues with the travel, and it holds back the league.

I think CCL's administrators are well-intentioned, and I think they're trying to deal with the travel. But the bottom line is that you're still driving to Roanoke for a game that's not as good as they game you could have in Reston.

To answer another question: Who would Loudoun's fifth and sixth teams play? Same as now -- ODSL teams. Except they might have more local teams in the league.

Again, don't join the team that plays in a league that travels so far. Nobody is being defensive but complaining about travel that is avoidable if you make a simple choice.

It really doesn't matter if you made any of the posts that I referred to or not, the solution is the same regardless, put your kid on a team in a local league. I am sorry that you want the status without the inconvenience. If everyone agreed with you the leagues would fold, but they don't because people listen listen to the sales pitch.

The only way the leagues will change if people actually vote with their feet, but for every kid that walks there are 5 ready, willing and waiting to fill their spots. So either suck it up or leave, but your first world problem is your own.

Fine. Just remember not to beat your chest about CCL having all the best non-DA, non-ECNL players in the area when there are a lot of good players opting out of all that travel.

(Granted, this area has a lot of pretty good players who don't play travel at all. Or they play cheaply at some of the low-cost ODSL clubs that turn up at tournaments and beat a lot of unsuspecting teams from other leagues.)

"Status without the inconvenience"? What status? If I cared about impressing someone stuck in traffic behind me, I'd buy a fancier car. Probably a better investment than traveling all over creation just to claim "elite" status, and I'd have more of my weekends free to drive around where *I* want to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Is it your problem if a lot of good players leave (or never play) CCL because of the travel, watering down the competition.

Because ... that's happening.

Zero chance a lot of good players leave CCL because they have to travel to a few away games. One tournament could require more travel than all those league games combined.