HS Soccer Maryland/DC and ECNL Virginia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in a VA private (fall HS soccer) and plays club in VA. It is manageable because

1) there are no HS games on weekends--so zero conflict there
2) the 2 HS games during the week were usually over by 4:30 PM-club soccer didn't start until after 7:30. This allowed for 3+ hours for dinner and homework on the nights there was club practice (3-4 nights a week, not 5)
3) the club coach was ok with missing a practice for a HS game, so long as it wasn't the day or two prior to a club game. My player really only missed a total of 3-4 practices in the fall and started every game. Active HS participation is part of the 'deal' for most ECNL clubs so you will find most coaches support it--but it does require conversation to make sure you understand what coach is ok with.

Was it a lot- yes. But it was totally manageable. And my player LOVED being part of the HS team and has said no to moving to MLS Next as a result. Added benefit, my player became ruthless about time management and using in school study halls and at home time effectively, which wasn't a bad thing as exec function skills went through the roof....

And, the spring season will be a real breeze with a very light VA club schedule and no HS soccer.

So really its just 2.5 months of time intensity.

You gotta have a Freshmen not playing Varsity (or even JV). We never had games over by 4:30pm--that is when the Freshmen team played--JV 5:30pm, Varsity 7:30pm AND the Varsity/JV were required to stay at school and/or ride the same bus. It wiped out entire weeknights and made the Club + HS very hard to work with.

My kids moved to MLSNext by the 2nd/3rd year.

Nope- my kid is on varsity. Games started typically by 245.

Then you aren’t in WCAC. I can attest that hs definitely not the case for Varsity boys, even JV in the Catholic conference.

Yeah. Many late nights, 2 hour drive to Mt St Mary’s, travel out of town- weekends a few times, etc. Kids on Club are MIA thar whole first season and it’s a struggle with AP courses.

[Anonymous]

So OP it seems the moral of the story…it depends what private in VA and what conference.

Some may be more manageable than others based on how the conference schedules…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have any experience with their player playing HS in Maryland/DC and ECNL in Virginia?
Or vice versa.

Incoming Freshman and trying to sort out the logistics.

DC wanted to play ECNL with a great team in Va and got an offer, but goes to school in MD. Both teams play intensely in the fall. They turned down the ECNL team as we after talking to coaches and other parents we realized it really couldn't be done without risk of injury and pissing off both coaches and stretching them too thin. DC very happy with current team in MD and had a great high school season.