For high level players and parents only

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didnt mind the travel at first. But now Im on my 3rd kid and see through all the cash grabbing. I do still like the Disney world futsal tournament. I'd rather do one tournament in Hawaii than 3-4 around the country in places I hate.

This. Angling for the futsal tournament in Fiji next. Definitely dont need to visit Atlantic City again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.

100% agree, so unnecessary. Even more frustrating to go to SC to play Bethesda when your club is from NOVA.

On the girls side, the whole GA and ECNL thing is going to need to resolve itself so that there isn't a dilution of talent on the top teams. Then we'd be in business.

We'd be in business for what? What do you think changes if there are fewer GA and ECNL teams? The talent is already mostly concentrated to just a few teams. It wouldn't be better for top players who may be forced to commute further to training? It wouldn't be better for mid-tier players who wouldn't have access to national leagues anymore. It wouldn't be better for parents who will need to travel out of state more often to play league games. It certainly wouldn't bring down prices with less competition. It wouldn't be better for coaches with less opportunities. It wouldn't be better for clubs who lose GA or ECNL access. I'm trying to understand who would benefit from fewer top teams.

So you drank the kool-aid. There is NO reason for midtier players to NEED a national platform. They can continue to grow and improve playing other midtier players locally. The reason for travel should be to find competition. If you can get that locally there is absolutely no need to travel for it.

Exactly this. Make ECNL actually elite again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.

100% agree, so unnecessary. Even more frustrating to go to SC to play Bethesda when your club is from NOVA.

On the girls side, the whole GA and ECNL thing is going to need to resolve itself so that there isn't a dilution of talent on the top teams. Then we'd be in business.

We'd be in business for what? What do you think changes if there are fewer GA and ECNL teams? The talent is already mostly concentrated to just a few teams. It wouldn't be better for top players who may be forced to commute further to training? It wouldn't be better for mid-tier players who wouldn't have access to national leagues anymore. It wouldn't be better for parents who will need to travel out of state more often to play league games. It certainly wouldn't bring down prices with less competition. It wouldn't be better for coaches with less opportunities. It wouldn't be better for clubs who lose GA or ECNL access. I'm trying to understand who would benefit from fewer top teams.

So you drank the kool-aid. There is NO reason for midtier players to NEED a national platform. They can continue to grow and improve playing other midtier players locally. The reason for travel should be to find competition. If you can get that locally there is absolutely no need to travel for it.

Exactly this. Make ECNL actually elite again

Except now they're partnering with every mid-tier league out there trying to become the new USYS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.

100% agree, so unnecessary. Even more frustrating to go to SC to play Bethesda when your club is from NOVA.

On the girls side, the whole GA and ECNL thing is going to need to resolve itself so that there isn't a dilution of talent on the top teams. Then we'd be in business.

We'd be in business for what? What do you think changes if there are fewer GA and ECNL teams? The talent is already mostly concentrated to just a few teams. It wouldn't be better for top players who may be forced to commute further to training? It wouldn't be better for mid-tier players who wouldn't have access to national leagues anymore. It wouldn't be better for parents who will need to travel out of state more often to play league games. It certainly wouldn't bring down prices with less competition. It wouldn't be better for coaches with less opportunities. It wouldn't be better for clubs who lose GA or ECNL access. I'm trying to understand who would benefit from fewer top teams.

So you drank the kool-aid. There is NO reason for midtier players to NEED a national platform. They can continue to grow and improve playing other midtier players locally. The reason for travel should be to find competition. If you can get that locally there is absolutely no need to travel for it.

The reason is development. Stay in the state-leagues, you don't ever play the higher level clubs anymore and the level of play gets more like HS. As a mid-tier if you play a national platform, it's not an easy path, but you get to play stronger/faster teams and it works as long as you aren't getting blown out and winning/tying a few. And for a few, maybe you're the team to beat. And now your best players are more likely to stay because they can now get recruited without having to join the mega club. And travel? Commuting to those mega clubs -- 1-2 hours 4x a week -- over the course of season isn't that great either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.

100% agree, so unnecessary. Even more frustrating to go to SC to play Bethesda when your club is from NOVA.

On the girls side, the whole GA and ECNL thing is going to need to resolve itself so that there isn't a dilution of talent on the top teams. Then we'd be in business.

We'd be in business for what? What do you think changes if there are fewer GA and ECNL teams? The talent is already mostly concentrated to just a few teams. It wouldn't be better for top players who may be forced to commute further to training? It wouldn't be better for mid-tier players who wouldn't have access to national leagues anymore. It wouldn't be better for parents who will need to travel out of state more often to play league games. It certainly wouldn't bring down prices with less competition. It wouldn't be better for coaches with less opportunities. It wouldn't be better for clubs who lose GA or ECNL access. I'm trying to understand who would benefit from fewer top teams.

So you drank the kool-aid. There is NO reason for midtier players to NEED a national platform. They can continue to grow and improve playing other midtier players locally. The reason for travel should be to find competition. If you can get that locally there is absolutely no need to travel for it.

The reason is development. Stay in the state-leagues, you don't ever play the higher level clubs anymore and the level of play gets more like HS. As a mid-tier if you play a national platform, it's not an easy path, but you get to play stronger/faster teams and it works as long as you aren't getting blown out and winning/tying a few. And for a few, maybe you're the team to beat. And now your best players are more likely to stay because they can now get recruited without having to join the mega club. And travel? Commuting to those mega clubs -- 1-2 hours 4x a week -- over the course of season isn't that great either.

🤣🤣🤣🤣 keep telling yourself there isn't enough competition locally. If you live in a rural area absolutely but not here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Inside the Red Bull Academy - https://youtu.be/NjKjYmPyRkA?si=41KHeSHFLk6WDJHw

"we don't need to go anywhere" - referencing that in the NYC/NJ Metro area, there is plenty of competition. We have the same benefit in the DMV.

"we can drive 30 minutes in any direction to get beat" - Share with your DOC. Arlington should be playing Bethesda regularly. MD United should be playing VDA and NVA. MD clubs don't have to drive to NJ/PA. VA clubs don't' have to travel to NC.

"we simultaneously develop the players we have in our academy while always lookin for better players" - important for parents to understand the focus of clubs and not take it personal when clubs are scouting new talent

"Our job is not to develop great teams; our job is to develop individual who can play at the stadium..." - for those who are resistant to the age group changes and the focus of the clubs. They don't care about the team staying together for the purpose of solely winning

"The best 13-year old is rarely the best 17-year old" - for everyone

Um, what is a Maryland United?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is from a professional academy. Most of the “high level” players and parents playing on local mlsn and ecnl teams are not and never will be at that level. Local clubs are not and should not be run like professional academies. If you watch this video and think it applies to your kid and coaches
you are living in a dream world.

Speak for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just stopped by to say that I AM A HIGH LEVEL PARENT!

Hahahaha. I love it!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.

100% agree, so unnecessary. Even more frustrating to go to SC to play Bethesda when your club is from NOVA.

On the girls side, the whole GA and ECNL thing is going to need to resolve itself so that there isn't a dilution of talent on the top teams. Then we'd be in business.

We'd be in business for what? What do you think changes if there are fewer GA and ECNL teams? The talent is already mostly concentrated to just a few teams. It wouldn't be better for top players who may be forced to commute further to training? It wouldn't be better for mid-tier players who wouldn't have access to national leagues anymore. It wouldn't be better for parents who will need to travel out of state more often to play league games. It certainly wouldn't bring down prices with less competition. It wouldn't be better for coaches with less opportunities. It wouldn't be better for clubs who lose GA or ECNL access. I'm trying to understand who would benefit from fewer top teams.

So you drank the kool-aid. There is NO reason for midtier players to NEED a national platform. They can continue to grow and improve playing other midtier players locally. The reason for travel should be to find competition. If you can get that locally there is absolutely no need to travel for it.

Exactly this. Make ECNL actually elite again

Sorry. ECNL is a dumpster fire now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.

100% agree, so unnecessary. Even more frustrating to go to SC to play Bethesda when your club is from NOVA.

On the girls side, the whole GA and ECNL thing is going to need to resolve itself so that there isn't a dilution of talent on the top teams. Then we'd be in business.

We'd be in business for what? What do you think changes if there are fewer GA and ECNL teams? The talent is already mostly concentrated to just a few teams. It wouldn't be better for top players who may be forced to commute further to training? It wouldn't be better for mid-tier players who wouldn't have access to national leagues anymore. It wouldn't be better for parents who will need to travel out of state more often to play league games. It certainly wouldn't bring down prices with less competition. It wouldn't be better for coaches with less opportunities. It wouldn't be better for clubs who lose GA or ECNL access. I'm trying to understand who would benefit from fewer top teams.

So you drank the kool-aid. There is NO reason for midtier players to NEED a national platform. They can continue to grow and improve playing other midtier players locally. The reason for travel should be to find competition. If you can get that locally there is absolutely no need to travel for it.

The reason is development. Stay in the state-leagues, you don't ever play the higher level clubs anymore and the level of play gets more like HS. As a mid-tier if you play a national platform, it's not an easy path, but you get to play stronger/faster teams and it works as long as you aren't getting blown out and winning/tying a few. And for a few, maybe you're the team to beat. And now your best players are more likely to stay because they can now get recruited without having to join the mega club. And travel? Commuting to those mega clubs -- 1-2 hours 4x a week -- over the course of season isn't that great either.

🤣🤣🤣🤣 keep telling yourself there isn't enough competition locally. If you live in a rural area absolutely but not here.

So, we're in winter league now and playing some of the local teams and we're now clearly a level up and it's pretty clear because we're getting challenged and better from playing high-level teams out of state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.

100% agree, so unnecessary. Even more frustrating to go to SC to play Bethesda when your club is from NOVA.

On the girls side, the whole GA and ECNL thing is going to need to resolve itself so that there isn't a dilution of talent on the top teams. Then we'd be in business.

We'd be in business for what? What do you think changes if there are fewer GA and ECNL teams? The talent is already mostly concentrated to just a few teams. It wouldn't be better for top players who may be forced to commute further to training? It wouldn't be better for mid-tier players who wouldn't have access to national leagues anymore. It wouldn't be better for parents who will need to travel out of state more often to play league games. It certainly wouldn't bring down prices with less competition. It wouldn't be better for coaches with less opportunities. It wouldn't be better for clubs who lose GA or ECNL access. I'm trying to understand who would benefit from fewer top teams.

So you drank the kool-aid. There is NO reason for midtier players to NEED a national platform. They can continue to grow and improve playing other midtier players locally. The reason for travel should be to find competition. If you can get that locally there is absolutely no need to travel for it.

The reason is development. Stay in the state-leagues, you don't ever play the higher level clubs anymore and the level of play gets more like HS. As a mid-tier if you play a national platform, it's not an easy path, but you get to play stronger/faster teams and it works as long as you aren't getting blown out and winning/tying a few. And for a few, maybe you're the team to beat. And now your best players are more likely to stay because they can now get recruited without having to join the mega club. And travel? Commuting to those mega clubs -- 1-2 hours 4x a week -- over the course of season isn't that great either.

🤣🤣🤣🤣 keep telling yourself there isn't enough competition locally. If you live in a rural area absolutely but not here.

The real problem with local competition is some clubs want that elite access for them and use the mid-tier clubs as a feeder. When you have only 1 or 2 local teams with elite platform access your area may have a better chance to compete for national titles BUT the flip side is a bunch of talent is frozen out and coach/club politics dictate too much. More choice is better for these reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.

100% agree, so unnecessary. Even more frustrating to go to SC to play Bethesda when your club is from NOVA.

On the girls side, the whole GA and ECNL thing is going to need to resolve itself so that there isn't a dilution of talent on the top teams. Then we'd be in business.

We'd be in business for what? What do you think changes if there are fewer GA and ECNL teams? The talent is already mostly concentrated to just a few teams. It wouldn't be better for top players who may be forced to commute further to training? It wouldn't be better for mid-tier players who wouldn't have access to national leagues anymore. It wouldn't be better for parents who will need to travel out of state more often to play league games. It certainly wouldn't bring down prices with less competition. It wouldn't be better for coaches with less opportunities. It wouldn't be better for clubs who lose GA or ECNL access. I'm trying to understand who would benefit from fewer top teams.

So you drank the kool-aid. There is NO reason for midtier players to NEED a national platform. They can continue to grow and improve playing other midtier players locally. The reason for travel should be to find competition. If you can get that locally there is absolutely no need to travel for it.

The reason is development. Stay in the state-leagues, you don't ever play the higher level clubs anymore and the level of play gets more like HS. As a mid-tier if you play a national platform, it's not an easy path, but you get to play stronger/faster teams and it works as long as you aren't getting blown out and winning/tying a few. And for a few, maybe you're the team to beat. And now your best players are more likely to stay because they can now get recruited without having to join the mega club. And travel? Commuting to those mega clubs -- 1-2 hours 4x a week -- over the course of season isn't that great either.

🤣🤣🤣🤣 keep telling yourself there isn't enough competition locally. If you live in a rural area absolutely but not here.

So, we're in winter league now and playing some of the local teams and we're now clearly a level up and it's pretty clear because we're getting challenged and better from playing high-level teams out of state.

Winter league where?

What age group?

What is your play style?

There are ALOT of teams who win with a direct long-ball with athletic wingers and strikers. I would argue those are the precise teams that should stay local and try only score after stringing together 5 passes or connecting the midfield. Can you develop a 6 or 10 that can go D2? SYC won the national championship in MLS Next. They have none of the top 10
most valuable professional players from the DMV right now. That tells you how important winning is to development.

😂 winter league results 😂

[Anonymous]

I saw the title of this thread and knew it was for me! For I am a high level parent of a high level player! Bow down before us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.

100% agree, so unnecessary. Even more frustrating to go to SC to play Bethesda when your club is from NOVA.

On the girls side, the whole GA and ECNL thing is going to need to resolve itself so that there isn't a dilution of talent on the top teams. Then we'd be in business.

We'd be in business for what? What do you think changes if there are fewer GA and ECNL teams? The talent is already mostly concentrated to just a few teams. It wouldn't be better for top players who may be forced to commute further to training? It wouldn't be better for mid-tier players who wouldn't have access to national leagues anymore. It wouldn't be better for parents who will need to travel out of state more often to play league games. It certainly wouldn't bring down prices with less competition. It wouldn't be better for coaches with less opportunities. It wouldn't be better for clubs who lose GA or ECNL access. I'm trying to understand who would benefit from fewer top teams.

So you drank the kool-aid. There is NO reason for midtier players to NEED a national platform. They can continue to grow and improve playing other midtier players locally. The reason for travel should be to find competition. If you can get that locally there is absolutely no need to travel for it.

The reason is development. Stay in the state-leagues, you don't ever play the higher level clubs anymore and the level of play gets more like HS. As a mid-tier if you play a national platform, it's not an easy path, but you get to play stronger/faster teams and it works as long as you aren't getting blown out and winning/tying a few. And for a few, maybe you're the team to beat. And now your best players are more likely to stay because they can now get recruited without having to join the mega club. And travel? Commuting to those mega clubs -- 1-2 hours 4x a week -- over the course of season isn't that great either.

🤣🤣🤣🤣 keep telling yourself there isn't enough competition locally. If you live in a rural area absolutely but not here.

So, we're in winter league now and playing some of the local teams and we're now clearly a level up and it's pretty clear because we're getting challenged and better from playing high-level teams out of state.

Winter league where?

What age group?

What is your play style?

There are ALOT of teams who win with a direct long-ball with athletic wingers and strikers. I would argue those are the precise teams that should stay local and try only score after stringing together 5 passes or connecting the midfield. Can you develop a 6 or 10 that can go D2? SYC won the national championship in MLS Next. They have none of the top 10
most valuable professional players from the DMV right now. That tells you how important winning is to development.

😂 winter league results 😂

There's your problem. You imagine everything is just one way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In all these discussions here and with parents on the sidelines, the one absolute change I'd like to see is the reduction of a travel. I like the idea of soccer hubs, like the DMV, Atlanta, NY/NJ etc. where there is enough density to provide opportunities across a range of skill levels.

100% agree, so unnecessary. Even more frustrating to go to SC to play Bethesda when your club is from NOVA.

On the girls side, the whole GA and ECNL thing is going to need to resolve itself so that there isn't a dilution of talent on the top teams. Then we'd be in business.

We'd be in business for what? What do you think changes if there are fewer GA and ECNL teams? The talent is already mostly concentrated to just a few teams. It wouldn't be better for top players who may be forced to commute further to training? It wouldn't be better for mid-tier players who wouldn't have access to national leagues anymore. It wouldn't be better for parents who will need to travel out of state more often to play league games. It certainly wouldn't bring down prices with less competition. It wouldn't be better for coaches with less opportunities. It wouldn't be better for clubs who lose GA or ECNL access. I'm trying to understand who would benefit from fewer top teams.

So you drank the kool-aid. There is NO reason for midtier players to NEED a national platform. They can continue to grow and improve playing other midtier players locally. The reason for travel should be to find competition. If you can get that locally there is absolutely no need to travel for it.

The reason is development. Stay in the state-leagues, you don't ever play the higher level clubs anymore and the level of play gets more like HS. As a mid-tier if you play a national platform, it's not an easy path, but you get to play stronger/faster teams and it works as long as you aren't getting blown out and winning/tying a few. And for a few, maybe you're the team to beat. And now your best players are more likely to stay because they can now get recruited without having to join the mega club. And travel? Commuting to those mega clubs -- 1-2 hours 4x a week -- over the course of season isn't that great either.

🤣🤣🤣🤣 keep telling yourself there isn't enough competition locally. If you live in a rural area absolutely but not here.

So, we're in winter league now and playing some of the local teams and we're now clearly a level up and it's pretty clear because we're getting challenged and better from playing high-level teams out of state.

Winter league where?

What age group?

What is your play style?

There are ALOT of teams who win with a direct long-ball with athletic wingers and strikers. I would argue those are the precise teams that should stay local and try only score after stringing together 5 passes or connecting the midfield. Can you develop a 6 or 10 that can go D2? SYC won the national championship in MLS Next. They have none of the top 10
most valuable professional players from the DMV right now. That tells you how important winning is to development.

😂 winter league results 😂

There's your problem. You imagine everything is just one way.

Amazing response to use winning the single barometer of success. My entire purpose of being in travel soccer is I have a kid with aspirations. I had no problem doing rec in elementary and then playing middle and high school. They have aspirations so I have to oblige.

If you care anything about your child’s development, pop in an earbud this long weekend and listen to the interview.

Sadly, I am trying to help. We complain about kids quitting the sport and why internationals dominate D1 but we are not diagnosing the symptoms. I see people screaming at their kids weekly. I see coaches joysticking their kids and then touting that “they won.” I see parents analyzing the rankings app like it is a quarterly financial statement. I see local clubs and parents flexing every time that beat MLS Next or ECNL if they are the opposing league. Watch the video. We can’t expect to have different results from the past if we keep repeating the same behaviors.