Implications of DC United plan on Loudoun Soccer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not really seeing kids from Arlington and surrounding areas, DC or MD currently at DCU going out to Loudoun 4 times per week just to practice plus games. This will hurt the diversity of players from many different areas available for DCU's player pool.

So they aren’t going to have any teams with regular DC practices? There goes the DC, Arlington, Alexandria, Annandale, Gunston, parts of Maryland diverse player pool that DC United used to attract.

Loudoun is American football, baseball heavy in older years. Other than the vast amounts of unused land I can’t come up with a single reason for that area to be a home base. It is cheap land period. DC has no land to build.

So now you have Loudoun, DC United, FCV and FCBescola all sitting on top of one another.

How many current DC United Academy kids are going to leave with this geographic move? I guess they will need to start all over.

I wonder if Barron will commute from DC.

It is still two years out so not an immediate concern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would DC United, an MLS team with training facilities for team players and U12 DA and above affect U9 Travel teams, or any rec team? I don't think you know what you're talking about.

There are a large number of U9-U11 travel - plus U8 academy - players driving 30-40 mins each way 3x/week from Sterling, Purcellville, South Riding, Brambleton, etc. on Loudoun's teams. A lot of those kids are on Loudoun's 2nd-6th teams, but hoping in time to move up to the Red (1st team) and make the DA. I think a good number of those people will look for closer options -- i.e. play for another club like Sterling's 1st team rather than Loudoun's 3rd or 4th team since being in the Loudoun system won't be an advantage later on at U14, etc. We'll see.

Planet earth would appreciate if those parents make that decision now as oppose to later.

BTW, you're saying there are people who plan that their player that has been seen by coaches in Loudoun and was placed on the 3rd-4th team(not even going to talk about 5th-6th) think that going to additional training by those sames coaches will eventually lead to their player being selected on the DA team?!?!?! I think the parents are smarter than that. They probably choose the extra training because "why not?". Their kid gets one more activity per week and it will help them in their soccer team. I think the parents will continue to sign up for whatever their club offers in additional training, like every other parent in the NoVA area does.

Loudoun soccer has had it really good for a few years, they were for the most part the only game in town. and their travel fees reflected it. They have some smart people in Loudoun, is what I hear, or else what is the Ferrari dealership doing there. I think they will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not really seeing kids from Arlington and surrounding areas, DC or MD currently at DCU going out to Loudoun 4 times per week just to practice plus games. This will hurt the diversity of players from many different areas available for DCU's player pool.

My son's Bethesda DA team has had players from Annapolis and Stafford, VA. Especially in the older age groups, people are willing to travel some pretty incredible distances. There a number of kids currently on DC United who moved here from other parts of the country. If DC is finally able to offer a no-cost program (and can finally get some stability in its coaching staff from year to year), they won't have trouble attracting kids from all over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would DC United, an MLS team with training facilities for team players and U12 DA and above affect U9 Travel teams, or any rec team? I don't think you know what you're talking about.

There are a large number of U9-U11 travel - plus U8 academy - players driving 30-40 mins each way 3x/week from Sterling, Purcellville, South Riding, Brambleton, etc. on Loudoun's teams. A lot of those kids are on Loudoun's 2nd-6th teams, but hoping in time to move up to the Red (1st team) and make the DA. I think a good number of those people will look for closer options -- i.e. play for another club like Sterling's 1st team rather than Loudoun's 3rd or 4th team since being in the Loudoun system won't be an advantage later on at U14, etc. We'll see.

The secret sauce to Loudoun's program is their huge rec program. The club gets kids in early and makes it easy to simply stay. They have access to enough county fields that they can make even travel practices convenient for at least one of the nights of practice.

This move truly only affects DA level players. Loudoun will keep on keeping on. That said, it wouldn't be a huge surprise if in a few years DC Untied doesn't simply try and buy Loudoun Soccer though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP Here. Completely agree that if they take the merger route Loudoun would lose its DA vs DCU. Besides merger/partnership and coexistence with literally a fence divIding the two organizations, what are the other options?

Continue as is, being part of DA is what every serious U.S soccer player should be striving for. They might not be awarded another age group, but offering U12-U14 essentially takes their players up to HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would DC United, an MLS team with training facilities for team players and U12 DA and above affect U9 Travel teams, or any rec team? I don't think you know what you're talking about.

There are a large number of U9-U11 travel - plus U8 academy - players driving 30-40 mins each way 3x/week from Sterling, Purcellville, South Riding, Brambleton, etc. on Loudoun's teams. A lot of those kids are on Loudoun's 2nd-6th teams, but hoping in time to move up to the Red (1st team) and make the DA. I think a good number of those people will look for closer options -- i.e. play for another club like Sterling's 1st team rather than Loudoun's 3rd or 4th team since being in the Loudoun system won't be an advantage later on at U14, etc. We'll see.

Planet earth would appreciate if those parents make that decision now as oppose to later.

BTW, you're saying there are people who plan that their player that has been seen by coaches in Loudoun and was placed on the 3rd-4th team(not even going to talk about 5th-6th) think that going to additional training by those sames coaches will eventually lead to their player being selected on the DA team?!?!?!

Yes. Definitely, yes. Think they'll jump from white (3rd) to black (2nd) after a year and be in play for red/DA after 2-3 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not really seeing kids from Arlington and surrounding areas, DC or MD currently at DCU going out to Loudoun 4 times per week just to practice plus games. This will hurt the diversity of players from many different areas available for DCU's player pool.

So they aren’t going to have any teams with regular DC practices? There goes the DC, Arlington, Alexandria, Annandale, Gunston, parts of Maryland diverse player pool that DC United used to attract.

Loudoun is American football, baseball heavy in older years. Other than the vast amounts of unused land I can’t come up with a single reason for that area to be a home base. It is cheap land period. DC has no land to build.

So now you have Loudoun, DC United, FCV and FCBescola all sitting on top of one another.

How many current DC United Academy kids are going to leave with this geographic move? I guess they will need to start all over.

I wonder if Barron will commute from DC.

It is still two years out so not an immediate concern.

Oh. People were talking like it's taking place immediately. 2 years for some older kids is irrelevant. They can stay in DC during that time. Arlington and Loudoun don't have DA after U14 so it will only affect older kids anyways.

[Anonymous]

Read the business plan at Loudoun's govt. website:

At the same time, the MOA spells out several details not disclosed in the initial release, including a provision that the team seek approval from the USL to include Loudoun in the team's name, on its uniforms and that Loudoun County be mentioned as the "originating point of all team-controlled press releases."

HA! Loudoun wants its name on the DC united uniforms. Will it become Loudoun United?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read the business plan at Loudoun's govt. website:

At the same time, the MOA spells out several details not disclosed in the initial release, including a provision that the team seek approval from the USL to include Loudoun in the team's name, on its uniforms and that Loudoun County be mentioned as the "originating point of all team-controlled press releases."

HA! Loudoun wants its name on the DC united uniforms. Will it become Loudoun United?

It actually required inaugural season to begin spring of 2019.

After reading that plan I am not so sure it will be accepted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read the business plan at Loudoun's govt. website:

At the same time, the MOA spells out several details not disclosed in the initial release, including a provision that the team seek approval from the USL to include Loudoun in the team's name, on its uniforms and that Loudoun County be mentioned as the "originating point of all team-controlled press releases."

HA! Loudoun wants its name on the DC united uniforms. Will it become Loudoun United?

It actually required inaugural season to begin spring of 2019.

After reading that plan I am not so sure it will be accepted.

They have concerns that it will never turn a profit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not really seeing kids from Arlington and surrounding areas, DC or MD currently at DCU going out to Loudoun 4 times per week just to practice plus games. This will hurt the diversity of players from many different areas available for DCU's player pool.

My son's Bethesda DA team has had players from Annapolis and Stafford, VA. Especially in the older age groups, people are willing to travel some pretty incredible distances. There a number of kids currently on DC United who moved here from other parts of the country. If DC is finally able to offer a no-cost program (and can finally get some stability in its coaching staff from year to year), they won't have trouble attracting kids from all over.

Bethesda is on another level though, their training is very good and it starts at their ulittle travel age groups and get's better. I imagine their DA training is also able to build upon the training their players have already been receiving. Not surprising to hear that soccer players from Stafford serious about being scouted are willing to request from their parents to find a way to be in the Bethesda DA program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read the business plan at Loudoun's govt. website:

At the same time, the MOA spells out several details not disclosed in the initial release, including a provision that the team seek approval from the USL to include Loudoun in the team's name, on its uniforms and that Loudoun County be mentioned as the "originating point of all team-controlled press releases."

HA! Loudoun wants its name on the DC united uniforms. Will it become Loudoun United?

It actually required inaugural season to begin spring of 2019.

After reading that plan I am not so sure it will be accepted.

They have concerns that it will never turn a profit.

Business plan is just that, a business plan. And 2nd teams are meant to be profitable, maybe breakeven on good years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read the business plan at Loudoun's govt. website:

At the same time, the MOA spells out several details not disclosed in the initial release, including a provision that the team seek approval from the USL to include Loudoun in the team's name, on its uniforms and that Loudoun County be mentioned as the "originating point of all team-controlled press releases."

HA! Loudoun wants its name on the DC united uniforms. Will it become Loudoun United?

I think the "Loudoun" in the name simply refers to the USL team name and not DC United.

[Anonymous]

It may be 2 years away, but for folks entertaining joing Loudoun DA now may wait it out and just train with their current club and give DCU a shot when they get here. I think the notion of DCU coming to town will give some families pause about their next 2-5 year plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It may be 2 years away, but for folks entertaining joing Loudoun DA now may wait it out and just train with their current club and give DCU a shot when they get here. I think the notion of DCU coming to town will give some families pause about their next 2-5 year plans.

I'm not sure why they would wait to join Loudoun DA if it is a current option. For starters, Loudoun's DA has always been a temporary stop. It is only a 3 year program as it is so why would the possibility of DC United moving in next door in two years keep a eligible kid from joining Loudoun's DA in the meantime? Their ultimate goal was to make DC United at some point anyways all this move does is push that tryout date up a year.

The reality is, until DC United is actually on the ground people will just go forward with the options available.