Who was the best team your travel soccer team played against

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington's top 2009 boys team is head-and-shoulders above DS's team or any other team DS has played this year.

Bethesda Soccer Club's top 2009 Boys team would disagree.

DS hasn't played BSC, so I'm not sure how they could "disagree" with the assertion above. I know a few of the BSC 2009 boys, though, and it's definitely a strong group (with the best of the bunch--at least that I've seen--actually a 2010 playing up). Have the BSC 2009s played Arlington?

BSC 2009 boys won Arlington's Spring tournament in the top division. To be fair, Arlington won our Premier tournament last Fall.

BSC plays a cleaner possession style game, but Arlington has some very athletic smaller kids.

Each club's 2nd team could beat or be competitive with most other club's top team in the area.

That's interesting. I definitely hope DS's team gets to play BSC at some point. I don't feel like DS's team gives up anything to Arlington in either athleticism or individual skill, but Arlington consistently plays as a team much better. I'd love to watch a bunch of 8 and 9 year olds play an even better possession game. That must be very cool.

Then after they win the U-9 World Cup, where do they go from there? It is all downhill.

The best travel teams anyone has seen are U-9 Arlington and U-9 BSC. Who knew? The future looks bright.

These parents don't even realize how ridiculous they sound about a bunch of 8 year olds.

[Anonymous]

^^ "your team". I am still cracking up about grown men coming on here to tout 'their' team. Are you taking the field at the next game? Unless you are the Coach or the player, it's not really "your" team now, is it? You maybe need to take a few steps back and realize these are kids. There is an "I" in TEAM" in the younger years because it should be about individual development in the U9-U12 years.

[Anonymous]

I agree w you 14:08 but your kid is accused of being a ball hog by parents and coaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree w you 14:08 but your kid is accused of being a ball hog by parents and coaches.

I am not talking about games/competitions—that’s my point.

First touch/passing are a big part of individual skill development and knowing when to dribble on vs pass.

I am getting at talking about best 8 and 9 year old best teams is completely idiotic.

Go to training see what’s happening there—that’s what is important for developing these players.

I couldn’t give a crap how my kid’s team finishes in a tournament/league game, I am looking at my kid and how he is progressing. If he did well, really don’t care if we lost 5-0.

The kids in these age groups are going to be drastically different in 7-8 years.

[Anonymous]

BRYC girls in the younger ages(u9-11) seem to have good skills for their age. They don’t have size but they have skill and speed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree w you 14:08 but your kid is accused of being a ball hog by parents and coaches.

I am not talking about games/competitions—that’s my point.

First touch/passing are a big part of individual skill development and knowing when to dribble on vs pass.

I am getting at talking about best 8 and 9 year old best teams is completely idiotic.

Go to training see what’s happening there—that’s what is important for developing these players.

I couldn’t give a crap how my kid’s team finishes in a tournament/league game, I am looking at my kid and how he is progressing. If he did well, really don’t care if we lost 5-0.

The kids in these age groups are going to be drastically different in 7-8 years.

Maybe this thread isn't one where you have a lot to offer then.

[Anonymous]

Arlington is aggressive and fast but not great too watch! Talking about lil U9.....they lost to Alexandria in the VA Tournament last year. That ball never gets tired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is aggressive and fast but not great too watch! Talking about lil U9.....they lost to Alexandria in the VA Tournament last year. That ball never gets tired.

Re. Arlington, it doesn't get better with age.

I saw one of their top HS-age teams play recently. They play a very USMNT style. A few passes here and there, but mostly an athletic, incredibly physical style--LOTS of fouls if they were behind. Their goals were mostly of the long ball variety. I will say their kids were great athletes, but they did not play a 'beautiful' game. Kids were back-talky as well.

[Anonymous]

The boys 98 teams in the CCL. Loudoun/Arlington/BRYC/Beach

[Anonymous]

Girls SAC U15 was very good. Apparently several players turned down DA spots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ it’s like when a dude says “we’re pregnant”. Ummm, no you are not. Your wife is.

Shows you how much people live vicariously through their kids in this area.

I’m the OP, and while I appreciate some of the posts, people sure do feel a need to judge even when they haven’t thought matters through well (or maybe just don’t have the experience to speak up). Men say “we’re pregnant” because they’re invested in the life they’re building with their partner and because they plan to be part of that journey. I asked “your team” because if you’re on this thread you’ve invested time, energy or thought into bettering your kid’s soccer experience, and in my mind that makes it your team. I’ve also watched the core of the group grow up together and play together for years.

I don’t think I’m the only one on here who also lists a college football team, and professional football, soccer and basketball teams as “mine.” Don’t mind that I don’t personally know any players on any of those we’ll publicized regional teams, nor do I go to or even watch every single one of their games like I do my son’s. So no, I don’t live vicariously. But yes, I’ll contiinue to call my son’s team “mine” because it’s my favorite of the bunch and my son’s unabashedly my favorite player to watch in all the sports listed. Maybe it’s because I spent so much time coaching him, maybe it’s because I was a fan of his before I knew he’d even play sports, but it’s probably because that’s natural if you’re a dad.

Now, about saving this thread, I’ve see good U9 kids play, but that really seems to young to me to warrant much discussion. I’m surprised there aren’t more examples of older teams. Honestly, my hope was to either learn what made those experienced teams special, or to find a couple local teams who play really well and that would be fun for my kid to watch and learn from. I also thought others might benefit from knowing what’s out there.

Thanks for the positive examples!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ it’s like when a dude says “we’re pregnant”. Ummm, no you are not. Your wife is.

Shows you how much people live vicariously through their kids in this area.

I’m the OP, and while I appreciate some of the posts, people sure do feel a need to judge even when they haven’t thought matters through well (or maybe just don’t have the experience to speak up). Men say “we’re pregnant” because they’re invested in the life they’re building with their partner and because they plan to be part of that journey. I asked “your team” because if you’re on this thread you’ve invested time, energy or thought into bettering your kid’s soccer experience, and in my mind that makes it your team. I’ve also watched the core of the group grow up together and play together for years.

I don’t think I’m the only one on here who also lists a college football team, and professional football, soccer and basketball teams as “mine.” Don’t mind that I don’t personally know any players on any of those we’ll publicized regional teams, nor do I go to or even watch every single one of their games like I do my son’s. So no, I don’t live vicariously. But yes, I’ll contiinue to call my son’s team “mine” because it’s my favorite of the bunch and my son’s unabashedly my favorite player to watch in all the sports listed. Maybe it’s because I spent so much time coaching him, maybe it’s because I was a fan of his before I knew he’d even play sports, but it’s probably because that’s natural if you’re a dad.

Now, about saving this thread, I’ve see good U9 kids play, but that really seems to young to me to warrant much discussion. I’m surprised there aren’t more examples of older teams. Honestly, my hope was to either learn what made those experienced teams special, or to find a couple local teams who play really well and that would be fun for my kid to watch and learn from. I also thought others might benefit from knowing what’s out there.

Thanks for the positive examples!

When I coached my boys, I used 'my team'. Now as a parent, I will say "my son's team". Maybe it's because I have more than one kid. But- to me it just feels weird to say 'my' or 'our' team. To each his own. Not really a big deal.

I think there are so many younger parents posting about their excellent 8-year old teams because they have zero experience. They are so hyped up that 'their' team is doing so well that they miss the forest for the trees. They have no idea that this is the very, very, very tip of a player's career. They have no idea about development, but are so vested in telling everyone that 'their' team is the elitist out there. That, of course, makes the parent superior and feel special.

Those who have been in the sport for decades and played themselves, just ignore it. They and their children will burn out and hit a wall in the future. Once they get outside of 'their' team, they will see how irrelevant they are in the grand landscape. The best thing you can do for a kid is get him/her away from the team quite often to show the quality that's out there all around this great big world. The head will then deflate quite a bit and the kid will see if they truly want to play a long time that they really need to work much harder and set sights well beyond the stupid leagues and A teams in the younger years.

[Anonymous]

Alexandria Red and Calverton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ it’s like when a dude says “we’re pregnant”. Ummm, no you are not. Your wife is.

Shows you how much people live vicariously through their kids in this area.

I’m the OP, and while I appreciate some of the posts, people sure do feel a need to judge even when they haven’t thought matters through well (or maybe just don’t have the experience to speak up). Men say “we’re pregnant” because they’re invested in the life they’re building with their partner and because they plan to be part of that journey. I asked “your team” because if you’re on this thread you’ve invested time, energy or thought into bettering your kid’s soccer experience, and in my mind that makes it your team. I’ve also watched the core of the group grow up together and play together for years.

I don’t think I’m the only one on here who also lists a college football team, and professional football, soccer and basketball teams as “mine.” Don’t mind that I don’t personally know any players on any of those we’ll publicized regional teams, nor do I go to or even watch every single one of their games like I do my son’s. So no, I don’t live vicariously. But yes, I’ll contiinue to call my son’s team “mine” because it’s my favorite of the bunch and my son’s unabashedly my favorite player to watch in all the sports listed. Maybe it’s because I spent so much time coaching him, maybe it’s because I was a fan of his before I knew he’d even play sports, but it’s probably because that’s natural if you’re a dad.

Now, about saving this thread, I’ve see good U9 kids play, but that really seems to young to me to warrant much discussion. I’m surprised there aren’t more examples of older teams. Honestly, my hope was to either learn what made those experienced teams special, or to find a couple local teams who play really well and that would be fun for my kid to watch and learn from. I also thought others might benefit from knowing what’s out there.

Thanks for the positive examples!

The FPYC team I mentioned play at Draper Park in Fairfax, VA. U17 so older age groups. Again if you’re just looking for the highest possible level league this is not it. But if you’d like your young player to watch a team try to play the game WELL, I’m sure your child will get a kick, they are fun to watch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria Red and Calverton.

For sure. Any age group in particular you’re referring to? Maybe we’re both thinking of the same teams.