FPYC 2008 Girls Tryouts (Rising U12)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

FPYCparent wrote:We're talking about young ladies turning 11 this year, right? OK. Good.

My oldest joined the FPYC 2008 Girls team for the Bethesda Tournament of the U9 year (November 2016). We had initially tried out and were offered a spot, but did not join for non-soccer reasons. She was invited to practice a month before the tournament and we've been with the team since.

If I am not mistaken, the team lost two original players at the end of the U9 year (one moved out-of-state, the other moved up two years within FPYC to play with an older sister). My DD joined mid-year and another player joined during the winter of the U9 year. Two players joined during the U10 year, with none leaving. Three players joined for the current U11 year, with two of those coming from the 2007 team that disbanded/moved to another area club with their coach. Aside from the two players who left after U9, the team has only grown.

There is no B team for the 2008s, and there are no 2007 or 2009 teams. If there is a roster spot open (max 16 for NCSL U12 and 18 for NCSL U13, I believe) and your player is invited to join, she will get an even distribution of playing time regardless of overall skill level. Just don't expect a call-up to an older team because of your player's advanced skill. If there are no more roster spots available, I'm sure the coach will allow you to practice with the team (that is, he's not going to shut the door on you due to a lack of open roster spots). We've had two or three players practice with the team over the years (these players were/are affiliated with other area clubs).

Fees for the U11 year were $250 registration (with the club; due in July time frame). The remaining fees were $150 deposit, $300, $500, and $500 (due approx. Aug. 15, Sept. 1, Oct. 1, and Nov. 1, respectively). We just got a new uniform set for our player (two jerseys, one pair of shorts, one pair of socks) for $100. The club was considering a uniform change in the coming year, but that has been delayed. This year, optional goalkeeper training was added for all interested players. With the break from UK Elite, the GK training has been offered without any additional fees.

Most team communication is handled via TeamSnap. There is a private Facebook group and a private YouTube channel. All games are recorded and posted, with an occasional highlights clip after a tournament or season.

For travel this U11 year, we will have two games in Winchester (one fall and one spring), one in Haymarket, a handful between Leesburg, Reston, Lorton, and Arlington. Tournaments were in Chantilly and at Muldoon's. Home games have been at Draper Drive Park (new turf for Spring 2019) and Stafford Drive Park.

I thought forums were to discuss "openly" opinions and suggestions? Well rumor is that FPYC is a circus, which is why no 2007 girls from what I hear. Its very disorganize from what I HEAR. Telling other parents to just beware is bad on a forum? .. Anywho

Yes as someone posted seems like one person is trying really hard to seem as if a community is behind FPYC if so then go take your kids to FPYC. Just dont tell friends and families how bad it is.

Since most of the coaches are volunteers and it’s a small club with a lot of local players, it’s pretty ignorant to say there isn’t a community behind FPYC. You can’t have a trustworthy opinion or make suggestions based on what you heard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait why are we talking about FPYC? A soccer destination!

Why did you read the post, click it and comment then? Move along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

FPYCparent wrote:I cannot speak for all of FPYC (gotta be about 10 or so sports offered within the club), nor can I speak for all of FPYC Soccer. As a parent, I rarely hear from the mothership(s) directly. I can only speak on my experience with the 2008 Girls.

I hope I didn't convey any strong opinions about the club/team/coach; I tried to keep it just to facts, most of which can be verified. I kept the other post just to the basics of when my DD joined, the flow of players joining and leaving the team, this year's fees and match locations, and how we communicate internally. Only the bit about playing time and roster spots veered a little from facts.

If anybody wants subjective information about the team, I have no problem sharing my own insights.

…

This team does not practice at Draper on a regular basis. Too much "competition" with other FPYC (and Fairfax High?) teams/sports. Perhaps this team will get more time there as they age. For now, we've got Lanier and Green Acres for practices.

And this is one of the main reasons why the club overall has struggled to attract quality travel players in recent years. This is an NSCL D1 team, one of the 2 highest performing teams at the club, and it has to practice at 2 of the crappiest fields in northern virginia, while the older rec teams get lighted turf space.

The powers-that-be at the club have decided that "we don't give preference to travel teams over rec teams" is the hill they're gonna die on, and that's exactly what they're doing.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

FPYCparent wrote:I cannot speak for all of FPYC (gotta be about 10 or so sports offered within the club), nor can I speak for all of FPYC Soccer. As a parent, I rarely hear from the mothership(s) directly. I can only speak on my experience with the 2008 Girls.

I hope I didn't convey any strong opinions about the club/team/coach; I tried to keep it just to facts, most of which can be verified. I kept the other post just to the basics of when my DD joined, the flow of players joining and leaving the team, this year's fees and match locations, and how we communicate internally. Only the bit about playing time and roster spots veered a little from facts.

If anybody wants subjective information about the team, I have no problem sharing my own insights.

…

This team does not practice at Draper on a regular basis. Too much "competition" with other FPYC (and Fairfax High?) teams/sports. Perhaps this team will get more time there as they age. For now, we've got Lanier and Green Acres for practices.

And this is one of the main reasons why the club overall has struggled to attract quality travel players in recent years. This is an NSCL D1 team, one of the 2 highest performing teams at the club, and it has to practice at 2 of the crappiest fields in northern virginia, while the older rec teams get lighted turf space.

The powers-that-be at the club have decided that "we don't give preference to travel teams over rec teams" is the hill they're gonna die on, and that's exactly what they're doing.

+1

Only one third of Field 2, assigned for Rec is used 5:30-7:00 pm pretty much every Tuesday-Thursday.

[Anonymous]

I think we can all agree that administratively FPYC is a shitshow. It emphasizes rec over travel because that rec is what the community values. But FPYC's travel teams operate pretty much independently, and in that construct, it has several travel teams/age groups that are functional, with strong players and coaching and relative stability.

[Anonymous]

FPYCparent wrote:If I am understanding things correctly, per:

https://www.fairfaxva.gov/government/parks-recreation/parks-and-trails/amenities/athletic-fields-and-gymnasiums

The City of Fairfax owns the fields (including those at city-owned schools) and not Fairfax County. If anything, FPYC is a user/client thereof. I wouldn't know if FPYC gets any preferential treatment. As far as I know, it's all first-come, first served when paid reservations are made. Could the club prioritize its requests? Sure! Do they? I have no idea. Maybe the Irish Football lobby within the organization has a little more sway than the Soccer lobby. Perhaps someone decreed back when the club was established back in 1963 that soccer teams would be considered last for everything.

I would love of the club to get access to fields at GMU. However, I think that'll have to wait until I make my $10M donation.

In any event, this team still manages to get in three practices a week during the outdoor seasons. For now, all of the practices are on grass and the home games are on turf. The summer camp in August will be at one of the turf fields.

Yes, all of the fields in Fairfax City are Fairfax City fields.

No, athletic field space (county or city) is not just awarded on a first come first served basis. Non profit youth clubs get 1st priority, and reduced rates. With respect to Ffx City fields specifically, the city doesn't even accept other reservations until FPYC has said what it is going to use.

Additionally the club paid part of the cost for the turf fields at Stafford and Draper (that's where al lot of that All-Star tourney $$ goes), so they are much more than just another user.

Within the club the allocation of field space between the different sports is decided by the president / board of directors. Each sport then allocates its share among its teams as the directors of those sports see fit.

The problem for FPYC is that none of the near-bye competing travel programs deal with the same field policies. And it matters. Your statement that your daughter's team still gets 3 practices per week is not true. Ffx City grass fields are closed all the time. How many practices got cancelled for you last fall? How many weeks did you actually get 3 practices in, and how many only 2, or 1, or none at all? And by mid-Oct you were losing daylight and practices were cut short. And by Nov when the girls are trying to get ready for a post-season tournament, then what? Fighting for a sliver of space at Draper with all the rec all-star teams?

Well guess what all of your DD's teams competitors were doing during all of those nights off? Practicing, and getting better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

FPYCparent wrote:If I am understanding things correctly, per:

https://www.fairfaxva.gov/government/parks-recreation/parks-and-trails/amenities/athletic-fields-and-gymnasiums

The City of Fairfax owns the fields (including those at city-owned schools) and not Fairfax County. If anything, FPYC is a user/client thereof. I wouldn't know if FPYC gets any preferential treatment. As far as I know, it's all first-come, first served when paid reservations are made. Could the club prioritize its requests? Sure! Do they? I have no idea. Maybe the Irish Football lobby within the organization has a little more sway than the Soccer lobby. Perhaps someone decreed back when the club was established back in 1963 that soccer teams would be considered last for everything.

I would love of the club to get access to fields at GMU. However, I think that'll have to wait until I make my $10M donation.

In any event, this team still manages to get in three practices a week during the outdoor seasons. For now, all of the practices are on grass and the home games are on turf. The summer camp in August will be at one of the turf fields.

Yes, all of the fields in Fairfax City are Fairfax City fields.

No, athletic field space (county or city) is not just awarded on a first come first served basis. Non profit youth clubs get 1st priority, and reduced rates. With respect to Ffx City fields specifically, the city doesn't even accept other reservations until FPYC has said what it is going to use.

Additionally the club paid part of the cost for the turf fields at Stafford and Draper (that's where al lot of that All-Star tourney $$ goes), so they are much more than just another user.

Within the club the allocation of field space between the different sports is decided by the president / board of directors. Each sport then allocates its share among its teams as the directors of those sports see fit.

The problem for FPYC is that none of the near-bye competing travel programs deal with the same field policies. And it matters. Your statement that your daughter's team still gets 3 practices per week is not true. Ffx City grass fields are closed all the time. How many practices got cancelled for you last fall? How many weeks did you actually get 3 practices in, and how many only 2, or 1, or none at all? And by mid-Oct you were losing daylight and practices were cut short. And by Nov when the girls are trying to get ready for a post-season tournament, then what? Fighting for a sliver of space at Draper with all the rec all-star teams?

Well guess what all of your DD's teams competitors were doing during all of those nights off? Practicing, and getting better.

Seems like FPYC has alot of issues to fix. Maybe they should drop drop travel soccer and just stick to REC and other sports. Enough clubs around to take remaining players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

FPYCparent wrote:If I am understanding things correctly, per:

https://www.fairfaxva.gov/government/parks-recreation/parks-and-trails/amenities/athletic-fields-and-gymnasiums

The City of Fairfax owns the fields (including those at city-owned schools) and not Fairfax County. If anything, FPYC is a user/client thereof. I wouldn't know if FPYC gets any preferential treatment. As far as I know, it's all first-come, first served when paid reservations are made. Could the club prioritize its requests? Sure! Do they? I have no idea. Maybe the Irish Football lobby within the organization has a little more sway than the Soccer lobby. Perhaps someone decreed back when the club was established back in 1963 that soccer teams would be considered last for everything.

I would love of the club to get access to fields at GMU. However, I think that'll have to wait until I make my $10M donation.

In any event, this team still manages to get in three practices a week during the outdoor seasons. For now, all of the practices are on grass and the home games are on turf. The summer camp in August will be at one of the turf fields.

Yes, all of the fields in Fairfax City are Fairfax City fields.

No, athletic field space (county or city) is not just awarded on a first come first served basis. Non profit youth clubs get 1st priority, and reduced rates. With respect to Ffx City fields specifically, the city doesn't even accept other reservations until FPYC has said what it is going to use.

Additionally the club paid part of the cost for the turf fields at Stafford and Draper (that's where al lot of that All-Star tourney $$ goes), so they are much more than just another user.

Within the club the allocation of field space between the different sports is decided by the president / board of directors. Each sport then allocates its share among its teams as the directors of those sports see fit.

The problem for FPYC is that none of the near-bye competing travel programs deal with the same field policies. And it matters. Your statement that your daughter's team still gets 3 practices per week is not true. Ffx City grass fields are closed all the time. How many practices got cancelled for you last fall? How many weeks did you actually get 3 practices in, and how many only 2, or 1, or none at all? And by mid-Oct you were losing daylight and practices were cut short. And by Nov when the girls are trying to get ready for a post-season tournament, then what? Fighting for a sliver of space at Draper with all the rec all-star teams?

Well guess what all of your DD's teams competitors were doing during all of those nights off? Practicing, and getting better.

Seems like FPYC has alot of issues to fix. Maybe they should drop drop travel soccer and just stick to REC and other sports. Enough clubs around to take remaining players.

The parent who actually has a player on an FPYC team is fine with it. If there are some competitive teams with players who are happy at the club, why should the club drop travel at the suggestion of anonymous?

[Anonymous]

obviously this is a public board where people post information about tryouts and different programs.

hmm name 1 local club in Virginia without some type of issues? Can't think of any.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:obviously this is a public board where people post information about tryouts and different programs.

hmm name 1 local club in Virginia without some type of issues? Can't think of any.

I too thought it was public enough to criticize clubs for failing to be a "GOOD" soccer academy without being swarmed by sock puppets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:obviously this is a public board where people post information about tryouts and different programs.

hmm name 1 local club in Virginia without some type of issues? Can't think of any.

I too thought it was public enough to criticize clubs for failing to be a "GOOD" soccer academy without being swarmed by sock puppets.

Ouch

[Anonymous]

And speaking for another age group (06b) at FPYC, we also got *nearly* all our practices in. Field space is a nonissue for us... Also, once those 08 girls get a bit older, they will get the turf on a regular basis as well. We had to pay our dues at Lanier and Green Acres from u9-u10 or so...and now it's all turf, all the time. Though we often purposely schedule practices on some crap grass fields to prepare the boys for playing against other clubs' crap grass fields.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And speaking for another age group (06b) at FPYC, we also got *nearly* all our practices in. Field space is a nonissue for us... Also, once those 08 girls get a bit older, they will get the turf on a regular basis as well. We had to pay our dues at Lanier and Green Acres from u9-u10 or so...and now it's all turf, all the time. Though we often purposely schedule practices on some crap grass fields to prepare the boys for playing against other clubs' crap grass fields.

05B parent here -- Our kids practice 3x a week on turf now; we had to pay our dues on grass at U9 and U10 as well. All games at this age group are on turf as well.

[Anonymous]

I live right by Fairfax HS and have heard horror story on FPYC, so I actually take my kids to Annandale. Its only 7 min down Little River if that and I can say I'm happy by the level of commitment that club has. NPL league seem good we don't ever travel far maybe woodbridge (PWSI)? It's worth looking at if you want to shop around!! Don't be afraid to look around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live right by Fairfax HS and have heard horror story on FPYC, so I actually take my kids to Annandale. Its only 7 min down Little River if that and I can say I'm happy by the level of commitment that club has. NPL league seem good we don't ever travel far maybe woodbridge (PWSI)? It's worth looking at if you want to shop around!! Don't be afraid to look around.

Funny, I have heard horror stories about Annandale. Not impressed with NPL one bit. Certainly not better than ncsl. Anyway, to each his own.