Metro United

[Anonymous]

Yes to your questions. All of them.

[Anonymous]

I can attest to a genuine excitement amongst parents, which is mirrored by George and Spencer. They get it. They know what has to happen.

[Anonymous]

Hi-I am interested and didn’t attend meeting. I have a child at a local ecnl program who is not thrilled and may be interested if this team is different. I would love
To vet questions before considering calling. If anyone wants to fill in questions. This is for 06

1) where will practices and game
Be?

2) How many for roster?

3) Will team be all 06?

4) Is any of the team from last year already committed?

5) How many days a week for practice?

6) Who is coach and how many teams will that coach be assigned?

7) Will team attend showcase events?

8) What is summer training plan and where if there is one?

9) Any discussion on why last year was not competitive?

TIA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi-I am interested and didn’t attend meeting. I have a child at a local ecnl program who is not thrilled and may be interested if this team is different. I would love
To vet questions before considering calling. If anyone wants to fill in questions. This is for 06

1) where will practices and game
Be?

Practices and home games at Lake Fairfax.

2) How many for roster?

Full time roster will likely be small (14-16). Probably will have a few part time players too.

3) Will team be all 06?

The full time 06 roster will likely be all 06s. (There will be an 07 team too.)

4) Is any of the team from last year already committed?

The coaches could better answer that question. Some players have received formal offers. There are additional ID sessions this week.

5) How many days a week for practice?

Generally 3 times during week and one weekend practice.

6) Who is coach and how many teams will that coach be assigned?

I believe Spencer will be 06 coach again next year. This year he had 2 teams. They have hired additional coaches for next year. Formal announcement of coaching slate likely in next week.

7) Will team attend showcase events?

Yes

8) What is summer training plan and where if there is one?

Summer training is also at Lake Fairfax. Practices in Summer and winter are less frequent.

9) Any discussion on why last year was not competitive?

These boards are full of discussion on that topic.

This team/coaches are not focused so much on winning. They are focused on developing players. They will play the ball back to the their keeper/defense even when that seems like not the best idea. Everyone who is on roster will get significant playing time.

As had been said before feel free to reach out to coaches for more details if interested.

TIA

[Anonymous]

I will eat my hat if they are able to keep 06 rosters at 14-16. For a club with no real pipeline and no winning history, this is suicide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will eat my hat if they are able to keep 06 rosters at 14-16. For a club with no real pipeline and no winning history, this is suicide.

Baseball cap, top hat, beanie, or is it one of those old, checkered Sherlock Holmes hats?

[Anonymous]

If they keep a small roster. We would be interested. This is not suicide-and actually is a smart move. They need to convince established players to jump ship. No one is going to come over with the same program. It needs to be different. I was most concerned about huge roster last year and mixed age group. Every now and again you get an amazing player that benefits from playing up but this is really rare. Thanks for whoever posted answers. This is very helpful. Happy to see this team evolve. The other set up just didn't work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they keep a small roster. We would be interested. This is not suicide-and actually is a smart move. They need to convince established players to jump ship. No one is going to come over with the same program. It needs to be different. I was most concerned about huge roster last year and mixed age group. Every now and again you get an amazing player that benefits from playing up but this is really rare. Thanks for whoever posted answers. This is very helpful. Happy to see this team evolve. The other set up just didn't work.

They are committed to the small rosters. They are only taking players that should be there. They have already started having those crucial conversations with existing players that won't make the roster.

And everyone will be playing at age next year.

[Anonymous]

Who is best to talk to? I am not sure about the ID sessions when you are already on a team. Surely other people think the same thing? No one wants their kid in trouble just because you are investigating. First child in soccer so this is new but didn't love last year.

[Anonymous]

I am interested too but am going to hold off one more year to make sure promises are met.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who is best to talk to? I am not sure about the ID sessions when you are already on a team. Surely other people think the same thing? No one wants their kid in trouble just because you are investigating. First child in soccer so this is new but didn't love last year.

Contact the technical director George Hales ([e-mail]).

I imagine he will be at Lake Fairfax tonight along with Spencer between 5-8 pm since they are holding ID sessions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am interested too but am going to hold off one more year to make sure promises are met.

I see pros and cons to waiting.

Pros: You truly know what you are going to get, and you aren't the beta test for a new concept. If it's empty promises, you haven't left your current environment (especially if you like it) only to have a bait and switch or be otherwise frustrated.

Cons: Your child misses the year of training in the system, and then may be less likely to make her way in the next year (same issue with any club with a high level team, really.) We had a somewhat parallel choice years back when deciding whether to have our DS play up at U9 -- he was offered a slot and we decided not to have him do it, with all the same arguments often made on this board about staying at age. In that case, it turned out that the extra year of better training likely would have made a difference for his development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am interested too but am going to hold off one more year to make sure promises are met.

I see pros and cons to waiting.

Pros: You truly know what you are going to get, and you aren't the beta test for a new concept. If it's empty promises, you haven't left your current environment (especially if you like it) only to have a bait and switch or be otherwise frustrated.

Cons: Your child misses the year of training in the system, and then may be less likely to make her way in the next year (same issue with any club with a high level team, really.) We had a somewhat parallel choice years back when deciding whether to have our DS play up at U9 -- he was offered a slot and we decided not to have him do it, with all the same arguments often made on this board about staying at age. In that case, it turned out that the extra year of better training likely would have made a difference for his development.

Good post. We could also say

Pros: you know where your current child stands with your current club. If they are a starter, then you know they will see time.

Cons: if they fulfill the promises and do well, your child may not find a place on the roster, either because they want to keep developing the group they have or because competition for roster spots go up.

I should add playing up at U9 is a little less of an issue than it is at U14. That is the age it often makes sense. Where parents go wrong is never recognizing when it is time for a child to drop back and play at age.

[Anonymous]

We can't go tonight-mother's day dinner. I could not find a website? Is there one? I did see DA for Spirit listed still on their website and noticed it says 2007/2006--can anyone confirm it is only going to be 2006 together? 2007 I am assuming will be a separate year? I am curious who shows up? Wonder if there are other ecnl/DA people sitting back and wondering esp with the who FC Virginia thing-who wants to travel? We have kept our interest in this very quiet. I am kind of laughing at the range of peope who are sick of their club and thinking this could be interesting actually esp if there is a small roster and it is close. Hmmm. DCUM people, report back please. Think of it as a mother's day solid--Oh good luck for all those who go. I am sure people are worried their clubs will find out lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We can't go tonight-mother's day dinner. I could not find a website? Is there one? I did see DA for Spirit listed still on their website and noticed it says 2007/2006--can anyone confirm it is only going to be 2006 together? 2007 I am assuming will be a separate year? I am curious who shows up? Wonder if there are other ecnl/DA people sitting back and wondering esp with the who FC Virginia thing-who wants to travel? We have kept our interest in this very quiet. I am kind of laughing at the range of peope who are sick of their club and thinking this could be interesting actually esp if there is a small roster and it is close. Hmmm. DCUM people, report back please. Think of it as a mother's day solid--Oh good luck for all those who go. I am sure people are worried their clubs will find out lol

metroutd.org

Look at the faq

The Spirit info is a year old.

2006 and 2007 will be two separate teams. (U13 and U14)

They have another ID session tomorrow if people don’t want to venture out on Mother’s Day. Or Wednesday if they want to wait for nicer weather.

You might want to let the coaches know you are planning to come later in the week. They are making offers thoughout the week.