Anyone go to the Arlington girls DA ID session?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

Link please.

http://www.ussoccerda.com/sam/standings/league/

The standings of the U15s and U16s are both second only to FCV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

That is a fair point. But there are a couple of questions out there that would be useful to answer. Somebody said they sorted people at tryouts with a stopwatch. You can tell us whether that is true. Somebody else said that the DA teams are simply Arlington Red teams aging into DA. Is that true? Or are you saying they are actually attracting a majority of their players outside Arlington?

DD went to the 05/06 session. 05 didn’t have many new players but the 06s definitely did.
They lined up for sprints in the beginning but I don’t think they separated players by speed. All 05s were on one field and 06s were split into 2. From what I know about Arlington DA, being fast is not that important, but you can’t the slowest.

The 05 team is made up of mostly outside players. I’m not sure about the 06s, but they have one of the biggest rosters.

We came right after the 07/08s. There was a BIG group. In the past, the DA coaches take the starters from the top Arlington team, and will look to replace the bottom 5 or so.

Thank you. Useful context.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:note to self: Stay away from Arlington

Why so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

Link please.

Arlington is good, small teams, lots of playing time, good training and skilled players. I think FCV has better talent, but that will level out eventually. If DA is what you want and your kid had skills, you can’t go wrong with Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In watching the teams play, they haven't looked like just a big and fast team.

All of that said, I've seen some incredibly fast girls whose technical work and first touch is so bad that it beats any value to their extraordinary speed.

I have watched the arlington 08 top team. This would be the team that becomes their DA next year. They all are fairly fast but not really that fast- elite speed. Maybe that’s why they did this. Their DA team will need more speed to be competitive. The technical side really depends on teams style of play. Arlington is not known for their technical skills. So it should not be a surprise.

That’s totally false, the DA will pick up which ever kids are the top 16 or so kids regardless of the club they currently play in. They will keep rosters small by using part time players from partner clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

That is a fair point. But there are a couple of questions out there that would be useful to answer. Somebody said they sorted people at tryouts with a stopwatch. You can tell us whether that is true. Somebody else said that the DA teams are simply Arlington Red teams aging into DA. Is that true? Or are you saying they are actually attracting a majority of their players outside Arlington?

They don’t, but you have to measure speed outside the small sided games and/or drills at the ID session. Also, I can’t speak for all other age groups, but the 05s have FPYC, McClean, SYC, Gunston, and Arlington players that came together for the first time when selected for the DA. So if your kid has skills in that age group there is always an opportunity to beat current players. However just like in anything, between two players of equal skill, you pick the one you know. Meaning you have to be better to get a spot. Hope this was helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

That is a fair point. But there are a couple of questions out there that would be useful to answer. Somebody said they sorted people at tryouts with a stopwatch. You can tell us whether that is true. Somebody else said that the DA teams are simply Arlington Red teams aging into DA. Is that true? Or are you saying they are actually attracting a majority of their players outside Arlington?

They don’t, but you have to measure speed outside the small sided games and/or drills at the ID session. Also, I can’t speak for all other age groups, but the 05s have FPYC, McClean, SYC, Gunston, and Arlington players that came together for the first time when selected for the DA. So if your kid has skills in that age group there is always an opportunity to beat current players. However just like in anything, between two players of equal skill, you pick the one you know. Meaning you have to be better to get a spot. Hope this was helpful.

Speed should be measured as 'speed with the ball', speed of play (first touch and ability to make those decisions FAST), as well. They would never have smart midfielders like you see Internationally because a lot of those midfielders are nowhere near the fastest from point A to point B, but they look faster because they have incredibly high soccer IQ and impeccable first touch. By no means are they slow, but they wouldn't be in the top of the pack in wind sprints. If you have a kid that is a very smart player with great ball skill/excellent first touch and great soccer IQ--but is on the smaller side and/or does not run the 50 yard dash faster than everyone---go somewhere else where they play a different style. That's not knocking ASA. It's just that not every Club and Coach is going to be a match for players. A really good player can look like crap when put a on a field with kids of low soccer IQ that don't move into position to receive, make the runs or anticipate when others have the ball.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

That is a fair point. But there are a couple of questions out there that would be useful to answer. Somebody said they sorted people at tryouts with a stopwatch. You can tell us whether that is true. Somebody else said that the DA teams are simply Arlington Red teams aging into DA. Is that true? Or are you saying they are actually attracting a majority of their players outside Arlington?

They don’t, but you have to measure speed outside the small sided games and/or drills at the ID session. Also, I can’t speak for all other age groups, but the 05s have FPYC, McClean, SYC, Gunston, and Arlington players that came together for the first time when selected for the DA. So if your kid has skills in that age group there is always an opportunity to beat current players. However just like in anything, between two players of equal skill, you pick the one you know. Meaning you have to be better to get a spot. Hope this was helpful.

Indeed helpful once again, and the point made about speed makes sense. The question is whether the coaches view it as important or determinative, and you answered that as well. I don’t think anybody who knows soccer can say it is irrelevant in elite youth soccer, whether in Sao Paolo or Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Arlington GDA mostly picks up the players, who did not make FCV and top ECNL teams. If your DD is fast and physical, she has a good shot at making the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

That is a fair point. But there are a couple of questions out there that would be useful to answer. Somebody said they sorted people at tryouts with a stopwatch. You can tell us whether that is true. Somebody else said that the DA teams are simply Arlington Red teams aging into DA. Is that true? Or are you saying they are actually attracting a majority of their players outside Arlington?

They don’t, but you have to measure speed outside the small sided games and/or drills at the ID session. Also, I can’t speak for all other age groups, but the 05s have FPYC, McClean, SYC, Gunston, and Arlington players that came together for the first time when selected for the DA. So if your kid has skills in that age group there is always an opportunity to beat current players. However just like in anything, between two players of equal skill, you pick the one you know. Meaning you have to be better to get a spot. Hope this was helpful.

Speed should be measured as 'speed with the ball', speed of play (first touch and ability to make those decisions FAST), as well. They would never have smart midfielders like you see Internationally because a lot of those midfielders are nowhere near the fastest from point A to point B, but they look faster because they have incredibly high soccer IQ and impeccable first touch. By no means are they slow, but they wouldn't be in the top of the pack in wind sprints. If you have a kid that is a very smart player with great ball skill/excellent first touch and great soccer IQ--but is on the smaller side and/or does not run the 50 yard dash faster than everyone---go somewhere else where they play a different style. That's not knocking ASA. It's just that not every Club and Coach is going to be a match for players. A really good player can look like crap when put a on a field with kids of low soccer IQ that don't move into position to receive, make the runs or anticipate when others have the ball.

This is not measured at all. They have always used small-sided scrimmages for the bulk of their tryouts throughout the younger years---at least up until U14 from our experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would suggest not relying on ID sessions. Email the coach, and go to the practices when invited.

PP here. Anyone with knowledge on Arlington. I am good with emailing the coach but would like to wait until further in the season to avoid repercussions from current team/coach. At what point do you think the rosters for next year start to become solidified?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

That is a fair point. But there are a couple of questions out there that would be useful to answer. Somebody said they sorted people at tryouts with a stopwatch. You can tell us whether that is true. Somebody else said that the DA teams are simply Arlington Red teams aging into DA. Is that true? Or are you saying they are actually attracting a majority of their players outside Arlington?

They don’t, but you have to measure speed outside the small sided games and/or drills at the ID session. Also, I can’t speak for all other age groups, but the 05s have FPYC, McClean, SYC, Gunston, and Arlington players that came together for the first time when selected for the DA. So if your kid has skills in that age group there is always an opportunity to beat current players. However just like in anything, between two players of equal skill, you pick the one you know. Meaning you have to be better to get a spot. Hope this was helpful.

Speed should be measured as 'speed with the ball', speed of play (first touch and ability to make those decisions FAST), as well. They would never have smart midfielders like you see Internationally because a lot of those midfielders are nowhere near the fastest from point A to point B, but they look faster because they have incredibly high soccer IQ and impeccable first touch. By no means are they slow, but they wouldn't be in the top of the pack in wind sprints. If you have a kid that is a very smart player with great ball skill/excellent first touch and great soccer IQ--but is on the smaller side and/or does not run the 50 yard dash faster than everyone---go somewhere else where they play a different style. That's not knocking ASA. It's just that not every Club and Coach is going to be a match for players. A really good player can look like crap when put a on a field with kids of low soccer IQ that don't move into position to receive, make the runs or anticipate when others have the ball.

Any midfielder playing at the International level is going to be near the fastest from point A to point B - i.e. Rose Lavelle. The slower player who just plays smart gets weeded out long before that. Nice first touch and excellent soccer IQ is fine but is nowhere near enough to be the best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

That is a fair point. But there are a couple of questions out there that would be useful to answer. Somebody said they sorted people at tryouts with a stopwatch. You can tell us whether that is true. Somebody else said that the DA teams are simply Arlington Red teams aging into DA. Is that true? Or are you saying they are actually attracting a majority of their players outside Arlington?

They don’t, but you have to measure speed outside the small sided games and/or drills at the ID session. Also, I can’t speak for all other age groups, but the 05s have FPYC, McClean, SYC, Gunston, and Arlington players that came together for the first time when selected for the DA. So if your kid has skills in that age group there is always an opportunity to beat current players. However just like in anything, between two players of equal skill, you pick the one you know. Meaning you have to be better to get a spot. Hope this was helpful.

Speed should be measured as 'speed with the ball', speed of play (first touch and ability to make those decisions FAST), as well. They would never have smart midfielders like you see Internationally because a lot of those midfielders are nowhere near the fastest from point A to point B, but they look faster because they have incredibly high soccer IQ and impeccable first touch. By no means are they slow, but they wouldn't be in the top of the pack in wind sprints. If you have a kid that is a very smart player with great ball skill/excellent first touch and great soccer IQ--but is on the smaller side and/or does not run the 50 yard dash faster than everyone---go somewhere else where they play a different style. That's not knocking ASA. It's just that not every Club and Coach is going to be a match for players. A really good player can look like crap when put a on a field with kids of low soccer IQ that don't move into position to receive, make the runs or anticipate when others have the ball.

Any midfielder playing at the International level is going to be near the fastest from point A to point B - i.e. Rose Lavelle. The slower player who just plays smart gets weeded out long before that. Nice first touch and excellent soccer IQ is fine but is nowhere near enough to be the best.

Thinks Cryuff, Guardiola, Iniesta, Paul Scholes----yes--- but your are missing the point. Anyone at that level is going to be fast---but there are degrees. And, in the pre-puberty years especially not as big a factor. You can be lightning fast and a sucky midfielder because you do not have high soccer IQ. This is youth soccer. I never said you can be slow as molasses. You will still be fast---but if you have a huge player pool there will be many fast kids. That shouldn't mean making a cutoff of the top 11 by where they finish in a 50-yard dash. Some of those kids are slow with the ball---they don't have acceleration when receiving the ball, their touch isn't fast, they don't think quick all of that matters and contributes to 'speed of play' in soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

That is a fair point. But there are a couple of questions out there that would be useful to answer. Somebody said they sorted people at tryouts with a stopwatch. You can tell us whether that is true. Somebody else said that the DA teams are simply Arlington Red teams aging into DA. Is that true? Or are you saying they are actually attracting a majority of their players outside Arlington?

They don’t, but you have to measure speed outside the small sided games and/or drills at the ID session. Also, I can’t speak for all other age groups, but the 05s have FPYC, McClean, SYC, Gunston, and Arlington players that came together for the first time when selected for the DA. So if your kid has skills in that age group there is always an opportunity to beat current players. However just like in anything, between two players of equal skill, you pick the one you know. Meaning you have to be better to get a spot. Hope this was helpful.

Speed should be measured as 'speed with the ball', speed of play (first touch and ability to make those decisions FAST), as well. They would never have smart midfielders like you see Internationally because a lot of those midfielders are nowhere near the fastest from point A to point B, but they look faster because they have incredibly high soccer IQ and impeccable first touch. By no means are they slow, but they wouldn't be in the top of the pack in wind sprints. If you have a kid that is a very smart player with great ball skill/excellent first touch and great soccer IQ--but is on the smaller side and/or does not run the 50 yard dash faster than everyone---go somewhere else where they play a different style. That's not knocking ASA. It's just that not every Club and Coach is going to be a match for players. A really good player can look like crap when put a on a field with kids of low soccer IQ that don't move into position to receive, make the runs or anticipate when others have the ball.

Any midfielder playing at the International level is going to be near the fastest from point A to point B - i.e. Rose Lavelle. The slower player who just plays smart gets weeded out long before that. Nice first touch and excellent soccer IQ is fine but is nowhere near enough to be the best.

Just because players with exquisite first touch and superior mental speed get weeded out doesn’t mean they’re not the players with the most potential. Soccer in this country has done a very poor job of identifying the best SOCCER players instead opting for the best athletes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

That is a fair point. But there are a couple of questions out there that would be useful to answer. Somebody said they sorted people at tryouts with a stopwatch. You can tell us whether that is true. Somebody else said that the DA teams are simply Arlington Red teams aging into DA. Is that true? Or are you saying they are actually attracting a majority of their players outside Arlington?

They don’t, but you have to measure speed outside the small sided games and/or drills at the ID session. Also, I can’t speak for all other age groups, but the 05s have FPYC, McClean, SYC, Gunston, and Arlington players that came together for the first time when selected for the DA. So if your kid has skills in that age group there is always an opportunity to beat current players. However just like in anything, between two players of equal skill, you pick the one you know. Meaning you have to be better to get a spot. Hope this was helpful.

Speed should be measured as 'speed with the ball', speed of play (first touch and ability to make those decisions FAST), as well. They would never have smart midfielders like you see Internationally because a lot of those midfielders are nowhere near the fastest from point A to point B, but they look faster because they have incredibly high soccer IQ and impeccable first touch. By no means are they slow, but they wouldn't be in the top of the pack in wind sprints. If you have a kid that is a very smart player with great ball skill/excellent first touch and great soccer IQ--but is on the smaller side and/or does not run the 50 yard dash faster than everyone---go somewhere else where they play a different style. That's not knocking ASA. It's just that not every Club and Coach is going to be a match for players. A really good player can look like crap when put a on a field with kids of low soccer IQ that don't move into position to receive, make the runs or anticipate when others have the ball.

Any midfielder playing at the International level is going to be near the fastest from point A to point B - i.e. Rose Lavelle. The slower player who just plays smart gets weeded out long before that. Nice first touch and excellent soccer IQ is fine but is nowhere near enough to be the best.

This is pretty ignorant. Would guess poster does not watch much high level soccer. Top teams do not look for speed for central midfielders. Xavi, Zidane, Scholes there are so many who were known for everything but their speed trying to list them is ridiculous. Locally, DC United's best player ever, Marco Etcheverry, was as slow as me in a sprint. Speedy players go out on the wings normally where they have space to run. Endurance and speed of thought is needed but not footspeed. A footrace in the center of the pitch is won in the first step anyway, in a five yard sprint the winner is the one who steps first not the fastest runner.