Washington Spirit Virginia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wonder if FCV saw this coming...

Sounds like no to me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wonder if FCV saw this coming...

Sounds like no to me

Seriously. My daughter is registered to try out at FCV. Yesterday's tryouts were canceled due to "wet fields." (Reasonable explanation, but now I wonder.) Now I'm not sure what the heck.... No point in trying out if it's to practice in Springfield when that's way too far for a 5th grader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wonder if FCV saw this coming...

Sounds like no to me

Seriously. My daughter is registered to try out at FCV. Yesterday's tryouts were canceled due to "wet fields." (Reasonable explanation, but now I wonder.) Now I'm not sure what the heck.... No point in trying out if it's to practice in Springfield when that's way too far for a 5th grader.

Aren't all their tryout fields turf? Just saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wonder if FCV saw this coming...

Sounds like no to me

Seriously. My daughter is registered to try out at FCV. Yesterday's tryouts were canceled due to "wet fields." (Reasonable explanation, but now I wonder.) Now I'm not sure what the heck.... No point in trying out if it's to practice in Springfield when that's way too far for a 5th grader.

You should switch club since FCV 08 Girls are terrible anyway

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wonder if FCV saw this coming...

Sounds like no to me

Seriously. My daughter is registered to try out at FCV. Yesterday's tryouts were canceled due to "wet fields." (Reasonable explanation, but now I wonder.) Now I'm not sure what the heck.... No point in trying out if it's to practice in Springfield when that's way too far for a 5th grader.

Wet fields is a common FCV issue since the non-DA girls practice at Bles Park. Practices are frequently cancelled last minute when it rains.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great timing for the press release. Right in the middle of official tryouts.

FCV Girls DA Players and Parents,

Today we have some exciting news to share with you. FC Virginia has joined forces with The St. James to create the best-in-class youth player development platform. We have reached an agreement that will enable us to combine our resources and provide a high-quality environment on and off the field.
We are really thrilled about the opportunities we will be able to provide to our players which includes access to The St. James’ facility. This includes a 110,000 square-foot Field House ?—?the only indoor FIFA regulation-sized soccer pitch in the region?,??an 8,000 square-foot indoor High Performance Center, and a 33,000 square-foot Court House for futsal instruction and match play.

Other benefits raising the bar of our programming include:

- A dedicated marketing department to promote our DA programming

- A specialist in website management which will allow us to present our teams in the most professional way to allow us to attract more high-level players into the club

- Individual Training & Leadership Development Programming

- Advanced Player & Team Developmental Pathways

- High Performance Strength, Conditioning, Fitness & Wellness Instruction

- Tournaments & Special Events including showcase opportunities

- Access to meeting rooms and video analysis

- Futsal courts to be used as part of our DA programming and environment



Our Girls DA is already recognized as one of the regional and national leaders in player development and programming. This partnership will move us forward, improving the programming and development opportunities.

What does this mean for the Girls DA leadership and coaching staff? We will continue to work with the coaches that have provided some of the best coaching, training, and development in the area. Bobby and Christian will still run and manage the Development Academy, along with the current Development Academy staff coaches and our goalkeeper coach Zach, just like we do now.

What about our training and match location? The majority of our training sessions and matches will still be held at Evergreen Sportsplex, very similar to what we do now. St James is providing us with additional opportunities if we want to use them. We will be cautious about travel distance to training as well as the geography make-up of teams. For the winter period, we will have access to a full size 11v11 indoor field and futsal courts for training and can provide a year-round opportunity to maximize the performance output for our players. This is something no other club in the area can offer and this partnership adds more value to our program.

This partnership does not change any previously offered roster spots for the 2019-2020 DA season. We are continuing as planned as we have strengthened the rosters for each of our DA teams.
We will have an open house date where everyone will be invited to see the new facility as well as a presentation about how the Girls DA will benefit from this.

Please feel free to reach out to Christian or me with any questions you might have.

Christian will be at training tonight at Evergreen between 5-8pm if you would like to chat more in person. And I can chat afterwards too.

We are looking forward to the successful future of our Club.

All the best,

- Bobby Puppione
FCV DA Director

[Anonymous]

Color me curious to see how this plays out.
Assuming FCV training and games are moved to Springfield.
Who gets Evergreen? Loudon?

I'm sure there will be plenty of takers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear DA Parents, Players & Staff,

Since February when we announced the DA Programs in Maryland and Virginia would operate
for the 2019-20 competition year, we have done, with US Soccer and our partners at Baltimore
Armour and Great Falls Reston, a thorough review of the programs to identify areas for
significant improvement.
Our mission was simple – improve the quality of the programs and lower the cost for
participants. The review we conducted led to the following conclusions:
1. The DA Programs would best operate as integral components of the partner youth clubs.
2. The role of the Spirit is best focused on the utilization of our resources that is impossible
for the youth clubs to replicate. Those resources are our players, coaches, technology,
methodologies, and expertise.
3. The DA Programs would be best served by the youth clubs leading the programs with the
Spirit moving into a support partner role.
So, the Washington Spirit organization is proud to introduce changes in our Youth programing
model that will improve the program structure and lessen the player costs. As part of our
changes in the programming model, we have decided to transfer our Maryland Development
Academy program slot with US Soccer to the Baltimore Armour and their partner clubs SAC &
Pipeline. For the Virginia DA, we have decided to transfer our slot to Metro United which will
operate under the Great Falls Reston organizational structure which will include future partner
clubs. In collaboration with these new Spirit Alliance Partners, we have secured the approval
from US Soccer for these transfers based on each program/model having full club operational
support, starting with an administrative and technical management staff combined with a
competitive Zone 1 program that supports a Pathway to the Development Academy for future
success. The new model also continues to provide a Pathway to the Pro’s that offers a
development path for the best players in the area.
The leadership and management of the Maryland DA will be led by Santino Quaranta and the
Virginia DA will be led by George Hales as Academy Director, Tom Torres serving as a
Technical Advisor and Rich Shelton as the Executive Director. The Spirit will consult with the
DA Programs to support the transfers and following the completion of the transfers our
relationship with these clubs will become the shift to the Spirit Alliance program. The respective
club directors and management team will be holding sessions to discuss in greater detail the
improvements to the programs, including making them less costly.
This announcement is the first step in a broader campaign for the Spirit to partner with all youth
clubs. We want to make sure we’re supporting all clubs and their quests to develop the best
players in the area while supporting their coaching staffs with technical and tactical
integration, and high-performance training techniques that are all vital components of the
modern game. More details will be announced on this program in the coming weeks, but
the simple message to all youth clubs is we want you to Join Us in win-win partnerships.
We will be soon holding a Youth Club Summit to work together on the Alliance
Partnership program.
Finally, if you have been observing our announcements related to the pro team, you have seen us
deliver on our commitments to create, build, and execute better experiences for our players and
fans. Today, we enhanced the commitment we made for the DA Programs to operate in 2019-20
by strengthening the programs to position them for sustainable success. Together with our
partners, we have made the DA Programs better and more affordable. We share this with you
because the Washington Spirit want you to know we take our commitments seriously and we
will deliver on our commitment to make important improvements in all we do in order to make a
difference in supporting the sport we all love.
Thank you for your participation in our youth programs and your loyal support of the
Washington Spirit organization.

Steve Baldwin - Owner
Larry R. Best - Chief Executive Office

That’s not true! The sock puppet is at it again!

what a cluster

I’m surprised FCV parents are doing any trash talking after their teams disastrous results at the Colorado showcase. We know FCV has tried to ignore the terrible results by their teams, but we all know how badly they showed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear DA Parents, Players & Staff,

Since February when we announced the DA Programs in Maryland and Virginia would operate
for the 2019-20 competition year, we have done, with US Soccer and our partners at Baltimore
Armour and Great Falls Reston, a thorough review of the programs to identify areas for
significant improvement.
Our mission was simple – improve the quality of the programs and lower the cost for
participants. The review we conducted led to the following conclusions:
1. The DA Programs would best operate as integral components of the partner youth clubs.
2. The role of the Spirit is best focused on the utilization of our resources that is impossible
for the youth clubs to replicate. Those resources are our players, coaches, technology,
methodologies, and expertise.
3. The DA Programs would be best served by the youth clubs leading the programs with the
Spirit moving into a support partner role.
So, the Washington Spirit organization is proud to introduce changes in our Youth programing
model that will improve the program structure and lessen the player costs. As part of our
changes in the programming model, we have decided to transfer our Maryland Development
Academy program slot with US Soccer to the Baltimore Armour and their partner clubs SAC &
Pipeline. For the Virginia DA, we have decided to transfer our slot to Metro United which will
operate under the Great Falls Reston organizational structure which will include future partner
clubs. In collaboration with these new Spirit Alliance Partners, we have secured the approval
from US Soccer for these transfers based on each program/model having full club operational
support, starting with an administrative and technical management staff combined with a
competitive Zone 1 program that supports a Pathway to the Development Academy for future
success. The new model also continues to provide a Pathway to the Pro’s that offers a
development path for the best players in the area.
The leadership and management of the Maryland DA will be led by Santino Quaranta and the
Virginia DA will be led by George Hales as Academy Director, Tom Torres serving as a
Technical Advisor and Rich Shelton as the Executive Director. The Spirit will consult with the
DA Programs to support the transfers and following the completion of the transfers our
relationship with these clubs will become the shift to the Spirit Alliance program. The respective
club directors and management team will be holding sessions to discuss in greater detail the
improvements to the programs, including making them less costly.
This announcement is the first step in a broader campaign for the Spirit to partner with all youth
clubs. We want to make sure we’re supporting all clubs and their quests to develop the best
players in the area while supporting their coaching staffs with technical and tactical
integration, and high-performance training techniques that are all vital components of the
modern game. More details will be announced on this program in the coming weeks, but
the simple message to all youth clubs is we want you to Join Us in win-win partnerships.
We will be soon holding a Youth Club Summit to work together on the Alliance
Partnership program.
Finally, if you have been observing our announcements related to the pro team, you have seen us
deliver on our commitments to create, build, and execute better experiences for our players and
fans. Today, we enhanced the commitment we made for the DA Programs to operate in 2019-20
by strengthening the programs to position them for sustainable success. Together with our
partners, we have made the DA Programs better and more affordable. We share this with you
because the Washington Spirit want you to know we take our commitments seriously and we
will deliver on our commitment to make important improvements in all we do in order to make a
difference in supporting the sport we all love.
Thank you for your participation in our youth programs and your loyal support of the
Washington Spirit organization.

Steve Baldwin - Owner
Larry R. Best - Chief Executive Office

That’s not true! The sock puppet is at it again!

what a cluster

I’m surprised FCV parents are doing any trash talking after their teams disastrous results at the Colorado showcase. We know FCV has tried to ignore the terrible results by their teams, but we all know how badly they showed.

I’m sorry, who is FCV? You mean St James??

[Anonymous]

Evergreen is up for sale, so whomever will pay the most for field rental space - or maybe whomever buys it.

Right now FCV uses multiple fields as do Loudoun and Barca. Not to mention the football, lacrosse, and field hockey teams. CZ knew he had to make a move and was getting squeezed out on fields and by bigger, more financially secure clubs, so he sold the team. My guess is St. James will slowly bleed SYC, Annandale/Villa Real, BRYC, and even some Arlington and Alexandria, etc. dry of talent and become a true powerhouse. Give it about 5 years. Meanwhile CZ doesn't have to deal with Bobby P. any more as an employee. Probably sold the team for that alone.


Will be interesting to see how Metro United and Loudoun ECNL benefit from this announcement.

[Anonymous]

Loudoun wins and FCV loses. Knew FCV couldn’t compete

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear DA Parents, Players & Staff,

Since February when we announced the DA Programs in Maryland and Virginia would operate
for the 2019-20 competition year, we have done, with US Soccer and our partners at Baltimore
Armour and Great Falls Reston, a thorough review of the programs to identify areas for
significant improvement.
Our mission was simple – improve the quality of the programs and lower the cost for
participants. The review we conducted led to the following conclusions:
1. The DA Programs would best operate as integral components of the partner youth clubs.
2. The role of the Spirit is best focused on the utilization of our resources that is impossible
for the youth clubs to replicate. Those resources are our players, coaches, technology,
methodologies, and expertise.
3. The DA Programs would be best served by the youth clubs leading the programs with the
Spirit moving into a support partner role.
So, the Washington Spirit organization is proud to introduce changes in our Youth programing
model that will improve the program structure and lessen the player costs. As part of our
changes in the programming model, we have decided to transfer our Maryland Development
Academy program slot with US Soccer to the Baltimore Armour and their partner clubs SAC &
Pipeline. For the Virginia DA, we have decided to transfer our slot to Metro United which will
operate under the Great Falls Reston organizational structure which will include future partner
clubs. In collaboration with these new Spirit Alliance Partners, we have secured the approval
from US Soccer for these transfers based on each program/model having full club operational
support, starting with an administrative and technical management staff combined with a
competitive Zone 1 program that supports a Pathway to the Development Academy for future
success. The new model also continues to provide a Pathway to the Pro’s that offers a
development path for the best players in the area.
The leadership and management of the Maryland DA will be led by Santino Quaranta and the
Virginia DA will be led by George Hales as Academy Director, Tom Torres serving as a
Technical Advisor and Rich Shelton as the Executive Director. The Spirit will consult with the
DA Programs to support the transfers and following the completion of the transfers our
relationship with these clubs will become the shift to the Spirit Alliance program. The respective
club directors and management team will be holding sessions to discuss in greater detail the
improvements to the programs, including making them less costly.
This announcement is the first step in a broader campaign for the Spirit to partner with all youth
clubs. We want to make sure we’re supporting all clubs and their quests to develop the best
players in the area while supporting their coaching staffs with technical and tactical
integration, and high-performance training techniques that are all vital components of the
modern game. More details will be announced on this program in the coming weeks, but
the simple message to all youth clubs is we want you to Join Us in win-win partnerships.
We will be soon holding a Youth Club Summit to work together on the Alliance
Partnership program.
Finally, if you have been observing our announcements related to the pro team, you have seen us
deliver on our commitments to create, build, and execute better experiences for our players and
fans. Today, we enhanced the commitment we made for the DA Programs to operate in 2019-20
by strengthening the programs to position them for sustainable success. Together with our
partners, we have made the DA Programs better and more affordable. We share this with you
because the Washington Spirit want you to know we take our commitments seriously and we
will deliver on our commitment to make important improvements in all we do in order to make a
difference in supporting the sport we all love.
Thank you for your participation in our youth programs and your loyal support of the
Washington Spirit organization.

Steve Baldwin - Owner
Larry R. Best - Chief Executive Office

That’s not true! The sock puppet is at it again!

what a cluster

I’m surprised FCV parents are doing any trash talking after their teams disastrous results at the Colorado showcase. We know FCV has tried to ignore the terrible results by their teams, but we all know how badly they showed.

Link to DA standings. http://www.ussoccerda.com/sam/standings/league/

Link to ECNL standings. https://www.eliteclubsnationalleague.com/mid-atlantic-standings-2018-19/

Speak for themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wonder if FCV saw this coming...

Sounds like no to me

Seriously. My daughter is registered to try out at FCV. Yesterday's tryouts were canceled due to "wet fields." (Reasonable explanation, but now I wonder.) Now I'm not sure what the heck.... No point in trying out if it's to practice in Springfield when that's way too far for a 5th grader.

Wet fields is a common FCV issue since the non-DA girls practice at Bles Park. Practices are frequently cancelled last minute when it rains.

Try out at Loudoun instead. They own their soccer park and can use Bolen and also use Evergreen along with FCV. Also a much more financially secure and stable club (well maybe not now … but they are at least based in Loudoun).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear DA Parents, Players & Staff,

Since February when we announced the DA Programs in Maryland and Virginia would operate
for the 2019-20 competition year, we have done, with US Soccer and our partners at Baltimore
Armour and Great Falls Reston, a thorough review of the programs to identify areas for
significant improvement.
Our mission was simple – improve the quality of the programs and lower the cost for
participants. The review we conducted led to the following conclusions:
1. The DA Programs would best operate as integral components of the partner youth clubs.
2. The role of the Spirit is best focused on the utilization of our resources that is impossible
for the youth clubs to replicate. Those resources are our players, coaches, technology,
methodologies, and expertise.
3. The DA Programs would be best served by the youth clubs leading the programs with the
Spirit moving into a support partner role.
So, the Washington Spirit organization is proud to introduce changes in our Youth programing
model that will improve the program structure and lessen the player costs. As part of our
changes in the programming model, we have decided to transfer our Maryland Development
Academy program slot with US Soccer to the Baltimore Armour and their partner clubs SAC &
Pipeline. For the Virginia DA, we have decided to transfer our slot to Metro United which will
operate under the Great Falls Reston organizational structure which will include future partner
clubs. In collaboration with these new Spirit Alliance Partners, we have secured the approval
from US Soccer for these transfers based on each program/model having full club operational
support, starting with an administrative and technical management staff combined with a
competitive Zone 1 program that supports a Pathway to the Development Academy for future
success. The new model also continues to provide a Pathway to the Pro’s that offers a
development path for the best players in the area.
The leadership and management of the Maryland DA will be led by Santino Quaranta and the
Virginia DA will be led by George Hales as Academy Director, Tom Torres serving as a
Technical Advisor and Rich Shelton as the Executive Director. The Spirit will consult with the
DA Programs to support the transfers and following the completion of the transfers our
relationship with these clubs will become the shift to the Spirit Alliance program. The respective
club directors and management team will be holding sessions to discuss in greater detail the
improvements to the programs, including making them less costly.
This announcement is the first step in a broader campaign for the Spirit to partner with all youth
clubs. We want to make sure we’re supporting all clubs and their quests to develop the best
players in the area while supporting their coaching staffs with technical and tactical
integration, and high-performance training techniques that are all vital components of the
modern game. More details will be announced on this program in the coming weeks, but
the simple message to all youth clubs is we want you to Join Us in win-win partnerships.
We will be soon holding a Youth Club Summit to work together on the Alliance
Partnership program.
Finally, if you have been observing our announcements related to the pro team, you have seen us
deliver on our commitments to create, build, and execute better experiences for our players and
fans. Today, we enhanced the commitment we made for the DA Programs to operate in 2019-20
by strengthening the programs to position them for sustainable success. Together with our
partners, we have made the DA Programs better and more affordable. We share this with you
because the Washington Spirit want you to know we take our commitments seriously and we
will deliver on our commitment to make important improvements in all we do in order to make a
difference in supporting the sport we all love.
Thank you for your participation in our youth programs and your loyal support of the
Washington Spirit organization.

Steve Baldwin - Owner
Larry R. Best - Chief Executive Office

That’s not true! The sock puppet is at it again!

what a cluster

I’m surprised FCV parents are doing any trash talking after their teams disastrous results at the Colorado showcase. We know FCV has tried to ignore the terrible results by their teams, but we all know how badly they showed.

Link to DA standings. http://www.ussoccerda.com/sam/standings/league/

Link to ECNL standings. https://www.eliteclubsnationalleague.com/mid-atlantic-standings-2018-19/

Speak for themselves.

Yes, will be interesting to see how those change once the northwestern players leave FCV for the closer alternatives. Thank for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear DA Parents, Players & Staff,

Since February when we announced the DA Programs in Maryland and Virginia would operate
for the 2019-20 competition year, we have done, with US Soccer and our partners at Baltimore
Armour and Great Falls Reston, a thorough review of the programs to identify areas for
significant improvement.
Our mission was simple – improve the quality of the programs and lower the cost for
participants. The review we conducted led to the following conclusions:
1. The DA Programs would best operate as integral components of the partner youth clubs.
2. The role of the Spirit is best focused on the utilization of our resources that is impossible
for the youth clubs to replicate. Those resources are our players, coaches, technology,
methodologies, and expertise.
3. The DA Programs would be best served by the youth clubs leading the programs with the
Spirit moving into a support partner role.
So, the Washington Spirit organization is proud to introduce changes in our Youth programing
model that will improve the program structure and lessen the player costs. As part of our
changes in the programming model, we have decided to transfer our Maryland Development
Academy program slot with US Soccer to the Baltimore Armour and their partner clubs SAC &
Pipeline. For the Virginia DA, we have decided to transfer our slot to Metro United which will
operate under the Great Falls Reston organizational structure which will include future partner
clubs. In collaboration with these new Spirit Alliance Partners, we have secured the approval
from US Soccer for these transfers based on each program/model having full club operational
support, starting with an administrative and technical management staff combined with a
competitive Zone 1 program that supports a Pathway to the Development Academy for future
success. The new model also continues to provide a Pathway to the Pro’s that offers a
development path for the best players in the area.
The leadership and management of the Maryland DA will be led by Santino Quaranta and the
Virginia DA will be led by George Hales as Academy Director, Tom Torres serving as a
Technical Advisor and Rich Shelton as the Executive Director. The Spirit will consult with the
DA Programs to support the transfers and following the completion of the transfers our
relationship with these clubs will become the shift to the Spirit Alliance program. The respective
club directors and management team will be holding sessions to discuss in greater detail the
improvements to the programs, including making them less costly.
This announcement is the first step in a broader campaign for the Spirit to partner with all youth
clubs. We want to make sure we’re supporting all clubs and their quests to develop the best
players in the area while supporting their coaching staffs with technical and tactical
integration, and high-performance training techniques that are all vital components of the
modern game. More details will be announced on this program in the coming weeks, but
the simple message to all youth clubs is we want you to Join Us in win-win partnerships.
We will be soon holding a Youth Club Summit to work together on the Alliance
Partnership program.
Finally, if you have been observing our announcements related to the pro team, you have seen us
deliver on our commitments to create, build, and execute better experiences for our players and
fans. Today, we enhanced the commitment we made for the DA Programs to operate in 2019-20
by strengthening the programs to position them for sustainable success. Together with our
partners, we have made the DA Programs better and more affordable. We share this with you
because the Washington Spirit want you to know we take our commitments seriously and we
will deliver on our commitment to make important improvements in all we do in order to make a
difference in supporting the sport we all love.
Thank you for your participation in our youth programs and your loyal support of the
Washington Spirit organization.

Steve Baldwin - Owner
Larry R. Best - Chief Executive Office

That’s not true! The sock puppet is at it again!

what a cluster

I’m surprised FCV parents are doing any trash talking after their teams disastrous results at the Colorado showcase. We know FCV has tried to ignore the terrible results by their teams, but we all know how badly they showed.

Link to DA standings. http://www.ussoccerda.com/sam/standings/league/

Link to ECNL standings. https://www.eliteclubsnationalleague.com/mid-atlantic-standings-2018-19/

Speak for themselves.

It was so shocking to see that the U16/17 FCV team didn’t even score a goal in Denver! Wow! Two huge shut out losses. Didn’t see any posts about that, though. Terrible U15 results and mediocre U14 results. Quite a (self-proclaimed) powerhouse club.