Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss

[Anonymous]

Anyone attend the South County Summer Camp the previous 2 weeks? If so any feedback? Looking for a camp for next week for 8yr old boy starting U9 travel. He has been into basketball lately but starts soccer back up so looking to get back into soccer. I work remote so anyone location in northern va works

http://www.scaasoccer.net/Default.aspx?tabid=904637

[Anonymous]

I don't understand all of the energy around CCL. It's a bad league with a few good clubs in it - it's not very competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand all of the energy around CCL. It's a bad league with a few good clubs in it - it's not very competitive.

It's not a bad league, it is just a league.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Soccer is not a money sport and likely never will be in the US. So if it's not a money sport, you either pay or you have such incredible talent that the little aid there is goes to you. Non-money sports are the place where talented, wealthy kids can go where they have an edge. The effect of the wealth of the family is significantly diminished in sports like football, baseball, and basketball. But in soccer, lacrosse, swimming, etc parents ability to pay for training and travel can really make a difference.

Soccer is an absolutely massive money sport. I have no clue whether MLS will ever grow to the point its minimum salary is sufficient to allow a comfortable life style for average players, but players are not limited to MLS or other American leagues. The number of kids and young adults heading to Europe and elsewhere where they can make serious money increases every year. And the pay to play aspects are changing rapidly too, at least in areas with a strong DA presence. Most DA teams are either free or pretty affordable even for kids that don't seek aid, and there is enough aid at virtually all of them to make it so any talented kid can play. And most kids who end up being able to play at a professional level, including in the US, get their soccer foundation at home. They are taught by their parents, relatives, or other people in their community--it takes exactly no money to learn the skills necessary to compete.

I'm not saying it's an easy path to riches, but there are riches out there for the American soccer stars who make it. It's not like lacrosse or other sports where there is truly no long term money motive in play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand all of the energy around CCL. It's a bad league with a few good clubs in it - it's not very competitive.

I think CCL gets a lot of attention here because many posters and others in the soccer community believe it would be better for kids in the area and the local soccer scene in general if the league were to fold. Those who run it or are otherwise invested in its continuation are horrified by that idea, so...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand all of the energy around CCL. It's a bad league with a few good clubs in it - it's not very competitive.

It is also the only available league in the region so you are forced by a soccer monopoly to play by their rules and whims.

Oh, wait, it isn't the only league, the free market prevails and offers choice.

[Anonymous]

Are you the same guy who kept talking about moving goal posts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Soccer is not a money sport and likely never will be in the US. So if it's not a money sport, you either pay or you have such incredible talent that the little aid there is goes to you. Non-money sports are the place where talented, wealthy kids can go where they have an edge. The effect of the wealth of the family is significantly diminished in sports like football, baseball, and basketball. But in soccer, lacrosse, swimming, etc parents ability to pay for training and travel can really make a difference.

Soccer is an absolutely massive money sport. I have no clue whether MLS will ever grow to the point its minimum salary is sufficient to allow a comfortable life style for average players, but players are not limited to MLS or other American leagues. The number of kids and young adults heading to Europe and elsewhere where they can make serious money increases every year. And the pay to play aspects are changing rapidly too, at least in areas with a strong DA presence. Most DA teams are either free or pretty affordable even for kids that don't seek aid, and there is enough aid at virtually all of them to make it so any talented kid can play. And most kids who end up being able to play at a professional level, including in the US, get their soccer foundation at home. They are taught by their parents, relatives, or other people in their community--it takes exactly no money to learn the skills necessary to compete.

I'm not saying it's an easy path to riches, but there are riches out there for the American soccer stars who make it. It's not like lacrosse or other sports where there is truly no long term money motive in play.

Np. It is not a money sport in the us. There are not many US kids making great money playing abroad and MLS is not lucrative at all for mid/bottom roster players, especially considering how small the rosters are and how short careers are.

DA teams are starting to offer lower fees under pressure from USSF, but where does that mo eye come from? Other parents in the club, sponsorships (affiliated with club members), etc. the sport is still a pay to play, even at the highest levels. Given the size of the country and the general disinterest in the sport and the lack of money in MLS, it is hard to see us ever having a system like the big soccer countries - where you get great training through professional clubs for free.

CCL is a great idea (all the teams play at the same field, limited membership to large organized clubs), but it has not been managed as well as it could have been. It could have benefited the Nova/DC/MD area, albeit in a different way than the way it benefited the original vccl members. Original Vccl clubs had no local competition, so it made sense to travel between va beach/Richmond/Roanoke/Cville, because otherwise beach fc's first team would roll over everyone in SEVSA, their most competitive game would be their own B team. This area has he opposite problem - too many clubs, and too congested to allow players to play for clubs more than a few miles away, so the idea of a regionalized elite clubs makes sense - best coaches, working with the best players in the area, competing against the best from other similar clubs. But, as always here, too many egos and too much infighting, and too much confusion with other half assess attempts by USSF and others. It really is a shame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you the same guy who kept talking about moving goal posts?

No moving goalposts in Fairfax county. They have to be chained down.

[Anonymous]

hahaha, I've always thought there are like 4-5 guys on here, any everyone else is just enjoying the conversation/arguments

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Soccer is not a money sport and likely never will be in the US. So if it's not a money sport, you either pay or you have such incredible talent that the little aid there is goes to you. Non-money sports are the place where talented, wealthy kids can go where they have an edge. The effect of the wealth of the family is significantly diminished in sports like football, baseball, and basketball. But in soccer, lacrosse, swimming, etc parents ability to pay for training and travel can really make a difference.

Soccer is an absolutely massive money sport. I have no clue whether MLS will ever grow to the point its minimum salary is sufficient to allow a comfortable life style for average players, but players are not limited to MLS or other American leagues. The number of kids and young adults heading to Europe and elsewhere where they can make serious money increases every year. And the pay to play aspects are changing rapidly too, at least in areas with a strong DA presence. Most DA teams are either free or pretty affordable even for kids that don't seek aid, and there is enough aid at virtually all of them to make it so any talented kid can play. And most kids who end up being able to play at a professional level, including in the US, get their soccer foundation at home. They are taught by their parents, relatives, or other people in their community--it takes exactly no money to learn the skills necessary to compete.

I'm not saying it's an easy path to riches, but there are riches out there for the American soccer stars who make it. It's not like lacrosse or other sports where there is truly no long term money motive in play.

Np. It is not a money sport in the us. There are not many US kids making great money playing abroad and MLS is not lucrative at all for mid/bottom roster players, especially considering how small the rosters are and how short careers are.

DA teams are starting to offer lower fees under pressure from USSF, but where does that mo eye come from? Other parents in the club, sponsorships (affiliated with club members), etc. the sport is still a pay to play, even at the highest levels. Given the size of the country and the general disinterest in the sport and the lack of money in MLS, it is hard to see us ever having a system like the big soccer countries - where you get great training through professional clubs for free.

CCL is a great idea (all the teams play at the same field, limited membership to large organized clubs), but it has not been managed as well as it could have been. It could have benefited the Nova/DC/MD area, albeit in a different way than the way it benefited the original vccl members. Original Vccl clubs had no local competition, so it made sense to travel between va beach/Richmond/Roanoke/Cville, because otherwise beach fc's first team would roll over everyone in SEVSA, their most competitive game would be their own B team. This area has he opposite problem - too many clubs, and too congested to allow players to play for clubs more than a few miles away, so the idea of a regionalized elite clubs makes sense - best coaches, working with the best players in the area, competing against the best from other similar clubs. But, as always here, too many egos and too much infighting, and too much confusion with other half assess attempts by USSF and others. It really is a shame.

So here's the thing, were all very competitive. Our children take the same attitude as well, compete for the best and try to win. So when there's a new shiny 'thing' being called the 'best' everyone is going to want to be a part of it. Those that don't 'get in' will sulk and bemoan, and a few of those might start their own 'thing' to compete with what they weren't able to get into.

You first had VCCL, more clubs wanted to be a part of this regional but not 'Region 1' elite league that it changed to CCL to accommodate more clubs. NPL/VPL started to be part of U.S Club Soccer's platform and be eligible to compete and be a part of their PDP and iD2 sessions. Some clubs moved over there and now they're also elite and playing in a premier league. Now USDA has spread enough within this region that the 'A' team is the USDA team, and "you're son is a POS if he doesn't get accepted into a USDA team". So all parents, kids, coaches want to be a part of this thing that now with the partnerships is within a 15 mile radius of most kids.

NCSL provides league play, that's it! So others see their scheduling platform and think that can't be where I want my kid to play in. ECNL will eventually be seen as 2nd tier when USDA for girls start to spread.

I might as well say it yet knowing that the scene may never reflect the European one. We all SHOULD(not need) be interested in the best for our kids, which means that they may be content with playing on a team's 3rd team in NCSL. It will hard to swallow, and you won't promote it or talk about it much if you know that your kid is playing the bottom rungs of soccer. And yet your kid may be having a much better time than being in the chase for the next step to success in youth soccer.

I for one will spend more money than necessary to get my son HP Elite training, camps in the summer, winter leagues, futsal, tell him if he doesn't make the first team he will be made fun of by the kids that do, give him stern looks when he screws up, track his diet, do extra training with him on Saturday's. I do this because I don't want to be in the third team, and yes I know I'm not on the team. I do hope that one time I'm able to give up the chase, yet at this point I'm too knowledgeable about where the top is, that I can't just give it up to some other stupid kid that isn't as good as my kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:hahaha, I've always thought there are like 4-5 guys on here, any everyone else is just enjoying the conversation/arguments

Some of us are female. I hate the term "soccer mom". It belies the fact that there are many of us that played at a higher level than many of the dads (and coaches!).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Soccer is not a money sport and likely never will be in the US. So if it's not a money sport, you either pay or you have such incredible talent that the little aid there is goes to you. Non-money sports are the place where talented, wealthy kids can go where they have an edge. The effect of the wealth of the family is significantly diminished in sports like football, baseball, and basketball. But in soccer, lacrosse, swimming, etc parents ability to pay for training and travel can really make a difference.

Soccer is an absolutely massive money sport. I have no clue whether MLS will ever grow to the point its minimum salary is sufficient to allow a comfortable life style for average players, but players are not limited to MLS or other American leagues. The number of kids and young adults heading to Europe and elsewhere where they can make serious money increases every year. And the pay to play aspects are changing rapidly too, at least in areas with a strong DA presence. Most DA teams are either free or pretty affordable even for kids that don't seek aid, and there is enough aid at virtually all of them to make it so any talented kid can play. And most kids who end up being able to play at a professional level, including in the US, get their soccer foundation at home. They are taught by their parents, relatives, or other people in their community--it takes exactly no money to learn the skills necessary to compete.

I'm not saying it's an easy path to riches, but there are riches out there for the American soccer stars who make it. It's not like lacrosse or other sports where there is truly no long term money motive in play.

Np. It is not a money sport in the us. There are not many US kids making great money playing abroad and MLS is not lucrative at all for mid/bottom roster players, especially considering how small the rosters are and how short careers are.

DA teams are starting to offer lower fees under pressure from USSF, but where does that mo eye come from? Other parents in the club, sponsorships (affiliated with club members), etc. the sport is still a pay to play, even at the highest levels. Given the size of the country and the general disinterest in the sport and the lack of money in MLS, it is hard to see us ever having a system like the big soccer countries - where you get great training through professional clubs for free.

CCL is a great idea (all the teams play at the same field, limited membership to large organized clubs), but it has not been managed as well as it could have been. It could have benefited the Nova/DC/MD area, albeit in a different way than the way it benefited the original vccl members. Original Vccl clubs had no local competition, so it made sense to travel between va beach/Richmond/Roanoke/Cville, because otherwise beach fc's first team would roll over everyone in SEVSA, their most competitive game would be their own B team. This area has he opposite problem - too many clubs, and too congested to allow players to play for clubs more than a few miles away, so the idea of a regionalized elite clubs makes sense - best coaches, working with the best players in the area, competing against the best from other similar clubs. But, as always here, too many egos and too much infighting, and too much confusion with other half assess attempts by USSF and others. It really is a shame.

So here's the thing, were all very competitive. Our children take the same attitude as well, compete for the best and try to win. So when there's a new shiny 'thing' being called the 'best' everyone is going to want to be a part of it. Those that don't 'get in' will sulk and bemoan, and a few of those might start their own 'thing' to compete with what they weren't able to get into.

You first had VCCL, more clubs wanted to be a part of this regional but not 'Region 1' elite league that it changed to CCL to accommodate more clubs. NPL/VPL started to be part of U.S Club Soccer's platform and be eligible to compete and be a part of their PDP and iD2 sessions. Some clubs moved over there and now they're also elite and playing in a premier league. Now USDA has spread enough within this region that the 'A' team is the USDA team, and "you're son is a POS if he doesn't get accepted into a USDA team". So all parents, kids, coaches want to be a part of this thing that now with the partnerships is within a 15 mile radius of most kids.

NCSL provides league play, that's it! So others see their scheduling platform and think that can't be where I want my kid to play in. ECNL will eventually be seen as 2nd tier when USDA for girls start to spread.

I might as well say it yet knowing that the scene may never reflect the European one. We all SHOULD(not need) be interested in the best for our kids, which means that they may be content with playing on a team's 3rd team in NCSL. It will hard to swallow, and you won't promote it or talk about it much if you know that your kid is playing the bottom rungs of soccer. And yet your kid may be having a much better time than being in the chase for the next step to success in youth soccer.

I for one will spend more money than necessary to get my son HP Elite training, camps in the summer, winter leagues, futsal, tell him if he doesn't make the first team he will be made fun of by the kids that do, give him stern looks when he screws up, track his diet, do extra training with him on Saturday's. I do this because I don't want to be in the third team, and yes I know I'm not on the team. I do hope that one time I'm able to give up the chase, yet at this point I'm too knowledgeable about where the top is, that I can't just give it up to some other stupid kid that isn't as good as my kid.

Here is the problem with your approach.... in order for your kid to get anywhere near the "top" he or she has to have not only some athleticism but also an incredible amount of desire, passion and dedication to get there.

You can get him or her all the HP Elite training, camps in the summer, winter leagues, futsal, etc. that your budget allows but unless he/she want to get to the top it just ain't gong to happen -- and you are setting yourself up to be one very broke and disappointed parent because it seems to be too much about you and not about your kid. So let your kid take the lead. If they ask for extra training, try to provide it but if they just want to have fun playing soccer and want to spend time doing other things that should be supported too.

[Anonymous]

^^yep. That dad is scary. We don't have to push our kids. We tell it like it is. If you say you want to play professional soccer: here's the path. I'll pay, drive and support but if you don't want to work it won't happen. And that's okay too.

They know our love isn't dependent on whether they play at all. It's also totally fine to just play as a side hobby. I played D1 college soccer. I have a National championship. I was HS all-met, all-region and HS state championship so I am not living vicariously through my kids. I had my thing. They will find theirs. It's their life to live. I also had a sibling that played professional soccer for many years. He is a sounding board for my kids. He tells them to "love the ball". Period.

If they don't love it and have intense competitive nature, hard work ethic, and natural athleticism it ain't happening no matter how many stern looks soccer dad shoots from the sidelines. That's crazy. The teammates I had with parents like that dropped the sport and did not have a good relationship with their parents.

My kids are the hardest on themselves. I don't need to pile it on. I am the support telling them to "shake it off".

And the comment ---telling your child other kids will make fun of him if he doesn't make the A team...WTF?!?!!!!! Psycho. I am praying all of that was written by a troll.

For the record, some of the best talent isn't even found on the A teams. Many US club coaches don't even know what they are looking at.

Signed,
A parent of a third team NCSL player (the horror) that was picked by an International scout to go play in Europe (over many, many A team players at the same scouting session). He's been raised not to laugh at them, btw.

[Anonymous]

Looking at the US soccer DA website, I realized that Arlington had 19 players in its U12 DA team.
As they will play 9-9 and as they have two games scheduled every week-end against another DA club, it seems that they will have 2 U12 DA teams.
Is it indeed the case? If so, there should be room both for players from last year first U11 team and some "outsiders".