Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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".

I heard 19 selected, but almost none from Arlington. That was from 2004 current Arlington parents. The tryouts were invite only as well. If you were on a lower team you weren't allowed to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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".

I heard 19 selected, but almost none from Arlington. That was from 2004 current Arlington parents. The tryouts were invite only as well. If you were on a lower team you weren't allowed to attend.

But they did say the talent outside was much better. They don't deny the players that made it were really good.

[Anonymous]

Why are the u-12s on the Arlington list 04s? I thought 04s were u-13 this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1000. My kid was initially placed on the third/C team at U9. But he fell in love with soccer and begged for extra training, spent hours practicing on his own, etc. By U12 he made the A team and then by U14 he tried out for and made a state cup winner and played in the USYS National League. From C team playing in ODSL at U11 to a nationally ranked team at U14 all because HE wanted to play at that level and worked incredibly hard on his own and with additional outside training that he begged for month after month and year after year. No parent can make that happen. It has to come from the child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!).

Most of the people in this thread are too macho and obnoxious to be female.

The dude who insists I must only care because my kid got the short end of the stick would be really shocked if he knew what my kids really do in soccer. It's safe to say they won't be household names, and I'm fine with that. But we have friends who have potential, and the landscape for them is utter crap.

[Anonymous]

You fucktards are arguing over Leagues for snot nose kids at the U14 and younger kids..... Who cares



CCL is where it's at for the Years that count

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You fucktards are arguing over Leagues for snot nose kids at the U14 and younger kids..... Who cares



CCL is where it's at for the Years that count

Not anymore, my friend. The new Development Academy teams at the three top CCL clubs took the best players. CCL now gets 2nd tier.

NCSL is more competitive since it allows talent from smaller clubs and boutiques.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You fucktards are arguing over Leagues for snot nose kids at the U14 and younger kids..... Who cares



CCL is where it's at for the Years that count

Not anymore, my friend. The new Development Academy teams at the three top CCL clubs took the best players. CCL now gets 2nd tier.

NCSL is more competitive since it allows talent from smaller clubs and boutiques.

NCSL is less competitive than CCL above U13. That is just a fact. Look at how many CCL teams win state cups vs. NCSL/WAGS above U13 when they play on full size fields. No comparison at all.

Of course the small handful of DA Boys/Girls and ECNL teams are generally more competitive than CCL. That is to be expected when comparing 3 high-quality teams against a league of 16 clubs with teams of varying strength.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!).

Women's soccer in HS and college is Title IX charity. It's slow and boring. It exists to balance mens football, basketball, and other money sports. If it wasn't legally mandated it would not exist.

[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.

Handful of Americans playing in European make real money. Average salary on DC United is around 150K. Median salary is about 95k. A very small number do things like go on to med school after soccer, like Russell at DCU. For the most part they end up coaching youth soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You fucktards are arguing over Leagues for snot nose kids at the U14 and younger kids..... Who cares



CCL is where it's at for the Years that count

Not anymore, my friend. The new Development Academy teams at the three top CCL clubs took the best players. CCL now gets 2nd tier.

NCSL is more competitive since it allows talent from smaller clubs and boutiques.

NCSL is less competitive than CCL above U13. That is just a fact. Look at how many CCL teams win state cups vs. NCSL/WAGS above U13 when they play on full size fields. No comparison at all.

Of course the small handful of DA Boys/Girls and ECNL teams are generally more competitive than CCL. That is to be expected when comparing 3 high-quality teams against a league of 16 clubs with teams of varying strength.

A division 1 NCSL team will beat one of the lesser CCL teams. CCL talent levels are very variable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!).

Most of the people in this thread are too macho and obnoxious to be female.

The dude who insists I must only care because my kid got the short end of the stick would be really shocked if he knew what my kids really do in soccer. It's safe to say they won't be household names, and I'm fine with that. But we have friends who have potential, and the landscape for them is utter crap.

Sucks for your friends I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You fucktards are arguing over Leagues for snot nose kids at the U14 and younger kids..... Who cares



CCL is where it's at for the Years that count

Not anymore, my friend. The new Development Academy teams at the three top CCL clubs took the best players. CCL now gets 2nd tier.

NCSL is more competitive since it allows talent from smaller clubs and boutiques.

NCSL is less competitive than CCL above U13. That is just a fact. Look at how many CCL teams win state cups vs. NCSL/WAGS above U13 when they play on full size fields. No comparison at all.

Of course the small handful of DA Boys/Girls and ECNL teams are generally more competitive than CCL. That is to be expected when comparing 3 high-quality teams against a league of 16 clubs with teams of varying strength.

A division 1 NCSL team will beat one of the lesser CCL teams. CCL talent levels are very variable.

Agreed. Generally only the weak CCL teams will be beaten by an NCSL Division 1 team above age U13.

[Anonymous]

Here's a question: How many other sports require the top 5 percent or so of its youth players to do all this nonsense?

[Anonymous]

The NoVA area is crowded with people who have bloated beauracratic jobs, a lot of discretionary income, and a lot of free time. I'm certain no other area is quite like the NOVA area in terms of youth soccer.