Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!).

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.

Whatever, fat soccer dad.

Wow, what a rousing defense of women's soccer.

There's no sense arguing with stupidity and misogyny. Hope he doesn't have daughters.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't consider PWSI, CYA, VSA, NVSC, VYS small clubs. They're not 'loose federations' and do have a cohesive training regimen that another coach could start implementing if one coach left. I never thought that leagues actually provided that level of planning, framework even. It should really be based on what the TDC of the club thinks is best for the boys/girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't consider PWSI, CYA, VSA, NVSC, VYS small clubs. They're not 'loose federations' and do have a cohesive training regimen that another coach could start implementing if one coach left. I never thought that leagues actually provided that level of planning, framework even. It should really be based on what the TDC of the club thinks is best for the boys/girls.

This is true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re: CCL...
I think what the CCL clubs have in common is a formal approach to training and focus on development that runs across their clubs. It seems to me that some of the smaller clubs (who don't play in CCL) are loose federations of individual teams/coaches that don't follow an overall/coordinated club vision and development plan. This doesn't mean there aren't good teams and coaches in those smaller clubs or that good players aren't being developed (because they are - I've seen some very good soccer played by small club teams), but the downside to me for this model seems to be you're dependent on that coach staying and the team not falling apart. Our club has picked up players from these smaller clubs whose teams just disintegrated because a coach left or two or three players left. Again, not saying one is better than the other, but it's a different approach than the clubs that have multiple teams per age group and a deeper coaching bench that can survive unexpected changes in personnel (players or coaches). Our club promotes the CCL as a development environment where the emphasis is less on results - it's not uncommon for coaches to test new formations, bring players up from other age groups or lower teams to give players opportunities in a game environment. I don't feel like anyone in our club walks around bragging that CCL is good because it's the 'best' teams or clubs, more that it's a collection of clubs/teams that share development philosophies. The results focus in our club is reserved for older teams playing in state cup/regionals, RCL, tournaments, National League, etc.

I guess my point is not everyone believes CCL is the 'BEST'/i.e., highest level of competition - it's more about some sense of shared model/focus among the member clubs.

I'm not sure I agree all CCL clubs have a formal approach to training and focus on development. If yours does that's great. Maybe a couple other clubs do but most only care about raking in the cash or really don't know what the hell they are doing. I do agree is no one is bragging CCL is the best league, that is reserved for the fools playing ECNL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You missed Region 1 Champion's league (formerly Premier League). And yes, there are lots of regions as fractured and dysfunctional as ours. Check out the State forums at talking-soccer.com, starting with the Massachusetts board, and check out backofthenet.com re Long Island soccer angst.

That BOTN is some crazy shit. There is a thread about which 2007 girls teams are stacked going into U10 ! LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Re: CCL...
I think what the CCL clubs have in common is a formal approach to training and focus on development that runs across their clubs. It seems to me that some of the smaller clubs (who don't play in CCL) are loose federations of individual teams/coaches that don't follow an overall/coordinated club vision and development plan. This doesn't mean there aren't good teams and coaches in those smaller clubs or that good players aren't being developed (because they are - I've seen some very good soccer played by small club teams), but the downside to me for this model seems to be you're dependent on that coach staying and the team not falling apart. Our club has picked up players from these smaller clubs whose teams just disintegrated because a coach left or two or three players left. Again, not saying one is better than the other, but it's a different approach than the clubs that have multiple teams per age group and a deeper coaching bench that can survive unexpected changes in personnel (players or coaches). Our club promotes the CCL as a development environment where the emphasis is less on results - it's not uncommon for coaches to test new formations, bring players up from other age groups or lower teams to give players opportunities in a game environment. I don't feel like anyone in our club walks around bragging that CCL is good because it's the 'best' teams or clubs, more that it's a collection of clubs/teams that share development philosophies. The results focus in our club is reserved for older teams playing in state cup/regionals, RCL, tournaments, National League, etc.

I guess my point is not everyone believes CCL is the 'BEST'/i.e., highest level of competition - it's more about some sense of shared model/focus among the member clubs.

I'm not sure I agree all CCL clubs have a formal approach to training and focus on development. If yours does that's great. Maybe a couple other clubs do but most only care about raking in the cash or really don't know what the hell they are doing. I do agree is no one is bragging CCL is the best league, that is reserved for the fools playing ECNL.

please explain?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Re: CCL...
I think what the CCL clubs have in common is a formal approach to training and focus on development that runs across their clubs. It seems to me that some of the smaller clubs (who don't play in CCL) are loose federations of individual teams/coaches that don't follow an overall/coordinated club vision and development plan. This doesn't mean there aren't good teams and coaches in those smaller clubs or that good players aren't being developed (because they are - I've seen some very good soccer played by small club teams), but the downside to me for this model seems to be you're dependent on that coach staying and the team not falling apart. Our club has picked up players from these smaller clubs whose teams just disintegrated because a coach left or two or three players left. Again, not saying one is better than the other, but it's a different approach than the clubs that have multiple teams per age group and a deeper coaching bench that can survive unexpected changes in personnel (players or coaches). Our club promotes the CCL as a development environment where the emphasis is less on results - it's not uncommon for coaches to test new formations, bring players up from other age groups or lower teams to give players opportunities in a game environment. I don't feel like anyone in our club walks around bragging that CCL is good because it's the 'best' teams or clubs, more that it's a collection of clubs/teams that share development philosophies. The results focus in our club is reserved for older teams playing in state cup/regionals, RCL, tournaments, National League, etc.

I guess my point is not everyone believes CCL is the 'BEST'/i.e., highest level of competition - it's more about some sense of shared model/focus among the member clubs.

I'm not sure I agree all CCL clubs have a formal approach to training and focus on development. If yours does that's great. Maybe a couple other clubs do but most only care about raking in the cash or really don't know what the hell they are doing. I do agree is no one is bragging CCL is the best league, that is reserved for the fools playing ECNL.

please explain?

It means his kid doesn't play for a ECNL team.

[Anonymous]

I wonder how useful this thread would be without the anonymous boasting and bullying.

Yes, you're a big man. Your child plays for a team in a top division -- perhaps by default, perhaps not. And you pay a lot of money for that privilege. Congratulations.

Now please -- re-examine your life.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I hate the tone this thread has taken. I don't mind hearing opinions different than mine but have no idea why people feel the need to be so nasty/attacking and defensive. Some of us are looking for information about the soccer landscape in this area and we have to wade our way through people calling others 'f*&%tards' to read something that's actually useful. Geez. Signing off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how useful this thread would be without the anonymous boasting and bullying.

Yes, you're a big man. Your child plays for a team in a top division -- perhaps by default, perhaps not. And you pay a lot of money for that privilege. Congratulations.

Now please -- re-examine your life.

Honestly, you just need to ignore the provocateurs. There is a lot of sincere advice and informative experience here (see the links to soccer focused sites above if you need convincing). Don't let the annoying people drive you away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how useful this thread would be without the anonymous boasting and bullying.

Yes, you're a big man. Your child plays for a team in a top division -- perhaps by default, perhaps not. And you pay a lot of money for that privilege. Congratulations.

Now please -- re-examine your life.

How is "It means his kid doesn't play ECNL" taken as a slight? He clearly thinks ECNL are douchey and spend too much money. It seems his priorities are in order.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing wrong with paying for training. Not sure why it's being thumbed down here. Does someone have to say the training is "super-exclusive and we cut more kids than Harvard" for parents to believe they're getting good training.

No. It's the bragging that they are doing "ODP" when in reality they are U10-U12 just paying for training (fine--but strange to brag your child is doing it).

I don't think anyone here was bragging about being in D-ODP and I think most of those that attended know that it's just additional training. As another poster mentioned it appears reasonably priced and it's meant as just that, not a replacement for your club training. If anything, for those players on B/C teams it may be a good way for them to have constant competition in training vs having to go up against teammates who may be weaker. Gets players out of their comfort zone. Even if it isn't a selective process at the U10-U12 ages, players will want to be the best out there and maybe work a little harder to be noticed within a large group. Players get to know expectations of those coaches who will be part of the selection process. Yes it's just training but it does have it's benefits.

I have a question for anyone who attended the recent VYSA Developmental ODP (D-ODP) "tryouts," or for anyone else who may know the answer. During the Fall training, are they planning to offer anything different then what they did in the past when it was called VYSA Academy? I agree that this program is basically paid training, but in the recent press release about the new D-ODP it also stated the following: "Not only will there be quality training with other high level players in your district but there will also be an opportunity to compete with and against the better players from around the state and Region I (Region I encompasses 15 states in the Northeast part of the US)." This seems like something new and I am wondering whether any of the coaches mentioned what might be involved in the upcoming Fall training. In the end, we decided not to attend for many of the reasons that others have posted, but I am curious about the competition angle and whether this statement is just a bunch of hype.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know when NCSL schedules will be available? Website is still showing Spring results.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't consider PWSI, CYA, VSA, NVSC, VYS small clubs. They're not 'loose federations' and do have a cohesive training regimen that another coach could start implementing if one coach left. I never thought that leagues actually provided that level of planning, framework even. It should really be based on what the TDC of the club thinks is best for the boys/girls.

PWSI was VCCL north until they had to leave to get the USDA - they have their stuff together. The rest in your list are small clubs, if not in size, definitely in mindset and development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't consider PWSI, CYA, VSA, NVSC, VYS small clubs. They're not 'loose federations' and do have a cohesive training regimen that another coach could start implementing if one coach left. I never thought that leagues actually provided that level of planning, framework even. It should really be based on what the TDC of the club thinks is best for the boys/girls.

PWSI was VCCL north until they had to leave to get the USDA - they have their stuff together. The rest in your list are small clubs, if not in size, definitely in mindset and development.

VSA has won national championships.

CYA has had some interesting drama in recent years but is making a solid effort to put something together.

NVSC used to operate a semipro men's team and an elite women's amateur team, and people from that club helped to start the Washington Spirit. Not sure what's going on with them now. I know they've got a rep for being "physical."

VYS has a couple of regional contenders, and they help operate the Spirit's Super-Y teams. Aside from that ... they have their own thread. Reston and Great Falls are similar but have smaller numbers -- Great Falls' travel tryouts are far less competitive than VYS', but they put together some decent teams and have a bit of a partnership with Bethesda South.

Bethesda South is a small branch of a big club -- they had to cancel plans to field teams in a couple of age groups this year.

PAC is a small club. IFC, Cugini and Chantilly SC are tiny clubs. The two Barcas are pretty small. They generally have coherent coaching philosophies that will make players better -- whether that translates to accomplished teams is dependent on who tries out.