ECNL forcing Brave & Union Partnership

[Anonymous]

Fairfax Virginia Union is not equally owned by Vienna, BRYC and Mclean. It is basically another, new “for profit” business venture to save coaches their jobs because only one ECNL National charter would be available for Fairfax County. People can research, see entity name changes, and look at the business records at a State level.

There are about a half dozen people in charge of this crap and referrals are underway to bring all of this out into the public eye. Let’s mark that aside for the moment.

If your kid got a “rubber stamped” offer, pat them on the back, feel good….does not mean it was earned or deserved. Continue to wring your hands and jump through hoops chasing some D1 dream. In the scheme of your player’s life…it means literally and absolutely nothing.

Rather, how about we teach our athletes and players “confidence,” “team building,” help them understand that “you may not be perfect or may not always be the best at that position,” and “it is okay to fail on your own.” No real life soccer coaches out there. Very sad. Instead politics, coddling, and profit motives drive the outcome.

Also, parents, please have some damn “self respect” and stop groveling at the feet of these coaches. The hand wringing is pitiful.

Inflated resumes, poor performance, and glory day heroes - these coaches have, in fact and without question, failed (it is why they remain at FVU, and coach here and not at a higher level). It is the best they have and can get and they simply use your Northern Virginia cash flow to make their shitty living to survive.

I feel sorry for all the players out there who have the talent, dignity, and heart to be something, be better, be real people of character someday, but just cannot find a club or coach with the dignity, morals, fairness, and respect to contribute to this.

It may not exist, maybe it is all a business. The ECNL is a business (“More than just a game, it is a business.”). But I firmly believe profiting off of youth and manipulating youth comes with it a special place in hell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Uniforms — can we convince the club to not use soccer.com?? Very convenient, of course, but sooooooo expensive. Our past club used PJs and the kit was about 60% less. Can we convince them that supporting a local business would be better and more cost-effective for families particularly given many are buying their second if not third set of uniforms in just as many years?

VYS and BRAVE have always used PJs.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate all the advice, and it seems we're leaning towards VDA 2011 for the boys. It's been confirmed that VDA holds practices four times a week, though this may adjust to three if there are matches on both Saturday and Sunday. The idea behind the four-day training regime is to encourage players from PWSI, VSA, and Herndon to vie for spots on the ECNL team, a system that appears to align well with the competitive nature of academy-level soccer.

While VDA may have some teams that don't perform as strongly, their overall consistency is noteworthy. This is something parents should consider, especially those seeking value from a training schedule that offers more days per week than some alternatives, along with regular scrimmages against older ECRL teams during weekends off from games.

Practice times are scheduled to minimize issues with traffic, beginning between 6:15 and 6:30 pm for younger groups and at 8 pm for U15 and older. VDA's social media presence suggests a strong track record of moving players into college soccer programs across all divisions. Notably, Division 3 schools often offer generous financial aid to standout athletes, sometimes more so than the partial scholarships provided by Division 1 or 2 schools.

Choosing a team that emphasizes actual playing time is crucial, particularly for those who prefer not to engage in or navigate the politics sometimes associated with team selections. While there have been concerning rumors about unethical behavior among some individuals, the focus should remain on the opportunities and positive outcomes that programs like VDA can offer to aspiring collegiate athletes.

[Anonymous]

VDA is not a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate all the advice, and it seems we're leaning towards VDA 2011 for the boys. It's been confirmed that VDA holds practices four times a week, though this may adjust to three if there are matches on both Saturday and Sunday. The idea behind the four-day training regime is to encourage players from PWSI, VSA, and Herndon to vie for spots on the ECNL team, a system that appears to align well with the competitive nature of academy-level soccer.

While VDA may have some teams that don't perform as strongly, their overall consistency is noteworthy. This is something parents should consider, especially those seeking value from a training schedule that offers more days per week than some alternatives, along with regular scrimmages against older ECRL teams during weekends off from games.

Practice times are scheduled to minimize issues with traffic, beginning between 6:15 and 6:30 pm for younger groups and at 8 pm for U15 and older. VDA's social media presence suggests a strong track record of moving players into college soccer programs across all divisions. Notably, Division 3 schools often offer generous financial aid to standout athletes, sometimes more so than the partial scholarships provided by Division 1 or 2 schools.

Choosing a team that emphasizes actual playing time is crucial, particularly for those who prefer not to engage in or navigate the politics sometimes associated with team selections. While there have been concerning rumors about unethical behavior among some individuals, the focus should remain on the opportunities and positive outcomes that programs like VDA can offer to aspiring collegiate athletes.

Glad I never responded because it turned out to be VDA management trolling all the time.
Still there was some good advice given by well meaning people. I guess we see what VDA thinks of their time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uniforms — can we convince the club to not use soccer.com?? Very convenient, of course, but sooooooo expensive. Our past club used PJs and the kit was about 60% less. Can we convince them that supporting a local business would be better and more cost-effective for families particularly given many are buying their second if not third set of uniforms in just as many years?

To be fair, if the cost of uniforms is a huge thing to you in the ECNL/MLS Next/GA world, you may want to consider another sport or doing rec. Maybe apply for financial aid from your club. Uniforms aren't inexpensive. However, in the long run, they are not the largest cost you will incur.

This is correct. Hotels, gas and even air tickets add up the cost for the season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax Virginia Union is not equally owned by Vienna, BRYC and Mclean. It is basically another, new “for profit” business venture to save coaches their jobs because only one ECNL National charter would be available for Fairfax County. People can research, see entity name changes, and look at the business records at a State level.

There are about a half dozen people in charge of this crap and referrals are underway to bring all of this out into the public eye. Let’s mark that aside for the moment.

If your kid got a “rubber stamped” offer, pat them on the back, feel good….does not mean it was earned or deserved. Continue to wring your hands and jump through hoops chasing some D1 dream. In the scheme of your player’s life…it means literally and absolutely nothing.

Rather, how about we teach our athletes and players “confidence,” “team building,” help them understand that “you may not be perfect or may not always be the best at that position,” and “it is okay to fail on your own.” No real life soccer coaches out there. Very sad. Instead politics, coddling, and profit motives drive the outcome.

Also, parents, please have some damn “self respect” and stop groveling at the feet of these coaches. The hand wringing is pitiful.

Inflated resumes, poor performance, and glory day heroes - these coaches have, in fact and without question, failed (it is why they remain at FVU, and coach here and not at a higher level). It is the best they have and can get and they simply use your Northern Virginia cash flow to make their shitty living to survive.

I feel sorry for all the players out there who have the talent, dignity, and heart to be something, be better, be real people of character someday, but just cannot find a club or coach with the dignity, morals, fairness, and respect to contribute to this.

It may not exist, maybe it is all a business. The ECNL is a business (“More than just a game, it is a business.”). But I firmly believe profiting off of youth and manipulating youth comes with it a special place in hell.

Nice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Indeed, brave girls were asked to players in completely different positions, McLean players kept same positions as usual. Coincidence?

We experienced this last year. This is something CW will often ask players to do at ID sessions. I don’t think it was a set up — some of the union players were also asked to do so. The ones with offers already in hand did play their normal positions.

This is done to look for intuitive understanding of other roles on field. Common to see this asked particularly for players where there is an interest in order to understand their capacity. Not a set up for failure but method for a deeper look.

A player that is versatile and can play different positions is more valuable. My teens have played every position on the field and have no problem if coach needs to fill them in somewhere else.

Perfectly fine on a practice set up and a later ages. Here after a merge, players were there to show their best not otherwise. Really, some people here have no clue or have never played the sport.

Well if they have 10 strikers but your kid can play that and outside mid or center back very well too—guess who gets picked. It’s the same in college, btw. I know “forwards” who now play defense in college.

uncomfortable truth… most forwards and wingers end up on defense in college… once u let go of position hype and focus in growth and technical skills the college thing becomes way more clear. Not all kids are game changers offensively . Collegr coaches pick based off needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax Virginia Union is not equally owned by Vienna, BRYC and Mclean. It is basically another, new “for profit” business venture to save coaches their jobs because only one ECNL National charter would be available for Fairfax County. People can research, see entity name changes, and look at the business records at a State level.

There are about a half dozen people in charge of this crap and referrals are underway to bring all of this out into the public eye. Let’s mark that aside for the moment.

If your kid got a “rubber stamped” offer, pat them on the back, feel good….does not mean it was earned or deserved. Continue to wring your hands and jump through hoops chasing some D1 dream. In the scheme of your player’s life…it means literally and absolutely nothing.

Rather, how about we teach our athletes and players “confidence,” “team building,” help them understand that “you may not be perfect or may not always be the best at that position,” and “it is okay to fail on your own.” No real life soccer coaches out there. Very sad. Instead politics, coddling, and profit motives drive the outcome.

Also, parents, please have some damn “self respect” and stop groveling at the feet of these coaches. The hand wringing is pitiful.

Inflated resumes, poor performance, and glory day heroes - these coaches have, in fact and without question, failed (it is why they remain at FVU, and coach here and not at a higher level). It is the best they have and can get and they simply use your Northern Virginia cash flow to make their shitty living to survive.

I feel sorry for all the players out there who have the talent, dignity, and heart to be something, be better, be real people of character someday, but just cannot find a club or coach with the dignity, morals, fairness, and respect to contribute to this.

It may not exist, maybe it is all a business. The ECNL is a business (“More than just a game, it is a business.”). But I firmly believe profiting off of youth and manipulating youth comes with it a special place in hell.

This is like Big Boss level trolling to get us to 300 pages. Well done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Indeed, brave girls were asked to players in completely different positions, McLean players kept same positions as usual. Coincidence?

We experienced this last year. This is something CW will often ask players to do at ID sessions. I don’t think it was a set up — some of the union players were also asked to do so. The ones with offers already in hand did play their normal positions.

This is done to look for intuitive understanding of other roles on field. Common to see this asked particularly for players where there is an interest in order to understand their capacity. Not a set up for failure but method for a deeper look.

A player that is versatile and can play different positions is more valuable. My teens have played every position on the field and have no problem if coach needs to fill them in somewhere else.

Perfectly fine on a practice set up and a later ages. Here after a merge, players were there to show their best not otherwise. Really, some people here have no clue or have never played the sport.

Well if they have 10 strikers but your kid can play that and outside mid or center back very well too—guess who gets picked. It’s the same in college, btw. I know “forwards” who now play defense in college.

uncomfortable truth… most forwards and wingers end up on defense in college… once u let go of position hype and focus in growth and technical skills the college thing becomes way more clear. Not all kids are game changers offensively . Collegr coaches pick based off needs.

😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax Virginia Union is not equally owned by Vienna, BRYC and Mclean. It is basically another, new “for profit” business venture to save coaches their jobs because only one ECNL National charter would be available for Fairfax County. People can research, see entity name changes, and look at the business records at a State level.

There are about a half dozen people in charge of this crap and referrals are underway to bring all of this out into the public eye. Let’s mark that aside for the moment.

If your kid got a “rubber stamped” offer, pat them on the back, feel good….does not mean it was earned or deserved. Continue to wring your hands and jump through hoops chasing some D1 dream. In the scheme of your player’s life…it means literally and absolutely nothing.

Rather, how about we teach our athletes and players “confidence,” “team building,” help them understand that “you may not be perfect or may not always be the best at that position,” and “it is okay to fail on your own.” No real life soccer coaches out there. Very sad. Instead politics, coddling, and profit motives drive the outcome.

Also, parents, please have some damn “self respect” and stop groveling at the feet of these coaches. The hand wringing is pitiful.

Inflated resumes, poor performance, and glory day heroes - these coaches have, in fact and without question, failed (it is why they remain at FVU, and coach here and not at a higher level). It is the best they have and can get and they simply use your Northern Virginia cash flow to make their shitty living to survive.

I feel sorry for all the players out there who have the talent, dignity, and heart to be something, be better, be real people of character someday, but just cannot find a club or coach with the dignity, morals, fairness, and respect to contribute to this.

It may not exist, maybe it is all a business. The ECNL is a business (“More than just a game, it is a business.”). But I firmly believe profiting off of youth and manipulating youth comes with it a special place in hell.

This is like Big Boss level trolling to get us to 300 pages. Well done.

It's all true though. And the coaching slate tells the story of where the money is flowing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate all the advice, and it seems we're leaning towards VDA 2011 for the boys. It's been confirmed that VDA holds practices four times a week, though this may adjust to three if there are matches on both Saturday and Sunday. The idea behind the four-day training regime is to encourage players from PWSI, VSA, and Herndon to vie for spots on the ECNL team, a system that appears to align well with the competitive nature of academy-level soccer.

While VDA may have some teams that don't perform as strongly, their overall consistency is noteworthy. This is something parents should consider, especially those seeking value from a training schedule that offers more days per week than some alternatives, along with regular scrimmages against older ECRL teams during weekends off from games.

Practice times are scheduled to minimize issues with traffic, beginning between 6:15 and 6:30 pm for younger groups and at 8 pm for U15 and older. VDA's social media presence suggests a strong track record of moving players into college soccer programs across all divisions. Notably, Division 3 schools often offer generous financial aid to standout athletes, sometimes more so than the partial scholarships provided by Division 1 or 2 schools.

Choosing a team that emphasizes actual playing time is crucial, particularly for those who prefer not to engage in or navigate the politics sometimes associated with team selections. While there have been concerning rumors about unethical behavior among some individuals, the focus should remain on the opportunities and positive outcomes that programs like VDA can offer to aspiring collegiate athletes.

My DS played at VDA and the training was poor. One coach with too many teams on his plate. It is pointless to have 4 days of training when you do the same exact handful of unimaginative drills again and again and again, four times a week for multiple weeks at a time. Plus, they have a player pool that tends to be a little above average technically, but slightly below average physically and athletically, but the 2 Matts want to play “Manchester Style”. Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

What is Machester sytle?

[Anonymous]

Wow. Lots of people have too much time on their hands. Your DD will end up in the transfer portal anyway. Thanks for propping them up with cash for 17 years. You've already paid their four year tuition. $3500*17=60k plus all the time and travel expenses. Well done!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Lots of people have too much time on their hands. Your DD will end up in the transfer portal anyway. Thanks for propping them up with cash for 17 years. You've already paid their four year tuition. $3500*17=60k plus all the time and travel expenses. Well done!

Hey hotshot, ECNL/GA only last 6 years, so try that as $3500*6=$21k plus time & travel. If you're going to make a point, at least use real numbers.