Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again let's look at the older age groups. All this little kid concern is rather dumb

Some of us have little kids.

I'm sure we all do. But people are worried about comparing little kids soccer when at end of the day none of that matters until U17/U19. All the great little kids and clubs that you're worried about? The better kids will be on a top team and the rest of them won't even be playing or on the same team. People are worried about the A team and what league does what hahhaa and who ranks what smh let the kids get play time have fun and develop. Worry about rankings when your kid is a sophomore in high school

I agree that no one should flip out about U9 team placement if their kid is improving, but why do you say that U17/19 is the only age group that matters? Id2 and the training centers are a big deal, and they start at U12 or U13. The youth national teams start at U14. There are, of course, a lot of late bloomers who don't stand out until U16 or so, but you need to be in a good training situation well before then if you want to keep getting better.

Let's be honest. You have to have your connections in place by then . I have heard directly from ODP coaches that lament that many of the "top" players that come to them have horrible first touch these days. It's a feeder system. Coaches/clubs still monopolize the placement and push for their 'stars'. A really talented kid without that backing or parental suffers. It's the downfall of American soccer. It is a shame.

I don't know about Virginia, but very few of the really talented kids in Maryland do ODP--if they do, it's often only for a year or so. ODP mostly gets kids who feel like they are not getting good training (or enough training) at their club, or kids whose parents don't know much about the local soccer landscape and believe that ODP is still a pathway to the national team or D1. Its best days are long behind it.

As a native Virginian who has been in the soccer scene (VA State teams,etc) since the mid 70s. I will concede that MD seems to churn out better players on a consistent basis. Your driving is another story

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CCL has Two National Champions this weekend! Loudoun U16B and McLean U15B and three Finalists: Loudoun U17B McLean U19G and BRYC U14G.

every season in CCL play my sons team beats 2 of the final 4 in the U17 state cup last year. They have already beaten one of those teams in CCL again this season. Last season they also tied the state cup winner in CCL play.

This season and last my sons team lost in the second round of last years state cup to the other 2 finalists, champion and runner up.

CCL teams dominate the state cup at the older age group. Seedings is how some of the ehhh teams are able to get further, much further.

My child plays on one of the CCL teams referenced above that made the trip to Texas. Their team will lose at least one match, if not more, in CCL play this year, just as they have in past seasons. That result doesn't make them bad or your son's team better. It means they are utilizing CCL for its intended purpose - to develop their players and not focus on winning league games. Winning is the focus for other events, which may be a big tournament, State Cup, or regional/national league. When we played the same teams we lost to in CCL in those other events, the results were very different. And as I and others on here have said (and which a certain SoccerWire columnist cannot grasp), that's how CCL is different from the other leagues in the area; CCL teams can focus on what's best for player development without worrying about the implications of whether they win or lose. That is a huge difference from VPL teams that are trying to make it to their National Championship series, or NCSL teams that are concerned about staying in the top division.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again let's look at the older age groups. All this little kid concern is rather dumb

Some of us have little kids.

I'm sure we all do. But people are worried about comparing little kids soccer when at end of the day none of that matters until U17/U19. All the great little kids and clubs that you're worried about? The better kids will be on a top team and the rest of them won't even be playing or on the same team. People are worried about the A team and what league does what hahhaa and who ranks what smh let the kids get play time have fun and develop. Worry about rankings when your kid is a sophomore in high school

I agree that no one should flip out about U9 team placement if their kid is improving, but why do you say that U17/19 is the only age group that matters? Id2 and the training centers are a big deal, and they start at U12 or U13. The youth national teams start at U14. There are, of course, a lot of late bloomers who don't stand out until U16 or so, but you need to be in a good training situation well before then if you want to keep getting better.

Let's be honest. You have to have your connections in place by then . I have heard directly from ODP coaches that lament that many of the "top" players that come to them have horrible first touch these days. It's a feeder system. Coaches/clubs still monopolize the placement and push for their 'stars'. A really talented kid without that backing or parental suffers. It's the downfall of American soccer. It is a shame.

I don't know about Virginia, but very few of the really talented kids in Maryland do ODP--if they do, it's often only for a year or so. ODP mostly gets kids who feel like they are not getting good training (or enough training) at their club, or kids whose parents don't know much about the local soccer landscape and believe that ODP is still a pathway to the national team or D1. Its best days are long behind it.

I think that also says something about the relative quality of the two ODP programs. Virginia is much better so players are more likely to stick with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again let's look at the older age groups. All this little kid concern is rather dumb

Some of us have little kids.

I'm sure we all do. But people are worried about comparing little kids soccer when at end of the day none of that matters until U17/U19. All the great little kids and clubs that you're worried about? The better kids will be on a top team and the rest of them won't even be playing or on the same team. People are worried about the A team and what league does what hahhaa and who ranks what smh let the kids get play time have fun and develop. Worry about rankings when your kid is a sophomore in high school

I agree that no one should flip out about U9 team placement if their kid is improving, but why do you say that U17/19 is the only age group that matters? Id2 and the training centers are a big deal, and they start at U12 or U13. The youth national teams start at U14. There are, of course, a lot of late bloomers who don't stand out until U16 or so, but you need to be in a good training situation well before then if you want to keep getting better.

Let's be honest. You have to have your connections in place by then . I have heard directly from ODP coaches that lament that many of the "top" players that come to them have horrible first touch these days. It's a feeder system. Coaches/clubs still monopolize the placement and push for their 'stars'. A really talented kid without that backing or parental suffers. It's the downfall of American soccer. It is a shame.

I don't know about Virginia, but very few of the really talented kids in Maryland do ODP--if they do, it's often only for a year or so. ODP mostly gets kids who feel like they are not getting good training (or enough training) at their club, or kids whose parents don't know much about the local soccer landscape and believe that ODP is still a pathway to the national team or D1. Its best days are long behind it.

I think that also says something about the relative quality of the two ODP programs. Virginia is much better so players are more likely to stick with it.

Do players that stick with it find that it's helpful for college recruiting in the HS age groups?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again let's look at the older age groups. All this little kid concern is rather dumb

Some of us have little kids.

I'm sure we all do. But people are worried about comparing little kids soccer when at end of the day none of that matters until U17/U19. All the great little kids and clubs that you're worried about? The better kids will be on a top team and the rest of them won't even be playing or on the same team. People are worried about the A team and what league does what hahhaa and who ranks what smh let the kids get play time have fun and develop. Worry about rankings when your kid is a sophomore in high school

We're not all parents of college prospects. We just want to know if we're going to get crushed by Arlington's A team or have a competitive game against their C team. At U11 and U12, it's not always clear. By U17/U19, you're either in an NCSL or EDP division, or you're in CCL/ECNL/DA/VPL with a pretty good idea of who you're facing.

Let's also not forget that statistics show the majority of kids quit the sport by age 13, so focusing on the "little kids" is entirely worthwhile if we are interested in improving their experience and keeping them in the sport longer. The elites make up a very small percentage of the overall participation, but they sure account for the majority of the hot air in this forum.

Well, what would you expect? It's a travel soccer thread, so it's going to attract a large number of people whose kids are involved in travel sports in an effort to become elite. You could start "A Rec Soccer around NOVA let's discuss" thread if you don't like the "hot air" here, but I doubt it would generate nearly the same amount of interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again let's look at the older age groups. All this little kid concern is rather dumb

Some of us have little kids.

I'm sure we all do. But people are worried about comparing little kids soccer when at end of the day none of that matters until U17/U19. All the great little kids and clubs that you're worried about? The better kids will be on a top team and the rest of them won't even be playing or on the same team. People are worried about the A team and what league does what hahhaa and who ranks what smh let the kids get play time have fun and develop. Worry about rankings when your kid is a sophomore in high school

We're not all parents of college prospects. We just want to know if we're going to get crushed by Arlington's A team or have a competitive game against their C team. At U11 and U12, it's not always clear. By U17/U19, you're either in an NCSL or EDP division, or you're in CCL/ECNL/DA/VPL with a pretty good idea of who you're facing.

Let's also not forget that statistics show the majority of kids quit the sport by age 13, so focusing on the "little kids" is entirely worthwhile if we are interested in improving their experience and keeping them in the sport longer. The elites make up a very small percentage of the overall participation, but they sure account for the majority of the hot air in this forum.

Well, what would you expect? It's a travel soccer thread, so it's going to attract a large number of people whose kids are involved in travel sports in an effort to become elite. You could start "A Rec Soccer around NOVA let's discuss" thread if you don't like the "hot air" here, but I doubt it would generate nearly the same amount of interest.

I think (hope?) most parents have pretty reasonable expectations for their travel kids. You do the math, and it's obvious that most travel players won't even make their high school teams.

Travel isn't just DA, ECNL and the top CCL clubs. It's the middling CCL clubs, VPL, NCSL and ODSL, too. There are far more people involved with them. The percentage of kids who can make Arlington's top team in a given age group is way, way lower than the percentage of parents in this thread who are debating the best way to get to MLS or at least UVA.

On another note -- +1 on Maryland driving. The trip back from the SoccerPlex down 270 is always amusing -- people in the right lane going 75, people in the left lane going 45, and anything in between.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Let's also not forget that statistics show the majority of kids quit the sport by age 13, so focusing on the "little kids" is entirely worthwhile if we are interested in improving their experience and keeping them in the sport longer. The elites make up a very small percentage of the overall participation, but they sure account for the majority of the hot air in this forum.

Well, what would you expect? It's a travel soccer thread, so it's going to attract a large number of people whose kids are involved in travel sports in an effort to become elite. You could start "A Rec Soccer around NOVA let's discuss" thread if you don't like the "hot air" here, but I doubt it would generate nearly the same amount of interest.

I think (hope?) most parents have pretty reasonable expectations for their travel kids. You do the math, and it's obvious that most travel players won't even make their high school teams.

Travel isn't just DA, ECNL and the top CCL clubs. It's the middling CCL clubs, VPL, NCSL and ODSL, too. There are far more people involved with them. The percentage of kids who can make Arlington's top team in a given age group is way, way lower than the percentage of parents in this thread who are debating the best way to get to MLS or at least UVA.

On another note -- +1 on Maryland driving. The trip back from the SoccerPlex down 270 is always amusing -- people in the right lane going 75, people in the left lane going 45, and anything in between.

VYS is one of those middling level clubs you refer to, yes? You think there has been more well-reasoned and thoughtful discussion here about VYS than there has about DA, ECNL or top CCL teams in the area? If you actually recall or wade back through the years of discussion, I think you'll find many posters are very invested in, and exercised about, their kids' soccer experiences, regardless of how elite the level. Seems pretty natural for any activity you are spending a huge amount of time and money on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Let's also not forget that statistics show the majority of kids quit the sport by age 13, so focusing on the "little kids" is entirely worthwhile if we are interested in improving their experience and keeping them in the sport longer. The elites make up a very small percentage of the overall participation, but they sure account for the majority of the hot air in this forum.

Well, what would you expect? It's a travel soccer thread, so it's going to attract a large number of people whose kids are involved in travel sports in an effort to become elite. You could start "A Rec Soccer around NOVA let's discuss" thread if you don't like the "hot air" here, but I doubt it would generate nearly the same amount of interest.

I think (hope?) most parents have pretty reasonable expectations for their travel kids. You do the math, and it's obvious that most travel players won't even make their high school teams.

Travel isn't just DA, ECNL and the top CCL clubs. It's the middling CCL clubs, VPL, NCSL and ODSL, too. There are far more people involved with them. The percentage of kids who can make Arlington's top team in a given age group is way, way lower than the percentage of parents in this thread who are debating the best way to get to MLS or at least UVA.

On another note -- +1 on Maryland driving. The trip back from the SoccerPlex down 270 is always amusing -- people in the right lane going 75, people in the left lane going 45, and anything in between.

VYS is one of those middling level clubs you refer to, yes? You think there has been more well-reasoned and thoughtful discussion here about VYS than there has about DA, ECNL or top CCL teams in the area? If you actually recall or wade back through the years of discussion, I think you'll find many posters are very invested in, and exercised about, their kids' soccer experiences, regardless of how elite the level. Seems pretty natural for any activity you are spending a huge amount of time and money on.

If you are spending "huge amount of time and money" on it and it isn't "elite" you are doing it wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Right--that's of course what those clubs did. I just wondered if CCL changed the membership requirements, because they originally required clubs to pledge that all their A teams for all age groups would play in CCL. The DA team will obviously be the A team for the clubs that have it. I had understood that PWSI and Bethesda withdrew from CCL because of the A team requirement after they got DA status. So is there a different rule for Arlington, Loudoun, and McLean?

I don't know if they officially changed it or if there is a new rule, but considering its Loudoun and Arlington they probably don't have a choice but to change that rule. Those are the two biggest clubs left in CCL and if they lose them the quality of the league as a whole would plummet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Right--that's of course what those clubs did. I just wondered if CCL changed the membership requirements, because they originally required clubs to pledge that all their A teams for all age groups would play in CCL. The DA team will obviously be the A team for the clubs that have it. I had understood that PWSI and Bethesda withdrew from CCL because of the A team requirement after they got DA status. So is there a different rule for Arlington, Loudoun, and McLean?

I don't know if they officially changed it or if there is a new rule, but considering its Loudoun and Arlington they probably don't have a choice but to change that rule. Those are the two biggest clubs left in CCL and if they lose them the quality of the league as a whole would plummet.

Oh seriously that rule has been a joke for some time now. CCL is a Regional League and if a Club has membership to a National level league then they simply cannot be held to that standard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Let's also not forget that statistics show the majority of kids quit the sport by age 13, so focusing on the "little kids" is entirely worthwhile if we are interested in improving their experience and keeping them in the sport longer. The elites make up a very small percentage of the overall participation, but they sure account for the majority of the hot air in this forum.

Well, what would you expect? It's a travel soccer thread, so it's going to attract a large number of people whose kids are involved in travel sports in an effort to become elite. You could start "A Rec Soccer around NOVA let's discuss" thread if you don't like the "hot air" here, but I doubt it would generate nearly the same amount of interest.

I think (hope?) most parents have pretty reasonable expectations for their travel kids. You do the math, and it's obvious that most travel players won't even make their high school teams.

Travel isn't just DA, ECNL and the top CCL clubs. It's the middling CCL clubs, VPL, NCSL and ODSL, too. There are far more people involved with them. The percentage of kids who can make Arlington's top team in a given age group is way, way lower than the percentage of parents in this thread who are debating the best way to get to MLS or at least UVA.

On another note -- +1 on Maryland driving. The trip back from the SoccerPlex down 270 is always amusing -- people in the right lane going 75, people in the left lane going 45, and anything in between.

VYS is one of those middling level clubs you refer to, yes? You think there has been more well-reasoned and thoughtful discussion here about VYS than there has about DA, ECNL or top CCL teams in the area? If you actually recall or wade back through the years of discussion, I think you'll find many posters are very invested in, and exercised about, their kids' soccer experiences, regardless of how elite the level. Seems pretty natural for any activity you are spending a huge amount of time and money on.

If you are spending "huge amount of time and money" on it and it isn't "elite" you are doing it wrong.

Really? So I wasted my time playing guitar and piano in high school? Or running -- I was a half-decent cross-country runner who went to running camps in the summer, but I didn't make the Olympics. Or reading?

Please. Kids activities are supposed to be inherently worthy in themselves. Not stepping stones to a partial scholarship to a D2 college with poor academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Right--that's of course what those clubs did. I just wondered if CCL changed the membership requirements, because they originally required clubs to pledge that all their A teams for all age groups would play in CCL. The DA team will obviously be the A team for the clubs that have it. I had understood that PWSI and Bethesda withdrew from CCL because of the A team requirement after they got DA status. So is there a different rule for Arlington, Loudoun, and McLean?

I don't know if they officially changed it or if there is a new rule, but considering its Loudoun and Arlington they probably don't have a choice but to change that rule. Those are the two biggest clubs left in CCL and if they lose them the quality of the league as a whole would plummet.

riiiiiiiiiiiight

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CCL has Two National Champions this weekend! Loudoun U16B and McLean U15B and three Finalists: Loudoun U17B McLean U19G and BRYC U14G.

Mclean U17s (former national championship team) lost in first round of state cup. Both number 1 and 2 seeds in U16s also lost in first round. Are these aberrations/flukes or did the age group change really shake up a lot of the formerly top teams?

McLean's U17 team lost some of their top players to the Bethesda DA U16 team. If the roster for the team up on gotsoccer is accurate, it looks like McLean kept a large core group of the national championship team, with only a couple moving down to the 01 team. I imagine they'll rebound once they've had some more time together--their coach and many of the remaining players are very good.

They are 1-3 in CCL - not a good start. Arlington and BRYC are now the strength in the 00 Boys in CCL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CCL has Two National Champions this weekend! Loudoun U16B and McLean U15B and three Finalists: Loudoun U17B McLean U19G and BRYC U14G.

Mclean U17s (former national championship team) lost in first round of state cup. Both number 1 and 2 seeds in U16s also lost in first round. Are these aberrations/flukes or did the age group change really shake up a lot of the formerly top teams?

McLean's U17 team lost some of their top players to the Bethesda DA U16 team. If the roster for the team up on gotsoccer is accurate, it looks like McLean kept a large core group of the national championship team, with only a couple moving down to the 01 team. I imagine they'll rebound once they've had some more time together--their coach and many of the remaining players are very good.

They are 1-3 in CCL - not a good start. Arlington and BRYC are now the strength in the 00 Boys in CCL.

Who cares about the record. CCL is just about development and how the GK plays striker and vice versa and the only thing that matters are some tournaments and National Championships...at least that is what I learned on this board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CCL has Two National Champions this weekend! Loudoun U16B and McLean U15B and three Finalists: Loudoun U17B McLean U19G and BRYC U14G.

Mclean U17s (former national championship team) lost in first round of state cup. Both number 1 and 2 seeds in U16s also lost in first round. Are these aberrations/flukes or did the age group change really shake up a lot of the formerly top teams?

McLean's U17 team lost some of their top players to the Bethesda DA U16 team. If the roster for the team up on gotsoccer is accurate, it looks like McLean kept a large core group of the national championship team, with only a couple moving down to the 01 team. I imagine they'll rebound once they've had some more time together--their coach and many of the remaining players are very good.

They are 1-3 in CCL - not a good start. Arlington and BRYC are now the strength in the 00 Boys in CCL.

Who cares about the record. CCL is just about development and how the GK plays striker and vice versa and the only thing that matters are some tournaments and National Championships...at least that is what I learned on this board.

The best male '00 players aren't playing in the CCL. If you are really talented at the age---you are playing beyond CCL.