DA vs ECNL vs everything else

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Has anyone done any of the FC Barcelona summer camps? Were they worth it?

Summer soccer camps should be about touches and having fun playing with different kids. Do not attend ANY camp thinking kids will come out on the other side substantially better.

It's a fair point, although Galanis has a "champions camp" in NJ in August I heard a lot fo good things about. And apparently you have to send a clip of your child doing some soccer for him to assess and decide to accept the child or not.

But my kid is begging for something to improve their skill over the summer. Any suggestions?

FCB camps run by ISL (which is a partner in the Leesburg escola) can be good. Some locations are better than others. A lot is driven by the caliber of players who enroll. This is really good for younger players and probably less valuable as players age.

Excellent info! Do you know which locations they run? Or is there a way to find out? Some kids are just soccer junkies, you know?

Here is a link to the ISL camps - looks like they have one in Leesburg, one in Richmond, and one in VA Beach this summer (this month). https://camps.fcbarcelona.us/fcb-camps/ Our son has been to Richmond, Leesburg and DC over the past few years and really liked them. We also went to a non-ISL FCB camp out west that was not nearly as good. Their multiple US locations are handy in the event you are visiting relatives in other parts of the country and your child wants to do something fun or different during the day.

[Anonymous]

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McLean has boys ECNL starting in the fall.

Really? All age groups?

Has McLean announced its coaching line up?

Yes, check their website.

U13 (2006) Jamil Walker
USSF A License

USYS Nationals

DC United Player

U14 (2005) Brent Heupel / Jaime Moreno
Heupel: USSF A License, Former DC United Academy Coach

Moreno: USSF A License, DC United Player, Member DC Sports Hall of Fame, Bolivian International

U15 (2004) Bruce Murray
USSF A License

USMNT Player

USSF Hall of Fame

U16 (2003) Alan Portillo
USSF D License

USYS Nationals

U17 (2002) Todd West

USSF A License

Coach, American University

U18 (2001/2000) Jamil Walker
USSF A License

USYS Nationals

DC United Player

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our 2 U17 teams are doing a weeklong training camp over the summer. I’m sure our manager wouldn’t mind if your player trained with us.

Really? Sounds very interesting. What dates? What's the program?

[Anonymous]

Wow! Almost all the McLean Boys ECNL coaches have an A license. Anyone here know any of those coaches?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Here is a link to the ISL camps - looks like they have one in Leesburg, one in Richmond, and one in VA Beach this summer (this month). https://camps.fcbarcelona.us/fcb-camps/ Our son has been to Richmond, Leesburg and DC over the past few years and really liked them. We also went to a non-ISL FCB camp out west that was not nearly as good. Their multiple US locations are handy in the event you are visiting relatives in other parts of the country and your child wants to do something fun or different during the day.

Excellent! And I love the fact they don't separate boys and girls in the camp. Europe doesn't do a whole lot of that either, I'm told.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow! Almost all the McLean Boys ECNL coaches have an A license. Anyone here know any of those coaches?

I know a fair amount about Jamil Walker. He's coached kids I know, and from all accounts is an excellent coach. He led this year's McLean U18 team to at least one national USYSA championship in the past, maybe 2? I do think it's odd that he's been coaching some of the kids on that team since they started out in soccer. You'd think the club would want them exposed to different coaches, though I'm sure the continuity is part of why they've been so successful. I have heard good things about Todd West as well. I've heard mostly negative things about Bruce Murray as a coach through the years, but don't know anyone who has been on one of his teams in the last 2 years.

[Anonymous]

Meant to add to my last post, that I personally don't put much stock in the "A" license designation. The three worst coaches my kids have played for had "A" licenses, and the best one couldn't be bothered to move beyond the "D". The courses don't seem to evaluate whether coaches are talented, inspiring teachers of the game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meant to add to my last post, that I personally don't put much stock in the "A" license designation. The three worst coaches my kids have played for had "A" licenses, and the best one couldn't be bothered to move beyond the "D". The courses don't seem to evaluate whether coaches are talented, inspiring teachers of the game.

This point is a cliche.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meant to add to my last post, that I personally don't put much stock in the "A" license designation. The three worst coaches my kids have played for had "A" licenses, and the best one couldn't be bothered to move beyond the "D". The courses don't seem to evaluate whether coaches are talented, inspiring teachers of the game.

True. We’ve played against a McLean team with an A licensed coach, and they literally had the whole team bunkered in their own half for 90 minutes, hoofing the ball away whenever they regained possession.

[Anonymous]

Just be glad Lucas Cook ain’t at McLean anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow! Almost all the McLean Boys ECNL coaches have an A license. Anyone here know any of those coaches?

Alan is a great coach. I heard good things about Jamil too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow! Almost all the McLean Boys ECNL coaches have an A license. Anyone here know any of those coaches?

I know a fair amount about Jamil Walker. He's coached kids I know, and from all accounts is an excellent coach. He led this year's McLean U18 team to at least one national USYSA championship in the past, maybe 2? I do think it's odd that he's been coaching some of the kids on that team since they started out in soccer. You'd think the club would want them exposed to different coaches, though I'm sure the continuity is part of why they've been so successful. I have heard good things about Todd West as well. I've heard mostly negative things about Bruce Murray as a coach through the years, but don't know anyone who has been on one of his teams in the last 2 years.

thanx!! That's super helpful! This is going to be an exciting year

[Anonymous]

When I think of Bordeaux, I associate with French cheese. Anyone know anything about the program?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Meant to add to my last post, that I personally don't put much stock in the "A" license designation. The three worst coaches my kids have played for had "A" licenses, and the best one couldn't be bothered to move beyond the "D". The courses don't seem to evaluate whether coaches are talented, inspiring teachers of the game.

True. We’ve played against a McLean team with an A licensed coach, and they literally had the whole team bunkered in their own half for 90 minutes, hoofing the ball away whenever they regained possession.

True, it's not a guarantee, but it doesn't hurt either. Besides, it shows an effort by MYS to set a certain standard. So it does say something about the club.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely it sets a great standard, however a lot of people mistakenly conflate that with the coach preferring a proactive style. If you look at the style (if you can even call it that) that the national team has played historically, it’s simply not the case. Having said that, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and we WILL NOT be at the big boys’ table with cosmetic fixes and lip service.