Valor

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I can't speak for the boys side, but the lowest teams on the girls side are usually painfully weak. Rec level or worse b/c rec teams usually have at least a few talented athletes. So Valor gives them terrible coaches. If they get someone halfway decent, its a Valor miracle.

Maybe it's the players and not the coaches. Chicken salad made from chicken crap is still made of crap.

Yeah, but I'm talking really basic coaching expectations, like showing up on time, or showing up at all, not being crazy, etc.

Valor should seriously look at cutting the 3rd team program all together. Bad coaches, bad players... nothing more than a fundraiser

Their 3rd-5th teams are their moneymakers. They play in cheaper leagues, cheaper and fewer tournaments, have cheaper inexperienced coaches, but everyone pays the same fees. Basically their worse teams subsidize their first teams.

Insane how these entitled parents are okay with their kids being nothing more than monetary support for kids with actual talent.

if a kid wants to start playing soccer but more competitive than rec leagues. They get placed in 3rd or lower team. The parent agrees. This makes the parents "entitled" for agreeing to pay and give their child a starting point?

Entitled in general, not specifically in the soccer realm. This is NOVA, remember? Everyone's kid is better and deserves more than everyone else's.

Just funny how many people complain about the quality of coaches on 3-5 teams, when they players are terrible as well. As we both know, it's nothing more than a fundraiser for the kids with actual talent. Just hard to believe NOVA parents are okay with that, but then again, they all believe their kid is going to go from 5 to 1 and play for the USNT one day.

There is plenty to complain about regarding the coaches of certain first and second teams as well. No one wants to out themselves, so they aren't going to necessarily identify team/age group/coach.

Anyone who feels 3rd or lower teams should not exist are the ones who feel “entitled” that only higher level teams should exist. Some kids just want to play travel soccer even if they aren’t that good. Why are you so sold on this? You think denying kids a starting point or an opportunity to play , even at the lower levels, is how things should be? If so, you are the one with entitlement issues.

+1 there is a market for players that today are not at the top. There are reasons to play competitive sports and it's not just to become a pro as an adult. Perhaps there are so many complaints for this specific club because of the price structure. One set of parents are paying the exact same as others for a very different quality of product.

Exactly.
Just accepted our offer. Returning to the same team (top of age group) with same coach. Do I LOVE Valor - no. Do I hate it? Also no. It's fine. My kid has enjoyed it and the coach.
I started this thread a year plus ago as I was wondering really about outside perception. Like, if my kid said he played for Valor, would HS coaches turn up their nose and assume he was not good enough.
I worried for not. The coaches looked at my kid, his skills, and his attitude on and off the field. He made Varisty as a Freshman with stiff competition for his position.

And he's started, and he seems to be doing a fine job. Was it Valor training? Is it despite Valor training that he's performing? Who knows. But as the PP stated, there are more reasons to play organized sports than going pro (or even playing in college). We are lucky that we can "write the check" and it won't limit or negatively impact our daily or future life. The cost is what it is.

Thanks to those who have commented and since I know that a lot of the negative and obnoxious comments are from his current or former teammates' Dads (maybe moms??) perhaps didn't get the breadth of response I was looking for, but certainly did get enough!

Interesting story.
Your kid played Valor this fall for the first time then tried out for HS soccer and made Varsity?

There are no Freshman varsity players at any HS local to Valor. None at Centreville, Chantilly, Westfield, Fairfax, Herndon or Robinson. There is one at Oakton who doesn't play for Valor.

Valor guy, it would have been more believable if you had said JV in your story. Top Valor team freshmen tried out and didn't even make JV at our HS. Its hard to make JV at local publics.

Not a Valor guy - just a Mom who has been posting on DC Urban Mom since before my oldest kid (now 18) was born. Not sure I've ever seen anything blow up like this post.

Anyway -

You left off FCPS HS South Lakes (we are technically a Westfield neighborhood -- one street over from SLHS boundary -- but we pupil placed for the IB program).
Yes, South Lakes DOES have a JV team.

About 120 kids came out to tryouts for SLHS -- 9 or 10 kids tried out for GK - including my son.

No, he didn't come to Valor last year. He has been playing with Valor since it was created -- formerly CYA player since he was little.

GKs were cut along the week of tryouts -- at the end, they took 3 on Varsity and 3 on JV --
On Varsity, the top GK is a Senior but has been injured, there's a Junior who played some on Varsity last year (when GK was injured and out for awhile), and they took my son, a Freshman.
They also took one other Freshman on the team (for midfield? I think?) - he plays for Herndon. Ironically also in the Westfield zone but pupil placed for IB too.
They took 3 GKs on JV - I think there are 2 Freshman and one is a sophmore.
The others who tried out for GK were cut and not offered anything.

My son didn't think intially he'd see much playing time but has split a couple of games with the other GK (the junior) - even started a game last week (and had a clean sheet that half -- luck? it was first half so defense was sharp? Who knows).
Then, he and the other Varsity GK were asked by the coach if they wanted to continue splitting games or play full games and switch off -- they've decided to switch off. So, I think my kid plays again next week. Worst position on any soccer team is GK mom -- our home games I've hid in concessions a couple of times when he is on the field. Sigh.

BTW - Monday my kid didn't play against Westfield -- ironically, the Varisty backup GK for Westfield (who didn't play either) plays with my son on the top Valor Team (2009s). He's a sophmore and was on Westfield JV at the start of the season but got moved up when the Westfield GK broke his finger.

I think that answers your questions/comments!

[Anonymous]

But you said you started this thread before truouts last year to ask about Valor....while your son already played for Valor for years prior? Thats weird.

The most surprising part of the story is that anyone pupil places for IB.

Congrats to your son.

[Anonymous]

Following up on my request which got lost the drama, any info on the 2011 boys coaches

[Anonymous]

I don’t have much time on my hands…. But I MAKE to read these threads!

Yes, Valor is terrible.

Keep it going!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have much time on my hands…. But I MAKE to read these threads!

Yes, Valor is terrible.

Keep it going!!!

same girl same.
And I have no association with Valor, its just all so trainwrecky i can't look away

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But you said you started this thread before truouts last year to ask about Valor....while your son already played for Valor for years prior? Thats weird.

The most surprising part of the story is that anyone pupil places for IB.

Congrats to your son.

YES -- my kid was already playing for Valor when I started the thread -- as I said in an earlier post on this thread, I posted to get a gauge on outside perception. When I started this last spring, my kid was an 8th grader, and would be trying out for HS in the Fall of 2024 as a freshman. I was curious to see if there was going to be preconceived ideas about the quality of player out of Valor.

(And re IB -- so.much.about.IB on the FCPS page, we don't need to go there on this thread. We've loved it for our older son - he was in 6th grade when he decided he wanted to go to SLHS. Seriously. That kid was born 40. He's a Senior now and has gotten a lot out of the program (and an amazing full scholarship + stipend at a top University).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't speak for the boys side, but the lowest teams on the girls side are usually painfully weak. Rec level or worse b/c rec teams usually have at least a few talented athletes. So Valor gives them terrible coaches. If they get someone halfway decent, its a Valor miracle.

Maybe it's the players and not the coaches. Chicken salad made from chicken crap is still made of crap.

Yeah, but I'm talking really basic coaching expectations, like showing up on time, or showing up at all, not being crazy, etc.

Valor should seriously look at cutting the 3rd team program all together. Bad coaches, bad players... nothing more than a fundraiser

Their 3rd-5th teams are their moneymakers. They play in cheaper leagues, cheaper and fewer tournaments, have cheaper inexperienced coaches, but everyone pays the same fees. Basically their worse teams subsidize their first teams.

Insane how these entitled parents are okay with their kids being nothing more than monetary support for kids with actual talent.

if a kid wants to start playing soccer but more competitive than rec leagues. They get placed in 3rd or lower team. The parent agrees. This makes the parents "entitled" for agreeing to pay and give their child a starting point?

Entitled in general, not specifically in the soccer realm. This is NOVA, remember? Everyone's kid is better and deserves more than everyone else's.

Just funny how many people complain about the quality of coaches on 3-5 teams, when they players are terrible as well. As we both know, it's nothing more than a fundraiser for the kids with actual talent. Just hard to believe NOVA parents are okay with that, but then again, they all believe their kid is going to go from 5 to 1 and play for the USNT one day.

There is plenty to complain about regarding the coaches of certain first and second teams as well. No one wants to out themselves, so they aren't going to necessarily identify team/age group/coach.

Anyone who feels 3rd or lower teams should not exist are the ones who feel “entitled” that only higher level teams should exist. Some kids just want to play travel soccer even if they aren’t that good. Why are you so sold on this? You think denying kids a starting point or an opportunity to play , even at the lower levels, is how things should be? If so, you are the one with entitlement issues.

+1 there is a market for players that today are not at the top. There are reasons to play competitive sports and it's not just to become a pro as an adult. Perhaps there are so many complaints for this specific club because of the price structure. One set of parents are paying the exact same as others for a very different quality of product.

Exactly.
Just accepted our offer. Returning to the same team (top of age group) with same coach. Do I LOVE Valor - no. Do I hate it? Also no. It's fine. My kid has enjoyed it and the coach.
I started this thread a year plus ago as I was wondering really about outside perception. Like, if my kid said he played for Valor, would HS coaches turn up their nose and assume he was not good enough.
I worried for not. The coaches looked at my kid, his skills, and his attitude on and off the field. He made Varisty as a Freshman with stiff competition for his position.

And he's started, and he seems to be doing a fine job. Was it Valor training? Is it despite Valor training that he's performing? Who knows. But as the PP stated, there are more reasons to play organized sports than going pro (or even playing in college). We are lucky that we can "write the check" and it won't limit or negatively impact our daily or future life. The cost is what it is.

Thanks to those who have commented and since I know that a lot of the negative and obnoxious comments are from his current or former teammates' Dads (maybe moms??) perhaps didn't get the breadth of response I was looking for, but certainly did get enough!

Interesting story.
Your kid played Valor this fall for the first time then tried out for HS soccer and made Varsity?

There are no Freshman varsity players at any HS local to Valor. None at Centreville, Chantilly, Westfield, Fairfax, Herndon or Robinson. There is one at Oakton who doesn't play for Valor.

Valor guy, it would have been more believable if you had said JV in your story. Top Valor team freshmen tried out and didn't even make JV at our HS. Its hard to make JV at local publics.

Not a Valor guy - just a Mom who has been posting on DC Urban Mom since before my oldest kid (now 18) was born. Not sure I've ever seen anything blow up like this post.

Anyway -

You left off FCPS HS South Lakes (we are technically a Westfield neighborhood -- one street over from SLHS boundary -- but we pupil placed for the IB program).
Yes, South Lakes DOES have a JV team.

About 120 kids came out to tryouts for SLHS -- 9 or 10 kids tried out for GK - including my son.

No, he didn't come to Valor last year. He has been playing with Valor since it was created -- formerly CYA player since he was little.

GKs were cut along the week of tryouts -- at the end, they took 3 on Varsity and 3 on JV --
On Varsity, the top GK is a Senior but has been injured, there's a Junior who played some on Varsity last year (when GK was injured and out for awhile), and they took my son, a Freshman.
They also took one other Freshman on the team (for midfield? I think?) - he plays for Herndon. Ironically also in the Westfield zone but pupil placed for IB too.
They took 3 GKs on JV - I think there are 2 Freshman and one is a sophmore.
The others who tried out for GK were cut and not offered anything.

My son didn't think intially he'd see much playing time but has split a couple of games with the other GK (the junior) - even started a game last week (and had a clean sheet that half -- luck? it was first half so defense was sharp? Who knows).
Then, he and the other Varsity GK were asked by the coach if they wanted to continue splitting games or play full games and switch off -- they've decided to switch off. So, I think my kid plays again next week. Worst position on any soccer team is GK mom -- our home games I've hid in concessions a couple of times when he is on the field. Sigh.

BTW - Monday my kid didn't play against Westfield -- ironically, the Varisty backup GK for Westfield (who didn't play either) plays with my son on the top Valor Team (2009s). He's a sophmore and was on Westfield JV at the start of the season but got moved up when the Westfield GK broke his finger.

I think that answers your questions/comments!

All of this is great for your son, but it's still a fact that boys on top Valor teams are not even making JV sometimes. I know of a couple just in my immediate area. Another neighbor with an older son basically told us not to stay at Valor for the long term because they are known for not developing kids to the level most of them need to be in order to make the HS teams. So it may work out for some, depending on the school, but it seems like the reputation for not developing kids is out there, at least for the boys side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chiming in, my kid plays JV for SLHS. They have a few freshmen on Varsity but none played Valor.

What a bullsh!t story lol. Valor paid poster is SO bad at this I almost feel bad for him.

May want to check your facts or talk to your kid again (not the mom who posted)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chiming in, my kid plays JV for SLHS. They have a few freshmen on Varsity but none played Valor.

What a bullsh!t story lol. Valor paid poster is SO bad at this I almost feel bad for him.

May want to check your facts or talk to your kid again (not the mom who posted)

WOW. I cannot believe you are on here claiming I am not telling the truth about my Freshman on SLHS Varsity who also plays for Valor. Please.

If YOU are telling the truth, that you do have a kid on the JV team, then I've fed your kid every week at the team dinners.
Please introduce yourself to me next game or event - no more home games (where you might have seen me during your son's JV game in concessions at just about every game), but I updated the SignUp Genius for next week's team dinner (have you signed up for Salads, Fruits, Veggies or Drinks yet??) so you can find me there.

In the meantime, there are plenty of public places you can check this out -- need a visual?

SLHS team pic. GKs -- the one on the Left is the Junior, Middle is the injured Senior, and my kid is the one on the Right, he's a Freshman.
https://southlakesathletics.net/teams/4554813/boys/soccer/varsity

Here's a picture of him at the Valor Gala that was made fun of earlier in this thread --
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1050756207067212&set=pb.100063985277865.-2207520000&type=3

BTW - he's one of two (not a few) Freshman on the Varisty Team.

[Anonymous]

I would ask Jeff to delete your posts.
Thats too much identifying info.

[Anonymous]

Yeh that’s gonna be awkward on the sidelines now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chiming in, my kid plays JV for SLHS. They have a few freshmen on Varsity but none played Valor.

What a bullsh!t story lol. Valor paid poster is SO bad at this I almost feel bad for him.

May want to check your facts or talk to your kid again (not the mom who posted)

WOW. I cannot believe you are on here claiming I am not telling the truth about my Freshman on SLHS Varsity who also plays for Valor. Please.

If YOU are telling the truth, that you do have a kid on the JV team, then I've fed your kid every week at the team dinners.
Please introduce yourself to me next game or event - no more home games (where you might have seen me during your son's JV game in concessions at just about every game), but I updated the SignUp Genius for next week's team dinner (have you signed up for Salads, Fruits, Veggies or Drinks yet??) so you can find me there.

In the meantime, there are plenty of public places you can check this out -- need a visual?

SLHS team pic. GKs -- the one on the Left is the Junior, Middle is the injured Senior, and my kid is the one on the Right, he's a Freshman.
https://southlakesathletics.net/teams/4554813/boys/soccer/varsity

Here's a picture of him at the Valor Gala that was made fun of earlier in this thread --
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1050756207067212&set=pb.100063985277865.-2207520000&type=3

BTW - he's one of two (not a few) Freshman on the Varisty Team.

What is wrong with you making fun of a kid's pic when his mom posted a message? Can we keep this to Valor? Leave the kids out of it.

[Anonymous]

No one made fun of her kid's picture.

Everyone made fun of Valor having a Gala in general.

Seriously GK mom this is way TMI. Ask the mods to delete all your personal posts.

[Anonymous]

Yikes!!!!

[Anonymous]

This post doesn’t surprise me. This type of crazy is the reason several of us left that squad. Why would you dox yourself… AGAIN? Btw that 09 group from when they were in 7th grade had could have made valor a state cup team. I think where are 6 or 7 kids currently, that are spread between SYC MLSN VDA NVA Arlington and FVU.