VYS Soccer - better or worse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Arl doesn't do rolling offers. Are you talking about VYS?

VYS doesn't do rolling offers. Everyone finds out at same time, unless they changed it this year.

When Eddie ran it, they usually picked some people after the first tryout, then maybe some more after the second.

Last year was an aberration -- the new technical staff botched things pretty badly, at least on the boys side. U9s didn't know team assignments until late summer, a concession to the fact that they hadn't really evaluated everyone.

This year? Who knows?

Late summer, for real? That model appears to be carrying over...

Just curious? What makes it seem like it is carrying over?

[Anonymous]

It seems like a few threads are mentioning the same thing about spending $2-3k for a spot on the D/E/F teams of large clubs and how it's not worth it so I'm posting this multiple times. Well my DS plays on a team with Cougars Youth Club (Falls Church) and yes they play in ODSL but the competition has been good so far and what we pay sure beats the $2-3K at these larger clubs. I'm very happy with their coaching and what they are trying to do as a small club. Their development group is small but they are trying to form competitive teams at the younger age groups and are looking for players. From what I've seen the coaches really focus on technique with the young kids. If anything you'll get the same or better experience for a reasonable price. The link to try-outs is http://www.cougarsyouthclub.org/#!blank/i0zly . Give it a try.

[Anonymous]

The Cougar website says...that the cost is $1,050 and "Fee Does Not Include: Tournaments, Winter Training, or Indoor League. Additional uniform items such as club jacket, club pants, back pack are all sold separately." FPYC U9s this year included uniforms, back packs, summer training (2x per week one with pro trainer), one week long pre-season camp (pro trainers), winter training (2 x per week parent volunteer led but 13 sessions were indoor), indoor Metro futsal league, four tournaments, in season training 3 x per week with two pro trainer led). Cost was $1,300. The only other expenses were gas in the car. U10 was about the same price but played 3 tournaments and winter training was all outdoors. All U10 training was pro trainer led. So prices vary a bit but still much less expensive than other local clubs. 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 tryouts are this week. http://fpycsports.com/travel-team-try-outs/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Cougar website says...that the cost is $1,050 and "Fee Does Not Include: Tournaments, Winter Training, or Indoor League. Additional uniform items such as club jacket, club pants, back pack are all sold separately." FPYC U9s this year included uniforms, back packs, summer training (2x per week one with pro trainer), one week long pre-season camp (pro trainers), winter training (2 x per week parent volunteer led but 13 sessions were indoor), indoor Metro futsal league, four tournaments, in season training 3 x per week with two pro trainer led). Cost was $1,300. The only other expenses were gas in the car. U10 was about the same price but played 3 tournaments and winter training was all outdoors. All U10 training was pro trainer led. So prices vary a bit but still much less expensive than other local clubs. 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 tryouts are this week. http://fpycsports.com/travel-team-try-outs/

Cougar website says $850. Added wrong.

[Anonymous]

$850 includes uniform...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Cougar website says...that the cost is $1,050 and "Fee Does Not Include: Tournaments, Winter Training, or Indoor League. Additional uniform items such as club jacket, club pants, back pack are all sold separately." FPYC U9s this year included uniforms, back packs, summer training (2x per week one with pro trainer), one week long pre-season camp (pro trainers), winter training (2 x per week parent volunteer led but 13 sessions were indoor), indoor Metro futsal league, four tournaments, in season training 3 x per week with two pro trainer led). Cost was $1,300. The only other expenses were gas in the car. U10 was about the same price but played 3 tournaments and winter training was all outdoors. All U10 training was pro trainer led. So prices vary a bit but still much less expensive than other local clubs. 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 tryouts are this week. http://fpycsports.com/travel-team-try-outs/

I think FPYC is a really good value and the training is good, really good even. Our kid plays through VYS and our base cost is ~$1600 with number of the items above not included. Wanted to consider FPYC for next year but kid is set on staying at VYS. The only knock I see on FPYC is the teams seem to fall apart quickly with kids moving on to other clubs. And then there is not the depth to backfill their spots. So a team that is a NCSL D1/D2 caliber team can suddenly become a much lower caliber team. Not sure why the kids move out so soon. But I believe it has happened to the U9/U10 teams a few years running.

[Anonymous]

I value my kid's opinion of where they want to play, many times it's because of friends but you as a parent has to determine whether you believe that what you are paying for in fees is equivalent to the education that they are receiving. At this point in U9/U10 it's really about learning to play the game and improving as a player individually. Sometimes it's by going to a better place paying less or more. You as the parent has to determine what makes most sense. Once they are ready for a bigger level have them try-out at a new club. Don't discount the value and education that your child will get at a small club like FPYC or at Cougars just because they are small. Your kid will likely get more attention there than at an E/F team elsewhere and better possibility to develop as a player. At older age groups they may have less teams but they will be strong ones. Parents here are way too concerned with CCL/NCSL 1/2. A player's growth does not take place on game day but on practice day and the work they are willing to put on their own to improve. Also, tournaments = overrated when it comes to development. More training, less tournaments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Cougar website says...that the cost is $1,050 and "Fee Does Not Include: Tournaments, Winter Training, or Indoor League. Additional uniform items such as club jacket, club pants, back pack are all sold separately." FPYC U9s this year included uniforms, back packs, summer training (2x per week one with pro trainer), one week long pre-season camp (pro trainers), winter training (2 x per week parent volunteer led but 13 sessions were indoor), indoor Metro futsal league, four tournaments, in season training 3 x per week with two pro trainer led). Cost was $1,300. The only other expenses were gas in the car. U10 was about the same price but played 3 tournaments and winter training was all outdoors. All U10 training was pro trainer led. So prices vary a bit but still much less expensive than other local clubs. 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 tryouts are this week. http://fpycsports.com/travel-team-try-outs/

DS attended an FPYC tryout last week. Absolutely loved the coaches. The rising FPYC players showed excellent footskills and good decisionmaking, suggesting they had received the right training, and not just a large amount of training. I think this would be an amazing option for a player with boundless enthusiasm for soccer throughout the year.

[Anonymous]

So, depending on age, some small club alternatives near Vienna (since this is the VYS thread):

-FPYC
-PAC
-Cougar

Also, Bethesda South is holding tryouts for some age groups later in the month, and in prior years practices have been held near Inova Fairfax and at Jones Branch.

But don't overlook VYS or McLean if you're in the area either. Who knows.

[Anonymous]

I think FPYC is a really good value and the training is good, really good even. Our kid plays through VYS and our base cost is ~$1600 with number of the items above not included. Wanted to consider FPYC for next year but kid is set on staying at VYS. The only knock I see on FPYC is the teams seem to fall apart quickly with kids moving on to other clubs. And then there is not the depth to backfill their spots. So a team that is a NCSL D1/D2 caliber team can suddenly become a much lower caliber team. Not sure why the kids move out so soon. But I believe it has happened to the U9/U10 teams a few years running. In this area with so many opportunities, it's hard to keep good teams together. Those teams that you mentioned were crazy good teams. Some of those kids now play for Bethesda, McLean, Joga, etc. Happens. And it will probably happen more and more throughout the area with CYA, McLean, Arlington, etc getting DA status at U12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Cougar website says...that the cost is $1,050 and "Fee Does Not Include: Tournaments, Winter Training, or Indoor League. Additional uniform items such as club jacket, club pants, back pack are all sold separately." FPYC U9s this year included uniforms, back packs, summer training (2x per week one with pro trainer), one week long pre-season camp (pro trainers), winter training (2 x per week parent volunteer led but 13 sessions were indoor), indoor Metro futsal league, four tournaments, in season training 3 x per week with two pro trainer led). Cost was $1,300. The only other expenses were gas in the car. U10 was about the same price but played 3 tournaments and winter training was all outdoors. All U10 training was pro trainer led. So prices vary a bit but still much less expensive than other local clubs. 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 tryouts are this week. http://fpycsports.com/travel-team-try-outs/

I think FPYC is a really good value and the training is good, really good even. Our kid plays through VYS and our base cost is ~$1600 with number of the items above not included. Wanted to consider FPYC for next year but kid is set on staying at VYS. The only knock I see on FPYC is the teams seem to fall apart quickly with kids moving on to other clubs. And then there is not the depth to backfill their spots. So a team that is a NCSL D1/D2 caliber team can suddenly become a much lower caliber team. Not sure why the kids move out so soon. But I believe it has happened to the U9/U10 teams a few years running.

Yes. I can speak from direct experience on this. FPYC has developed really great U9 and U10 teams for a few years running now -- and the top players essentially get recruited away by the big clubs. Unfortunately, since FPYC is a small club, it's inevitable. It's a shame --- FPYC does all the work, grooming these kids from age 4 ..and by age 9, Bethesda, Joga, and McLean coming sniffing around and lure parents away by promises of bigger club = bigger chance for scholarships/stardom, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Cougar website says...that the cost is $1,050 and "Fee Does Not Include: Tournaments, Winter Training, or Indoor League. Additional uniform items such as club jacket, club pants, back pack are all sold separately." FPYC U9s this year included uniforms, back packs, summer training (2x per week one with pro trainer), one week long pre-season camp (pro trainers), winter training (2 x per week parent volunteer led but 13 sessions were indoor), indoor Metro futsal league, four tournaments, in season training 3 x per week with two pro trainer led). Cost was $1,300. The only other expenses were gas in the car. U10 was about the same price but played 3 tournaments and winter training was all outdoors. All U10 training was pro trainer led. So prices vary a bit but still much less expensive than other local clubs. 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 tryouts are this week. http://fpycsports.com/travel-team-try-outs/

I think FPYC is a really good value and the training is good, really good even. Our kid plays through VYS and our base cost is ~$1600 with number of the items above not included. Wanted to consider FPYC for next year but kid is set on staying at VYS. The only knock I see on FPYC is the teams seem to fall apart quickly with kids moving on to other clubs. And then there is not the depth to backfill their spots. So a team that is a NCSL D1/D2 caliber team can suddenly become a much lower caliber team. Not sure why the kids move out so soon. But I believe it has happened to the U9/U10 teams a few years running.

Yes. I can speak from direct experience on this. FPYC has developed really great U9 and U10 teams for a few years running now -- and the top players essentially get recruited away by the big clubs. Unfortunately, since FPYC is a small club, it's inevitable. It's a shame --- FPYC does all the work, grooming these kids from age 4 ..and by age 9, Bethesda, Joga, and McLean coming sniffing around and lure parents away by promises of bigger club = bigger chance for scholarships/stardom, etc.

The only FPYC team I am familiar with is their current U15 boys one. They were good at U9 when my son's team first played them, and they are still a very good team now if their record is anything to go by. They've lost and picked up a lot of kids through the years, but seem to have been able to maintain a strong core group. Parents who would like to stay with the club could perhaps look at that team as a model.

With respect to the bolded phrase above, I'm not sure why you take such a dim view of players leaving for other clubs. It's great that FPYC seems to offer great training at the younger ages, but that doesn't mean they should seek to hold on to their players forever. It's hard for very small clubs to offer the same development and recruiting platform for high level players after a certain age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: It's a shame --- FPYC does all the work, grooming these kids from age 4 ..and by age 9, Bethesda, Joga, and McLean coming sniffing around and lure parents away by promises of bigger club = bigger chance for scholarships/stardom, etc.

+100

the big clubs can't develop their own players, so they recruit others.

[Anonymous]

Bethesda Soutb used to practice by Inova Fairfax but I think they are at Nike Field on Great Falls now. Struck a deal with them for field space. They already have a 2006 team that has been training all season. The 2003 team will crumble. Kids going everywhere else. Tryouts underway for 2005 I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's definitely worse.

But after a wildly successful fall in the State Cup for the girls teams, they managed to drive away Hank Leung. That's crazy.

What are you talking about? Hank is still there.....???