My Gripe with Arlington Soccer Association (ASA)

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10/22/2014 17:33

Subject: My Gripe with Arlington Soccer Association (ASA)

quote

Anonymous

So here's the deal, it was recently brought to my attention that Arlington Soccer Association (ASA) is actively recruiting kids from neighboring soccer clubs for the higher level/older ASA travel soccer teams, and these recruits are displacing many, and in some cases most of the Arlington kids. These are Arlington kids who’ve worked and trained hard for years, and as Arlington’s best players, (I would say) have earned the right to play for Arlington’s travel soccer team.

I know, I know, par for the course, and from what I hear anecdotally, I understand most clubs do some poaching for their older, higher level teams. The ethics of doing so are debatable because it’s essentially a zero sum game, but that's not what's got me irked. It appears that at the older/higher levels it's gotten to the point at ASA where due to excessive recruiting and the success of the ASA program, the majority of the kids on some ASA teams (up to 60-75%) aren't even from Arlington.

I'm fine with allowing some kids from around the NOVA area to try out for and make the Arlington travel teams, it adds to the competition and some local areas don't have competitive clubs of their own, but I think that there should be some sort of limit - a minimum set percentage of the kids (e.g., 50%, 60% or 70%) who must come from the clubs home turf.

As it currently stands, we have Arlington kids who’ve been playing ASA travel soccer successfully for 6-8 years and whose parents have spent $10K+ in travel soccer dues, and through hard work and dedication are arguably some of the best players in Arlington, only to get bumped off their travel teams, not by the normal cycle of some kids getting better and others not keeping up, but instead by groups of kids ASA management and coaches are recruiting and bringing over “in mass” from neighboring clubs.

When ASA management is asked about this policy, they've repeatedly blown parents off, stating that ASA is a private club and since they are not affiliated with Arlington County, ASA can do whatever it wants. ASA management is correct, but also shortsighted.

The residents of Arlington County pay considerable taxes to maintain the dozens of soccer fields that ASA uses for their programs. These fields are a valuable county asset which cost millions each year to build and maintain (the new Long Bridge turf fields being a prime example) and given this huge contribution by the county that makes the ASA travel soccer program possible, I think ASA owes the county some concessions in return. At minimum, I think that at least a majority of each team - at minimum - should concsist of Arlinton residents. I’m guessing the residents of any other county would expect the same.

What are your thoughts? Is it an unreasonable expectation that at least a majority of players on any given Arlington Travel Soccer team be from Arlington? And if you there should be a minimum, what is appropriate? [In case you’re wondering, my kids are younger and haven’t had to face this yet.]