Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious. Has anyone had their kids move clubs (not team) after Fall season just because they weren't happy? Not because family moved. What caused the change? Was it hard to find another club with an opening? Were you still responsible for paying the remainder of the balance at the original club? How long did you stay at new club? Good or Bad decision?

This question is not based on the BS comments, it's just a general question to understand such situations and how different players or clubs handled them.

We've had kids join after the Fall season. In one instance the same kid left after the following fall season.

In all cases the players/families were not happy with their situation so greener grass was the reason. I do not know financially what the hit was for moving. I don't know if they paid out at the club they left and were giving a price break upon arriving. Either way, players cards were not a problem.

We left after a few years at our Club--but not mid-season. It would have had to be an abusive-type situation (like super crazy coach or something) for us not to force our kid to continue for the full year.

We are not a 'grass is greener' family. However, the grass is, indeed, bright emerald green for our two kids and us at the new Club---but we heavily researched and this decision was led by our firstborn. He had begging for over a year to leave and took his time visiting Clubs, etc. He wanted better training. Period. It is night and day in terms of everything at the new Club: from training, friendliness, coaching, club unity, parent demeanor/friendliness/behavior, opportunities, evaluations (constant and very detailed, and constructive), etc.

We plan to stay put. If somebody is jumping around constantly---that's a red flag. But giving the decent college try and finding a better fit is totally fine. It's much better than sticking around and bitching and moaning and bringing everyone else down. My kids say practices are so much more "fun" at the new Club. As a former player, they are definitely better quality. Win-win.

[Anonymous]

I think it has been stated several times on this forum that it's very difficult to find the best place for your kid. I'm not surprised kids jump around. It's hard to determine if Arlington or Alexandria or McLean or BRYC is the best after watching a game or two. It's not easy to get your kid into every club for the coach to look at him. You go with your and your kid's gut and sometimes the gut is wrong. I don't think staying year after year is the right solution if the kid doesn't like it. Like the last poster said...sometimes the grass is greener. However, sometimes it is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it has been stated several times on this forum that it's very difficult to find the best place for your kid. I'm not surprised kids jump around. It's hard to determine if Arlington or Alexandria or McLean or BRYC is the best after watching a game or two. It's not easy to get your kid into every club for the coach to look at him. You go with your and your kid's gut and sometimes the gut is wrong. I don't think staying year after year is the right solution if the kid doesn't like it. Like the last poster said...sometimes the grass is greener. However, sometimes it is not.

You have to see how they train. Watching games is not enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it has been stated several times on this forum that it's very difficult to find the best place for your kid. I'm not surprised kids jump around. It's hard to determine if Arlington or Alexandria or McLean or BRYC is the best after watching a game or two. It's not easy to get your kid into every club for the coach to look at him. You go with your and your kid's gut and sometimes the gut is wrong. I don't think staying year after year is the right solution if the kid doesn't like it. Like the last poster said...sometimes the grass is greener. However, sometimes it is not.

Yes it's understood that kids jump around but I think the OP's question was more about mid-year (winter) scenarios.

[Anonymous]

We considered leaving mid season. A couple factor that made me investigate the options were.

1. Lack of field space. We were given a ratty grass field to practice on until a bunch of parents got upset and finally they gave us a small square of turf with a ton of other teams practicing on.
2. Swapping coach a few weeks into the season. I know it happens but painful when you are sold on a program and coach to have it swapped after joining..bait and switch.
3. Child to coach ratio. They started with 3 coaches for 25 kids and it was working great. One coach got moved to another team and it was chaos. In fact at one point they tried to combine 2 age groups with 2 coaches...Horrible to watch.
4. Sub par training. Dont get me wrong new coach knows what he is doing but he was coaching older kids prior. Way to much focus on strategy and much less to nothing on technical skills. In fact during one rare footskill training he told the kids to not even attempt a maradona or roulette move because it was too difficult. He also treats the kids like adults. No fun games, other clubs we played at do that actually build endurance.
5. Playing time - Coach opts for better players to get the most playing time. Sure I am a parent and will always be bias to my son but he works hard and doesnt miss a practice. It should be relatively even playing time for all. He doesnt get to start. Is the first sub in and the next sub out. This is with a 7v7 game and 12 child roster. Made a comment and was told "He needs to work on some areas" Well isnt that the coaches job..sure as heck arent going to learn on the sidelines

Sadly its a CCL club and the next closest is also CCL and you cant switch mid season. Will consider other clubs next season and even going back to previous club which we had to leave only because of the commute and practices times. We just couldnt make it in time. We miss it terribly. Dont want to be jumping club to club but need to find a place that works for us.

[Anonymous]

Name club names ffs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We considered leaving mid season. A couple factor that made me investigate the options were.

1. Lack of field space. We were given a ratty grass field to practice on until a bunch of parents got upset and finally they gave us a small square of turf with a ton of other teams practicing on.
2. Swapping coach a few weeks into the season. I know it happens but painful when you are sold on a program and coach to have it swapped after joining..bait and switch.
3. Child to coach ratio. They started with 3 coaches for 25 kids and it was working great. One coach got moved to another team and it was chaos. In fact at one point they tried to combine 2 age groups with 2 coaches...Horrible to watch.
4. Sub par training. Dont get me wrong new coach knows what he is doing but he was coaching older kids prior. Way to much focus on strategy and much less to nothing on technical skills. In fact during one rare footskill training he told the kids to not even attempt a maradona or roulette move because it was too difficult. He also treats the kids like adults. No fun games, other clubs we played at do that actually build endurance.
5. Playing time - Coach opts for better players to get the most playing time. Sure I am a parent and will always be bias to my son but he works hard and doesnt miss a practice. It should be relatively even playing time for all. He doesnt get to start. Is the first sub in and the next sub out. This is with a 7v7 game and 12 child roster. Made a comment and was told "He needs to work on some areas" Well isnt that the coaches job..sure as heck arent going to learn on the sidelines

Sadly its a CCL club and the next closest is also CCL and you cant switch mid season. Will consider other clubs next season and even going back to previous club which we had to leave only because of the commute and practices times. We just couldnt make it in time. We miss it terribly. Dont want to be jumping club to club but need to find a place that works for us.

I agree the coaching turnover mid season can be brutal. I'm wondering if that is more of a problem at the larger clubs or do small clubs have the same problem ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We considered leaving mid season. A couple factor that made me investigate the options were.

1. Lack of field space. We were given a ratty grass field to practice on until a bunch of parents got upset and finally they gave us a small square of turf with a ton of other teams practicing on.
2. Swapping coach a few weeks into the season. I know it happens but painful when you are sold on a program and coach to have it swapped after joining..bait and switch.
3. Child to coach ratio. They started with 3 coaches for 25 kids and it was working great. One coach got moved to another team and it was chaos. In fact at one point they tried to combine 2 age groups with 2 coaches...Horrible to watch.
4. Sub par training. Dont get me wrong new coach knows what he is doing but he was coaching older kids prior. Way to much focus on strategy and much less to nothing on technical skills. In fact during one rare footskill training he told the kids to not even attempt a maradona or roulette move because it was too difficult. He also treats the kids like adults. No fun games, other clubs we played at do that actually build endurance.
5. Playing time - Coach opts for better players to get the most playing time. Sure I am a parent and will always be bias to my son but he works hard and doesnt miss a practice. It should be relatively even playing time for all. He doesnt get to start. Is the first sub in and the next sub out. This is with a 7v7 game and 12 child roster. Made a comment and was told "He needs to work on some areas" Well isnt that the coaches job..sure as heck arent going to learn on the sidelines

Sadly its a CCL club and the next closest is also CCL and you cant switch mid season. Will consider other clubs next season and even going back to previous club which we had to leave only because of the commute and practices times. We just couldnt make it in time. We miss it terribly. Dont want to be jumping club to club but need to find a place that works for us.

I agree the coaching turnover mid season can be brutal. I'm wondering if that is more of a problem at the larger clubs or do small clubs have the same problem ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Another email receiver here. Also not sure how they got our email address. Wondering why Bethesda South is 2006 boys are looking for so many players mid year. Had heard that there tons of kids at spring tryouts.

They also have lost players mid-season. One of their best players, in fact, has already left. A few others as well left after bad experiences (from what I heard; not first-hand).

Interesting. We got an email but we have had some dealings with the 2006 coaching staff in the past. We didn't respond to the email - I sort of wish we had. I don't know the coaches well, but what I know, I like. And I have seen some of the 2006 BSC games and they are a very talented group.

Do we know where the people leaving are going?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We considered leaving mid season. A couple factor that made me investigate the options were.

1. Lack of field space. We were given a ratty grass field to practice on until a bunch of parents got upset and finally they gave us a small square of turf with a ton of other teams practicing on.
2. Swapping coach a few weeks into the season. I know it happens but painful when you are sold on a program and coach to have it swapped after joining..bait and switch.
3. Child to coach ratio. They started with 3 coaches for 25 kids and it was working great. One coach got moved to another team and it was chaos. In fact at one point they tried to combine 2 age groups with 2 coaches...Horrible to watch.
4. Sub par training. Dont get me wrong new coach knows what he is doing but he was coaching older kids prior. Way to much focus on strategy and much less to nothing on technical skills. In fact during one rare footskill training he told the kids to not even attempt a maradona or roulette move because it was too difficult. He also treats the kids like adults. No fun games, other clubs we played at do that actually build endurance.
5. Playing time - Coach opts for better players to get the most playing time. Sure I am a parent and will always be bias to my son but he works hard and doesnt miss a practice. It should be relatively even playing time for all. He doesnt get to start. Is the first sub in and the next sub out. This is with a 7v7 game and 12 child roster. Made a comment and was told "He needs to work on some areas" Well isnt that the coaches job..sure as heck arent going to learn on the sidelines

Sadly its a CCL club and the next closest is also CCL and you cant switch mid season. Will consider other clubs next season and even going back to previous club which we had to leave only because of the commute and practices times. We just couldnt make it in time. We miss it terribly. Dont want to be jumping club to club but need to find a place that works for us.

I agree the coaching turnover mid season can be brutal. I'm wondering if that is more of a problem at the larger clubs or do small clubs have the same problem ?

Coaches changing can happen anywhere anytime but I think it is pretty rare but the reasons are likely not that different than why players leave.

Perhaps coaches where sold promises and they find practicing on a patch of ratty grass to be just as unacceptable as you do.

I've only seen one coach leave mid/early season. I've seen far more come into a program, usually in the spring as they are slowly handed the reins of the team that they will inherit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We considered leaving mid season. A couple factor that made me investigate the options were.

1. Lack of field space. We were given a ratty grass field to practice on until a bunch of parents got upset and finally they gave us a small square of turf with a ton of other teams practicing on.
2. Swapping coach a few weeks into the season. I know it happens but painful when you are sold on a program and coach to have it swapped after joining..bait and switch.
3. Child to coach ratio. They started with 3 coaches for 25 kids and it was working great. One coach got moved to another team and it was chaos. In fact at one point they tried to combine 2 age groups with 2 coaches...Horrible to watch.
4. Sub par training. Dont get me wrong new coach knows what he is doing but he was coaching older kids prior. Way to much focus on strategy and much less to nothing on technical skills. In fact during one rare footskill training he told the kids to not even attempt a maradona or roulette move because it was too difficult. He also treats the kids like adults. No fun games, other clubs we played at do that actually build endurance.
5. Playing time - Coach opts for better players to get the most playing time. Sure I am a parent and will always be bias to my son but he works hard and doesnt miss a practice. It should be relatively even playing time for all. He doesnt get to start. Is the first sub in and the next sub out. This is with a 7v7 game and 12 child roster. Made a comment and was told "He needs to work on some areas" Well isnt that the coaches job..sure as heck arent going to learn on the sidelines

Sadly its a CCL club and the next closest is also CCL and you cant switch mid season. Will consider other clubs next season and even going back to previous club which we had to leave only because of the commute and practices times. We just couldnt make it in time. We miss it terribly. Dont want to be jumping club to club but need to find a place that works for us.

I agree the coaching turnover mid season can be brutal. I'm wondering if that is more of a problem at the larger clubs or do small clubs have the same problem ?

Small Clubs likely start short and have coaches probably doing more than what they are required to so that they can make it work. If anything they may start with less coaches and then add as time goes on. I heard of some coaches recruiting parents with knowledge of the game to assist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Another email receiver here. Also not sure how they got our email address. Wondering why Bethesda South is 2006 boys are looking for so many players mid year. Had heard that there tons of kids at spring tryouts.

They also have lost players mid-season. One of their best players, in fact, has already left. A few others as well left after bad experiences (from what I heard; not first-hand).

Interesting. We got an email but we have had some dealings with the 2006 coaching staff in the past. We didn't respond to the email - I sort of wish we had. I don't know the coaches well, but what I know, I like. And I have seen some of the 2006 BSC games and they are a very talented group.

Do we know where the people leaving are going?

Alexandria, Arlington...maybe others

[Anonymous]

Arlington or Alexandria for U9?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington or Alexandria for U9?

I love Alexandria's passing style. Arlington has more of an "athlete" tendency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington or Alexandria for U9?

I love Alexandria's passing style. Arlington has more of an "athlete" tendency.

I have seen both U9 teams play and did enjoy watching Alexandria's passing and they play very well tactically compared to most U9 teams I have seen play. But I was wondering what everyone thought in regards to having a team focus on tactics at this early age". Do we emphasize passing to this extent where other teams ended up chasing the ball or should kids be encouraged to go 1v1 and try to be a bit athletic and/orfigure out how to make better decisions? I'm sure it is something in between but my opinion is more towards the 1v1 and developing individual comfort on the ball. Thoughts?