Why US Soccer should not grant Arlington older DA teams

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ASA already has a field availability problem! (See other thread.)

Currently Arlington DA stops at U15 for both boys and girls. If they add older teams that will take even more fields away from other programs rec/ADP etc. Arlington DA assumes they will be granted older teams each year going forward. DA teams practice 4 times a week. They demand premium field space (not going to be satisfied sharing a field with 3 other teams).

Unless they get more lit turf fields, they should not get more DA teams.

At the older age groups Arlington DA players could try out for other DA programs (DC United/Washington Spirit etc.)

Under that premise, they should probably drop FCV too though. Don't they have field space issues? How is this any different?

FCV has girls DA up to U19 already. Do you think they should add a boys DA program?

They did drop the boys DA program for McLean. Having a good team doesn't guarantee that your DA program is safe!

McLean's DA teams were never very good though. Same with Potomac's. Not sure how/why those two clubs were ever awarded DA in the first place.

The McLean boys U19 team is pretty good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ASA already has a field availability problem! (See other thread.)

Currently Arlington DA stops at U15 for both boys and girls. If they add older teams that will take even more fields away from other programs rec/ADP etc. Arlington DA assumes they will be granted older teams each year going forward. DA teams practice 4 times a week. They demand premium field space (not going to be satisfied sharing a field with 3 other teams).

Unless they get more lit turf fields, they should not get more DA teams.

At the older age groups Arlington DA players could try out for other DA programs (DC United/Washington Spirit etc.)

Under that premise, they should probably drop FCV too though. Don't they have field space issues? How is this any different?

FCV has girls DA up to U19 already. Do you think they should add a boys DA program?

They did drop the boys DA program for McLean. Having a good team doesn't guarantee that your DA program is safe!

McLean's DA teams were never very good though. Same with Potomac's. Not sure how/why those two clubs were ever awarded DA in the first place.

It’s about casting a wide net. Maybe the teams is not as good but there might be one or two players who develop. The more the better. How many kids will choose another choose another sport because of the commute times to practice.

If DA was about making a winning team, they would have one team for the whole region -Baltimore to Fredericksburg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ASA already has a field availability problem! (See other thread.)

Currently Arlington DA stops at U15 for both boys and girls. If they add older teams that will take even more fields away from other programs rec/ADP etc. Arlington DA assumes they will be granted older teams each year going forward. DA teams practice 4 times a week. They demand premium field space (not going to be satisfied sharing a field with 3 other teams).

Unless they get more lit turf fields, they should not get more DA teams.

At the older age groups Arlington DA players could try out for other DA programs (DC United/Washington Spirit etc.)

Under that premise, they should probably drop FCV too though. Don't they have field space issues? How is this any different?

FCV has girls DA up to U19 already. Do you think they should add a boys DA program?

They did drop the boys DA program for McLean. Having a good team doesn't guarantee that your DA program is safe!

McLean's DA teams were never very good though. Same with Potomac's. Not sure how/why those two clubs were ever awarded DA in the first place.

The McLean boys U19 team is pretty good.

For sure, and they have an excellent coach. There are a few other strong boys' teams there too. But McLean hasn't had a full DA since 2013, and their DA teams weren't strong when they had the status. Here's an article from back then: https://www.soccerwire.com/news/mclean-youth-soccer-kicked-out-of-development-academy/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ASA already has a field availability problem! (See other thread.)

Currently Arlington DA stops at U15 for both boys and girls. If they add older teams that will take even more fields away from other programs rec/ADP etc. Arlington DA assumes they will be granted older teams each year going forward. DA teams practice 4 times a week. They demand premium field space (not going to be satisfied sharing a field with 3 other teams).

Unless they get more lit turf fields, they should not get more DA teams.

At the older age groups Arlington DA players could try out for other DA programs (DC United/Washington Spirit etc.)

Under that premise, they should probably drop FCV too though. Don't they have field space issues? How is this any different?

FCV has girls DA up to U19 already. Do you think they should add a boys DA program?

They did drop the boys DA program for McLean. Having a good team doesn't guarantee that your DA program is safe!

Loudoun may lose boys DA (Maybe they will join boys ECNL too.)

Interesting comment, can you expand?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ASA already has a field availability problem! (See other thread.)

Currently Arlington DA stops at U15 for both boys and girls. If they add older teams that will take even more fields away from other programs rec/ADP etc. Arlington DA assumes they will be granted older teams each year going forward. DA teams practice 4 times a week. They demand premium field space (not going to be satisfied sharing a field with 3 other teams).

Unless they get more lit turf fields, they should not get more DA teams.

At the older age groups Arlington DA players could try out for other DA programs (DC United/Washington Spirit etc.)

Under that premise, they should probably drop FCV too though. Don't they have field space issues? How is this any different?

FCV has girls DA up to U19 already. Do you think they should add a boys DA program?

They did drop the boys DA program for McLean. Having a good team doesn't guarantee that your DA program is safe!

Loudoun may lose boys DA (Maybe they will join boys ECNL too.)

Interesting comment, can you expand?

We are getting somewhat off topic.

With DC United DA having a relationship will Loudoun and practicing in Loudoun, it does not make sense for Loudoun to have a DA of its own. ECNL would be a natural league for its top teams to play in. They can still feed into DCU and FCV academies.

[Anonymous]

ECNL is a good league for girls, but they are a mixed quality league for boys with some really bad teams that lose 0-11 and it requires to travel long distances. Two Virginia teams that are in the boys ECNL have most of their games against teams from North and South Carolinas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ECNL is a good league for girls, but they are a mixed quality league for boys with some really bad teams that lose 0-11 and it requires to travel long distances. Two Virginia teams that are in the boys ECNL have most of their games against teams from North and South Carolinas.

Agreed. It's the inverse image of the girls. The boys' DA and the girls' ECNL offer strong, consistent competition, but the boys' ECNL and the girls' DA have very good and very bad teams in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ECNL is a good league for girls, but they are a mixed quality league for boys with some really bad teams that lose 0-11 and it requires to travel long distances. Two Virginia teams that are in the boys ECNL have most of their games against teams from North and South Carolinas.

With added competition from DA on girls side locally ECNL could improve.

Here are some suggestions that apply to both girls and boys ECNL:

1. Change substitution rules for U14 and below. (DA now has less restrictive rules at younger ages.)
2. Limit travel for younger ages. (DA does not have national showcases for younger ages.) Limiting travel also limits cost!
3. Avoid scheduling games in winter in NOVA (Who wants to go to an outdoor game in Feb?)
4. Limit roster sizes. There should not be more than 18 full time players in a roster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL is a good league for girls, but they are a mixed quality league for boys with some really bad teams that lose 0-11 and it requires to travel long distances. Two Virginia teams that are in the boys ECNL have most of their games against teams from North and South Carolinas.

With added competition from DA on girls side locally ECNL could improve.

Here are some suggestions that apply to both girls and boys ECNL:

1. Change substitution rules for U14 and below. (DA now has less restrictive rules at younger ages.)
2. Limit travel for younger ages. (DA does not have national showcases for younger ages.) Limiting travel also limits cost!
3. Avoid scheduling games in winter in NOVA (Who wants to go to an outdoor game in Feb?)
4. Limit roster sizes. There should not be more than 18 full time players in a roster.

Amen on the roster sizes. I think it's highly inappropriate for youth rosters to have more than 18 and players to have to sit out each game. They already are competing to start, so the sense of competition is there, but you can't grow and develop if you don't play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ASA already has a field availability problem! (See other thread.)

Currently Arlington DA stops at U15 for both boys and girls. If they add older teams that will take even more fields away from other programs rec/ADP etc. Arlington DA assumes they will be granted older teams each year going forward. DA teams practice 4 times a week. They demand premium field space (not going to be satisfied sharing a field with 3 other teams).

Unless they get more lit turf fields, they should not get more DA teams.

At the older age groups Arlington DA players could try out for other DA programs (DC United/Washington Spirit etc.)

Under that premise, they should probably drop FCV too though. Don't they have field space issues? How is this any different?

FCV has girls DA up to U19 already. Do you think they should add a boys DA program?

They did drop the boys DA program for McLean. Having a good team doesn't guarantee that your DA program is safe!

Loudoun may lose boys DA (Maybe they will join boys ECNL too.)

Interesting comment, can you expand?

We are getting somewhat off topic.

With DC United DA having a relationship will Loudoun and practicing in Loudoun, it does not make sense for Loudoun to have a DA of its own. ECNL would be a natural league for its top teams to play in. They can still feed into DCU and FCV academies.

Loudoun might not get full DA because DCU is moving to Loudoun. But I don't think they will lose U12-U15 DA or give up it for Boys ECNL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ASA already has a field availability problem! (See other thread.)

Currently Arlington DA stops at U15 for both boys and girls. If they add older teams that will take even more fields away from other programs rec/ADP etc. Arlington DA assumes they will be granted older teams each year going forward. DA teams practice 4 times a week. They demand premium field space (not going to be satisfied sharing a field with 3 other teams).

Unless they get more lit turf fields, they should not get more DA teams.

At the older age groups Arlington DA players could try out for other DA programs (DC United/Washington Spirit etc.)

Under that premise, they should probably drop FCV too though. Don't they have field space issues? How is this any different?

FCV has girls DA up to U19 already. Do you think they should add a boys DA program?

They did drop the boys DA program for McLean. Having a good team doesn't guarantee that your DA program is safe!

Loudoun may lose boys DA (Maybe they will join boys ECNL too.)

Interesting comment, can you expand?

We are getting somewhat off topic.

With DC United DA having a relationship will Loudoun and practicing in Loudoun, it does not make sense for Loudoun to have a DA of its own. ECNL would be a natural league for its top teams to play in. They can still feed into DCU and FCV academies.

Loudoun might not get full DA because DCU is moving to Loudoun. But I don't think they will lose U12-U15 DA or give up it for Boys ECNL.

Arlington girls might not get full DA because Washington Spirit VA is not that far away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lower teams are profit centers that allow all these high salaries for DOC and TDs that are necessary to keep DA status.
They won't be dropped but squeezed further because switching from Red to DA for top teams adds practices and thus takes away field space.
Lower teams get 1/8th of a field, as 6 teams get crammed into a field, with the top 2 teams sharing half a field. The plan would be to cut into that and put 8 teams sharing one field at lower age weekly practices, to free up fields for the required # of DA practices going on from boys + girls U12 to U19 DA when expansion happens.
Basically, imagine Monday night skills every night for teams in younger age groups or lower on food chain. This is the price of DA FBOW.

Well then I guess your kid better make DA then.

The added practice night is where the real squeeze comes in, BUT 4 practices is not a requirement for U12 or U13.

Exactly, totally agree. If you are not interested in DA (ban on HS soccer, expensive, 4 practices) your DC should switch early on to another local club to at least find a pre-DA 9U to 11U/12U travel teams that will practice on more then a postage stamp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL is a good league for girls, but they are a mixed quality league for boys with some really bad teams that lose 0-11 and it requires to travel long distances. Two Virginia teams that are in the boys ECNL have most of their games against teams from North and South Carolinas.

With added competition from DA on girls side locally ECNL could improve.

Here are some suggestions that apply to both girls and boys ECNL:

1. Change substitution rules for U14 and below. (DA now has less restrictive rules at younger ages.)
2. Limit travel for younger ages. (DA does not have national showcases for younger ages.) Limiting travel also limits cost!
3. Avoid scheduling games in winter in NOVA (Who wants to go to an outdoor game in Feb?)
4. Limit roster sizes. There should not be more than 18 full time players in a roster.

Amen on the roster sizes. I think it's highly inappropriate for youth rosters to have more than 18 and players to have to sit out each game. They already are competing to start, so the sense of competition is there, but you can't grow and develop if you don't play.

The older the team is the more sense it makes to roster 20 or 22. SATs, injuries, college visits, rest, homecoming and prom, player drops when (s)he decides no longer interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL is a good league for girls, but they are a mixed quality league for boys with some really bad teams that lose 0-11 and it requires to travel long distances. Two Virginia teams that are in the boys ECNL have most of their games against teams from North and South Carolinas.

With added competition from DA on girls side locally ECNL could improve.

Here are some suggestions that apply to both girls and boys ECNL:

1. Change substitution rules for U14 and below. (DA now has less restrictive rules at younger ages.)
2. Limit travel for younger ages. (DA does not have national showcases for younger ages.) Limiting travel also limits cost!
3. Avoid scheduling games in winter in NOVA (Who wants to go to an outdoor game in Feb?)
4. Limit roster sizes. There should not be more than 18 full time players in a roster.

Amen on the roster sizes. I think it's highly inappropriate for youth rosters to have more than 18 and players to have to sit out each game. They already are competing to start, so the sense of competition is there, but you can't grow and develop if you don't play.

The older the team is the more sense it makes to roster 20 or 22. SATs, injuries, college visits, rest, homecoming and prom, player drops when (s)he decides no longer interested.

Player drops when (s)he decides no longer interested. How often does that happen mid year in older ages at this level?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL is a good league for girls, but they are a mixed quality league for boys with some really bad teams that lose 0-11 and it requires to travel long distances. Two Virginia teams that are in the boys ECNL have most of their games against teams from North and South Carolinas.

With added competition from DA on girls side locally ECNL could improve.

Here are some suggestions that apply to both girls and boys ECNL:

1. Change substitution rules for U14 and below. (DA now has less restrictive rules at younger ages.)
2. Limit travel for younger ages. (DA does not have national showcases for younger ages.) Limiting travel also limits cost!
3. Avoid scheduling games in winter in NOVA (Who wants to go to an outdoor game in Feb?)
4. Limit roster sizes. There should not be more than 18 full time players in a roster.

Amen on the roster sizes. I think it's highly inappropriate for youth rosters to have more than 18 and players to have to sit out each game. They already are competing to start, so the sense of competition is there, but you can't grow and develop if you don't play.

11 subs? No, thank you!

The older the team is the more sense it makes to roster 20 or 22. SATs, injuries, college visits, rest, homecoming and prom, player drops when (s)he decides no longer interested.