Anyone go to the Arlington girls DA ID session?

[Anonymous]

To clarify: there was no stopwatch. Coaches did not pull out fastest or slowest players. I don’t think players even had numbers on.

Arlington tells players and parents that they look for girls who can compete on the DA level. They know the competition now, and they know that speed of play and accuracy are important. Being fast or big doesn’t guarantee a spot (although it helps). There are definitely small girls on their teams. But, if you’re small, you will get pushed around. Most of the teams who play in the MA region are extremely physical. You have to be able to hold your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would suggest not relying on ID sessions. Email the coach, and go to the practices when invited.

PP here. Anyone with knowledge on Arlington. I am good with emailing the coach but would like to wait until further in the season to avoid repercussions from current team/coach. At what point do you think the rosters for next year start to become solidified?

From our experience, it’s never solidified. If the coach likes your player, they’ll add her to the roster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

That is a fair point. But there are a couple of questions out there that would be useful to answer. Somebody said they sorted people at tryouts with a stopwatch. You can tell us whether that is true. Somebody else said that the DA teams are simply Arlington Red teams aging into DA. Is that true? Or are you saying they are actually attracting a majority of their players outside Arlington?

They don’t, but you have to measure speed outside the small sided games and/or drills at the ID session. Also, I can’t speak for all other age groups, but the 05s have FPYC, McClean, SYC, Gunston, and Arlington players that came together for the first time when selected for the DA. So if your kid has skills in that age group there is always an opportunity to beat current players. However just like in anything, between two players of equal skill, you pick the one you know. Meaning you have to be better to get a spot. Hope this was helpful.

Speed should be measured as 'speed with the ball', speed of play (first touch and ability to make those decisions FAST), as well. They would never have smart midfielders like you see Internationally because a lot of those midfielders are nowhere near the fastest from point A to point B, but they look faster because they have incredibly high soccer IQ and impeccable first touch. By no means are they slow, but they wouldn't be in the top of the pack in wind sprints. If you have a kid that is a very smart player with great ball skill/excellent first touch and great soccer IQ--but is on the smaller side and/or does not run the 50 yard dash faster than everyone---go somewhere else where they play a different style. That's not knocking ASA. It's just that not every Club and Coach is going to be a match for players. A really good player can look like crap when put a on a field with kids of low soccer IQ that don't move into position to receive, make the runs or anticipate when others have the ball.

Any midfielder playing at the International level is going to be near the fastest from point A to point B - i.e. Rose Lavelle. The slower player who just plays smart gets weeded out long before that. Nice first touch and excellent soccer IQ is fine but is nowhere near enough to be the best.

This is pretty ignorant. Would guess poster does not watch much high level soccer. Top teams do not look for speed for central midfielders. Xavi, Zidane, Scholes there are so many who were known for everything but their speed trying to list them is ridiculous. Locally, DC United's best player ever, Marco Etcheverry, was as slow as me in a sprint. Speedy players go out on the wings normally where they have space to run. Endurance and speed of thought is needed but not footspeed. A footrace in the center of the pitch is won in the first step anyway, in a five yard sprint the winner is the one who steps first not the fastest runner.

Oh I see - you are one of those parents watching soccer from the stands or TV thinking you (and your kid) has the same speed as some of the pros on the field. Say no more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

That is a fair point. But there are a couple of questions out there that would be useful to answer. Somebody said they sorted people at tryouts with a stopwatch. You can tell us whether that is true. Somebody else said that the DA teams are simply Arlington Red teams aging into DA. Is that true? Or are you saying they are actually attracting a majority of their players outside Arlington?

They don’t, but you have to measure speed outside the small sided games and/or drills at the ID session. Also, I can’t speak for all other age groups, but the 05s have FPYC, McClean, SYC, Gunston, and Arlington players that came together for the first time when selected for the DA. So if your kid has skills in that age group there is always an opportunity to beat current players. However just like in anything, between two players of equal skill, you pick the one you know. Meaning you have to be better to get a spot. Hope this was helpful.

Speed should be measured as 'speed with the ball', speed of play (first touch and ability to make those decisions FAST), as well. They would never have smart midfielders like you see Internationally because a lot of those midfielders are nowhere near the fastest from point A to point B, but they look faster because they have incredibly high soccer IQ and impeccable first touch. By no means are they slow, but they wouldn't be in the top of the pack in wind sprints. If you have a kid that is a very smart player with great ball skill/excellent first touch and great soccer IQ--but is on the smaller side and/or does not run the 50 yard dash faster than everyone---go somewhere else where they play a different style. That's not knocking ASA. It's just that not every Club and Coach is going to be a match for players. A really good player can look like crap when put a on a field with kids of low soccer IQ that don't move into position to receive, make the runs or anticipate when others have the ball.

Any midfielder playing at the International level is going to be near the fastest from point A to point B - i.e. Rose Lavelle. The slower player who just plays smart gets weeded out long before that. Nice first touch and excellent soccer IQ is fine but is nowhere near enough to be the best.

This couldn’t be more wrong. The only attribute for speed at midfield that is necessary is “quickness”. Quick feet, quick thought. At mid field it is a ten yard game unlike the wings. Get the ball, move the ball quickly. That is the midfield. Quick and shifty to always be open. Quick and shifty to find space with the ball. Quick and strong to win loose 50/50 balls. Top end speed is not necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

That is a fair point. But there are a couple of questions out there that would be useful to answer. Somebody said they sorted people at tryouts with a stopwatch. You can tell us whether that is true. Somebody else said that the DA teams are simply Arlington Red teams aging into DA. Is that true? Or are you saying they are actually attracting a majority of their players outside Arlington?

They don’t, but you have to measure speed outside the small sided games and/or drills at the ID session. Also, I can’t speak for all other age groups, but the 05s have FPYC, McClean, SYC, Gunston, and Arlington players that came together for the first time when selected for the DA. So if your kid has skills in that age group there is always an opportunity to beat current players. However just like in anything, between two players of equal skill, you pick the one you know. Meaning you have to be better to get a spot. Hope this was helpful.

Speed should be measured as 'speed with the ball', speed of play (first touch and ability to make those decisions FAST), as well. They would never have smart midfielders like you see Internationally because a lot of those midfielders are nowhere near the fastest from point A to point B, but they look faster because they have incredibly high soccer IQ and impeccable first touch. By no means are they slow, but they wouldn't be in the top of the pack in wind sprints. If you have a kid that is a very smart player with great ball skill/excellent first touch and great soccer IQ--but is on the smaller side and/or does not run the 50 yard dash faster than everyone---go somewhere else where they play a different style. That's not knocking ASA. It's just that not every Club and Coach is going to be a match for players. A really good player can look like crap when put a on a field with kids of low soccer IQ that don't move into position to receive, make the runs or anticipate when others have the ball.

Any midfielder playing at the International level is going to be near the fastest from point A to point B - i.e. Rose Lavelle. The slower player who just plays smart gets weeded out long before that. Nice first touch and excellent soccer IQ is fine but is nowhere near enough to be the best.

This couldn’t be more wrong. The only attribute for speed at midfield that is necessary is “quickness”. Quick feet, quick thought. At mid field it is a ten yard game unlike the wings. Get the ball, move the ball quickly. That is the midfield. Quick and shifty to always be open. Quick and shifty to find space with the ball. Quick and strong to win loose 50/50 balls. Top end speed is not necessary.

That's not the point. All of the players on an international level team would beat you in a foot race. They are all ridiculous athletes. You are comparing the best of the best to each other. No level of soccer IQ will help your slow kid make the national team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

That is a fair point. But there are a couple of questions out there that would be useful to answer. Somebody said they sorted people at tryouts with a stopwatch. You can tell us whether that is true. Somebody else said that the DA teams are simply Arlington Red teams aging into DA. Is that true? Or are you saying they are actually attracting a majority of their players outside Arlington?

They don’t, but you have to measure speed outside the small sided games and/or drills at the ID session. Also, I can’t speak for all other age groups, but the 05s have FPYC, McClean, SYC, Gunston, and Arlington players that came together for the first time when selected for the DA. So if your kid has skills in that age group there is always an opportunity to beat current players. However just like in anything, between two players of equal skill, you pick the one you know. Meaning you have to be better to get a spot. Hope this was helpful.

Indeed helpful once again, and the point made about speed makes sense. The question is whether the coaches view it as important or determinative, and you answered that as well. I don’t think anybody who knows soccer can say it is irrelevant in elite youth soccer, whether in Sao Paolo or Arlington.

If you do not have the speed to play at a DA level you will simply be limited. If you are a slow outside back you can play at the DA level but your game needs to adjust. You have to play a more “stay at home” style and be more defensive but the lack of speed means you lose the versatility to join the offense for fear of getting trapped and not able to track back fast enough.

Through intelligence a slow player can make it work but they quickly become very one dimensional and vulnerable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

That is a fair point. But there are a couple of questions out there that would be useful to answer. Somebody said they sorted people at tryouts with a stopwatch. You can tell us whether that is true. Somebody else said that the DA teams are simply Arlington Red teams aging into DA. Is that true? Or are you saying they are actually attracting a majority of their players outside Arlington?

They don’t, but you have to measure speed outside the small sided games and/or drills at the ID session. Also, I can’t speak for all other age groups, but the 05s have FPYC, McClean, SYC, Gunston, and Arlington players that came together for the first time when selected for the DA. So if your kid has skills in that age group there is always an opportunity to beat current players. However just like in anything, between two players of equal skill, you pick the one you know. Meaning you have to be better to get a spot. Hope this was helpful.

Speed should be measured as 'speed with the ball', speed of play (first touch and ability to make those decisions FAST), as well. They would never have smart midfielders like you see Internationally because a lot of those midfielders are nowhere near the fastest from point A to point B, but they look faster because they have incredibly high soccer IQ and impeccable first touch. By no means are they slow, but they wouldn't be in the top of the pack in wind sprints. If you have a kid that is a very smart player with great ball skill/excellent first touch and great soccer IQ--but is on the smaller side and/or does not run the 50 yard dash faster than everyone---go somewhere else where they play a different style. That's not knocking ASA. It's just that not every Club and Coach is going to be a match for players. A really good player can look like crap when put a on a field with kids of low soccer IQ that don't move into position to receive, make the runs or anticipate when others have the ball.

Any midfielder playing at the International level is going to be near the fastest from point A to point B - i.e. Rose Lavelle. The slower player who just plays smart gets weeded out long before that. Nice first touch and excellent soccer IQ is fine but is nowhere near enough to be the best.

This couldn’t be more wrong. The only attribute for speed at midfield that is necessary is “quickness”. Quick feet, quick thought. At mid field it is a ten yard game unlike the wings. Get the ball, move the ball quickly. That is the midfield. Quick and shifty to always be open. Quick and shifty to find space with the ball. Quick and strong to win loose 50/50 balls. Top end speed is not necessary.

That's not the point. All of the players on an international level team would beat you in a foot race. They are all ridiculous athletes. You are comparing the best of the best to each other. No level of soccer IQ will help your slow kid make the national team.

I’m not comparing anyone to the top players at all. But I would be willing to bet that in a 100 yard race among the USWNT the wingers, strikers and outside back all finish ahead of the center midfields and CBs. It is all relative to position as well. Some positions demand different “speed” than others.

Being the best 400m runner in the world doesn’t mean you would kill the 50m either. They are different races with different demands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

That is a fair point. But there are a couple of questions out there that would be useful to answer. Somebody said they sorted people at tryouts with a stopwatch. You can tell us whether that is true. Somebody else said that the DA teams are simply Arlington Red teams aging into DA. Is that true? Or are you saying they are actually attracting a majority of their players outside Arlington?

They don’t, but you have to measure speed outside the small sided games and/or drills at the ID session. Also, I can’t speak for all other age groups, but the 05s have FPYC, McClean, SYC, Gunston, and Arlington players that came together for the first time when selected for the DA. So if your kid has skills in that age group there is always an opportunity to beat current players. However just like in anything, between two players of equal skill, you pick the one you know. Meaning you have to be better to get a spot. Hope this was helpful.

Speed should be measured as 'speed with the ball', speed of play (first touch and ability to make those decisions FAST), as well. They would never have smart midfielders like you see Internationally because a lot of those midfielders are nowhere near the fastest from point A to point B, but they look faster because they have incredibly high soccer IQ and impeccable first touch. By no means are they slow, but they wouldn't be in the top of the pack in wind sprints. If you have a kid that is a very smart player with great ball skill/excellent first touch and great soccer IQ--but is on the smaller side and/or does not run the 50 yard dash faster than everyone---go somewhere else where they play a different style. That's not knocking ASA. It's just that not every Club and Coach is going to be a match for players. A really good player can look like crap when put a on a field with kids of low soccer IQ that don't move into position to receive, make the runs or anticipate when others have the ball.

Any midfielder playing at the International level is going to be near the fastest from point A to point B - i.e. Rose Lavelle. The slower player who just plays smart gets weeded out long before that. Nice first touch and excellent soccer IQ is fine but is nowhere near enough to be the best.

This couldn’t be more wrong. The only attribute for speed at midfield that is necessary is “quickness”. Quick feet, quick thought. At mid field it is a ten yard game unlike the wings. Get the ball, move the ball quickly. That is the midfield. Quick and shifty to always be open. Quick and shifty to find space with the ball. Quick and strong to win loose 50/50 balls. Top end speed is not necessary.

That's not the point. All of the players on an international level team would beat you in a foot race. They are all ridiculous athletes. You are comparing the best of the best to each other. No level of soccer IQ will help your slow kid make the national team.

I’m not comparing anyone to the top players at all. But I would be willing to bet that in a 100 yard race among the USWNT the wingers, strikers and outside back all finish ahead of the center midfields and CBs. It is all relative to position as well. Some positions demand different “speed” than others.

Being the best 400m runner in the world doesn’t mean you would kill the 50m either. They are different races with different demands.

Sure but they are all faster than most players at the next level down. Therefore nothing wrong with seeing if players coming to ID session can match the speed of current DA players. Arlington wants fast players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

That is a fair point. But there are a couple of questions out there that would be useful to answer. Somebody said they sorted people at tryouts with a stopwatch. You can tell us whether that is true. Somebody else said that the DA teams are simply Arlington Red teams aging into DA. Is that true? Or are you saying they are actually attracting a majority of their players outside Arlington?

They don’t, but you have to measure speed outside the small sided games and/or drills at the ID session. Also, I can’t speak for all other age groups, but the 05s have FPYC, McClean, SYC, Gunston, and Arlington players that came together for the first time when selected for the DA. So if your kid has skills in that age group there is always an opportunity to beat current players. However just like in anything, between two players of equal skill, you pick the one you know. Meaning you have to be better to get a spot. Hope this was helpful.

Speed should be measured as 'speed with the ball', speed of play (first touch and ability to make those decisions FAST), as well. They would never have smart midfielders like you see Internationally because a lot of those midfielders are nowhere near the fastest from point A to point B, but they look faster because they have incredibly high soccer IQ and impeccable first touch. By no means are they slow, but they wouldn't be in the top of the pack in wind sprints. If you have a kid that is a very smart player with great ball skill/excellent first touch and great soccer IQ--but is on the smaller side and/or does not run the 50 yard dash faster than everyone---go somewhere else where they play a different style. That's not knocking ASA. It's just that not every Club and Coach is going to be a match for players. A really good player can look like crap when put a on a field with kids of low soccer IQ that don't move into position to receive, make the runs or anticipate when others have the ball.

Any midfielder playing at the International level is going to be near the fastest from point A to point B - i.e. Rose Lavelle. The slower player who just plays smart gets weeded out long before that. Nice first touch and excellent soccer IQ is fine but is nowhere near enough to be the best.

This couldn’t be more wrong. The only attribute for speed at midfield that is necessary is “quickness”. Quick feet, quick thought. At mid field it is a ten yard game unlike the wings. Get the ball, move the ball quickly. That is the midfield. Quick and shifty to always be open. Quick and shifty to find space with the ball. Quick and strong to win loose 50/50 balls. Top end speed is not necessary.

That's not the point. All of the players on an international level team would beat you in a foot race. They are all ridiculous athletes. You are comparing the best of the best to each other. No level of soccer IQ will help your slow kid make the national team.

I’m not comparing anyone to the top players at all. But I would be willing to bet that in a 100 yard race among the USWNT the wingers, strikers and outside back all finish ahead of the center midfields and CBs. It is all relative to position as well. Some positions demand different “speed” than others.

Being the best 400m runner in the world doesn’t mean you would kill the 50m either. They are different races with different demands.

Sure but they are all faster than most players at the next level down. Therefore nothing wrong with seeing if players coming to ID session can match the speed of current DA players. Arlington wants fast players.

No, that is not necessarily true. It isn’t even true in the NFL who publicize and televise their combine. There is a necessary range for a position but meeting that range is just one aspect.

There are likely lots of college players every bit as fast as USWNT but they just are not good enough at soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is attracting more talent on the girls side now that they have a full DA. This seems like one of those threads designed to keep people away from ID sessions. Watch the standings — Arlington is, and will continue to be, a contender at all but the oldest GDA age group.

That is a fair point. But there are a couple of questions out there that would be useful to answer. Somebody said they sorted people at tryouts with a stopwatch. You can tell us whether that is true. Somebody else said that the DA teams are simply Arlington Red teams aging into DA. Is that true? Or are you saying they are actually attracting a majority of their players outside Arlington?

They don’t, but you have to measure speed outside the small sided games and/or drills at the ID session. Also, I can’t speak for all other age groups, but the 05s have FPYC, McClean, SYC, Gunston, and Arlington players that came together for the first time when selected for the DA. So if your kid has skills in that age group there is always an opportunity to beat current players. However just like in anything, between two players of equal skill, you pick the one you know. Meaning you have to be better to get a spot. Hope this was helpful.

Speed should be measured as 'speed with the ball', speed of play (first touch and ability to make those decisions FAST), as well. They would never have smart midfielders like you see Internationally because a lot of those midfielders are nowhere near the fastest from point A to point B, but they look faster because they have incredibly high soccer IQ and impeccable first touch. By no means are they slow, but they wouldn't be in the top of the pack in wind sprints. If you have a kid that is a very smart player with great ball skill/excellent first touch and great soccer IQ--but is on the smaller side and/or does not run the 50 yard dash faster than everyone---go somewhere else where they play a different style. That's not knocking ASA. It's just that not every Club and Coach is going to be a match for players. A really good player can look like crap when put a on a field with kids of low soccer IQ that don't move into position to receive, make the runs or anticipate when others have the ball.

Any midfielder playing at the International level is going to be near the fastest from point A to point B - i.e. Rose Lavelle. The slower player who just plays smart gets weeded out long before that. Nice first touch and excellent soccer IQ is fine but is nowhere near enough to be the best.

This couldn’t be more wrong. The only attribute for speed at midfield that is necessary is “quickness”. Quick feet, quick thought. At mid field it is a ten yard game unlike the wings. Get the ball, move the ball quickly. That is the midfield. Quick and shifty to always be open. Quick and shifty to find space with the ball. Quick and strong to win loose 50/50 balls. Top end speed is not necessary.

That's not the point. All of the players on an international level team would beat you in a foot race. They are all ridiculous athletes. You are comparing the best of the best to each other. No level of soccer IQ will help your slow kid make the national team.

I’m not comparing anyone to the top players at all. But I would be willing to bet that in a 100 yard race among the USWNT the wingers, strikers and outside back all finish ahead of the center midfields and CBs. It is all relative to position as well. Some positions demand different “speed” than others.

Being the best 400m runner in the world doesn’t mean you would kill the 50m either. They are different races with different demands.

Sure but they are all faster than most players at the next level down. Therefore nothing wrong with seeing if players coming to ID session can match the speed of current DA players. Arlington wants fast players.

Great summation point. Yes. From end zone to end zone. And- at the expense of everything else.

[Anonymous]

Speed is the very top metric for US Soccer for its national teams. They love big and fast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Speed is the very top metric for US Soccer for its national teams. They love big and fast.

If you look at DCU academy rosters---almost all bdays in the first 1/2 of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would suggest not relying on ID sessions. Email the coach, and go to the practices when invited.

PP here. Anyone with knowledge on Arlington. I am good with emailing the coach but would like to wait until further in the season to avoid repercussions from current team/coach. At what point do you think the rosters for next year start to become solidified?

From our experience, it’s never solidified. If the coach likes your player, they’ll add her to the roster.

Although this is true, I’d recommend getting your DD on the radar of the coaches sooner rather than later. The older your DD, the more important this is because the coaches are looking at team chemistry as well as talent (and, by the way, not just speed). If you or other posters haven’t seen Arlington DA girls play this year, I’d recommend taking in a few games, especially 04 and below. Those teams are not the Arlington teams of the past and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the soccer IQ and talent on display.

[Anonymous]

It’s who you know there. Or who the parents know more specifically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s who you know there. Or who the parents know more specifically.

This is not true. The DA director does not care who you are or who you know. If your player can’t play at the DA level, she will not make the team.