Mclean or Arlington Travel team for u12

[Anonymous]

My son plays on travel in another area. He is rising u12. We live in N arlington beginning June and work in fairfax tysons. It seems that MCLEAN and Arlington are both somewhat close. What league would I try him out for? Both? one / other? What one would he have the most chance of making an elite team. Is it even possible to make an elite team? In our area ( it is competitive in soccer) no transfers make elite. They get a 1 yr on the premier team usually. Is one league more convenient to do practice?

Objectives: play time (assuming its play given by performance and not equal play), competitive play/league, location convenience

thoughts??
thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son plays on travel in another area. He is rising u12. We live in N arlington beginning June and work in fairfax tysons. It seems that MCLEAN and Arlington are both somewhat close. What league would I try him out for? Both? one / other? What one would he have the most chance of making an elite team. Is it even possible to make an elite team? In our area ( it is competitive in soccer) no transfers make elite. They get a 1 yr on the premier team usually. Is one league more convenient to do practice?

Objectives: play time (assuming its play given by performance and not equal play), competitive play/league, location convenience

thoughts??
thanks!

Did he play on an elite/too team elsewhere? I'd email coaches/club and get an email recommendation or evaluation from your son's prior coach.

[Anonymous]

Try out for both. McLean will probably have at least 3 u12 teams and may require separate tryouts. Look at the team websites and Ncsl schedule to see what tiers the teams are.

U12 can be tough to make, it will just depend on how many spots open up. By u14 it's pretty easy because there is more turnover.

My DS played for the top McLean team in his age group (there were 3 teams) and had a very good experience. Practices were mostly at Lewinsville Park, sometimes at linway terrace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son plays on travel in another area. He is rising u12. We live in N arlington beginning June and work in fairfax tysons. It seems that MCLEAN and Arlington are both somewhat close. What league would I try him out for? Both? one / other? What one would he have the most chance of making an elite team. Is it even possible to make an elite team? In our area ( it is competitive in soccer) no transfers make elite. They get a 1 yr on the premier team usually. Is one league more convenient to do practice?

Objectives: play time (assuming its play given by performance and not equal play), competitive play/league, location convenience

thoughts??
thanks!

what sport?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son plays on travel in another area. He is rising u12. We live in N arlington beginning June and work in fairfax tysons. It seems that MCLEAN and Arlington are both somewhat close. What league would I try him out for? Both? one / other? What one would he have the most chance of making an elite team. Is it even possible to make an elite team? In our area ( it is competitive in soccer) no transfers make elite. They get a 1 yr on the premier team usually. Is one league more convenient to do practice?

Objectives: play time (assuming its play given by performance and not equal play), competitive play/league, location convenience

thoughts??
thanks!

what sport?

It wasn't stated up front, but she did mention competitive soccer down in the text. Next time, it would be helpful if you put soccer in the title. There are a lot of competitive sports around here. Just FYI.

[Anonymous]

there's also premier club based in falls church.

[Anonymous]

The "elite" teams from both clubs play in CCL while their B & C teams play in NCSL. While I don't have first hand knowledge, I've heard from a couple of different parents that a new player is unlikely make the A team for either of these clubs his first season even if he is as good or slightly better than some of the A team players.

I think CCL is adding CCL II in fall 2015 for this age group such that the B teams will also play in CCL.

[Anonymous]

Since both clubs have solid programs (I'd put Arlington slightly ahead on the boys side) and it seems you're moving to a new neighborhood, I'd say tryout for both clubs and play at the one where he makes the A team. If he's selected for the same level at both clubs, play at that club where your son is likely to met more kids whom he'll go to school with. As an earlier post said, he'll play in the same league either way

[Anonymous]

Question: what is the A team?
13:01. Yes that is what happens in our current league. New players get 1 yr on b team

Mclean and Arlington look like they have 4 teams

My son is good. Not messi. But very strong player. Top striker. Scores right and left. Plays mid left most, then mid right then striker. Very fast. Very good foot skill. His weakness has been off the ball and consistently but he has really improved this yr. He has been on a team that hasn't lost in 2 yrs. I think nova soccer is more competitive. The b team would be ok. But I don't know what team is more likely

[Anonymous]

Op. Top scorer. Not striker I meant

[Anonymous]

However each yr is different. For ex u13 in our current league is not so strong. Fielding less travel teams (2) and not winning as much in tournament. U11 (current) his current league is super full of talent. They say this yr is the most talented group in a long time and they have 5 teams.

I was wondering @u12 specifically. I see McLean higher in one league but it's group 6? There's 10 groups. What does this mean? Is group 1 best? Or what? ccl is highest? I myself am doubtful any league will give a new to league top spot. I do feel his playing is easily judged. I watch tons of soccer and can easily see how each player plays. There is a slight opinion on what is more valuable. Our current league doesn't count speed very much. It's all about foot skill. Scoring isn't a priority. But as all kids have foot skill in elite speed is becoming more important.

[Anonymous]

For both clubs the top squads at U11 play in CCL. The next ones play in NCSL. That's probably what you're seeing. But they just start ranking the teams in NCSL in spring U11, so the current division placements could be a little inaccurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For both clubs the top squads at U11 play in CCL. The next ones play in NCSL. That's probably what you're seeing. But they just start ranking the teams in NCSL in spring U11, so the current division placements could be a little inaccurate. [/qu

OP, If your son is good enough and impresses enough at the club tryouts he will make the CCL team directly without having to play on the NCSL team first. How do I know that is possible? Because my friend's son last summer went directly from a smaller NOVA club team onto one of these CCL teams that we are talking about.

Also, please remember that a year from now when these teams move up to U13 they will need to add 4 or 5 more players to their rosters so even if your son does not make the CCL team for U12 this summer there will be many more roster spots up for grabs next summer and the club will have a full year to see him play to determine if he is able to move up to the CCL team. In other words, Don't freak out if he is not placed on the CCL team after tryouts. There is a lot of "shaking out" of talent in the U12 and U13 years as certain kids improve dramatically while others do not. For example, My child played on the B team of a tiny club through U11, but by U14 was playing on a CCL/Region 1 League team.

[Anonymous]

You can't go wrong with either.