What's going on with FCBEscola NOVA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know they claim they try to balance out each team within an age group but I clearly saw some advanced groups vs others. Is there an unwritten understanding of the color coding team rankings? Similar to other club's Red, Black, white, etc.

They have competition teams. Those will be ability based for leagues and tournaments.

Training groups and the teams for internal competitions will be mixed ability. Advanced will get branched out or play up if necessary for the challenge certain training nights.

There is no stigma. They are looking at kids individually and what is right for that player at any given time point. They have a huge amount of info on every player in the Academy. Notes nightly. Watch how many different coaches and TDs are watching and workign with the kids any given night (clipboards out taking notes). I had a kid in three different groups (even age) last year. And two different teams. The motivation is there because they know if they work hard they will actually reap the benefits---and not have to wait a year or more like the travel system to get any movement.

Oh, and an email went out saying that until September 1st, they are doing evaluations for initial groups. So the next few weeks kids prob will be moved around. There are new kids that haven't been thoroughly evaluated.

You all know that what you explained is team ranking even if you don't call it like that. Grouping players for "competition" will basically result in a A, B, C team etc. I think the idea of moving kids up and down is the difference that other clubs preach, but do not practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know they claim they try to balance out each team within an age group but I clearly saw some advanced groups vs others. Is there an unwritten understanding of the color coding team rankings? Similar to other club's Red, Black, white, etc.

They have competition teams. Those will be ability based for leagues and tournaments.

Training groups and the teams for internal competitions will be mixed ability. Advanced will get branched out or play up if necessary for the challenge certain training nights.

There is no stigma. They are looking at kids individually and what is right for that player at any given time point. They have a huge amount of info on every player in the Academy. Notes nightly. Watch how many different coaches and TDs are watching and workign with the kids any given night (clipboards out taking notes). I had a kid in three different groups (even age) last year. And two different teams. The motivation is there because they know if they work hard they will actually reap the benefits---and not have to wait a year or more like the travel system to get any movement.

Oh, and an email went out saying that until September 1st, they are doing evaluations for initial groups. So the next few weeks kids prob will be moved around. There are new kids that haven't been thoroughly evaluated.

You all know that what you explained is team ranking even if you don't call it like that. Grouping players for "competition" will basically result in a A, B, C team etc. I think the idea of moving kids up and down is the difference that other clubs preach, but do not practice.

Barca is just not as blatant about the team rankings by name. But, in all fairness kids from all the "teams" may be blended for tournament play. If a kid on the "C squad" has a great month of practice then the kid will be rewarded and invited to a extra tournament. This often plays out in some of the tourney results. There is not a true sense of A and B team until U14 and older.

[Anonymous]

^ we’ve never played anywhere where the TD and over 10 coaches are watching the kids every practice and multiple of them at games often. Also, multiple age groups and genders are at same facility at same time so mixing can occur. Not U9s at Field X and U 10 or U11 at Field Y 20 minutes away an hour later.

That is where it’s different than travel. In travel- Usually, you have age group specific coaches and only 1-2 see your kids the entire year. There is no watching individual development over time or any continuity year to year. Then tryouts come for 3 hours they are being judged by coaches that never saw their play the past year.

It’s different. Not saying it’s superior, but it is definitely different than travel age group rankings—and much more fluid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know they claim they try to balance out each team within an age group but I clearly saw some advanced groups vs others. Is there an unwritten understanding of the color coding team rankings? Similar to other club's Red, Black, white, etc.

They have competition teams. Those will be ability based for leagues and tournaments.

Training groups and the teams for internal competitions will be mixed ability. Advanced will get branched out or play up if necessary for the challenge certain training nights.

There is no stigma. They are looking at kids individually and what is right for that player at any given time point. They have a huge amount of info on every player in the Academy. Notes nightly. Watch how many different coaches and TDs are watching and workign with the kids any given night (clipboards out taking notes). I had a kid in three different groups (even age) last year. And two different teams. The motivation is there because they know if they work hard they will actually reap the benefits---and not have to wait a year or more like the travel system to get any movement.

Oh, and an email went out saying that until September 1st, they are doing evaluations for initial groups. So the next few weeks kids prob will be moved around. There are new kids that haven't been thoroughly evaluated.

You all know that what you explained is team ranking even if you don't call it like that. Grouping players for "competition" will basically result in a A, B, C team etc. I think the idea of moving kids up and down is the difference that other clubs preach, but do not practice.

Barca is just not as blatant about the team rankings by name. But, in all fairness kids from all the "teams" may be blended for tournament play. If a kid on the "C squad" has a great month of practice then the kid will be rewarded and invited to a extra tournament. This often plays out in some of the tourney results. There is not a true sense of A and B team until U14 and older.

How are they blatant about team ranking by name? They deemphasize the team rankings. Last year, they assigned random Barca player names to teams (Barjuan, Bakero, Semedo, Larson, Ter Stegen, Migueli, etc). Would the parents be able to simply look at the team name and say, OK, this team is definitely an A team, but that team is a B team? This year, the team names are color coded (similar to other clubs), but the top teams in each age group do not have the same color (unlike other clubs). Team Blue could be an A team in one age group, but a B team in another age group. So a team with particular color in its name would not be necessarily the top team in each age group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know they claim they try to balance out each team within an age group but I clearly saw some advanced groups vs others. Is there an unwritten understanding of the color coding team rankings? Similar to other club's Red, Black, white, etc.

They have competition teams. Those will be ability based for leagues and tournaments.

Training groups and the teams for internal competitions will be mixed ability. Advanced will get branched out or play up if necessary for the challenge certain training nights.

There is no stigma. They are looking at kids individually and what is right for that player at any given time point. They have a huge amount of info on every player in the Academy. Notes nightly. Watch how many different coaches and TDs are watching and workign with the kids any given night (clipboards out taking notes). I had a kid in three different groups (even age) last year. And two different teams. The motivation is there because they know if they work hard they will actually reap the benefits---and not have to wait a year or more like the travel system to get any movement.

Oh, and an email went out saying that until September 1st, they are doing evaluations for initial groups. So the next few weeks kids prob will be moved around. There are new kids that haven't been thoroughly evaluated.

Still the same...you are still grouping them, regardless of "name". Top players will play together when it counts.

You all know that what you explained is team ranking even if you don't call it like that. Grouping players for "competition" will basically result in a A, B, C team etc. I think the idea of moving kids up and down is the difference that other clubs preach, but do not practice.

Barca is just not as blatant about the team rankings by name. But, in all fairness kids from all the "teams" may be blended for tournament play. If a kid on the "C squad" has a great month of practice then the kid will be rewarded and invited to a extra tournament. This often plays out in some of the tourney results. There is not a true sense of A and B team until U14 and older.

How are they blatant about team ranking by name? They deemphasize the team rankings. Last year, they assigned random Barca player names to teams (Barjuan, Bakero, Semedo, Larson, Ter Stegen, Migueli, etc). Would the parents be able to simply look at the team name and say, OK, this team is definitely an A team, but that team is a B team? This year, the team names are color coded (similar to other clubs), but the top teams in each age group do not have the same color (unlike other clubs). Team Blue could be an A team in one age group, but a B team in another age group. So a team with particular color in its name would not be necessarily the top team in each age group.

[Anonymous]

I read the email from Barca a couple of times. I think part of what they meant is players weren't put on a team for the year. To compare, in most clubs, if you make the DA, ECNL, or whatever team, that is your team for the year. Then if you aren't good enough, you have a year maybe to catch up. And if maybe you should have been on an elite team, but were only classic or DP, or whatever, there's not really much hope of moving up, except the occasional guest playing opportunity.

Barca doesn't appear to do it that way. If you are in an age group, you aren't part of a set team. You can be moved from team to team, as seems appropriate. And I have already seen a little of that with a couple of players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read the email from Barca a couple of times. I think part of what they meant is players weren't put on a team for the year. To compare, in most clubs, if you make the DA, ECNL, or whatever team, that is your team for the year. Then if you aren't good enough, you have a year maybe to catch up. And if maybe you should have been on an elite team, but were only classic or DP, or whatever, there's not really much hope of moving up, except the occasional guest playing opportunity.

Barca doesn't appear to do it that way. If you are in an age group, you aren't part of a set team. You can be moved from team to team, as seems appropriate. And I have already seen a little of that with a couple of players.

Last year, players were moved between the teams and age groups both up and down. Another difference is that there is no drop off in terms of quality of coaching between the teams. The teams in the same age group are generally practicing side by side on the same field doing the same drills under the same methodology.

[Anonymous]

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read the email from Barca a couple of times. I think part of what they meant is players weren't put on a team for the year. To compare, in most clubs, if you make the DA, ECNL, or whatever team, that is your team for the year. Then if you aren't good enough, you have a year maybe to catch up. And if maybe you should have been on an elite team, but were only classic or DP, or whatever, there's not really much hope of moving up, except the occasional guest playing opportunity.

Barca doesn't appear to do it that way. If you are in an age group, you aren't part of a set team. You can be moved from team to team, as seems appropriate. And I have already seen a little of that with a couple of players.

Last year, players were moved between the teams and age groups both up and down. Another difference is that there is no drop off in terms of quality of coaching between the teams. The teams in the same age group are generally practicing side by side on the same field doing the same drills under the same methodology.

This all sounds a bit like PAC, which has all its U9 through U12 teams practicing at the same time with coaches switching and sharing duties. Not much movement on gamedays, though. (Which has its pros and cons -- parents like to be able to plan around a game schedule, so moving up and down can throw a wrinkle in things.)

At FCB there is movement for games if they feel that’s where the player is in their development, and it runs all the way through the oldest age group. Not to mention a much more open style than PAC which is better for development. Not to say that PAC doesn’t develop players.

[Anonymous]

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read the email from Barca a couple of times. I think part of what they meant is players weren't put on a team for the year. To compare, in most clubs, if you make the DA, ECNL, or whatever team, that is your team for the year. Then if you aren't good enough, you have a year maybe to catch up. And if maybe you should have been on an elite team, but were only classic or DP, or whatever, there's not really much hope of moving up, except the occasional guest playing opportunity.

Barca doesn't appear to do it that way. If you are in an age group, you aren't part of a set team. You can be moved from team to team, as seems appropriate. And I have already seen a little of that with a couple of players.

Last year, players were moved between the teams and age groups both up and down. Another difference is that there is no drop off in terms of quality of coaching between the teams. The teams in the same age group are generally practicing side by side on the same field doing the same drills under the same methodology.

This all sounds a bit like PAC, which has all its U9 through U12 teams practicing at the same time with coaches switching and sharing duties. Not much movement on gamedays, though. (Which has its pros and cons -- parents like to be able to plan around a game schedule, so moving up and down can throw a wrinkle in things.)

Barca is absolutely nothing like PAC. I wish people that want to constantly throw shade would actually go out and watch in person---or find a set of parents that actually have kids in the program to talk to.

[Anonymous]

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read the email from Barca a couple of times. I think part of what they meant is players weren't put on a team for the year. To compare, in most clubs, if you make the DA, ECNL, or whatever team, that is your team for the year. Then if you aren't good enough, you have a year maybe to catch up. And if maybe you should have been on an elite team, but were only classic or DP, or whatever, there's not really much hope of moving up, except the occasional guest playing opportunity.

Barca doesn't appear to do it that way. If you are in an age group, you aren't part of a set team. You can be moved from team to team, as seems appropriate. And I have already seen a little of that with a couple of players.

Last year, players were moved between the teams and age groups both up and down. Another difference is that there is no drop off in terms of quality of coaching between the teams. The teams in the same age group are generally practicing side by side on the same field doing the same drills under the same methodology.

This all sounds a bit like PAC, which has all its U9 through U12 teams practicing at the same time with coaches switching and sharing duties. Not much movement on gamedays, though. (Which has its pros and cons -- parents like to be able to plan around a game schedule, so moving up and down can throw a wrinkle in things.)

At FCB there is movement for games if they feel that’s where the player is in their development, and it runs all the way through the oldest age group. Not to mention a much more open style than PAC which is better for development. Not to say that PAC doesn’t develop players.

PAC *tries* to play a possession style. Some players are better at it than others, some coaches are more panicky about abandoning it when their less-athletic kids are getting run over at the early ages.

Nothing like Barcelona though... it’s much more rigid, less fluidity of movement, interchanging positions, or triangulations, etc

[Anonymous]

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read the email from Barca a couple of times. I think part of what they meant is players weren't put on a team for the year. To compare, in most clubs, if you make the DA, ECNL, or whatever team, that is your team for the year. Then if you aren't good enough, you have a year maybe to catch up. And if maybe you should have been on an elite team, but were only classic or DP, or whatever, there's not really much hope of moving up, except the occasional guest playing opportunity.

Barca doesn't appear to do it that way. If you are in an age group, you aren't part of a set team. You can be moved from team to team, as seems appropriate. And I have already seen a little of that with a couple of players.

Last year, players were moved between the teams and age groups both up and down. Another difference is that there is no drop off in terms of quality of coaching between the teams. The teams in the same age group are generally practicing side by side on the same field doing the same drills under the same methodology.

This all sounds a bit like PAC, which has all its U9 through U12 teams practicing at the same time with coaches switching and sharing duties. Not much movement on gamedays, though. (Which has its pros and cons -- parents like to be able to plan around a game schedule, so moving up and down can throw a wrinkle in things.)

Barca is absolutely nothing like PAC. I wish people that want to constantly throw shade would actually go out and watch in person---or find a set of parents that actually have kids in the program to talk to.

How is this "throwing shade"?

Conversely, how many PAC sessions have people attended? I guess you could watch from some Mosaic apartments.

I know coaches from both places and have seen sessions and games from both. Yes they both try to play possession, but it’s very much a different style. Barcelona play with strictly 1 CDM for example, who’s really more of a deep playmaker than a Makelele-type destroyer. This allows for 2 10/8s to support underneath for the trident up top and make runs into the box for the pullback.

[Anonymous]

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read the email from Barca a couple of times. I think part of what they meant is players weren't put on a team for the year. To compare, in most clubs, if you make the DA, ECNL, or whatever team, that is your team for the year. Then if you aren't good enough, you have a year maybe to catch up. And if maybe you should have been on an elite team, but were only classic or DP, or whatever, there's not really much hope of moving up, except the occasional guest playing opportunity.

Barca doesn't appear to do it that way. If you are in an age group, you aren't part of a set team. You can be moved from team to team, as seems appropriate. And I have already seen a little of that with a couple of players.

Last year, players were moved between the teams and age groups both up and down. Another difference is that there is no drop off in terms of quality of coaching between the teams. The teams in the same age group are generally practicing side by side on the same field doing the same drills under the same methodology.

This all sounds a bit like PAC, which has all its U9 through U12 teams practicing at the same time with coaches switching and sharing duties. Not much movement on gamedays, though. (Which has its pros and cons -- parents like to be able to plan around a game schedule, so moving up and down can throw a wrinkle in things.)

Barca is absolutely nothing like PAC. I wish people that want to constantly throw shade would actually go out and watch in person---or find a set of parents that actually have kids in the program to talk to.

How is this "throwing shade"?

Conversely, how many PAC sessions have people attended? I guess you could watch from some Mosaic apartments.

I know coaches from both places and have seen sessions and games from both. Yes they both try to play possession, but it’s very much a different style. Barcelona play with strictly 1 CDM for example, who’s really more of a deep playmaker than a Makelele-type destroyer. This allows for 2 10/8s to support underneath for the trident up top and make runs into the box for the pullback.

A. I'll be curious to see if the Escolas play only that formation and nothing else. They might, if only to reinforce the brand. Or they might not. We'll see. There are certainly ways to play fluid possession soccer with two CDMs -- a piece I have running tomorrow talks about a team reinventing itself from direct soccer by installing two players who could change the point of attack.

B. PAC generally doesn't have the luxury of picking players who can fit a system.

I have nothing against the Escola. Not at all. And Barcelona is one of my favorite clubs. I'm just bemused by the people who are so insistent that it's a revelatory club doing something no one else has attempted in the region (what's Cugini's style and approach?) and will threaten all the major powers in the region even though we already have scores of clubs here. (If we had only one youth club in the area and FCB was the second, sure, that'd be intense competition. But you're talking about a club that might take a couple from Loudoun, a couple from FCV, a couple from PWSI, a couple of SYA, etc., etc. I don't think any clubs will fold because FCB set up shop here, unless it's a really tiny club like FC Dulles or Cugini and ALL their players go to FCB.)

You could make the case that rather than completely fluid possession, the double pivot allows for holding the ball and slowing the tempo, a more passive type of possession ala Man U under LVG or Juanma Lillo’s teams over the years. From what I have seen from FCB over the years, they will add more balance to the mid by sacrificing a forward and adding an extra centermid, creating a midfield diamond in a sort of 4-3-1-2 system. However the midfield base is usually the same. A single pivot to facilitate quick ball circulation by design, and 2 centermids in the channels rather than a single CAM, in a position from which they can support not only the center but also the wings of needed to open up the field.

[Anonymous]

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read the email from Barca a couple of times. I think part of what they meant is players weren't put on a team for the year. To compare, in most clubs, if you make the DA, ECNL, or whatever team, that is your team for the year. Then if you aren't good enough, you have a year maybe to catch up. And if maybe you should have been on an elite team, but were only classic or DP, or whatever, there's not really much hope of moving up, except the occasional guest playing opportunity.

Barca doesn't appear to do it that way. If you are in an age group, you aren't part of a set team. You can be moved from team to team, as seems appropriate. And I have already seen a little of that with a couple of players.

Last year, players were moved between the teams and age groups both up and down. Another difference is that there is no drop off in terms of quality of coaching between the teams. The teams in the same age group are generally practicing side by side on the same field doing the same drills under the same methodology.

This all sounds a bit like PAC, which has all its U9 through U12 teams practicing at the same time with coaches switching and sharing duties. Not much movement on gamedays, though. (Which has its pros and cons -- parents like to be able to plan around a game schedule, so moving up and down can throw a wrinkle in things.)

Barca is absolutely nothing like PAC. I wish people that want to constantly throw shade would actually go out and watch in person---or find a set of parents that actually have kids in the program to talk to.

How is this "throwing shade"?

Conversely, how many PAC sessions have people attended? I guess you could watch from some Mosaic apartments.

I know coaches from both places and have seen sessions and games from both. Yes they both try to play possession, but it’s very much a different style. Barcelona play with strictly 1 CDM for example, who’s really more of a deep playmaker than a Makelele-type destroyer. This allows for 2 10/8s to support underneath for the trident up top and make runs into the box for the pullback.

A. I'll be curious to see if the Escolas play only that formation and nothing else. They might, if only to reinforce the brand. Or they might not. We'll see. There are certainly ways to play fluid possession soccer with two CDMs -- a piece I have running tomorrow talks about a team reinventing itself from direct soccer by installing two players who could change the point of attack.

B. PAC generally doesn't have the luxury of picking players who can fit a system.

I have nothing against the Escola. Not at all. And Barcelona is one of my favorite clubs. I'm just bemused by the people who are so insistent that it's a revelatory club doing something no one else has attempted in the region (what's Cugini's style and approach?) and will threaten all the major powers in the region even though we already have scores of clubs here. (If we had only one youth club in the area and FCB was the second, sure, that'd be intense competition. But you're talking about a club that might take a couple from Loudoun, a couple from FCV, a couple from PWSI, a couple of SYA, etc., etc. I don't think any clubs will fold because FCB set up shop here, unless it's a really tiny club like FC Dulles or Cugini and ALL their players go to FCB.)

Also I don’t think they really want anyone to fold. They’re pretty friendly people who just want to play their style with people who truly want to be there. You should try reaching out.

[Anonymous]

It is not zero sum. Ample supply of players and parents willing to pay in this area to support Barca and all the existing clubs at the same time

[Anonymous]

Yea, likewise I’m just trying to have a reasonable conversation with you about styles of play and defensive mids. I hope you didn’t take what o said as hostility and I hope it helps you with the peace you’re releasing on a double pivot. It’s always great to see people like you who are willing to have a chat and share thoughts without getting defensive.