AC Milan Virginia

[Anonymous]

Dario registered for too many teams without having the players to fill them. He wasn't able to scam a few more families to fill out the teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dario registered for too many teams without having the players to fill them. He wasn't able to scam a few more families to fill out the teams.

Perfectly said. People who he scammed should call Detective Kramer at 571-789-5200. Let's hold these scammers accountable and let them know we won't tolerate it. They always think they are above the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dario registered for too many teams without having the players to fill them. He wasn't able to scam a few more families to fill out the teams.

Perfectly said. People who he scammed should call Detective Kramer at 571-789-5200. Let's hold these scammers accountable and let them know we won't tolerate it. They always think they are above the law.

Honestly, the scam was a pretty easy read. He started out by charging about $800 for a half-day four day "tryout camp". If you couldn't tell this guy was about pulling in cash from that, I don't know what to say.

[Anonymous]

Anyone know how tryouts went? Will there be more or less teams next year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I seriously miss Barca.

We were with them when they opened and it was the best environment the first few years. Very unlike 'travel' clubs. The staff were all UEFA trained. The kids trained at the same time at Evergreen, academy style so there was a lot of mixing of training groups. There were 3-4 coaches watching the groups every night, taking notes. The staff was full-time. Parents did not have involvement with coaches. There was one central manager/admin. No parent managers. Parents weren't allowed on the field, or behind the fence--had to stay up in the stands. They had weekly inter-scrimmage league every weekend (unless regular season was happening).

It's funny--now so many of those boys U17-U19 are on the top MLSNext and ECNL teams; a few at MLS academies. The training/development was really good. But, with our 'win instantly' travel world--it didn't fit in the landscape. Many of their teams were really making significant process right before the fold.

It started to fall apart by year 4 when more people started to come and wanted to impose 'American travel' type logistics, politics, etc. Then, Covid wiped them out.

I had two kids there from 2016-2020 and it was the most relaxed and positive atmosphere. Fond memories.

This is super interesting to me as someone who grew up with European soccer long ago, and is now looking to navigate with young kids here. Can you provide more detail into the American type travel logistics and politics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I seriously miss Barca.

We were with them when they opened and it was the best environment the first few years. Very unlike 'travel' clubs. The staff were all UEFA trained. The kids trained at the same time at Evergreen, academy style so there was a lot of mixing of training groups. There were 3-4 coaches watching the groups every night, taking notes. The staff was full-time. Parents did not have involvement with coaches. There was one central manager/admin. No parent managers. Parents weren't allowed on the field, or behind the fence--had to stay up in the stands. They had weekly inter-scrimmage league every weekend (unless regular season was happening).

It's funny--now so many of those boys U17-U19 are on the top MLSNext and ECNL teams; a few at MLS academies. The training/development was really good. But, with our 'win instantly' travel world--it didn't fit in the landscape. Many of their teams were really making significant process right before the fold.

It started to fall apart by year 4 when more people started to come and wanted to impose 'American travel' type logistics, politics, etc. Then, Covid wiped them out.

I had two kids there from 2016-2020 and it was the most relaxed and positive atmosphere. Fond memories.

This is super interesting to me as someone who grew up with European soccer long ago, and is now looking to navigate with young kids here. Can you provide more detail into the American type travel logistics and politics?

Not sure if you are trolling. Have a gander throughout this forum to see how decrepit and sinister travel sports are in America.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I seriously miss Barca.

We were with them when they opened and it was the best environment the first few years. Very unlike 'travel' clubs. The staff were all UEFA trained. The kids trained at the same time at Evergreen, academy style so there was a lot of mixing of training groups. There were 3-4 coaches watching the groups every night, taking notes. The staff was full-time. Parents did not have involvement with coaches. There was one central manager/admin. No parent managers. Parents weren't allowed on the field, or behind the fence--had to stay up in the stands. They had weekly inter-scrimmage league every weekend (unless regular season was happening).

It's funny--now so many of those boys U17-U19 are on the top MLSNext and ECNL teams; a few at MLS academies. The training/development was really good. But, with our 'win instantly' travel world--it didn't fit in the landscape. Many of their teams were really making significant process right before the fold.

It started to fall apart by year 4 when more people started to come and wanted to impose 'American travel' type logistics, politics, etc. Then, Covid wiped them out.

I had two kids there from 2016-2020 and it was the most relaxed and positive atmosphere. Fond memories.

This is super interesting to me as someone who grew up with European soccer long ago, and is now looking to navigate with young kids here. Can you provide more detail into the American type travel logistics and politics?

It wasn’t COVID, it is the current owners of evergreen Sportsplex. They wanted to do a Loudoun 2.0 and having better (REAL) football coaches in your backyard would only deter clients.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I seriously miss Barca.

We were with them when they opened and it was the best environment the first few years. Very unlike 'travel' clubs. The staff were all UEFA trained. The kids trained at the same time at Evergreen, academy style so there was a lot of mixing of training groups. There were 3-4 coaches watching the groups every night, taking notes. The staff was full-time. Parents did not have involvement with coaches. There was one central manager/admin. No parent managers. Parents weren't allowed on the field, or behind the fence--had to stay up in the stands. They had weekly inter-scrimmage league every weekend (unless regular season was happening).

It's funny--now so many of those boys U17-U19 are on the top MLSNext and ECNL teams; a few at MLS academies. The training/development was really good. But, with our 'win instantly' travel world--it didn't fit in the landscape. Many of their teams were really making significant process right before the fold.

It started to fall apart by year 4 when more people started to come and wanted to impose 'American travel' type logistics, politics, etc. Then, Covid wiped them out.

I had two kids there from 2016-2020 and it was the most relaxed and positive atmosphere. Fond memories.

This is super interesting to me as someone who grew up with European soccer long ago, and is now looking to navigate with young kids here. Can you provide more detail into the American type travel logistics and politics?

It wasn’t COVID, it is the current owners of evergreen Sportsplex. They wanted to do a Loudoun 2.0 and having better (REAL) football coaches in your backyard would only deter clients.

This is a message of someone who not only KNOWS but also UNDERSTANDS. can you please start a soccer club that is NOT based around the USA business models? Is that even doable at all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I seriously miss Barca.

We were with them when they opened and it was the best environment the first few years. Very unlike 'travel' clubs. The staff were all UEFA trained. The kids trained at the same time at Evergreen, academy style so there was a lot of mixing of training groups. There were 3-4 coaches watching the groups every night, taking notes. The staff was full-time. Parents did not have involvement with coaches. There was one central manager/admin. No parent managers. Parents weren't allowed on the field, or behind the fence--had to stay up in the stands. They had weekly inter-scrimmage league every weekend (unless regular season was happening).

It's funny--now so many of those boys U17-U19 are on the top MLSNext and ECNL teams; a few at MLS academies. The training/development was really good. But, with our 'win instantly' travel world--it didn't fit in the landscape. Many of their teams were really making significant process right before the fold.

It started to fall apart by year 4 when more people started to come and wanted to impose 'American travel' type logistics, politics, etc. Then, Covid wiped them out.

I had two kids there from 2016-2020 and it was the most relaxed and positive atmosphere. Fond memories.

This is super interesting to me as someone who grew up with European soccer long ago, and is now looking to navigate with young kids here. Can you provide more detail into the American type travel logistics and politics?

It wasn’t COVID, it is the current owners of evergreen Sportsplex. They wanted to do a Loudoun 2.0 and having better (REAL) football coaches in your backyard would only deter clients.

This is a message of someone who not only KNOWS but also UNDERSTANDS. can you please start a soccer club that is NOT based around the USA business models? Is that even doable at all?

The problem is that coaching/organization is only one part of the equation.

For a few years, Barca Academy attracted players who would train on their own (in addition to academy training) and had the ability to be top players. They also had good field space - again, for a few years - although it was not centrally located to the population. This produced some decent players for awhile.

But for the most part, when those teams entered tournaments, the results were not good. That didn't just mean the score. Ultimately, parents aren't going to pay $4000/year and drive 90 minutes RT to trainings for their 8-year-olds, only to see their team enter a tournament and lose 12-0 to SYC, with no ability to keep possession against athletic, pressing opponents. Parents of the 'top' players will move them to clubs that do the standard things that help you win (and keep possession) at U9-U12. That ends up being the USA business model.

[Anonymous]

If the training was good, why did they play badly in games?

[Anonymous]

The players, playing style, and skills needed to win reliably at U9-U12 do not necessarily align with the best way to develop soccer skills that translate at U16+.

Focusing on winning at young ages favors long ball, taking advantage of big physical differences. Deprives players of the training to develop possession-driven, building from the back soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The players, playing style, and skills needed to win reliably at U9-U12 do not necessarily align with the best way to develop soccer skills that translate at U16+.

Focusing on winning at young ages favors long ball, taking advantage of big physical differences. Deprives players of the training to develop possession-driven, building from the back soccer.

Not always the case but if if makes you feel better tell yourself it.

Also, look at some of the successful teams in Europe, they play fast, direct football. 30 sideways and backwards passes is generally falling out of favour in many places.

[Anonymous]

Is there any positive development with this club? Attended tryouts. Received offer with few details.

[Anonymous]

Why not go somewhere more reputable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dario registered for too many teams without having the players to fill them. He wasn't able to scam a few more families to fill out the teams.

Perfectly said. People who he scammed should call Detective Kramer at 571-789-5200. Let's hold these scammers accountable and let them know we won't tolerate it. They always think they are above the law.

Honestly, the scam was a pretty easy read. He started out by charging about $800 for a half-day four day "tryout camp". If you couldn't tell this guy was about pulling in cash from that, I don't know what to say.

Perfectly said!!!!! I don't feel bad for those families!