Virginia Union FC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about McLean and BRYC reschedule the games this week and find out. We’ll wait

The way ECNL take forever, this won't happen until Spring

I thought the clubs just decide?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any talk of TK is a BRYC or other club parent who is close by. TK did nothing special and if anything proved that with a 5-0 butt whoopin to PDA in ENCL championship, which MW coached team beat 1-0. Yes, different girls, but that's the point. No team wants a new coach every year. No coach is Alex Ferguson, so if MW is there and they are winning, any TK talk is pure trolling. Good job, way to troll VDA.

Not a troll if it’s true. Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not truth. Ask the parents.

I am a parent. Girls have never played faster, aggressive, and complete. Obviously any coach is target #1 because the girls aren't to be scrutinized as they are kids. We're applying college/pro mentality to children, so we can only go after coach. Again, it's beyond irrelevant since there will be parents who are happy (their kids play a lot) and those that aren't (their kids play less). For every kid that gets more time, someone loses. Formations are fantastic, but the girls are all learning and no matter a coach's great scheme, they won't be perfect. MW is going as good as any coach would with this team; 1st place.

The goal of any team at this level is the same as the players. How are the players doing at getting offers to play in colleges that they are interested in actually going too. That’s it. There is no other goal. A year from now, no one, including the players themselves, will have a clue as to where they finished in any standings. The goal of a coach, and the measuring stick, is how well does he or she get kids on to college teams. If a player on the team submits their player resume to x college coach; does it get a look? Does the college coach contact the player? Does the player get onto campus? Does the club coach assist in “selling” the player? Those are the only factors worth considering once you hit u15 in the girls game.

If, year after year, this guys teams are putting 12-14 players on to college teams then that is a good coach doing a good job at what he/she is supposed to do.

Does anyone care about standings and club championships? Maybe the club. If you won you would put it on the website. It might help attract some business at younger ages. At older ages the parents will be more focused on where the kids on the older age teams are getting recruited. They are thinking, “could my kid do the same or better?” Frankly, the idea of spending money to travel to games that don’t have good recruiting potential is something to pass on. But, it is the nature of the beast, and the clubs know it. No surprises to them. If you want a championship to play for that maybe gets recalled years later? High school ball. They will at least post a sign or pennant at the school. And, kids will get named “all league or whatever”. It won’t get you recruited, but it will end up on your soccer resume. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the bios of the freshmen players of any college team your kid is considering. They will mention the club played for, and the high school, and all the awards from that high school play. (As the player progresses the high school stuff drops off and is replaced by college accomplishments.)

So - tldr - play for the coach that you think has the best shot at getting your kid recruited to the schools she is most interested in attending. (And make sure your kid is getting the grades to go there.)

Doesn't success on the field (i.e., wins) correlate some to the points you made above though? I get that college coaches, for example, don't care who wins and who loses an individual game they watch as they are recruiting individual players (not entire teams). But having a successful team puts you in higher level showcases and higher playoff divisions. As an example, if VDA 06 as a team does well, wouldn't it be a true statement that more college coach's eyes would be on those girls than would be for the last place Loudoun team? Both play in showcases and playoffs, but I can't image that top college coaches aren't going to watch PDA 06 vs. VDA 06 (in the Champions Cup) and are instead going to go check out Loudoun 06 vs. Eagles FC 06 (in the Open Cup).....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any talk of TK is a BRYC or other club parent who is close by. TK did nothing special and if anything proved that with a 5-0 butt whoopin to PDA in ENCL championship, which MW coached team beat 1-0. Yes, different girls, but that's the point. No team wants a new coach every year. No coach is Alex Ferguson, so if MW is there and they are winning, any TK talk is pure trolling. Good job, way to troll VDA.

Not a troll if it’s true. Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not truth. Ask the parents.

I am a parent. Girls have never played faster, aggressive, and complete. Obviously any coach is target #1 because the girls aren't to be scrutinized as they are kids. We're applying college/pro mentality to children, so we can only go after coach. Again, it's beyond irrelevant since there will be parents who are happy (their kids play a lot) and those that aren't (their kids play less). For every kid that gets more time, someone loses. Formations are fantastic, but the girls are all learning and no matter a coach's great scheme, they won't be perfect. MW is going as good as any coach would with this team; 1st place.

The goal of any team at this level is the same as the players. How are the players doing at getting offers to play in colleges that they are interested in actually going too. That’s it. There is no other goal. A year from now, no one, including the players themselves, will have a clue as to where they finished in any standings. The goal of a coach, and the measuring stick, is how well does he or she get kids on to college teams. If a player on the team submits their player resume to x college coach; does it get a look? Does the college coach contact the player? Does the player get onto campus? Does the club coach assist in “selling” the player? Those are the only factors worth considering once you hit u15 in the girls game.

If, year after year, this guys teams are putting 12-14 players on to college teams then that is a good coach doing a good job at what he/she is supposed to do.

Does anyone care about standings and club championships? Maybe the club. If you won you would put it on the website. It might help attract some business at younger ages. At older ages the parents will be more focused on where the kids on the older age teams are getting recruited. They are thinking, “could my kid do the same or better?” Frankly, the idea of spending money to travel to games that don’t have good recruiting potential is something to pass on. But, it is the nature of the beast, and the clubs know it. No surprises to them. If you want a championship to play for that maybe gets recalled years later? High school ball. They will at least post a sign or pennant at the school. And, kids will get named “all league or whatever”. It won’t get you recruited, but it will end up on your soccer resume. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the bios of the freshmen players of any college team your kid is considering. They will mention the club played for, and the high school, and all the awards from that high school play. (As the player progresses the high school stuff drops off and is replaced by college accomplishments.)

So - tldr - play for the coach that you think has the best shot at getting your kid recruited to the schools she is most interested in attending. (And make sure your kid is getting the grades to go there.)

Doesn't success on the field (i.e., wins) correlate some to the points you made above though? I get that college coaches, for example, don't care who wins and who loses an individual game they watch as they are recruiting individual players (not entire teams). But having a successful team puts you in higher level showcases and higher playoff divisions. As an example, if VDA 06 as a team does well, wouldn't it be a true statement that more college coach's eyes would be on those girls than would be for the last place Loudoun team? Both play in showcases and playoffs, but I can't image that top college coaches aren't going to watch PDA 06 vs. VDA 06 (in the Champions Cup) and are instead going to go check out Loudoun 06 vs. Eagles FC 06 (in the Open Cup).....

Wasting time responding

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any talk of TK is a BRYC or other club parent who is close by. TK did nothing special and if anything proved that with a 5-0 butt whoopin to PDA in ENCL championship, which MW coached team beat 1-0. Yes, different girls, but that's the point. No team wants a new coach every year. No coach is Alex Ferguson, so if MW is there and they are winning, any TK talk is pure trolling. Good job, way to troll VDA.

Not a troll if it’s true. Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not truth. Ask the parents.

I am a parent. Girls have never played faster, aggressive, and complete. Obviously any coach is target #1 because the girls aren't to be scrutinized as they are kids. We're applying college/pro mentality to children, so we can only go after coach. Again, it's beyond irrelevant since there will be parents who are happy (their kids play a lot) and those that aren't (their kids play less). For every kid that gets more time, someone loses. Formations are fantastic, but the girls are all learning and no matter a coach's great scheme, they won't be perfect. MW is going as good as any coach would with this team; 1st place.

The goal of any team at this level is the same as the players. How are the players doing at getting offers to play in colleges that they are interested in actually going too. That’s it. There is no other goal. A year from now, no one, including the players themselves, will have a clue as to where they finished in any standings. The goal of a coach, and the measuring stick, is how well does he or she get kids on to college teams. If a player on the team submits their player resume to x college coach; does it get a look? Does the college coach contact the player? Does the player get onto campus? Does the club coach assist in “selling” the player? Those are the only factors worth considering once you hit u15 in the girls game.

If, year after year, this guys teams are putting 12-14 players on to college teams then that is a good coach doing a good job at what he/she is supposed to do.

Does anyone care about standings and club championships? Maybe the club. If you won you would put it on the website. It might help attract some business at younger ages. At older ages the parents will be more focused on where the kids on the older age teams are getting recruited. They are thinking, “could my kid do the same or better?” Frankly, the idea of spending money to travel to games that don’t have good recruiting potential is something to pass on. But, it is the nature of the beast, and the clubs know it. No surprises to them. If you want a championship to play for that maybe gets recalled years later? High school ball. They will at least post a sign or pennant at the school. And, kids will get named “all league or whatever”. It won’t get you recruited, but it will end up on your soccer resume. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the bios of the freshmen players of any college team your kid is considering. They will mention the club played for, and the high school, and all the awards from that high school play. (As the player progresses the high school stuff drops off and is replaced by college accomplishments.)

So - tldr - play for the coach that you think has the best shot at getting your kid recruited to the schools she is most interested in attending. (And make sure your kid is getting the grades to go there.)

Doesn't success on the field (i.e., wins) correlate some to the points you made above though? I get that college coaches, for example, don't care who wins and who loses an individual game they watch as they are recruiting individual players (not entire teams). But having a successful team puts you in higher level showcases and higher playoff divisions. As an example, if VDA 06 as a team does well, wouldn't it be a true statement that more college coach's eyes would be on those girls than would be for the last place Loudoun team? Both play in showcases and playoffs, but I can't image that top college coaches aren't going to watch PDA 06 vs. VDA 06 (in the Champions Cup) and are instead going to go check out Loudoun 06 vs. Eagles FC 06 (in the Open Cup).....

Wasting time responding

I'll do it for you

No

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any talk of TK is a BRYC or other club parent who is close by. TK did nothing special and if anything proved that with a 5-0 butt whoopin to PDA in ENCL championship, which MW coached team beat 1-0. Yes, different girls, but that's the point. No team wants a new coach every year. No coach is Alex Ferguson, so if MW is there and they are winning, any TK talk is pure trolling. Good job, way to troll VDA.

Not a troll if it’s true. Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not truth. Ask the parents.

I am a parent. Girls have never played faster, aggressive, and complete. Obviously any coach is target #1 because the girls aren't to be scrutinized as they are kids. We're applying college/pro mentality to children, so we can only go after coach. Again, it's beyond irrelevant since there will be parents who are happy (their kids play a lot) and those that aren't (their kids play less). For every kid that gets more time, someone loses. Formations are fantastic, but the girls are all learning and no matter a coach's great scheme, they won't be perfect. MW is going as good as any coach would with this team; 1st place.

The goal of any team at this level is the same as the players. How are the players doing at getting offers to play in colleges that they are interested in actually going too. That’s it. There is no other goal. A year from now, no one, including the players themselves, will have a clue as to where they finished in any standings. The goal of a coach, and the measuring stick, is how well does he or she get kids on to college teams. If a player on the team submits their player resume to x college coach; does it get a look? Does the college coach contact the player? Does the player get onto campus? Does the club coach assist in “selling” the player? Those are the only factors worth considering once you hit u15 in the girls game.

If, year after year, this guys teams are putting 12-14 players on to college teams then that is a good coach doing a good job at what he/she is supposed to do.

Does anyone care about standings and club championships? Maybe the club. If you won you would put it on the website. It might help attract some business at younger ages. At older ages the parents will be more focused on where the kids on the older age teams are getting recruited. They are thinking, “could my kid do the same or better?” Frankly, the idea of spending money to travel to games that don’t have good recruiting potential is something to pass on. But, it is the nature of the beast, and the clubs know it. No surprises to them. If you want a championship to play for that maybe gets recalled years later? High school ball. They will at least post a sign or pennant at the school. And, kids will get named “all league or whatever”. It won’t get you recruited, but it will end up on your soccer resume. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the bios of the freshmen players of any college team your kid is considering. They will mention the club played for, and the high school, and all the awards from that high school play. (As the player progresses the high school stuff drops off and is replaced by college accomplishments.)

So - tldr - play for the coach that you think has the best shot at getting your kid recruited to the schools she is most interested in attending. (And make sure your kid is getting the grades to go there.)

Doesn't success on the field (i.e., wins) correlate some to the points you made above though? I get that college coaches, for example, don't care who wins and who loses an individual game they watch as they are recruiting individual players (not entire teams). But having a successful team puts you in higher level showcases and higher playoff divisions. As an example, if VDA 06 as a team does well, wouldn't it be a true statement that more college coach's eyes would be on those girls than would be for the last place Loudoun team? Both play in showcases and playoffs, but I can't image that top college coaches aren't going to watch PDA 06 vs. VDA 06 (in the Champions Cup) and are instead going to go check out Loudoun 06 vs. Eagles FC 06 (in the Open Cup).....

Wasting time responding

I'll do it for you

No

Quite an elegant response. Thank you for your brilliant insights oh wise one.

[Anonymous]

Dead correct. More scouts will watch the championship division of the Jeff Cup than the 4th division, for example. Only have so much time and watching the top teams compete will be a priority than mediocre teams and the more top level showcase brackets they are in, the more looks. So true and happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any talk of TK is a BRYC or other club parent who is close by. TK did nothing special and if anything proved that with a 5-0 butt whoopin to PDA in ENCL championship, which MW coached team beat 1-0. Yes, different girls, but that's the point. No team wants a new coach every year. No coach is Alex Ferguson, so if MW is there and they are winning, any TK talk is pure trolling. Good job, way to troll VDA.

Not a troll if it’s true. Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not truth. Ask the parents.

I am a parent. Girls have never played faster, aggressive, and complete. Obviously any coach is target #1 because the girls aren't to be scrutinized as they are kids. We're applying college/pro mentality to children, so we can only go after coach. Again, it's beyond irrelevant since there will be parents who are happy (their kids play a lot) and those that aren't (their kids play less). For every kid that gets more time, someone loses. Formations are fantastic, but the girls are all learning and no matter a coach's great scheme, they won't be perfect. MW is going as good as any coach would with this team; 1st place.

The goal of any team at this level is the same as the players. How are the players doing at getting offers to play in colleges that they are interested in actually going too. That’s it. There is no other goal. A year from now, no one, including the players themselves, will have a clue as to where they finished in any standings. The goal of a coach, and the measuring stick, is how well does he or she get kids on to college teams. If a player on the team submits their player resume to x college coach; does it get a look? Does the college coach contact the player? Does the player get onto campus? Does the club coach assist in “selling” the player? Those are the only factors worth considering once you hit u15 in the girls game.

If, year after year, this guys teams are putting 12-14 players on to college teams then that is a good coach doing a good job at what he/she is supposed to do.

Does anyone care about standings and club championships? Maybe the club. If you won you would put it on the website. It might help attract some business at younger ages. At older ages the parents will be more focused on where the kids on the older age teams are getting recruited. They are thinking, “could my kid do the same or better?” Frankly, the idea of spending money to travel to games that don’t have good recruiting potential is something to pass on. But, it is the nature of the beast, and the clubs know it. No surprises to them. If you want a championship to play for that maybe gets recalled years later? High school ball. They will at least post a sign or pennant at the school. And, kids will get named “all league or whatever”. It won’t get you recruited, but it will end up on your soccer resume. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the bios of the freshmen players of any college team your kid is considering. They will mention the club played for, and the high school, and all the awards from that high school play. (As the player progresses the high school stuff drops off and is replaced by college accomplishments.)

So - tldr - play for the coach that you think has the best shot at getting your kid recruited to the schools she is most interested in attending. (And make sure your kid is getting the grades to go there.)

Doesn't success on the field (i.e., wins) correlate some to the points you made above though? I get that college coaches, for example, don't care who wins and who loses an individual game they watch as they are recruiting individual players (not entire teams). But having a successful team puts you in higher level showcases and higher playoff divisions. As an example, if VDA 06 as a team does well, wouldn't it be a true statement that more college coach's eyes would be on those girls than would be for the last place Loudoun team? Both play in showcases and playoffs, but I can't image that top college coaches aren't going to watch PDA 06 vs. VDA 06 (in the Champions Cup) and are instead going to go check out Loudoun 06 vs. Eagles FC 06 (in the Open Cup).....

Nope. Every college coach in every sport is convinced they know talent when they see it. They don’t have to see a kid play in great team v great team game. Coaches do not check out kids randomly. “Wow I wonder if there is a good player we can use at this game?” There is no time for that. They will check out players who are communicating with them about wanting to be considered to play for the coach’s school. They are looking for 4-6 kids. They are hoping to be communicating with 15-20 potential recruits for each year. At any tournament they are only interested in checking out the 2-3 kids who are there playing out of that 15-20. To an extent they know that a high level team will have better players. Does that mean they won’t check on a good player on a lower level team? No way. They absolutely will.

My daughter’s coach made the decision to offer her after coming to a high school game and leaving 10 minutes into it to go see another kid. He had seen tape. Talked once and traded emails (recruiting is a little different now that coaches can really talk to juniors). He liked the way she helped run things pre-game as a high school team captain.

They do like to see kids in person if possible. The game does not matter. And, it is not always possible. Women college soccer recruiting budgets are not big. They also know that even at P5 schools most of their kids are going to come from an area with 150 miles of the school. Extolling the virtues of SoCal to a northern MN kid - not that hard. The advantages of playing in Oklahoma - more difficult. And of course you have to sell the parents too.

Years ago - at u16 - our coach and club director worked a deal with two other clubs to play 2 round robin sets of games - indoors in the winter - over two consecutive weekends. We parents chipped in $100 a kid to cover field and ref costs and bar bills/food for the coaches that came. Over the two weekends we had a coach from every college within 100 miles or so. This was in the Midwest. So we had big 10, MAC, Summit League, and all the small schools. It was great. They may still be doing it. Yeah my kid did Disney, and Vegas and Surf Cup and WAGs and none of them meant anything anyone. The top kids on the team went to UofM, MSU, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Most like mine did Summit league or MAC. Kids mostly want to go to school closer to home. The reality is that most of the tournaments were a waste of time and money for every family with a kid on the team.

Mind you playing and practicing with good players and coaches makes you a better player. It is the tournament/league travel that is a complete waste of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dead correct. More scouts will watch the championship division of the Jeff Cup than the 4th division, for example. Only have so much time and watching the top teams compete will be a priority than mediocre teams and the more top level showcase brackets they are in, the more looks. So true and happens.

College coaches go to the games that players who have reached out to them and through either film, or ID camps have a semblance of an interest watching them in person. Coaches do not just go to watch games, this is the first myth parents must learn.

Your club coach will help your player identify schools that are good soccer fits. Your player will email those schools and provide your showcase schedule. The college coach looks at the provided information, film, some familiarity with the club or club coach and decide to follow up by watching 15 minutes of a showcase game you hope your kid is playing.

College coaches do not scour league standings and then look for those teams in showcases. You are in for a rude surprise if you believe that to be the case.

If a kid pops on film to a college coach, yes, they will go and watch a 4th bracket game.

You also have to understand that college programs are tiered and that they all are not competing for the same player. William and Mary does not need to waste their time looking at a player who has been on the YNT since they were 15. Any school of course would love to have that player but they are smart enough to know not to bother unless the player has shown interest in their program.

It is all very self filtering and the original filter for most typical ECNL level players is their own mailing list. It is really no different than applying for a job. The player should take inventory and objectively look at their skill set, academic interests and target schools that realistically fit their overall profile. IF they target properly they will have a successful turnout but it will be because of THEIR research not because they were on a winning team and coaches came and window shopped.

So to sum up, NO coaches do not go to just watch games. That is the exact opposite of how it works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dead correct. More scouts will watch the championship division of the Jeff Cup than the 4th division, for example. Only have so much time and watching the top teams compete will be a priority than mediocre teams and the more top level showcase brackets they are in, the more looks. So true and happens.

College coaches go to the games that players who have reached out to them and through either film, or ID camps have a semblance of an interest watching them in person. Coaches do not just go to watch games, this is the first myth parents must learn.

Your club coach will help your player identify schools that are good soccer fits. Your player will email those schools and provide your showcase schedule. The college coach looks at the provided information, film, some familiarity with the club or club coach and decide to follow up by watching 15 minutes of a showcase game you hope your kid is playing.

College coaches do not scour league standings and then look for those teams in showcases. You are in for a rude surprise if you believe that to be the case.

If a kid pops on film to a college coach, yes, they will go and watch a 4th bracket game.

You also have to understand that college programs are tiered and that they all are not competing for the same player. William and Mary does not need to waste their time looking at a player who has been on the YNT since they were 15. Any school of course would love to have that player but they are smart enough to know not to bother unless the player has shown interest in their program.

It is all very self filtering and the original filter for most typical ECNL level players is their own mailing list. It is really no different than applying for a job. The player should take inventory and objectively look at their skill set, academic interests and target schools that realistically fit their overall profile. IF they target properly they will have a successful turnout but it will be because of THEIR research not because they were on a winning team and coaches came and window shopped.

So to sum up, NO coaches do not go to just watch games. That is the exact opposite of how it works.

Thanks for the insights/info. Much more useful than the "No" clowns above. Appreciate you taking the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dead correct. More scouts will watch the championship division of the Jeff Cup than the 4th division, for example. Only have so much time and watching the top teams compete will be a priority than mediocre teams and the more top level showcase brackets they are in, the more looks. So true and happens.

College coaches go to the games that players who have reached out to them and through either film, or ID camps have a semblance of an interest watching them in person. Coaches do not just go to watch games, this is the first myth parents must learn.

Your club coach will help your player identify schools that are good soccer fits. Your player will email those schools and provide your showcase schedule. The college coach looks at the provided information, film, some familiarity with the club or club coach and decide to follow up by watching 15 minutes of a showcase game you hope your kid is playing.

College coaches do not scour league standings and then look for those teams in showcases. You are in for a rude surprise if you believe that to be the case.

If a kid pops on film to a college coach, yes, they will go and watch a 4th bracket game.

You also have to understand that college programs are tiered and that they all are not competing for the same player. William and Mary does not need to waste their time looking at a player who has been on the YNT since they were 15. Any school of course would love to have that player but they are smart enough to know not to bother unless the player has shown interest in their program.

It is all very self filtering and the original filter for most typical ECNL level players is their own mailing list. It is really no different than applying for a job. The player should take inventory and objectively look at their skill set, academic interests and target schools that realistically fit their overall profile. IF they target properly they will have a successful turnout but it will be because of THEIR research not because they were on a winning team and coaches came and window shopped.

So to sum up, NO coaches do not go to just watch games. That is the exact opposite of how it works.

Thanks for the insights/info. Much more useful than the "No" clowns above. Appreciate you taking the time.

You are welcome.

[Anonymous]

When is McLean going to reschedule the games?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dead correct. More scouts will watch the championship division of the Jeff Cup than the 4th division, for example. Only have so much time and watching the top teams compete will be a priority than mediocre teams and the more top level showcase brackets they are in, the more looks. So true and happens.

College coaches go to the games that players who have reached out to them and through either film, or ID camps have a semblance of an interest watching them in person. Coaches do not just go to watch games, this is the first myth parents must learn.

Your club coach will help your player identify schools that are good soccer fits. Your player will email those schools and provide your showcase schedule. The college coach looks at the provided information, film, some familiarity with the club or club coach and decide to follow up by watching 15 minutes of a showcase game you hope your kid is playing.

College coaches do not scour league standings and then look for those teams in showcases. You are in for a rude surprise if you believe that to be the case.

If a kid pops on film to a college coach, yes, they will go and watch a 4th bracket game.

You also have to understand that college programs are tiered and that they all are not competing for the same player. William and Mary does not need to waste their time looking at a player who has been on the YNT since they were 15. Any school of course would love to have that player but they are smart enough to know not to bother unless the player has shown interest in their program.

It is all very self filtering and the original filter for most typical ECNL level players is their own mailing list. It is really no different than applying for a job. The player should take inventory and objectively look at their skill set, academic interests and target schools that realistically fit their overall profile. IF they target properly they will have a successful turnout but it will be because of THEIR research not because they were on a winning team and coaches came and window shopped.

So to sum up, NO coaches do not go to just watch games. That is the exact opposite of how it works.

Thanks for the insights/info. Much more useful than the "No" clowns above. Appreciate you taking the time.

You are welcome.

I would add - it is absolutely up to the player and their family to make the first decisions on what type of school to consider. Are you willing to go anywhere? Do you want to stay in state? What major area or areas are you thinking? What schools are good for those majors? Or - probably more important - what schools are not good? What role does the financial situation play? This is a big one obviously. Where are you standing grade and test score wise? Is admittance an issue? What other money might be available in addition to athletic dollars?

The thing with girls is that the soccer money basically gets committed by end-of-year the kid’s junior year. So sophomores really need to be thinking about college choice - which is very weird and way too early but it is what it is. If you are not thinking about it you get jammed. Go visit schools that are potential. Don’t wait for a recruiting visit. Start by checking out nearby Big School, Medium School, Small school, Urban School. Do the official tour. It can help provide some perspective.

Do talk about majors in general terms. There are some that frankly do not work well with athletics and that may be a big factor in the school selection. Stuff with labs? Problem. Music/Art? Problem. The issues with these majors at a competitive D1 program is that you have to physically be present to do them. Soccer teams travel to games. If you are in Organic Chem 200 and the prof requires no more than 1 absence in a lab - then you need to take that course in the Spring or Summer. Will that screw up your schedule because you need to have prerequisites done and you won’t? Yes it will. I know kids who set up cots in their studio spaces. You won’t be sculpting on the road trip.

Mostly stuff works freshman year because you are taking required stuff that all freshmen take. Look at what Junior and Senior years require though. Maybe that academic D3 is a good idea.

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Finally, do also start practicing the interviewing process. Is your kid good at talking to adults they don’t know? Not many are. How do you think they will do spending 3 hours with a couple coaches on a tour and interview? My kid took about 6 campus visits before she got comfortable doing them. Sadly her first visit was where she really wanted to go but we blew that one as we did not get her prepped. Had she done that visit later on she likely would have gone there. It is a process and learning experience.

[Anonymous]

When is McLean going to reschedule the games?

[Anonymous]

Whenever they feel like rescheduling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whenever they feel like rescheduling

So never unless it works to their advantage at the end is on of next year. Got it.