FCV DA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Then Loudoun overlooks those same kids who have been in their club since mini/rec/pre-academy and bring in players from other clubs to stack their ECNL rosters. Same song and dance that ALL the larger clubs do. Loyalty in clubs works both ways.

The kids are staying at Loudoun. There are only 18 spots, yes kids on Black, White and Silver will leave and try at FCV I guess, but FCV is no longer getting half of Loudoun Red anymore showing up to tryouts like years past.

But how have FCV's tryout numbers been? If you are there surely you can see the great consolidation happening before your very eyes right now.

Was at an FCV session with DD for 08. She came out telling me 2-3 girls were there from Loudoun Red. She wasn't sure on one so maybe only 2. But sound like that is very different than in the past?

In the past it would have been at least half of Loudoun Red, yes.

Wow, half of the LS Red team tried out at different clubs, or just FCV? I know of 4 who tried out last season, and a handful are talking about it (Red/Black/White) this year. Guess we will see what happens in the Spring.

ID sessions have been ongoing since January. No need to wait till spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Then Loudoun overlooks those same kids who have been in their club since mini/rec/pre-academy and bring in players from other clubs to stack their ECNL rosters. Same song and dance that ALL the larger clubs do. Loyalty in clubs works both ways.

The kids are staying at Loudoun. There are only 18 spots, yes kids on Black, White and Silver will leave and try at FCV I guess, but FCV is no longer getting half of Loudoun Red anymore showing up to tryouts like years past.

But how have FCV's tryout numbers been? If you are there surely you can see the great consolidation happening before your very eyes right now.

Was at an FCV session with DD for 08. She came out telling me 2-3 girls were there from Loudoun Red. She wasn't sure on one so maybe only 2. But sound like that is very different than in the past?

In the past it would have been at least half of Loudoun Red, yes.

Wow, half of the LS Red team tried out at different clubs, or just FCV? I know of 4 who tried out last season, and a handful are talking about it (Red/Black/White) this year. Guess we will see what happens in the Spring.

Before Loudoun had ECNL, yes more than half of Loudoun Red would tryout at FCV and McLean. That is no longer the case as many will stay because they have a reason to stay.

Does that mean that some don't test the waters? Sure but it is for a different reasons than in the past. Perhaps a kid really wants DA or just a change but most kids with true college potential are no longer pushed out the door at Loudoun now that Loudoun has a pathway for the players to be recruited.

The same thing with Arlington. Many of those kids would leave for McLean in years past and now they have an option to stay at their club where they started in rec. This isn't about being a "Loudoun Parent" thinking Loudoun is the center of the universe. It is about the reality of kids being more likely to stay put than to change clubs when they can have many of the same showcasing opportunities as the other clubs have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Then Loudoun overlooks those same kids who have been in their club since mini/rec/pre-academy and bring in players from other clubs to stack their ECNL rosters. Same song and dance that ALL the larger clubs do. Loyalty in clubs works both ways.

The kids are staying at Loudoun. There are only 18 spots, yes kids on Black, White and Silver will leave and try at FCV I guess, but FCV is no longer getting half of Loudoun Red anymore showing up to tryouts like years past.

But how have FCV's tryout numbers been? If you are there surely you can see the great consolidation happening before your very eyes right now.

Was at an FCV session with DD for 08. She came out telling me 2-3 girls were there from Loudoun Red. She wasn't sure on one so maybe only 2. But sound like that is very different than in the past?

In the past it would have been at least half of Loudoun Red, yes.

Wow, half of the LS Red team tried out at different clubs, or just FCV? I know of 4 who tried out last season, and a handful are talking about it (Red/Black/White) this year. Guess we will see what happens in the Spring.

Before Loudoun had ECNL, yes more than half of Loudoun Red would tryout at FCV and McLean. That is no longer the case as many will stay because they have a reason to stay.

Does that mean that some don't test the waters? Sure but it is for a different reasons than in the past. Perhaps a kid really wants DA or just a change but most kids with true college potential are no longer pushed out the door at Loudoun now that Loudoun has a pathway for the players to be recruited.

The same thing with Arlington. Many of those kids would leave for McLean in years past and now they have an option to stay at their club where they started in rec. This isn't about being a "Loudoun Parent" thinking Loudoun is the center of the universe. It is about the reality of kids being more likely to stay put than to change clubs when they can have many of the same showcasing opportunities as the other clubs have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The FCV u17s have the following verbal commits:
3 William and Mary, 1 university of Richmond, 1 George Washington, and 1 VMI. They are 1st in their division and 8th in the country. Their record is 6-0-2. Sounds respectable to me.

Add to that the 04s ranked 4th and the 05s ranked 3rd - both national rankings. The 06s and 07s don't keep standings.

You can bash the mid-atlantic competition all you want but if the mid-atlantic DA is weak, how weak is the mid-atlantic ECNL? The same argument keeps being made that the GDA isn't strong at the younger ages and that the talent is going to be spread out in the future. Based on what? Message board opinions that have been wrong about that facts for two years running now? The TOP talent will always consolidate. The question only is where. For now that is FCV and increasingly Arlington. McLean remains to be seen if their reputation will remain strong enough to bring in TOP talent at the 03, 04, 05 etc... age groups. Right now those teams don't have it at McLean.

And for the teams that can consolidate top talent, even their subs will get recruited because the college coaches KNOW the talent has consolidated there. So it isn't as simple as a starter at ECNL is better than a sub at FCV. That may be completely false - it depends on the particular team and the particular players and if they are starter number 1 or starter number 10. The recruiting numbers at FCV do not lie.

BRYC in turmoil, MU is a year-to-year test of survival, VDA hasn't proven to be able to keep enough of its talent into the recruiting ages and Loudoun is second fiddle to its GDA neighbor...hoping that they move to Springfield.

IF, and its a big IF, the GDA survives the next 5 years, my meaningless opinion is that Arlington is best positioned to be dominant. Geographically has big and distinct population to draw from, well run, decent with some great staff and a DA platform. Every other club has serious issues going forward.

All of this opinion and not fact. Take it for what its worth.

Loudoun has not lost a 07 or 08 player to FCV since Loudoun was granted ECNL. FCV needs to move because they no longer have the golden ticket in Loudoun anymore. Keep living in the past of teams formed years before DA though.

We are now considering 5th 6th and 7th graders as recruiting years? Your data is meaningless to this topic. And I repeat, we heard this about the 04, 05 and 06s before too.

Where did anyone say those were recruiting years? Just stating that since Loudoun has been granted ECNL that they have retained their players in rising DA/ECNL years. Before Loudoun had ECNL they lost all of their top players to McLean and FCV so that they could play in ECNL. Now they have no reason to leave the club where they started playing rec. U13 is a big year for changing clubs as kids start playing 11v11 and clubs with ECNL or DA are top targets to move to.

Then Loudoun overlooks those same kids who have been in their club since mini/rec/pre-academy and bring in players from other clubs to stack their ECNL rosters. Same song and dance that ALL the larger clubs do. Loyalty in clubs works both ways.

The kids are staying at Loudoun. There are only 18 spots, yes kids on Black, White and Silver will leave and try at FCV I guess, but FCV is no longer getting half of Loudoun Red anymore showing up to tryouts like years past.

But how have FCV's tryout numbers been? If you are there surely you can see the great consolidation happening before your very eyes right now.

Loudoun mom or dad, please realize that Loudoun Soccer is not the center of the soccer universe. Consolidation of TOP talent covers a broad area not just the local neighborhood.

https://www.loudountimes.com/sports/tsj-fc-virginia-athletes-to-play-soccer-in-college/article_2c4925ac-111b-11ea-ad63-236901e85fe8.html

There are two kids in this picture going to VT. Are you telling me that one of those kids would not be going to Tech if they were on another DA team playing on a field in a showcase game 200 yards away?

I don't know the specifics of their recruiting but if they were not in the DA maybe they would not be going to VT for soccer. There is a real chance of that scenario playing out with a players. The strength of the team matters. Players know it so they seek it out. Recruiters know that the players seek it out so they seek it out to find those players. Happens in every sport.

VT is not that strong a club. Lots and Lots of NOVA girls get picked up across many clubs to play there. FCV didn't get them there. It's just a big in state school that is very inexpensive and can make many walk on (or books) offers for their spots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why we chose FCV DA:

https://www.loudountimes.com/sports/tsj-fc-virginia-athletes-to-play-soccer-in-college/article_2c4925ac-111b-11ea-ad63-236901e85fe8.html

I think they do a good job at college placement, but there's a good segment of those players that were committed before moving to FCV.

Curious - where did they "move" from?

Riley McCarthy, Jasmine Hamid, Riley Melendez, and Lauren Teuschl all came from Spirit and all came already committed. Hamid is the #2 scorer.

So 3.5 starters came from another team after committing. How many others joined this team after committing?

Wow you are writing names of young kids on a public board. Have you stooped this low. Hope the op is not a disgruntled Spirit parent.
This is wrong. Shame!!

Shame? I apologize if I violated something. I can't for the life of me figure out what. Their names are in the article, the rosters are online, and they are all great players. Any program would be lucky to have them. Someone asked. I answered, but it's all public information.

If we are both reading the same DA site - you can't even copy right. Hamid is not the #2 scorer.

Maybe I missed someone. She has 10 goals. I saw one person ahead of it. No matter what, that's pretty strong.

10 goals is nothing and you missed 2

[Anonymous]

A lot of younger parents are not paying attention to reality. The older parents understand. Just take this into consideration

Virginia RESIDENCE

Most expensive:
Washington and Lee (54,000)
Richmond (54,000)
UVA (50,000)
Hampden Sydney (46,000)
William and Mary (46,000)
VMI (45,000)
Roanoke (45,000)

Best colleges for your return on investment (affordability combined with alumni success measured mostly by salary over a given period)

1. UVA
2. William and Mary
3. Washington and Lee
4. VMI
5. James Madison
6. Richmond
7. VT
8. Mason
9. Mary Washington
10. Chris Newport

Average women´s soccer scholarship:

Total of 336 womens D1 soccer teams
Total of 9,464 D1 women soccer players
Average roster: 28 players
Average scholarships: 14
Average Athletic scholarship: $18,631

Now, go back up and compare to the true cost of going to college.

You see, the true goal is to go to a school for a lot lower price.

The second goal is to get a degree that you can actually do something with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of younger parents are not paying attention to reality. The older parents understand. Just take this into consideration

Virginia RESIDENCE

Most expensive:
Washington and Lee (54,000)
Richmond (54,000)
UVA (50,000)
Hampden Sydney (46,000)
William and Mary (46,000)
VMI (45,000)
Roanoke (45,000)

Best colleges for your return on investment (affordability combined with alumni success measured mostly by salary over a given period)

1. UVA
2. William and Mary
3. Washington and Lee
4. VMI
5. James Madison
6. Richmond
7. VT
8. Mason
9. Mary Washington
10. Chris Newport

Average women´s soccer scholarship:

Total of 336 womens D1 soccer teams
Total of 9,464 D1 women soccer players
Average roster: 28 players
Average scholarships: 14
Average Athletic scholarship: $18,631

Now, go back up and compare to the true cost of going to college.

You see, the true goal is to go to a school for a lot lower price.

The second goal is to get a degree that you can actually do something with.

Oops. You posted the out of state tuition for the VA schools above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why we chose FCV DA:

https://www.loudountimes.com/sports/tsj-fc-virginia-athletes-to-play-soccer-in-college/article_2c4925ac-111b-11ea-ad63-236901e85fe8.html

I think they do a good job at college placement, but there's a good segment of those players that were committed before moving to FCV.

Curious - where did they "move" from?

Riley McCarthy, Jasmine Hamid, Riley Melendez, and Lauren Teuschl all came from Spirit and all came already committed. Hamid is the #2 scorer.

So 3.5 starters came from another team after committing. How many others joined this team after committing?

Wow you are writing names of young kids on a public board. Have you stooped this low. Hope the op is not a disgruntled Spirit parent.
This is wrong. Shame!!

Shame? I apologize if I violated something. I can't for the life of me figure out what. Their names are in the article, the rosters are online, and they are all great players. Any program would be lucky to have them. Someone asked. I answered, but it's all public information.

If we are both reading the same DA site - you can't even copy right. Hamid is not the #2 scorer.

Maybe I missed someone. She has 10 goals. I saw one person ahead of it. No matter what, that's pretty strong.

10 goals is nothing and you missed 2

This is silly and obviously a jealous FCV parent. However, since this is so important to you, I said she was the #2 goal scorer. I went back and see a person with 15 and a person with 16. That makes her the #3 instead of #2. Bug woop, and I can't find anyone else with double digits. I see someone with 9 and everyone else a distant clip after that, with 4 goals being the next closest. Give it a rest. You look silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The FCV u17s have the following verbal commits:
3 William and Mary, 1 university of Richmond, 1 George Washington, and 1 VMI. They are 1st in their division and 8th in the country. Their record is 6-0-2. Sounds respectable to me.

Add to that the 04s ranked 4th and the 05s ranked 3rd - both national rankings. The 06s and 07s don't keep standings.

You can bash the mid-atlantic competition all you want but if the mid-atlantic DA is weak, how weak is the mid-atlantic ECNL? The same argument keeps being made that the GDA isn't strong at the younger ages and that the talent is going to be spread out in the future. Based on what? Message board opinions that have been wrong about that facts for two years running now? The TOP talent will always consolidate. The question only is where. For now that is FCV and increasingly Arlington. McLean remains to be seen if their reputation will remain strong enough to bring in TOP talent at the 03, 04, 05 etc... age groups. Right now those teams don't have it at McLean.

And for the teams that can consolidate top talent, even their subs will get recruited because the college coaches KNOW the talent has consolidated there. So it isn't as simple as a starter at ECNL is better than a sub at FCV. That may be completely false - it depends on the particular team and the particular players and if they are starter number 1 or starter number 10. The recruiting numbers at FCV do not lie.

BRYC in turmoil, MU is a year-to-year test of survival, VDA hasn't proven to be able to keep enough of its talent into the recruiting ages and Loudoun is second fiddle to its GDA neighbor...hoping that they move to Springfield.

IF, and its a big IF, the GDA survives the next 5 years, my meaningless opinion is that Arlington is best positioned to be dominant. Geographically has big and distinct population to draw from, well run, decent with some great staff and a DA platform. Every other club has serious issues going forward.

All of this opinion and not fact. Take it for what its worth.

Loudoun has not lost a 07 or 08 player to FCV since Loudoun was granted ECNL. FCV needs to move because they no longer have the golden ticket in Loudoun anymore. Keep living in the past of teams formed years before DA though.

We are now considering 5th 6th and 7th graders as recruiting years? Your data is meaningless to this topic. And I repeat, we heard this about the 04, 05 and 06s before too.

Where did anyone say those were recruiting years? Just stating that since Loudoun has been granted ECNL that they have retained their players in rising DA/ECNL years. Before Loudoun had ECNL they lost all of their top players to McLean and FCV so that they could play in ECNL. Now they have no reason to leave the club where they started playing rec. U13 is a big year for changing clubs as kids start playing 11v11 and clubs with ECNL or DA are top targets to move to.

Then Loudoun overlooks those same kids who have been in their club since mini/rec/pre-academy and bring in players from other clubs to stack their ECNL rosters. Same song and dance that ALL the larger clubs do. Loyalty in clubs works both ways.

The kids are staying at Loudoun. There are only 18 spots, yes kids on Black, White and Silver will leave and try at FCV I guess, but FCV is no longer getting half of Loudoun Red anymore showing up to tryouts like years past.

But how have FCV's tryout numbers been? If you are there surely you can see the great consolidation happening before your very eyes right now.

Loudoun mom or dad, please realize that Loudoun Soccer is not the center of the soccer universe. Consolidation of TOP talent covers a broad area not just the local neighborhood.

https://www.loudountimes.com/sports/tsj-fc-virginia-athletes-to-play-soccer-in-college/article_2c4925ac-111b-11ea-ad63-236901e85fe8.html

There are two kids in this picture going to VT. Are you telling me that one of those kids would not be going to Tech if they were on another DA team playing on a field in a showcase game 200 yards away?

I don't know the specifics of their recruiting but if they were not in the DA maybe they would not be going to VT for soccer. There is a real chance of that scenario playing out with a players. The strength of the team matters. Players know it so they seek it out. Recruiters know that the players seek it out so they seek it out to find those players. Happens in every sport.

VT is not that strong a club. Lots and Lots of NOVA girls get picked up across many clubs to play there. FCV didn't get them there. It's just a big in state school that is very inexpensive and can make many walk on (or books) offers for their spots.

VT was a top 20 club last year. At what ranking do the strong clubs begin?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The FCV u17s have the following verbal commits:
3 William and Mary, 1 university of Richmond, 1 George Washington, and 1 VMI. They are 1st in their division and 8th in the country. Their record is 6-0-2. Sounds respectable to me.

Add to that the 04s ranked 4th and the 05s ranked 3rd - both national rankings. The 06s and 07s don't keep standings.

You can bash the mid-atlantic competition all you want but if the mid-atlantic DA is weak, how weak is the mid-atlantic ECNL? The same argument keeps being made that the GDA isn't strong at the younger ages and that the talent is going to be spread out in the future. Based on what? Message board opinions that have been wrong about that facts for two years running now? The TOP talent will always consolidate. The question only is where. For now that is FCV and increasingly Arlington. McLean remains to be seen if their reputation will remain strong enough to bring in TOP talent at the 03, 04, 05 etc... age groups. Right now those teams don't have it at McLean.

And for the teams that can consolidate top talent, even their subs will get recruited because the college coaches KNOW the talent has consolidated there. So it isn't as simple as a starter at ECNL is better than a sub at FCV. That may be completely false - it depends on the particular team and the particular players and if they are starter number 1 or starter number 10. The recruiting numbers at FCV do not lie.

BRYC in turmoil, MU is a year-to-year test of survival, VDA hasn't proven to be able to keep enough of its talent into the recruiting ages and Loudoun is second fiddle to its GDA neighbor...hoping that they move to Springfield.

IF, and its a big IF, the GDA survives the next 5 years, my meaningless opinion is that Arlington is best positioned to be dominant. Geographically has big and distinct population to draw from, well run, decent with some great staff and a DA platform. Every other club has serious issues going forward.

All of this opinion and not fact. Take it for what its worth.

Loudoun has not lost a 07 or 08 player to FCV since Loudoun was granted ECNL. FCV needs to move because they no longer have the golden ticket in Loudoun anymore. Keep living in the past of teams formed years before DA though.

We are now considering 5th 6th and 7th graders as recruiting years? Your data is meaningless to this topic. And I repeat, we heard this about the 04, 05 and 06s before too.

Where did anyone say those were recruiting years? Just stating that since Loudoun has been granted ECNL that they have retained their players in rising DA/ECNL years. Before Loudoun had ECNL they lost all of their top players to McLean and FCV so that they could play in ECNL. Now they have no reason to leave the club where they started playing rec. U13 is a big year for changing clubs as kids start playing 11v11 and clubs with ECNL or DA are top targets to move to.

Then Loudoun overlooks those same kids who have been in their club since mini/rec/pre-academy and bring in players from other clubs to stack their ECNL rosters. Same song and dance that ALL the larger clubs do. Loyalty in clubs works both ways.

The kids are staying at Loudoun. There are only 18 spots, yes kids on Black, White and Silver will leave and try at FCV I guess, but FCV is no longer getting half of Loudoun Red anymore showing up to tryouts like years past.

But how have FCV's tryout numbers been? If you are there surely you can see the great consolidation happening before your very eyes right now.

Loudoun mom or dad, please realize that Loudoun Soccer is not the center of the soccer universe. Consolidation of TOP talent covers a broad area not just the local neighborhood.

https://www.loudountimes.com/sports/tsj-fc-virginia-athletes-to-play-soccer-in-college/article_2c4925ac-111b-11ea-ad63-236901e85fe8.html

There are two kids in this picture going to VT. Are you telling me that one of those kids would not be going to Tech if they were on another DA team playing on a field in a showcase game 200 yards away?

I don't know the specifics of their recruiting but if they were not in the DA maybe they would not be going to VT for soccer. There is a real chance of that scenario playing out with a players. The strength of the team matters. Players know it so they seek it out. Recruiters know that the players seek it out so they seek it out to find those players. Happens in every sport.

VT is not that strong a club. Lots and Lots of NOVA girls get picked up across many clubs to play there. FCV didn't get them there. It's just a big in state school that is very inexpensive and can make many walk on (or books) offers for their spots.

VT was a top 20 club last year. At what ranking do the strong clubs begin?

VT is a college, not a club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is she plays ECNL RL at FCV and is a DP who does not see the field (like all dps at fcv)

Ummm, ok. In that case the move from Loudoun to the older FCV NPL team was a step down, considering even Loudoun ECNL > NPL and FCV PT DA is essentially a carrot to keep parents paying, as you mentioned.

Maybe a "step down" as you say, but she's a lot happier on the new team and playing much more competitively. I would pick her current coach any day over the one we had at LS.

[Anonymous]

FCV coaches are a lot better than LS, but LS is more organized and has better infrastructure. Something STJ was supposed to bring to FCV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is she plays ECNL RL at FCV and is a DP who does not see the field (like all dps at fcv)

Ummm, ok. In that case the move from Loudoun to the older FCV NPL team was a step down, considering even Loudoun ECNL > NPL and FCV PT DA is essentially a carrot to keep parents paying, as you mentioned.

Maybe a "step down" as you say, but she's a lot happier on the new team and playing much more competitively. I would pick her current coach any day over the one we had at LS.

Yes, some of the coaching at LS much worse, especially white team and below. Some of the coaching is good too. It can't be painted with a broad brush.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is she plays ECNL RL at FCV and is a DP who does not see the field (like all dps at fcv)

Ummm, ok. In that case the move from Loudoun to the older FCV NPL team was a step down, considering even Loudoun ECNL > NPL and FCV PT DA is essentially a carrot to keep parents paying, as you mentioned.

Maybe a "step down" as you say, but she's a lot happier on the new team and playing much more competitively. I would pick her current coach any day over the one we had at LS.

Yes, some of the coaching at LS much worse, especially white team and below. Some of the coaching is good too. It can't be painted with a broad brush.

Actually, the best coach we had at Loudoun was a Silver coach, and by far the worst was the Red coach. Broad brush, and the generalization that just because you coach the A or B team makes you a better coach than the D or E level team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The FCV u17s have the following verbal commits:
3 William and Mary, 1 university of Richmond, 1 George Washington, and 1 VMI. They are 1st in their division and 8th in the country. Their record is 6-0-2. Sounds respectable to me.

Add to that the 04s ranked 4th and the 05s ranked 3rd - both national rankings. The 06s and 07s don't keep standings.

You can bash the mid-atlantic competition all you want but if the mid-atlantic DA is weak, how weak is the mid-atlantic ECNL? The same argument keeps being made that the GDA isn't strong at the younger ages and that the talent is going to be spread out in the future. Based on what? Message board opinions that have been wrong about that facts for two years running now? The TOP talent will always consolidate. The question only is where. For now that is FCV and increasingly Arlington. McLean remains to be seen if their reputation will remain strong enough to bring in TOP talent at the 03, 04, 05 etc... age groups. Right now those teams don't have it at McLean.

And for the teams that can consolidate top talent, even their subs will get recruited because the college coaches KNOW the talent has consolidated there. So it isn't as simple as a starter at ECNL is better than a sub at FCV. That may be completely false - it depends on the particular team and the particular players and if they are starter number 1 or starter number 10. The recruiting numbers at FCV do not lie.

BRYC in turmoil, MU is a year-to-year test of survival, VDA hasn't proven to be able to keep enough of its talent into the recruiting ages and Loudoun is second fiddle to its GDA neighbor...hoping that they move to Springfield.

IF, and its a big IF, the GDA survives the next 5 years, my meaningless opinion is that Arlington is best positioned to be dominant. Geographically has big and distinct population to draw from, well run, decent with some great staff and a DA platform. Every other club has serious issues going forward.

All of this opinion and not fact. Take it for what its worth.

Loudoun has not lost a 07 or 08 player to FCV since Loudoun was granted ECNL. FCV needs to move because they no longer have the golden ticket in Loudoun anymore. Keep living in the past of teams formed years before DA though.

We are now considering 5th 6th and 7th graders as recruiting years? Your data is meaningless to this topic. And I repeat, we heard this about the 04, 05 and 06s before too.

Where did anyone say those were recruiting years? Just stating that since Loudoun has been granted ECNL that they have retained their players in rising DA/ECNL years. Before Loudoun had ECNL they lost all of their top players to McLean and FCV so that they could play in ECNL. Now they have no reason to leave the club where they started playing rec. U13 is a big year for changing clubs as kids start playing 11v11 and clubs with ECNL or DA are top targets to move to.

Then Loudoun overlooks those same kids who have been in their club since mini/rec/pre-academy and bring in players from other clubs to stack their ECNL rosters. Same song and dance that ALL the larger clubs do. Loyalty in clubs works both ways.

The kids are staying at Loudoun. There are only 18 spots, yes kids on Black, White and Silver will leave and try at FCV I guess, but FCV is no longer getting half of Loudoun Red anymore showing up to tryouts like years past.

But how have FCV's tryout numbers been? If you are there surely you can see the great consolidation happening before your very eyes right now.

Loudoun mom or dad, please realize that Loudoun Soccer is not the center of the soccer universe. Consolidation of TOP talent covers a broad area not just the local neighborhood.

https://www.loudountimes.com/sports/tsj-fc-virginia-athletes-to-play-soccer-in-college/article_2c4925ac-111b-11ea-ad63-236901e85fe8.html

There are two kids in this picture going to VT. Are you telling me that one of those kids would not be going to Tech if they were on another DA team playing on a field in a showcase game 200 yards away?

I don't know the specifics of their recruiting but if they were not in the DA maybe they would not be going to VT for soccer. There is a real chance of that scenario playing out with a players. The strength of the team matters. Players know it so they seek it out. Recruiters know that the players seek it out so they seek it out to find those players. Happens in every sport.

VT is not that strong a club. Lots and Lots of NOVA girls get picked up across many clubs to play there. FCV didn't get them there. It's just a big in state school that is very inexpensive and can make many walk on (or books) offers for their spots.

VT was a top 20 club last year. At what ranking do the strong clubs begin?

VT is a college, not a club.

Yeah, a lot of nonsensical rambling here. VT is a D1 program in the ACC, the premier conference in college soccer. It is a very strong college soccer program on the women’s side. It may not be UNC, Duke, FSU, or UVA but it is a top 25 school consistently. It is also a highly rated school for engineering, architecture, and general STEM type curriculum. Hard to play soccer and go to a better, affordable, and relevant school in combination.