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Anonymous
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The thing about the big field is that it exposes every player to their greatest weakness. They could stand out with just one thing at U12 but that no longer is enough.
The big athletic types who could outrun everyone before but lack technical skills have to cover too much ground to avoid multiple 1v1s or without having to receive and make multiple passes. There are just too many chances for this player to lose the ball. The super skilled hard working players that are under sized have to cover too much ground with their passes and runs to cover space offensively and defensively, exposing their lack of size, speed or strength. Their technical skills don't matter if someone has the space to run by them. The only ones that stand out U13+ have both technical skills and athleticism on the big field. |
Anonymous
| Arlington might seem to be having a bad year but unfortunately in wags we were put in a strong group. I still believe the girls are a elite team sometimes you just have a bad tournament. Don’t forget Arlington red was number 1 for a long time and won’t be too long before strikers lose top position as well |
Anonymous
Maybe they were elite once, but not any more. I saw that team play at last year's WAGS, as well as this year's. Last year, they struck me as a team that played nice possession soccer -- building out of the back, reversing field and patiently probing until taking advantage of space and scoring on some beautiful crossing plays. This year, they looked like a rec team. Everything direct and no recognizable soccer strategy. Strikers trying to plow through three defenders instead of passing, lots of girls using their arms instead of their feet to get position, lots of quick kicking that ended up at mostly on their opponent's feet. In the game I saw, their only goal was an own goal, and they would have lost 3-1 if their keeper hadn't made two spectacular saves after their defense completely fell apart. It looked to me like this was the classic example of an athletic team that got passed by because they hadn't figured out the game. Maybe they lost some key players or have a rookie coach that doesn't understand soccer, but the team I saw this year isn't a second or third tier team, much less elite... |
Anonymous
If only the coach understood the game as well as you. |
Anonymous
| ^This is how all the U9-U12 teams over there end up. The results start going down and then the house cleaning comes in at U13. Most of their focus is their older teams. There isn’t a developmental plan to move kids from age 8 to the teens. The players don’t progress in game understanding. Every coach is on a different page. It’s a top down organization. I think they just appease the younger kid parents. They don’t take those ages seriously so if Mr. Jones is angry it doesn’t hurt to move Sally up to the A team in the u-little years. The physicality and lack of smart play and the political team picks get exposed after u13. Then, it’s like pp “but we used to be so good!”. These kids are 11, ‘ so good’ at age 8-10 means nothing. |
Anonymous
So I saw the red team play at WAGS and OBGC. This is not a trash talking post. They are good athletes but a large percentage of the players are over their heads when facing better soccer players of similar athleticism and size. Many of the Arlington players lack either the technical skills or soccer iq(spatial awareness) or both. The overall play is not good(ie movement off the ball, too linear, lack of creativity, speed of play, first touch and unable to complete passes under pressure). The CCL is a very weak league and does not give you a good picture of what you have. This is not a one time thing. The teams you played in the OBGC were a flight above you and they lost. The Baltimore Shamrocks got rocked and Baltimore Celtics(you did not play but easily won the OBGC tournament) did not show well - ie the teams in the flight above you at WAGS are a lot better vs Arlington. Playing the second bracket means you will not get enough points to keep up with other teams. You will not be in the top flight of the Jeff cup ...maybe 4th to 6th flight. So I have a younger DD in your age and an older one. Been through the ECNL u13 year which will be similar to DA u13. There are maybe 3-4 girls on your team who are safe for next year. It’s pretty obvious who they are. The other girls(right now) are not starting DA caliber and Arlington will try to replace them. Your top 3-4 will be recruited because of your tournament history and teams falling ranking since last year’s Jeff cup showing. Go into next year with your eyes opened. |
Anonymous
U13 is the year that many parents get a rude awakening. The rah-rah club cheerleader parents get bamboozled and they don't know what hit them. They then realize their kids had inferior training the last 4 years. |
Anonymous
| seems like VDA will have the strongest ECNL team in the area. PWSI and powerhouse VSA are going to make VDA top ECNL team. If you’re thinking about trying out don’t go there unless you have a superstar DD |
Anonymous
| VSA has 5 maybe 6 girls who are carrying that team. PWSI has just a couple. Next year when they switch to 11 vs 11 there will be plenty of spots to fill on VDA. All good players welcome. |
Anonymous
Agreed. Saw them play at WAGS. As a team, they are executing soccer ideas well - playing passing lanes, moving without ball through space, etc. I thought collectively their technical footskills were quite subpar. They have potential, and 2-3 quality players, but they are far from a juggernaut. |
Anonymous
| Have a DD playing NPL at this age group. I've seen all the teams play. You can take the top players from all the other clubs except the 2 Richmond teams and put them together and they will still get crushed by the Strikers which will only get stronger next year when they combine with the Kickers and join the ECNL. I'm not sure how they are doing training down in Richmond but they are doing something right. That team plays super fast, great passing and good soccer awareness. They aren't overly big but have great athletes who can play against the big girls. |
Anonymous
look at the rankings.. Strikers VSA Loudoun PWSI Arlington |
Anonymous
And your point is? Being a better team than Loudoun, PWSI and Arlington hardly qualifies as being a good team. Play in a top bracket in a major tournament and win something and we will talk.... |
Anonymous
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Strikers
VSA Loudoun SYC Arlington PWSI FCV Where are BRYC and McLean? |
Anonymous
| BRYC no longer plays 9 vs 9. They have played all their games with the 2007 group. It will be interesting to see how they perform next year. They have a small group of talented kids. Will playing on the big field a year early help? What do all the soccer experts out there think? |