Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'll be taking my U little elsewhere.

You will likely regret it -- development training is much more important than playing league games at the U little ages (unless you don't care how good a player your kid will become).

Not sure I agree. I will counter that with it depends on if you are grooming a college player or just have a player that is good that wants to compete. I understand that league games may not be important for development but you have to keep the kids interested. My 2cents

+1

Kids want to play games. I've seen kids drop out of soccer after their parents push them into the McLean U8 junior program for a year, and I'm sure plenty of kids won't be interested in playing only tournaments.

And, as others have already said, some older BRYC kids will drop out because of the increased commitment of time and money.

Besides -- who's really going to make the case that tournaments are better than weekly games for development? Everything we're told points to the opposite. The DA is built on the premise of training more and playing less (but obviously still playing a substantial amount).

Same exact thought. MYS U8 pre-travel is a failed program developmentally and the only reason it persists is the McLean families are too afraid to tell Keith T. how bad the players hate it, and they have the money - $1K plus - to continue to suck it up in order to make travel. Braddock Road does not want to do this to the U9 and U10 kids. Other clubs have U8 programs where the kids play crossover matches/scrimmages with other clubs, but that is not the McLean model. So, the details matter. If done right, it can be both fun and developmental.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


Hope it works for them but the issue I see is the other CCL clubs will already be involved in league play. And if they are downplaying competitive games why setup these scrimmages to replace the games. At a minimum they should put them in the ncsl.

This is probably the biggest issue. Other clubs no matter who it is will have other priorities and conflicts will arise even if they schedule things well in advance. Playing scrimmages for these other clubs will be an after thought with other leagues and tournaments taking priority, so scrimmages are the first thing to get dropped at last minute when things come up. Trying to keep scrimmages on schedule for U9-12 boys and girls teams could be a nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Yes, Yes. Kids want to play and need to play games to stay interested. That why it's recommended that all training sessions end in a game/scrimmage because it keeps the kids coming back. Remember it doesn't matter how good a program is, the team is, the coach is....if your kid loses interest and wants to quit...it's all over. But I don't think you need to join a league...especially at U littles. There are a lot of very weak U little teams out there that are on your schedule and it sometimes it's not even worth playing those games because it's a task of trying to figure out how not to run up the score. If you scrimmage, you can kind of pick and choose who you play so that each game is as competitive as possible. Often teams will have a bye in their schedule or won't mind playing a game on Saturday and Sunday so I really think the scrimmage idea can work. I feel like you can get enough quality scrimmages to keep the kids (and parents) happy. It will take a lot of work though. More work than being in a league. I hope BRYC is ready for that. Another problem though....if BRYC's teams are weak, then that's a HUGE problem. No one will really want to scrimmage them.

[Anonymous]

It's a great idea that BRYC has for development but might be hard to execute. We were at PWSI while they attempted a similar idea and formed the YDL. It had FCV CYA ABGC and some others. They played small sided scrimmages several times within the league and also scheduling outside "games" with other clubs. With small sided games the age groups had about 3-4 teams each that would rotate fields. They tried to keep the level competitive but it often proved difficult to do. For the u9/u10 it's a good platform but as they grow more is needed.

All I can say is what a mess. Too many egos and too many leagues and too many clubs. Everyone wants to play in "elite" leagues so make enough leagues and teams and then they are all elite. This serves no one. Consolidate and let the talent fall where it deserves to be!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Yes. Kids want to play and need to play games to stay interested. That why it's recommended that all training sessions end in a game/scrimmage because it keeps the kids coming back. Remember it doesn't matter how good a program is, the team is, the coach is....if your kid loses interest and wants to quit...it's all over. But I don't think you need to join a league...especially at U littles. There are a lot of very weak U little teams out there that are on your schedule and it sometimes it's not even worth playing those games because it's a task of trying to figure out how not to run up the score. If you scrimmage, you can kind of pick and choose who you play so that each game is as competitive as possible. Often teams will have a bye in their schedule or won't mind playing a game on Saturday and Sunday so I really think the scrimmage idea can work. I feel like you can get enough quality scrimmages to keep the kids (and parents) happy. It will take a lot of work though. More work than being in a league. I hope BRYC is ready for that. Another problem though....if BRYC's teams are weak, then that's a HUGE problem. No one will really want to scrimmage them.

I have seen leagues in which clubs basically do their own scheduling for U-Littles. It's not a bad idea. The existing leagues here are far too rigid -- if your U10s can't compete in CCL or VPL, they're stuck, and you can have a lot of blowouts in NCSL as well when you have Bethesda's Academy-in-waiting team crushing Local Club C Team and so forth.

I'd love to see NCSL keep an eye on results in the first U9 season and then have not a strict pro/rel divisional setup but a couple of tiers. Try to keep club-vs-club scheduling and reasonable travel, as they're doing now, but make avoiding 15-0 games the first priority.

[Anonymous]

How was the Spirit tryout?

[Anonymous]

Anyone know the final numbers for how many people registered?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know the final numbers for how many people registered?

The last registration spots remaining that I saw
U14- 0
U15 - 13
U16/17 - 9
U18/19 - 4

Or something like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect several families will leave BRYC over this bold move. It is kind of a shame because it would be nice to see how it works out.

I believe many will as I already know several that plan to look elsewhere after the current season is over.

I can see both sides of it. If you want to train with an elite club and or more geared towards the future that might be the path to take. Granted one drawback I see if what if you dont make the team when it converges to a one team only model.

Other side being that you want solid training and the kids enjoy the competitiveness of the games..regardless of league (ccl, ncsl).

I personally like the latter. Who knows what will happen at u11/u12. Kids might get bored and want to do something else. Imagine that investment and not even bother to make it to an ECNL team. Am I on the right path here?

This also assumes that their training is great at the U littles. I personally believe it isn't.

Can you expand with some specifics? I have been considering this move and have been under the impression that the training is good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know the final numbers for how many people registered?

Spirit VA coaching staff? Anyone?

[Anonymous]

Best tips for upcoming U9 tryouts? What worked, what didn't for your son? So many parents telling their boys to score more, but I think the evaluaters could care less, and would rather see a roulette - no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best tips for upcoming U9 tryouts? What worked, what didn't for your son? So many parents telling their boys to score more, but I think the evaluaters could care less, and would rather see a roulette - no?

Check out page 8 of the thread "Soccer Coach NOVA ask me anything". Seems like a good analysis of what the evaluators are looking for. I think another important aspect is the child's overall Soccer IQ. I tell my son all the time to speak up during the game, and I mean not just yell pass but communicate (give an go, making a run,pass it through etc). My impression is tha coaches are still looking for fast and strong kids over technical skills. We went to a few tryouts last year. Some had a true evaluation others do tryouts and just accept everyone regardless of skill level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best tips for upcoming U9 tryouts? What worked, what didn't for your son? So many parents telling their boys to score more, but I think the evaluaters could care less, and would rather see a roulette - no?

My two cents....always treat every activity with intensity. So many times I see kids walking through the warm ups. Often warm ups are footskills. I see kids doing them half ass. Then dribbling around a grid. Again, walking. No intensity. Any passing drill. Again, just playing nice soft balls. I ask...would you pass the pass like that in a game? No. Then don't don it here! Coaches don't have to create the intensity. The kids might have to. I also agree with the communication that another poster mentioned. Give advice, call for the ball, ... raise the intensity and energy of everyone around you. That's a keeper! I tell my son that tryouts start as soon as you arrive at the field and end when you get in the car. Have fun. : ) Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best tips for upcoming U9 tryouts? What worked, what didn't for your son? So many parents telling their boys to score more, but I think the evaluaters could care less, and would rather see a roulette - no?

At U9 the kid should have:
Comfort with the ball
Athleticism
Intensity
And above all else, a great attitude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Best tips for upcoming U9 tryouts? What worked, what didn't for your son? So many parents telling their boys to score more, but I think the evaluaters could care less, and would rather see a roulette - no?

At U9 the kid should have:
Comfort with the ball
Athleticism
Intensity
And above all else, a great attitude.

Our CCL club:

Soccer skill 5%
Size/physical attributes 95%

More points if your child fouls or hurts someone.

If the kid knows to move to space and pass--they will not get noticed. They look for spastic kids that are ball chasers like golden retrievers.

Many parents tell their kids to forget the way they were taught and just be a ball hog and now everyone over.