Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No it would just make it more stupid and take lots of the fun away...Even serious travel kids want to play with kids in their grade, typically.

The current cutoff does not actually align with grade unless you are in a state with a 8/1 cutoff for schools. In Virginia, we are 2 months off that to begin with. In travel, the kids on a team are from multiple schools, this is even true on many house teams. If kids are from multiple schools I don't think it matters to the kids that one kid is in 4th grade and another is 5th grade. They would all still be less than a year apart in age.

One option would be switch the travel leagues to birth year and allow house leagues to use whatever calendar they want. Let the house leagues exactly match their state's school cutoff if that's what they want.

I know several red-shirted June/July b-day kids whose parents were shocked they wouldn't be allowed to play with their grade. They had to tryout for U-10 in second grade for teams that had already had a full-year of U-9 travel training. No sympathy here. They were a full year older than my non red-shirted kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No it would just make it more stupid and take lots of the fun away...Even serious travel kids want to play with kids in their grade, typically.

The current cutoff does not actually align with grade unless you are in a state with a 8/1 cutoff for schools. In Virginia, we are 2 months off that to begin with. In travel, the kids on a team are from multiple schools, this is even true on many house teams. If kids are from multiple schools I don't think it matters to the kids that one kid is in 4th grade and another is 5th grade. They would all still be less than a year apart in age.

One option would be switch the travel leagues to birth year and allow house leagues to use whatever calendar they want. Let the house leagues exactly match their state's school cutoff if that's what they want.

I know several red-shirted June/July b-day kids whose parents were shocked they wouldn't be allowed to play with their grade. They had to tryout for U-10 in second grade for teams that had already had a full-year of U-9 travel training. No sympathy here. They were a full year older than my non red-shirted kid.

Curious what travel coaches think of kids playing UP an age group? How common is it ? We have one boy on my son's travel team playing up a year. He is a July b-day so he is actually playing with kids 12-23 months older. I think he is getting great experience playing with/against older kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No it would just make it more stupid and take lots of the fun away...Even serious travel kids want to play with kids in their grade, typically.

The current cutoff does not actually align with grade unless you are in a state with a 8/1 cutoff for schools. In Virginia, we are 2 months off that to begin with. In travel, the kids on a team are from multiple schools, this is even true on many house teams. If kids are from multiple schools I don't think it matters to the kids that one kid is in 4th grade and another is 5th grade. They would all still be less than a year apart in age.

One option would be switch the travel leagues to birth year and allow house leagues to use whatever calendar they want. Let the house leagues exactly match their state's school cutoff if that's what they want.

I know several red-shirted June/July b-day kids whose parents were shocked they wouldn't be allowed to play with their grade. They had to tryout for U-10 in second grade for teams that had already had a full-year of U-9 travel training. No sympathy here. They were a full year older than my non red-shirted kid.

Curious what travel coaches think of kids playing UP an age group? How common is it ? We have one boy on my son's travel team playing up a year. He is a July b-day so he is actually playing with kids 12-23 months older. I think he is getting great experience playing with/against older kids.

We have at least 3 kids playing up on our travel club of 22 players. I think it's great for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No it would just make it more stupid and take lots of the fun away...Even serious travel kids want to play with kids in their grade, typically.

The current cutoff does not actually align with grade unless you are in a state with a 8/1 cutoff for schools. In Virginia, we are 2 months off that to begin with. In travel, the kids on a team are from multiple schools, this is even true on many house teams. If kids are from multiple schools I don't think it matters to the kids that one kid is in 4th grade and another is 5th grade. They would all still be less than a year apart in age.

One option would be switch the travel leagues to birth year and allow house leagues to use whatever calendar they want. Let the house leagues exactly match their state's school cutoff if that's what they want.

I know several red-shirted June/July b-day kids whose parents were shocked they wouldn't be allowed to play with their grade. They had to tryout for U-10 in second grade for teams that had already had a full-year of U-9 travel training. No sympathy here. They were a full year older than my non red-shirted kid.

Curious what travel coaches think of kids playing UP an age group? How common is it ? We have one boy on my son's travel team playing up a year. He is a July b-day so he is actually playing with kids 12-23 months older. I think he is getting great experience playing with/against older kids.

We have at least 3 kids playing up on our travel club of 22 players. I think it's great for them.

In a well-run club playing up is a very fine balance of challenge and success. A younger player that is ready technically and physically can benefit from playing up if they are able to have success, compete, and still play creatively. That will be better for them than being able to easily outrun slower kids on-age, as they don't have to use any skill to have success - they will get bored and will develop bad habits. The coaches have to look for the time when the player starts to put so much effort into competing physically that the rest of the development (technical ability, creativity, etc) is ignored. At that point the player needs to go to their own age, so that they can continue to thrive and have success, rather than spending all their efforts fighting to keep up with players that are a year or two bigger/faster/stronger.

[Anonymous]

Looks like McLean and Arlington aligned for ECNL alliance, speculation was brought up earlier in this thread:

http://www.arlingtonsoccer.com/arlington-soccer-association-and-mclean-youth-soccer-form-ecnl-alliance/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like McLean and Arlington aligned for ECNL alliance, speculation was brought up earlier in this thread:

http://www.arlingtonsoccer.com/arlington-soccer-association-and-mclean-youth-soccer-form-ecnl-alliance/

That link just says 'females'...what about the boys?!????!!!!!

I would love it if our boys did the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like McLean and Arlington aligned for ECNL alliance, speculation was brought up earlier in this thread:

http://www.arlingtonsoccer.com/arlington-soccer-association-and-mclean-youth-soccer-form-ecnl-alliance/

That link just says 'females'...what about the boys?!????!!!!!

I would love it if our boys did the same.

ECNL is just for girls. McLean did have a development academy for boys but lost it.

Since there are normally 12 players on a U11 and U12 roster, it would seem that the practical effect of this will be Arlington having their A teams practice with McLean's A team once a week during the Fall and Spring. At U13, there's no number of players specified from each club, so I'd guess only the top Arlington players will be invited to practice with the ECNL team and then those select few will pay $400 to practice once a week with the ECNL club, and if Arlington approves it, 1 or 2 may get to play a couple games as a discovery player. Seems like a recipe for creating discord in the Arlington team. Not sure why a parent wouldn't just have their daughter try out for McLean's ECNL team and be eligible for all the ECNL games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like McLean and Arlington aligned for ECNL alliance, speculation was brought up earlier in this thread:

http://www.arlingtonsoccer.com/arlington-soccer-association-and-mclean-youth-soccer-form-ecnl-alliance/

That link just says 'females'...what about the boys?!????!!!!!

I would love it if our boys did the same.

ECNL is just for girls. McLean did have a development academy for boys but lost it.

Since there are normally 12 players on a U11 and U12 roster, it would seem that the practical effect of this will be Arlington having their A teams practice with McLean's A team once a week during the Fall and Spring. At U13, there's no number of players specified from each club, so I'd guess only the top Arlington players will be invited to practice with the ECNL team and then those select few will pay $400 to practice once a week with the ECNL club, and if Arlington approves it, 1 or 2 may get to play a couple games as a discovery player. Seems like a recipe for creating discord in the Arlington team. Not sure why a parent wouldn't just have their daughter try out for McLean's ECNL team and be eligible for all the ECNL games.

That does sound like a recipe for disaster.

[Anonymous]

Wow 45 pages in soccer!! Lol

I have 3 boys in soccer. I think soccer in the us at this age group has enormous potential. (U10). I'm a team manager and get a ton of mails @ soccer and opportunities. There are kids going to Europe. The next Messi? Maybe no but my prediction is America will reach World Cup quarter finals by the time our 10 yr olds are World Cup age. The programs have tremendously improved. Foot skills are being taught. Kids must master foot skills early (by 12) or it isn't natural. Or at least that's what I've been brainwashed to believe. But the true thing is Love of the game and unstoppable personal motivation. & Of course talent but at 10, etc. Work is key. Most kids aren't so motivated and too much pressure ruins them. But I have seen kids with amazing focus and talent. The academy teams are so much better than the past. I'm optimistic. My kid is excellent but not so thoroughly motivated. But we love soccer for fun and have a good time. Great exercise. Team work etc. A lot of injuries. Playing too much is not all its cut out for.

Just my 2 cents. But I've been watching travel for 4 yrs and have 3 sons in soccer.

[Anonymous]

What are the costs of local boys U9 travel teams that enter NCSL, etc. such as BRYC, VYS, FPYC, PAC, McLean, CYA, Arlington, Alexandria, etc. By cost, I mean...100%...uniforms, trainings, ALL tournaments, additional, "optional" winter/summer training that you'll end up doing anyway, etc. Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe Beau or someone else can give us their views on these week's development in the VYS saga.

What's the latest drama with VYS? Is VYS all cleaned up now? What is the outlook for their U9 Boys travel program? I heard a lot of U8 boys left for McLean. I also heard that Jane Dawber is leaving soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe Beau or someone else can give us their views on these week's development in the VYS saga.

What's the latest drama with VYS? Is VYS all cleaned up now? What is the outlook for their U9 Boys travel program? I heard a lot of U8 boys left for McLean. I also heard that Jane Dawber is leaving soon.

No drama. New Technical Director and a new paid Executive Director position that has been discussed for a while. Since the current Asst TDs came in through the previous TD, no surprise that they would move on. Makes sense for the new TD to pick his assistants.

I have been a grumbling VYS parent and am encouraged that we are taking a fresh direction. Where it takes us, can't know yet, but I think it is worth the effort and applaud the volunteer leadership for taking a shot at something better. There is a deep pool of players, a few kids going somewhere else won't make a difference if we get the program right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the costs of local boys U9 travel teams that enter NCSL, etc. such as BRYC, VYS, FPYC, PAC, McLean, CYA, Arlington, Alexandria, etc. By cost, I mean...100%...uniforms, trainings, ALL tournaments, additional, "optional" winter/summer training that you'll end up doing anyway, etc. Thanks

I'd estimate somewhere between $2500-$3000 for a year.

BRYC at U9 looks something like this:

Club fees: $1410 per year (U9 boys play in CCL not NCSL)
Team fees: about $500 - $600 per year (covers tournament fees, coach travel, some indoor facility fees and team equipment such as bench/tent which your team should only have to buy once)
Uniforms: $125 for bare minimum/required kit consisting of 2 jerseys, 2 shorts, 2 pr of socks plus you get one practice tee from club; $320 for required kit plus warmups, backpack, and extra shorts, socks and practice tees (your option to buy these extra things - some don't buy all this extra stuff at U9)
Winter training: club provides some training as part of regular program (1-2x week in Jan/Feb; Dec is usually off); plan to spend about $120 to participate in futsal or indoor league (optional)
Other costs: your family's travel expense to out of town tournament(s) - I think BRYC U9 boys stay local for most tournaments, maybe play one in Richmond or Va Beach where hotel stay would be required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe Beau or someone else can give us their views on these week's development in the VYS saga.

What's the latest drama with VYS? Is VYS all cleaned up now? What is the outlook for their U9 Boys travel program? I heard a lot of U8 boys left for McLean. I also heard that Jane Dawber is leaving soon.

No drama. New Technical Director and a new paid Executive Director position that has been discussed for a while. Since the current Asst TDs came in through the previous TD, no surprise that they would move on. Makes sense for the new TD to pick his assistants.

I have been a grumbling VYS parent and am encouraged that we are taking a fresh direction. Where it takes us, can't know yet, but I think it is worth the effort and applaud the volunteer leadership for taking a shot at something better. There is a deep pool of players, a few kids going somewhere else won't make a difference if we get the program right.

That is entirely too sensible for this discussion. Eddie rules! No, Eddie's programs are awful! The new board members have been there nine months, and the club still hasn't won any national championships!

OK, back to reality ...

Jane will be missed, but everyone understands, and I don't see any hard feelings anywhere.

Some U8 boys went to the McLean pre-academy "practice a lot, play few games amongst each other" program. Some came back after one season, some didn't. Some will come back to VYS to try out for travel, some won't. That's honestly just a matter of what type of program you prefer and whether you're willing to drive a little extra for it at U8. (Also whether you think long practices are a good idea at U8.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the costs of local boys U9 travel teams that enter NCSL, etc. such as BRYC, VYS, FPYC, PAC, McLean, CYA, Arlington, Alexandria, etc. By cost, I mean...100%...uniforms, trainings, ALL tournaments, additional, "optional" winter/summer training that you'll end up doing anyway, etc. Thanks

I think all in all at FPYC U9 it's been about $1600. Includes uniform, paid trainers, 5 tournaments, winter futsal. Having volunteer coaches helped.