Any soccer moms here?

[Anonymous]

Could you kindly tel me which soccer league is better: McLean Youth Soccer or Vienna Youth Soccer?

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure you'll find too many people who have experience with both leagues -- or if they do, it's because one or the other pissed them off and they left, and you're unlikely to get an unbiased report from someone with that kind of history.

I only have experience with MYS. What are your concerns in comparing the two leagues? How old is/are your child/ren? We've only been involved with MYS for just over a year but haven't had any issues of concern so far. I would imagine that at the younger ages, convenience and being on a team with some friends from school might be more important that some criteria that would be more important at the older, more competitive ages.

[Anonymous]

OP here: thank you so much for your response! My boy is in U8. We do not live in Vienna or McLean, so none of the kids be from his school. (Our school district belongs to Arlington Soccer Association, and for this age group the teams are co-ed, and we don't like it)

[Anonymous]

I agree with the pp. I've only had experience with VYS, and it's been a good experience so far. I even volunteered to be Team Parent this year. I can't imagine you'll have a bad experience with either organization, especially since your child is still young. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

The best one is the one that will involve less driving for you. McLean's travel league has a nice reputation.

[Anonymous]

I just reread more carefully - we're in Arlington. I don't recall U8 being coed. I believe that there's an occasional girl on the boys teams, but I believe U8 was pretty male.

You will be hard pressed to find a new team now that the season has started. You might want to call around Arlington and ask about some of the other teams. You are not obliged to register in your "zoned" area.

[Anonymous]

I just signed up for Tazmans Tornados in Arlington, and they are needing a few more players.

[Anonymous]

We like VYS a lot. Not sure if you can still register as practices/games have already started.

[Anonymous]

OP - Are you asking for rec or travel down the road? Both are strong clubs as far as travel teams go. If you research travel, things to consider are the coach and whether the teams level of play matches your son's. He would get more playing time, and develop more fully as a player, if he joins a Division 3 or 4 team versus a Division 1 team for the sake of being on a D-1 team. Though he'd have to make the cut. Travel soccer is a huge commitment but DS loves it. Me, too!

[Anonymous]

WHY wouldn't you participate in your own town? The soccer clubs aren't crowded enough?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

WHY wouldn't you participate in your own town? The soccer clubs aren't crowded enough?

Our 'local' club, where my son played when he was 6, is full of parents screaming instructions from the sidelines and coaches that berate kids for mistakes and throw things in disgust when kids don't do what they've been screamed at to do. The club kept standings for 6 yo's, declared a champion, played in a format contrary to best practices as recommended by the Virginia Soccer association (Size 4 ball, field too big, 7v7 as I recall). Most of the practice fields for our 'local' club are also farther for us than the fields for McLean soccer, where my children now play rec soccer.

McLean soccer has been wonderful, with a real emphasis on player development, fun, and good sportsmanship by parents and kids. My child wanted to quit soccer after his experience with our neighborhood soccer club, but now he loves it . Most soccer clubs in the area are private non-profit organizations that do not limit the geographic area from which their players come (unlike Little League). They are funded by fees from their players.

[Anonymous]

Good points, 8:38. Clubs are a bit like schools, parents look for the one that's the best match for their child. Some clubs really pushing winning over player development. My child's team played a scrimmage with one such club and the U11 players CRIED over a tie! The parents were really upset, too. That is lunacy! Especially considering this didn't count in the standings.