Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS is a nice kid who loves soccer. He's got some skill -- not elite level, probably not even enough to play HS soccer, but he's still only 10, so it may be too soon to tell.

His team is full of kids like him. They're nice kids. They can all juggle, make cutback moves and pass. It's pretty to watch them play.

And they lose nearly every single game, especially if they're playing a team that plays with even minimal aggression. They just back down and get run over.

Conventional wisdom these days is that we shouldn't worry about it. Teach the skills. Everything else will follow.

But at one point do we say that's enough? When should we move him to a team that gets enough results to get out of the lower travel divisions?

It's probably too late for next year (U12). But do we keep in the back of our minds for U13? Do we say, "OK, one more year, and if his team still plays pretty soccer but loses every single 50-50 ball and never shoots, we bail?"

You say the team is full of kids like your son. Do any of them train outside of team activities? Do they do HP Elite or coerver or private train or something? If you want better results or a better team you need to. Try one of these group seasons (and try to get other teammates to go). They will improve - if the team still sucks, you will have met folks from other clubs where you could potentially take your son.

I totally agree. Team doesn't matter at all, you have to get him into these types of programs so he is able to play 4 or 5 days a week with excellent coaches. Small group sessions with other kids on the same team is an outstanding idea.

[Anonymous]

How is The Virginian so far?

We have found the fields to be in good shape, proactive trainers, and nice kids. Of course, there have been some really bad calls by refs and obnoxious parents screaming at the refs (including a group of 8 year old boys/siblings on the sidelines yelling at the ref).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is The Virginian so far?

We have found the fields to be in good shape, proactive trainers, and nice kids. Of course, there have been some really bad calls by refs and obnoxious parents screaming at the refs (including a group of 8 year old boys/siblings on the sidelines yelling at the ref).

Morven park is nicer than I remembered / expected. It's nice that they can all the U9, U10, U11 games at one complex. Previous years coaches would run from one complex to another forcing other coaches to cover games - have not had that problem this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is The Virginian so far?

We have found the fields to be in good shape, proactive trainers, and nice kids. Of course, there have been some really bad calls by refs and obnoxious parents screaming at the refs (including a group of 8 year old boys/siblings on the sidelines yelling at the ref).

Morven park is nicer than I remembered / expected. It's nice that they can all the U9, U10, U11 games at one complex. Previous years coaches would run from one complex to another forcing other coaches to cover games - have not had that problem this year.

Girls?

Boys U9, U10 and U11 all in different places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is The Virginian so far?

We have found the fields to be in good shape, proactive trainers, and nice kids. Of course, there have been some really bad calls by refs and obnoxious parents screaming at the refs (including a group of 8 year old boys/siblings on the sidelines yelling at the ref).

Morven park is nicer than I remembered / expected. It's nice that they can all the U9, U10, U11 games at one complex. Previous years coaches would run from one complex to another forcing other coaches to cover games - have not had that problem this year.

Girls?

Boys U9, U10 and U11 all in different places.

Yes, girls.

[Anonymous]

Virginian -- Witnessed some horrific coach behavior ... yelling the whole time..at his players, at the ref..Then he used the F word in front of 9 and 10-year olds. No card. Pretty shocking. Also discovered a team playing illegally. No roster...and they used the same jerseys...switched shirts w subs. No idea how they let them play. Not too impressed with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Virginian -- Witnessed some horrific coach behavior ... yelling the whole time..at his players, at the ref..Then he used the F word in front of 9 and 10-year olds. No card. Pretty shocking. Also discovered a team playing illegally. No roster...and they used the same jerseys...switched shirts w subs. No idea how they let them play. Not too impressed with that.

There is always massive cheating at these things. They check in and then teams disperse...who knows who is actually playing with jersey switches.

Also, ages given at the border/immigration are usually given younger. That's why you ha e much older kids in schools and on the soccer fields for some of these teams. Looking like adults---180lb, 6" 11-year olds. U-12 who is really a u-15. We always laugh when you see a sideline of 5"2-5"4 men and women and gigantic kids. Ages are way off, but the documentation they register with in vysa/mysa has the fake ages. It's often for schooling purposes as well.

There is very little tournament hosts can do. They did thoroughly check the passes 15 min before each game.

We did have some God-awful refs for both children's games. Lots of injuries because of one letting game get completely out of hand. Some very aggregious calls as well.

[Anonymous]

Poll:

At U-13 does your Club hold a legit tryout? By legit, I mean every player is looked at fresh and objectively? Not just legacy players carried over.

Looking at the different ranked teams and among different age groups, I saw some lethargy at the top and some really remarkable play on some of the lower teams. My child's team is one of the higher ones and the play is so disappointing. A lot of kids at U12 are dialing it in. They don't have any 'fight' in them. They don't get upset at losses. They don't keep fighting after going down a few goals. Some are fairly slow or still can't properly take a ball out of the air or control it well with their feet. I was watching one of the lower teams play and there were some kids that were very good. I know many are thinking of walking at U-13 because they are through with always getting looked over. I do see perennial club/coach favorites, where everyone else in the club has a 'huh?' moment as the player/players never drop down when there are much better players below.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Virginian -- Witnessed some horrific coach behavior ... yelling the whole time..at his players, at the ref..Then he used the F word in front of 9 and 10-year olds. No card. Pretty shocking. Also discovered a team playing illegally. No roster...and they used the same jerseys...switched shirts w subs. No idea how they let them play. Not too impressed with that.

Where was the field marshal?

[Anonymous]

At the Virginian U11 boys,one coach was red carded and thrown off the field.

[Anonymous]

who won the Arlington vs Alexandria game at the VA Cup?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:who won the Arlington vs Alexandria game at the VA Cup?

Which age group? Boys or Girls? There are a million Arl and Alex teams in this tournament.

There is an Alexandria and Arlington final tomorrow--Monday--in our age group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the Virginian U11 boys,one coach was red carded and thrown off the field.

What did he/she do?

[Anonymous]

U9 boys

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:U9 boys

Final is tomorrow.