DD didn’t make Stoddert travel soccer

[Anonymous]

Hi all, I’m looking for advice.

My elementary school aged DD didn’t make travel soccer this year, her first tryout. She’s really sad about it, as she loves soccer, and is viewed by the coaches and other parents as the best player on her rec team. To add insult to injury, she has a late birthday, so tried out with older girls; meanwhile several of her rec teammates made the younger travel team.

I am looking for options for her as she really enjoyed the travel tryouts, particularly playing with other girls who love soccer as much as she does. Does anyone have recommendations for other DC area “travel” leagues? I saw PPS has tryouts June 16, but I’d hate to bring her there, only for her to not make the team again.

[Anonymous]

Sorry meant PPA

[Anonymous]

She'll make PPA. Stoddert is much tougher to break in at U10 than at U9 (because almost all of the U9 players return). Better chance there at U11.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all, I’m looking for advice.

My elementary school aged DD didn’t make travel soccer this year, her first tryout. She’s really sad about it, as she loves soccer, and is viewed by the coaches and other parents as the best player on her rec team. To add insult to injury, she has a late birthday, so tried out with older girls; meanwhile several of her rec teammates made the younger travel team.

I am looking for options for her as she really enjoyed the travel tryouts, particularly playing with other girls who love soccer as much as she does. Does anyone have recommendations for other DC area “travel” leagues? I saw PPS has tryouts June 16, but I’d hate to bring her there, only for her to not make the team again.

She tried out with girls who were in her age per regulations. There is no insult to injury.
She should have tried out last year for the travel team - it is much easier to make in entry years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all, I’m looking for advice.

My elementary school aged DD didn’t make travel soccer this year, her first tryout. She’s really sad about it, as she loves soccer, and is viewed by the coaches and other parents as the best player on her rec team. To add insult to injury, she has a late birthday, so tried out with older girls; meanwhile several of her rec teammates made the younger travel team.

I am looking for options for her as she really enjoyed the travel tryouts, particularly playing with other girls who love soccer as much as she does. Does anyone have recommendations for other DC area “travel” leagues? I saw PPS has tryouts June 16, but I’d hate to bring her there, only for her to not make the team again.

The bolded above points out a couple of things:
1. The difference between Rec and Travel
2. The role that Relative Age Effect (RAE) plays in youth sport selection.

Travel soccer is based on birth year age groups so it makes sense that your daughter, in a rec environment, succeeded based on being older because Rec uses school age and not birth year. So when your kid tried out she was smaller and younger and possibly less experienced than the rest of the players.

So, this is the why it didn't work out. Now for the what you can do about it.
1. Understand this and take to heart that your DD is just a bit behind the curve right now. This does not mean that she is not or will not be a good soccer player. It means that she has some work ahead to catch up.
2. Stay positive and keep going to tryouts. Contact coaches directly, even after the tryout season is over. There are spots for kids who want to play. Believe that.
3. Get her some skills training. Sign up for some summer clinics like Coerver or HP or look for weekday camps that travel clubs will even host.

Good luck

[Anonymous]

If it’s not too much of a trek, you can try Potomac Soccer. They likely have openings.

[Anonymous]

Nothing wrong with not making a team. Let's be honest, a coach has to make a decision based on an hours worth of observation over a ton of kids. It might not even have anything to do with her skills, but possibly over looked. Keep trying and it will feel great when she make s a squad.

[Anonymous]

I think she is entry age for Classic in MSI, if you are willing to drive to MoCo.

[Anonymous]

It depends on where you are. DCYFC is in NW. They have an Academy training program. The training is good, but she might be the only girl there. 1, 2 or 3 days a week. BSC, Arlington, etc will usually have a spot availability on their lower teams. Some clubs will allow you to train with them but no games. They will reduce the rate. Just make sure your commute is not too long.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for the helpful feedback. I have heard from multiple people (in Stoddert and elsewhere) that some kids born later in the year struggle to make the travel teams. It is what it is. Given her love of the sport, I do want to give her a chance to play in an environment that challenges her more than rec, whether it’s camps, clinics or other leagues.

I’m curious to know how one of you figured out I was talking about U10? Impressive!

[Anonymous]

Depends on how far you are willing to go and how much you want to pay.

Arlington Developmental Program (ADP) might be a better option than rec:

http://www.arlingtonsoccer.com/programs/adp/developmental-program-faqs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She'll make PPA. Stoddert is much tougher to break in at U10 than at U9 (because almost all of the U9 players return). Better chance there at U11.

PPA just had their premier tryouts and they have 12 spots for U11 (3 teams at that age) and over 60 girls who tried out.

OP, the PPA tryouts on June 16 are for their developmental teams. My DD has enjoyed them more than Stoddert.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone for the helpful feedback. I have heard from multiple people (in Stoddert and elsewhere) that some kids born later in the year struggle to make the travel teams. It is what it is. Given her love of the sport, I do want to give her a chance to play in an environment that challenges her more than rec, whether it’s camps, clinics or other leagues.

I’m curious to know how one of you figured out I was talking about U10? Impressive!

You said that "several of her rec teammates made the younger travel team"--that was really likely to be U9 (the first year of Stoddert travel).

[Anonymous]

So the most important thing for your DD is to develop her individual technical skills till u13. There are a lot of places that can do that. Rec most of the time is not one of those place. She can still play rec but should get technical training. Tell us where you live and people will tell you what’s close to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on where you are. DCYFC is in NW. They have an Academy training program. The training is good, but she might be the only girl there. 1, 2 or 3 days a week. BSC, Arlington, etc will usually have a spot availability on their lower teams. Some clubs will allow you to train with them but no games. They will reduce the rate. Just make sure your commute is not too long.

Ugh, do not do DCYFC. We tried it and it was miserable.