Boys DA, ECNL, ODP, CCL, EDP, NCSL, ODP

[Anonymous]

It seems most of the discussions on this board are about Girls ECNL / DA.

I would like to find out more about the direction of the Boys leagues and clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems most of the discussions on this board are about Girls ECNL / DA.

I would like to find out more about the direction of the Boys leagues and clubs.

Boys ECNL is growing. I think it’s neat to have such a program finally exist for the boys.

[Anonymous]

Thoughts on NCSL at the older age groups?

[Anonymous]

Around the area there are a lot of small start-up soccer clubs that mostly just have boys teams. Fewer girls play on travel teams, that's just how things are.

So grab 16 of your buddies and you have a team. Maybe not a great one, but there is a place in NCSL for you as an independent team.

[Anonymous]

I think the idea that these leagues are doing anything 'different' or 'better' is laughable. Yes, there are good teams out there in ALL the leagues and there are bad teams out there in ALL the leagues. I have personally witnessed training sessions for teams that play in NCSL, CCL, and VPL. There is very little discernible difference. Focus on finding a good coach. The only thing that parents should care about re leagues is tolerance for travel distances. Unless your kid is DA-bound, leagues are irrelevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the idea that these leagues are doing anything 'different' or 'better' is laughable. Yes, there are good teams out there in ALL the leagues and there are bad teams out there in ALL the leagues. I have personally witnessed training sessions for teams that play in NCSL, CCL, and VPL. There is very little discernible difference. Focus on finding a good coach. The only thing that parents should care about re leagues is tolerance for travel distances. Unless your kid is DA-bound, leagues are irrelevant.

Yep. Wise advice.

FWIW, some of the independent small clubs ha e the best training. We were with the Clubs with 6 plus teams per age group and coaches training were inconsistent. They often had too many teams assigned to one coach as well. The focus almost always was on the older age groups. And recruiting vs developing within.

If you can find a great coach/trainer that is the best thing you can do for your player.

Leagues aren’t what makes and develops a great player.

Also-the other parents and environment are going to greatly influence your experience. Avoid the tense, type-A, sucking up for favors and the screaming sidelines. You will have ulcers by the end of the season and want to nut punch half of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It seems most of the discussions on this board are about Girls ECNL / DA.

I would like to find out more about the direction of the Boys leagues and clubs.

I have both sons and daughters. Quite frnakly, parents of girl players are just nuttier. That's probably why so much more chatter on that score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the idea that these leagues are doing anything 'different' or 'better' is laughable. Yes, there are good teams out there in ALL the leagues and there are bad teams out there in ALL the leagues. I have personally witnessed training sessions for teams that play in NCSL, CCL, and VPL. There is very little discernible difference. Focus on finding a good coach. The only thing that parents should care about re leagues is tolerance for travel distances. Unless your kid is DA-bound, leagues are irrelevant.

Yep. Wise advice.

FWIW, some of the independent small clubs ha e the best training. We were with the Clubs with 6 plus teams per age group and coaches training were inconsistent. They often had too many teams assigned to one coach as well. The focus almost always was on the older age groups. And recruiting vs developing within.

If you can find a great coach/trainer that is the best thing you can do for your player.

Leagues aren’t what makes and develops a great player.

Also-the other parents and environment are going to greatly influence your experience. Avoid the tense, type-A, sucking up for favors and the screaming sidelines. You will have ulcers by the end of the season and want to nut punch half of them.

I was surrounded by these parents last year and it was my DS's first year with travel. I'm going to try and distance myself from these crazy parents this year. I've already asked one mom, who I like a lot but is totally obsessed, to NOT incessantly hash and rehash games, plays, player time, what-ifs, etc. I always had a really bad headache after the games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the idea that these leagues are doing anything 'different' or 'better' is laughable. Yes, there are good teams out there in ALL the leagues and there are bad teams out there in ALL the leagues. I have personally witnessed training sessions for teams that play in NCSL, CCL, and VPL. There is very little discernible difference. Focus on finding a good coach. The only thing that parents should care about re leagues is tolerance for travel distances. Unless your kid is DA-bound, leagues are irrelevant.

Yep. Wise advice.

FWIW, some of the independent small clubs ha e the best training. We were with the Clubs with 6 plus teams per age group and coaches training were inconsistent. They often had too many teams assigned to one coach as well. The focus almost always was on the older age groups. And recruiting vs developing within.

If you can find a great coach/trainer that is the best thing you can do for your player.

Leagues aren’t what makes and develops a great player.

Also-the other parents and environment are going to greatly influence your experience. Avoid the tense, type-A, sucking up for favors and the screaming sidelines. You will have ulcers by the end of the season and want to nut punch half of them.

I was surrounded by these parents last year and it was my DS's first year with travel. I'm going to try and distance myself from these crazy parents this year. I've already asked one mom, who I like a lot but is totally obsessed, to NOT incessantly hash and rehash games, plays, player time, what-ifs, etc. I always had a really bad headache after the games.

lemme guess ...McLean?

[Anonymous]

leagues and Clubs mean nothing....what you need, in my opinion.

Great coach/trainer. Someone that connects, teaches, demonstrates, pushes, and inspires.
Your kid to be in the middle of the pack skill wise where he can be pushed by better players and have some success in 1v1 situations at practice
Committed kids who are their to learn and improve
Committed parents (I understand people work and stuff but kids need to get to every practice and games on time - meaning 15 mins early or the team is doomed.)
Parents and kids that buy into the style of play of the team.
Quality training field (I say this because my son almost had these things but the team's practice field was a foot tall, grassy swamp. Killed practices.)

If anyone knows of this team, please share! : )

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:leagues and Clubs mean nothing....what you need, in my opinion.

Great coach/trainer. Someone that connects, teaches, demonstrates, pushes, and inspires.
Your kid to be in the middle of the pack skill wise where he can be pushed by better players and have some success in 1v1 situations at practice
Committed kids who are their to learn and improve
Committed parents (I understand people work and stuff but kids need to get to every practice and games on time - meaning 15 mins early or the team is doomed.)
Parents and kids that buy into the style of play of the team.
Quality training field (I say this because my son almost had these things but the team's practice field was a foot tall, grassy swamp. Killed practices.)

If anyone knows of this team, please share! : )

I think Washington Spirit Baltimore Armour Development Academy comes close to this. The level of commitment of parents and kids is extremely high. They are seriously motivated to play Division 1 college soccer and some are targeting national team and professional level. The practice fields and game day fields are awesome. The coaching is great and very fair. The only thing lacking is parents bought in to style of play. I hear a lot of opinions on the sideline from parents who are former players. I don't think you can ever get away from that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:leagues and Clubs mean nothing....what you need, in my opinion.

Great coach/trainer. Someone that connects, teaches, demonstrates, pushes, and inspires.
Your kid to be in the middle of the pack skill wise where he can be pushed by better players and have some success in 1v1 situations at practice
Committed kids who are their to learn and improve
Committed parents (I understand people work and stuff but kids need to get to every practice and games on time - meaning 15 mins early or the team is doomed.)
Parents and kids that buy into the style of play of the team.
Quality training field (I say this because my son almost had these things but the team's practice field was a foot tall, grassy swamp. Killed practices.)

If anyone knows of this team, please share! : )

Barca Academy checks all these boxes and they are consistent in their approach for all their teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:leagues and Clubs mean nothing....what you need, in my opinion.

Great coach/trainer. Someone that connects, teaches, demonstrates, pushes, and inspires.
Your kid to be in the middle of the pack skill wise where he can be pushed by better players and have some success in 1v1 situations at practice
Committed kids who are their to learn and improve
Committed parents (I understand people work and stuff but kids need to get to every practice and games on time - meaning 15 mins early or the team is doomed.)
Parents and kids that buy into the style of play of the team.
Quality training field (I say this because my son almost had these things but the team's practice field was a foot tall, grassy swamp. Killed practices.)

If anyone knows of this team, please share! : )

I think Washington Spirit Baltimore Armour Development Academy comes close to this. The level of commitment of parents and kids is extremely high. They are seriously motivated to play Division 1 college soccer and some are targeting national team and professional level. The practice fields and game day fields are awesome. The coaching is great and very fair. The only thing lacking is parents bought in to style of play. I hear a lot of opinions on the sideline from parents who are former players. I don't think you can ever get away from that.

I'm surprised to hear the practice fields are so great. Are you guys practicing somewhere else besides that Maryland complex in Boyds? We played Spirit MD there, and the fields were awful. The field itself was lumpy and uneven; plus it had weeds. And don't even get me started on the bugs (although I could forgive that if the field itself were great). No comment on the program itself, as that part, I don't really know.

Now, if we truly want to talk lush, gorgeous fields, the fields for the DA showcase in FL were exceptional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:leagues and Clubs mean nothing....what you need, in my opinion.

Great coach/trainer. Someone that connects, teaches, demonstrates, pushes, and inspires.
Your kid to be in the middle of the pack skill wise where he can be pushed by better players and have some success in 1v1 situations at practice
Committed kids who are their to learn and improve
Committed parents (I understand people work and stuff but kids need to get to every practice and games on time - meaning 15 mins early or the team is doomed.)
Parents and kids that buy into the style of play of the team.
Quality training field (I say this because my son almost had these things but the team's practice field was a foot tall, grassy swamp. Killed practices.)

If anyone knows of this team, please share! : )

I think Washington Spirit Baltimore Armour Development Academy comes close to this. The level of commitment of parents and kids is extremely high. They are seriously motivated to play Division 1 college soccer and some are targeting national team and professional level. The practice fields and game day fields are awesome. The coaching is great and very fair. The only thing lacking is parents bought in to style of play. I hear a lot of opinions on the sideline from parents who are former players. I don't think you can ever get away from that.

I'm surprised to hear the practice fields are so great. Are you guys practicing somewhere else besides that Maryland complex in Boyds? We played Spirit MD there, and the fields were awful. The field itself was lumpy and uneven; plus it had weeds. And don't even get me started on the bugs (although I could forgive that if the field itself were great). No comment on the program itself, as that part, I don't really know.

Now, if we truly want to talk lush, gorgeous fields, the fields for the DA showcase in FL were exceptional.

I don't think the Baltimore Armour Washington Spirit Academy trains in Boyds. : )

[Anonymous]

Anyone see any teams that stood out for their style of play this weekend?