Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss

[Anonymous]

PP, so then wouldn't that be the point of an A , B or C team?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, so then wouldn't that be the point of an A , B or C team?

I don't think I understand your question. In a club/team with the right philosophy -- regardless of the level (A, B, C) of the team the coaches should be teaching the kids in the skills and techniques and tactics to play technically and tactically correct soccer without pressure for the team to be winning lots of games. Who cares if a U9 or U10 team is 10-0 or 6-4 or 2-8 if they are in a program that will train them in a way that allows them to reach their full soccer potential regardless of what level of team they ultimately reach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me be more specific. Of course the kids care about winning. But a club focused on individual player development at the younger ages will teach the kids to play soccer the correct way regardless of whether it results in winning records or tournament trophies at U9, U10 and U11.

The kids will learn how to shield the ball rather than kick it upfield. They will learn how to switch the ball from one side to another rather than always going North/South. They will learn how to shoot with both feet rather than always their right foot. They will learn how to maintain possession by passing backwards (including back to the goalie). They will learn how to play a flat four defense and offside trap rather than putting their fastest player at sweeper. They will learn How to play the ball out from the back. They will learn how to pass the ball across the field between central defenders.

Learning and implementing those techniques and skills at U9-U12 will absolutely result in mistakes leading to opposing goals and team losses that could have been avoided in a club only focused on winning games. However, as the kids age and improve, they will make fewer and fewer of those costly mistakes and, having focused on their skill development and learning how to play soccer correctly, both the individual players and the team as a whole will be much better at U13-U16 for having sacrificed some "wins" at U9-U12. Teams that win all their games at U9-U12 by relying on a fast sweeper and a fast striker often fall woefully behind other teams by U12-U14 that have improved steadily though correct technical and tactical training.

Exactly.

Want to win at U9? Boot it and shoot it. Yippee.

Want to be a better player? Get a coach to push you outside your comfort zone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me be more specific. Of course the kids care about winning. But a club focused on individual player development at the younger ages will teach the kids to play soccer the correct way regardless of whether it results in winning records or tournament trophies at U9, U10 and U11.

The kids will learn how to shield the ball rather than kick it upfield. They will learn how to switch the ball from one side to another rather than always going North/South. They will learn how to shoot with both feet rather than always their right foot. They will learn how to maintain possession by passing backwards (including back to the goalie). They will learn how to play a flat four defense and offside trap rather than putting their fastest player at sweeper. They will learn How to play the ball out from the back. They will learn how to pass the ball across the field between central defenders.

Learning and implementing those techniques and skills at U9-U12 will absolutely result in mistakes leading to opposing goals and team losses that could have been avoided in a club only focused on winning games. However, as the kids age and improve, they will make fewer and fewer of those costly mistakes and, having focused on their skill development and learning how to play soccer correctly, both the individual players and the team as a whole will be much better at U13-U16 for having sacrificed some "wins" at U9-U12. Teams that win all their games at U9-U12 by relying on a fast sweeper and a fast striker often fall woefully behind other teams by U12-U14 that have improved steadily though correct technical and tactical training.

Exactly.

Want to win at U9? Boot it and shoot it. Yippee.

Want to be a better player? Get a coach to push you outside your comfort zone.

I agree--but the way a striker improves is by being allowed to take on players. Nobody is talking about 'boot and shoot it'. There is also the dreaded never developing truly talented forwards/strikers when they are told to ditch the ball as soon as it it hits their foot. Part of their developmental should be learning when to cut and run, when to carve up defenders and when to switch it to an outside forward or midfielder. Patents (and coaches) screaming 'Pass' at the top of their lungs as soon as a kid gets the ball is a true disservice. I love to see a talented kid tune it out and cut around 2-3 defenders with a soft tap to the corner of the net.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me be more specific. Of course the kids care about winning. But a club focused on individual player development at the younger ages will teach the kids to play soccer the correct way regardless of whether it results in winning records or tournament trophies at U9, U10 and U11.

The kids will learn how to shield the ball rather than kick it upfield. They will learn how to switch the ball from one side to another rather than always going North/South. They will learn how to shoot with both feet rather than always their right foot. They will learn how to maintain possession by passing backwards (including back to the goalie). They will learn how to play a flat four defense and offside trap rather than putting their fastest player at sweeper. They will learn How to play the ball out from the back. They will learn how to pass the ball across the field between central defenders.

Learning and implementing those techniques and skills at U9-U12 will absolutely result in mistakes leading to opposing goals and team losses that could have been avoided in a club only focused on winning games. However, as the kids age and improve, they will make fewer and fewer of those costly mistakes and, having focused on their skill development and learning how to play soccer correctly, both the individual players and the team as a whole will be much better at U13-U16 for having sacrificed some "wins" at U9-U12. Teams that win all their games at U9-U12 by relying on a fast sweeper and a fast striker often fall woefully behind other teams by U12-U14 that have improved steadily though correct technical and tactical training.

Exactly.

Want to win at U9? Boot it and shoot it. Yippee.

Want to be a better player? Get a coach to push you outside your comfort zone.

I agree--but the way a striker improves is by being allowed to take on players. Nobody is talking about 'boot and shoot it'. There is also the dreaded never developing truly talented forwards/strikers when they are told to ditch the ball as soon as it it hits their foot. Part of their developmental should be learning when to cut and run, when to carve up defenders and when to switch it to an outside forward or midfielder. Patents (and coaches) screaming 'Pass' at the top of their lungs as soon as a kid gets the ball is a true disservice. I love to see a talented kid tune it out and cut around 2-3 defenders with a soft tap to the corner of the net.

Sure, but I don't think anyone in this context is talking about discouraging players from taking on defenders 1v1. Quite the opposite. That's another aspect of the game that skews toward "development" rather than "winning."

(That said, I'd love for the kid I coach in a slightly older age group to pass every once in a while. He beats one defender, beats another, then find another defender to take on instead of shooting or passing. He eventually finds a defender who can take it from him.)

And I do think coaches who stress winning are often in a "boot it and shoot it" mode.

And parents. Like this:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me be more specific. Of course the kids care about winning. But a club focused on individual player development at the younger ages will teach the kids to play soccer the correct way regardless of whether it results in winning records or tournament trophies at U9, U10 and U11.

The kids will learn how to shield the ball rather than kick it upfield. They will learn how to switch the ball from one side to another rather than always going North/South. They will learn how to shoot with both feet rather than always their right foot. They will learn how to maintain possession by passing backwards (including back to the goalie). They will learn how to play a flat four defense and offside trap rather than putting their fastest player at sweeper. They will learn How to play the ball out from the back. They will learn how to pass the ball across the field between central defenders.

Learning and implementing those techniques and skills at U9-U12 will absolutely result in mistakes leading to opposing goals and team losses that could have been avoided in a club only focused on winning games. However, as the kids age and improve, they will make fewer and fewer of those costly mistakes and, having focused on their skill development and learning how to play soccer correctly, both the individual players and the team as a whole will be much better at U13-U16 for having sacrificed some "wins" at U9-U12. Teams that win all their games at U9-U12 by relying on a fast sweeper and a fast striker often fall woefully behind other teams by U12-U14 that have improved steadily though correct technical and tactical training.

Exactly.

Want to win at U9? Boot it and shoot it. Yippee.

Want to be a better player? Get a coach to push you outside your comfort zone.

I agree--but the way a striker improves is by being allowed to take on players. Nobody is talking about 'boot and shoot it'. There is also the dreaded never developing truly talented forwards/strikers when they are told to ditch the ball as soon as it it hits their foot. Part of their developmental should be learning when to cut and run, when to carve up defenders and when to switch it to an outside forward or midfielder. Patents (and coaches) screaming 'Pass' at the top of their lungs as soon as a kid gets the ball is a true disservice. I love to see a talented kid tune it out and cut around 2-3 defenders with a soft tap to the corner of the net.

Sure, but I don't think anyone in this context is talking about discouraging players from taking on defenders 1v1. Quite the opposite. That's another aspect of the game that skews toward "development" rather than "winning."

(That said, I'd love for the kid I coach in a slightly older age group to pass every once in a while. He beats one defender, beats another, then find another defender to take on instead of shooting or passing. He eventually finds a defender who can take it from him.)

And I do think coaches who stress winning are often in a "boot it and shoot it" mode.

And parents. Like this:

God-that was a horrible video. My 6-year old can make a better video than that on his ipad. The robotic, sloooowww voices. I could bear more than a couple seconds--which, thanks, I'll never get back.

[Anonymous]

Welp, looks like Joga SC is off to a rough start against elite national competition at the Premier SuperCopa . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Welp, looks like Joga SC is off to a rough start against elite national competition at the Premier SuperCopa . . .

I know there is some anomosity from people who post here against the Joga SC coaches -- I don't have a dog in that dispute -- but really, are you posting here to root against teams of 9 and 10 year olds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Welp, looks like Joga SC is off to a rough start against elite national competition at the Premier SuperCopa . . .

They've got a win at U9 and one at U11.

I'd question whether this is elite national competition. For one thing, some of those clubs are kind of no-names. For another -- THESE KIDS ARE 8-9 YEARS OLD!

The entire concept of this tournament is ridiculous, and anyone who paid to go is flushing money down the drain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Welp, looks like Joga SC is off to a rough start against elite national competition at the Premier SuperCopa . . .

They've got a win at U9 and one at U11.

I'd question whether this is elite national competition. For one thing, some of those clubs are kind of no-names. For another -- THESE KIDS ARE 8-9 YEARS OLD!

The entire concept of this tournament is ridiculous, and anyone who paid to go is flushing money down the drain.

Flying from DC to Dallas at 8/9 is f'king ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me be more specific. Of course the kids care about winning. But a club focused on individual player development at the younger ages will teach the kids to play soccer the correct way regardless of whether it results in winning records or tournament trophies at U9, U10 and U11.

The kids will learn how to shield the ball rather than kick it upfield. They will learn how to switch the ball from one side to another rather than always going North/South. They will learn how to shoot with both feet rather than always their right foot. They will learn how to maintain possession by passing backwards (including back to the goalie). They will learn how to play a flat four defense and offside trap rather than putting their fastest player at sweeper. They will learn How to play the ball out from the back. They will learn how to pass the ball across the field between central defenders.

Learning and implementing those techniques and skills at U9-U12 will absolutely result in mistakes leading to opposing goals and team losses that could have been avoided in a club only focused on winning games. However, as the kids age and improve, they will make fewer and fewer of those costly mistakes and, having focused on their skill development and learning how to play soccer correctly, both the individual players and the team as a whole will be much better at U13-U16 for having sacrificed some "wins" at U9-U12. Teams that win all their games at U9-U12 by relying on a fast sweeper and a fast striker often fall woefully behind other teams by U12-U14 that have improved steadily though correct technical and tactical training.

Exactly.

Want to win at U9? Boot it and shoot it. Yippee.

Want to be a better player? Get a coach to push you outside your comfort zone.

I agree--but the way a striker improves is by being allowed to take on players. Nobody is talking about 'boot and shoot it'. There is also the dreaded never developing truly talented forwards/strikers when they are told to ditch the ball as soon as it it hits their foot. Part of their developmental should be learning when to cut and run, when to carve up defenders and when to switch it to an outside forward or midfielder. Patents (and coaches) screaming 'Pass' at the top of their lungs as soon as a kid gets the ball is a true disservice. I love to see a talented kid tune it out and cut around 2-3 defenders with a soft tap to the corner of the net.

Sure, but I don't think anyone in this context is talking about discouraging players from taking on defenders 1v1. Quite the opposite. That's another aspect of the game that skews toward "development" rather than "winning."

(That said, I'd love for the kid I coach in a slightly older age group to pass every once in a while. He beats one defender, beats another, then find another defender to take on instead of shooting or passing. He eventually finds a defender who can take it from him.)

And I do think coaches who stress winning are often in a "boot it and shoot it" mode.

And parents. Like this:

God-that was a horrible video. My 6-year old can make a better video than that on his ipad. The robotic, sloooowww voices. I could bear more than a couple seconds--which, thanks, I'll never get back.

My daughter and I thought it was hilarious - thanks for posting!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had no idea how difficult it was to get placed on a decent (read WAGS, CCL, VPL) travel team in this area at u10(g). Just endured tryout season at two major VA clubs and got an eyeful. Both clubs seemed intent on keeping all of their u9 players on the top teams with no real change (assuming politics are playing a major role here). One club even structured the tryout in a way such that the top three teams didn't even tryout on the same fields with the unwashed masses, unless a coach specifically selected one or two to move to the "field of dreams." At both, it didn't seem to matter if the new kids showed more technical ability, speed, drive, <insert your favorite player attributes here> than some (or many) of the established kids. I got a strong sense that if a girl didn't show far superior skills, hands down above all existing players, forget it. Or, better yet, at the same cost, join our ODSL team which plays at a level on par with Rec.

Is this common throughout the area or was this just a warped, bad experience?

Note, I just want my kid to progress. I have no illusions about her being the top player in her age group, but I've played and watched a lot of soccer and she's not Rec/5th travel team material either. It's very hard to improve when you play with/against kids that are not nearly at the same skill level, at least in my experience. This makes it even harder for the next tryout in a year. Any recommended strategies/professional training programs that we can use to supplement our next year of Rec level play?

A club is not going to replace a known player for a player of the same skill level at U10 anywhere. Most coaches in big clYour best bet is to accept the lower level team and tryout again the following year, making a higher level team.


Which 2 clubs? If she is going to be 5th- I am assuming she would be trying out for a U-11 team? 3rd graders/rising 4th are U-10; 4th grade/rising 5th are mostly U-11.

She's a rising u10 player, 9yo going into 4th grade next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had no idea how difficult it was to get placed on a decent (read WAGS, CCL, VPL) travel team in this area at u10(g). Just endured tryout season at two major VA clubs and got an eyeful. Both clubs seemed intent on keeping all of their u9 players on the top teams with no real change (assuming politics are playing a major role here). One club even structured the tryout in a way such that the top three teams didn't even tryout on the same fields with the unwashed masses, unless a coach specifically selected one or two to move to the "field of dreams." At both, it didn't seem to matter if the new kids showed more technical ability, speed, drive, <insert your favorite player attributes here> than some (or many) of the established kids. I got a strong sense that if a girl didn't show far superior skills, hands down above all existing players, forget it. Or, better yet, at the same cost, join our ODSL team which plays at a level on par with Rec.

Is this common throughout the area or was this just a warped, bad experience?

Note, I just want my kid to progress. I have no illusions about her being the top player in her age group, but I've played and watched a lot of soccer and she's not Rec/5th travel team material either. It's very hard to improve when you play with/against kids that are not nearly at the same skill level, at least in my experience. This makes it even harder for the next tryout in a year. Any recommended strategies/professional training programs that we can use to supplement our next year of Rec level

Well, almost all of the big clubs have training programs. These programs teach the specific skills the club coaches are looking for. If interested in playing travel, I suggest taking the ODSL spot, most travels teams practice together. ODSL is more developmental yes, it is the same type of league new players showing promise play in, in any big city. The coaches/ trainers of travel teams will not be at the rec practices and games. Practicing with the travel teams will likely improve your skills over rec.. It is very hard for a new player to replace a player on any team, at any age and for any sport. Most players who do, are asked to try out.

[Anonymous]

how does a defensive player get noticed in tryouts? what're the evaluate looking for in that position? this is for boys U12. thx!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on my experience with U9-U12 travel, here are a few misconceptions related to tryouts:

-When a club holds tryouts, there are spaces available.

Actually, most spots are already "taken." The tryout is a show, a ritual that invests the travel experience with importance but is otherwise empty.

-At U9 tryouts the coaches and trainers don't know that many of the players.

Actually, they've known most of the players for about two years (at least at large clubs with crossover).

-Coaches and trainers use tryouts to find new talent.

Actually, new talent would disrupt things and could threaten the established "A" team. Three phenoms could ruin everything.

-The purpose of tryouts is to assemble winning teams.

Actually, the need for clubs to keep parents happy and for parents to be able to use travel as a status symbol is greater than the need for clubs to win games. A true commitment to winning would require rocking the boat with brutal cuts and reorganizations of teams established at U9 or before -- and that would interrupt the streams of revenue.

In all of this, what really bothers me about the cattle-call tryouts at large clubs is that families who have just moved to NoVa are often shut out, and that often these are military families. It's like a special little insult from our bloated NoVa travel clubs to the "outsiders."

At some places, much of this is true.

At other places, it's not.

In fact, it's changing at some places. Vienna was often accused of having "show" tryouts in the past. This year, with a new technical staff in place, they've gone wildly in the other direction. People are dropping from a "C" or even a "B" team all the way out of travel. "Crossover" stalwarts are getting left out.

Now, is that *better*? Yes and no. Do you really want to base everything on tryouts? What if one kid just has a really good night and is actually uncoachable? What if one kid all the previous coaches loved just doesn't have things go his way at tryouts?

On the other hand -- sure, you want the door to be open, especially in this area with so many people moving in and out all the time.

Even under the old Vienna regime, though, some people moved here in the summer and found spots on travel teams. And that's surely true elsewhere.

I do want to address one other thing:

-The purpose of tryouts is to assemble winning teams.

I hope not. At least not at young ages. You should be finding kids who love soccer and can develop into good players. NO ONE is a good player at U9. TheyR just don't exist.


Soccer and soccer tryouts are the same everywhere. New players of the same ability will not take a know players spot anywhere. Spots open up due to kids quitting the sport entirely, behavior issues, moving to new teams and moving out of the area on every team. Teams simply do not start over each year, in spite of what the tryout page says. Crossover training does not guarantee a travel spot anywhere. The skills you gain at a crossover training give you a leg up at tryouts. At this age and every age coaches are looking for specific skills and attributes. If parents are new to a sport, read up on the sports try out process. That is easy to find on the Internet for all sports. A competitive or big soccer club finds plenty of kids who are consistently running , dribbling, passing , using foot skills. These kids make the team over a big player who is a ball hog, whom boots the ball scoring. Why? The clubs are not necessarily looking to just win, but develop players with potential for future teams and for all players to have fun doing it. This is the exact same as every sport. Young players in this area have a lot of opportunity to play a lot of soccer games , train with a lot of good trainers getting a huge leg up, making them a good soccer player at U9 /U10. Professional trainers who usually always "judge" tryouts are experienced at soccer and know what they are looking for. At younger ages many kids are definitely good soccer players, they run fast, pass, dribble, great foot skills.

The "winning/development" pendulum has swung very far toward "development." At least in theory.