Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss Part II

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Especially since they're not all that big on substitutions. When you add the fact that 2 players will be redshirted every game, seems like there's people who are there just for the status of being on the team.

The 18 people will change, and most likely are rotated through. I imagine you can gauge your perceived progress in the team by how consistently you're started or substituted in vs. reserve list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd say wait til he's going into 11v11 (U13-14) to put him in DA.

I agree. Though we are pushing it after U-14. My kid is a young birth year (late Fall). So at U14, he is still 13 almost the entire year.

He is getting really fantastic training now and takes many overseas trips for training and tournaments. He would not be able to do that if he were with DA and their restrictions. The European coaches we've talked to said they wouldn't make any moves prior to age 16--that goes for any residential academies or anywhere with long commutes, etc---provided the training is quality.

He has many friends that jumped into pre-DA teams at U11 and now at U13 many of those kids have not progressed as far as the boys with more varied training.

Perhaps you've figured it out my friend. Can you kindly let us eager parents know if those overseas training trips were paid for by you or were there invitations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd say wait til he's going into 11v11 (U13-14) to put him in DA.

I agree. Though we are pushing it after U-14. My kid is a young birth year (late Fall). So at U14, he is still 13 almost the entire year.

He is getting really fantastic training now and takes many overseas trips for training and tournaments. He would not be able to do that if he were with DA and their restrictions. The European coaches we've talked to said they wouldn't make any moves prior to age 16--that goes for any residential academies or anywhere with long commutes, etc---provided the training is quality.

He has many friends that jumped into pre-DA teams at U11 and now at U13 many of those kids have not progressed as far as the boys with more varied training.

Perhaps you've figured it out my friend. Can you kindly let us eager parents know if those overseas training trips were paid for by you or were there invitations?

Of course the invites are not free. Why would they be?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2007 boy living in Reston wants to try out for DA. Which one has the shortest or fastest commute for weekday practices? What’s the ball park annual costs? Thanks.

I would avoid VDA. I have not heard good things about their coach. Personally, I would go w/loudoun....my son has benefited greatly at this program. I just hope they can expand their DA program in the near future. If Loudoun is not an option, Coach Oscar with Arlington is a great choice.

[Anonymous]

My experience with Loudoun teams are that they're nothing more than glorified long-ball merchants, although I've only had experience against their older age groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My experience with Loudoun teams are that they're nothing more than glorified long-ball merchants, although I've only had experience against their older age groups.

At the end of the day, it's all about who is coaching your son/daughter. All DA programs are basically the same, as they all must follow US Soccer guidelines (bad or good). So essentially it all comes down as to who is doing the day-to-day coaching. It's simply not worth it if you know the coach is just mediocre, who happens to have an A license. Do your homework and you quickly find out who are the bad ones out there. You can even search this forum to see who is stelllar, as one poster pointed out with regards to the Arlington DA coach.

[Anonymous]

You are spot on. It really depends on a team-by-team and coach-by-coach basis. Robinson were always mediocre at best until they had their golden years under Coach Cicala. A good coach is invaluable, at any level.

[Anonymous]

My son is interested in trying out for a 2006 Boys DA. Agree that it is the day to day coach that matters most. What teams would this group recommend? Do the coaches at the DA level change year to year? For example, coach Oscar mentioned above coaches Arlington’s 2006 DA but will he still be coaching that team next year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2007 boy living in Reston wants to try out for DA. Which one has the shortest or fastest commute for weekday practices? What’s the ball park annual costs? Thanks.

I would avoid VDA. I have not heard good things about their coach. Personally, I would go w/loudoun....my son has benefited greatly at this program. I just hope they can expand their DA program in the near future. If Loudoun is not an option, Coach Oscar with Arlington is a great choice.

What do you not like about the U12 VDA coach ? I don't know anything about the coach but from what I can tell he has an A license and experience at a private training facility.

[Anonymous]

Khan is a person who is all about himself and any parent willing to pay and take his recommendations and decisions as unquestionable.

If you already have a relationship with him from PWSI or as the owner of HP ELITE, then you either feel the same or get along really well with him. Either way, if you notice from U12 to U13 the number of players will drop significantly, so being there at U12 might not even guarantee your kid a spot on the U13 squad. The id sessions going on now are presubly for Fall, so go ahead and check it out and TALK to the coaches.

It is a 5 day per week commitment, so do now what you're getting into.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Especially since they're not all that big on substitutions. When you add the fact that 2 players will be redshirted every game, seems like there's people who are there just for the status of being on the team.

The 18 people will change, and most likely are rotated through. I imagine you can gauge your perceived progress in the team by how consistently you're started or substituted in vs. reserve list.

Well yeah. Most girls DA programs in this area have massive rosters. Some DA coaches have a core 11 that play 90% of the minutes, leaving players lower on the depth chart to rot. And there are DA coaches that rotate more evenly, attempting to develop an entire bench. Regardless of where your player is on the depth chart, you should know what the history is. Fortunately, you can get this info by reviewing the playing minutes which are online. Contrary to the USSDA mantra that development is all done in training, game time is a key element on the mental side. If you're evaluating coaches/DA programs, this is a component.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Especially since they're not all that big on substitutions. When you add the fact that 2 players will be redshirted every game, seems like there's people who are there just for the status of being on the team.

The 18 people will change, and most likely are rotated through. I imagine you can gauge your perceived progress in the team by how consistently you're started or substituted in vs. reserve list.

Well yeah. Most girls DA programs in this area have massive rosters. Some DA coaches have a core 11 that play 90% of the minutes, leaving players lower on the depth chart to rot. And there are DA coaches that rotate more evenly, attempting to develop an entire bench. Regardless of where your player is on the depth chart, you should know what the history is. Fortunately, you can get this info by reviewing the playing minutes which are online. Contrary to the USSDA mantra that development is all done in training, game time is a key element on the mental side. If you're evaluating coaches/DA programs, this is a component.

Very true. I love that the starting percentages, games played, game reports (which show minutes played), and other stats are publicly reported. The transparency is helpful in evaluating programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Especially since they're not all that big on substitutions. When you add the fact that 2 players will be redshirted every game, seems like there's people who are there just for the status of being on the team.

The 18 people will change, and most likely are rotated through. I imagine you can gauge your perceived progress in the team by how consistently you're started or substituted in vs. reserve list.

Well yeah. Most girls DA programs in this area have massive rosters. Some DA coaches have a core 11 that play 90% of the minutes, leaving players lower on the depth chart to rot. And there are DA coaches that rotate more evenly, attempting to develop an entire bench. Regardless of where your player is on the depth chart, you should know what the history is. Fortunately, you can get this info by reviewing the playing minutes which are online. Contrary to the USSDA mantra that development is all done in training, game time is a key element on the mental side. If you're evaluating coaches/DA programs, this is a component.

Very true. I love that the starting percentages, games played, game reports (which show minutes played), and other stats are publicly reported. The transparency is helpful in evaluating programs.

Totally agree about how the transparency allows for a better understanding.

Not sure how I feel about the rot comment. I generally agree about the mental aspect and the pressure experience of having to make good decisions and execute; however the sub rules constrain the situation. If your kid is training hard and progressing then thats a positive. The only remaining question is if the DA was the right place at the moment. Hard question to face.

[Anonymous]

The travel programs definitely benefit the rural areas more than the urban areas.

[Anonymous]

Any one know when McLean is going to hold ID sessions for their U12 DA? Arlington, DCU, and VDA already announced theirs and Arlington's are over.