Villarreal Virginia Academy: imploding?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love how posters here believe it is people form the two clubs making the nasty comments. Does it not dawn on anyone that other clubs want to watch BOTH of them fail and are the ones instigating all the drama here? Several clubs are infamous for doing exactly that on this forum.

Good point! Plus the ABGC office has computers from the 1980's and staff all over 90 years old so I doubt they even know about this interwebs thing with electronic bulletin boards. Are you saying some of these vile posts might be coming from a 25 year old living in his parent's basement and works for a nearby club?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a pending offer and are still unsure what to do. Our child enjoyed try-outs and the team but we are concerned about going with Viva now. So will probably land elsewhere, which is too bad but we are not getting very good info and don't want to be left hanging.

YES!! THANK YOU!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a pending offer and are still unsure what to do. Our child enjoyed try-outs and the team but we are concerned about going with Viva now. So will probably land elsewhere, which is too bad but we are not getting very good info and don't want to be left hanging.

YES!! THANK YOU!

Oops - meant to quote and thank the adults calling for civility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a pending offer and are still unsure what to do. Our child enjoyed try-outs and the team but we are concerned about going with Viva now. So will probably land elsewhere, which is too bad but we are not getting very good info and don't want to be left hanging.

Same situation. I'm unsure what to do, but my child liked the coaches and players and is certain she wants to stick with VIVA. No delusions on my part about her long-term soccer career, so I'm letting her make this call on his own, and she's decided to take the offer. And, come to think of it, I found the parents pretty friendly on the sidelines, which is something after reading through the discussions on this board!

[Anonymous]

What team does your child play on? Boys or Girls? I was considering my daughter for the U9/U10 team but have gotten no direction or information since a week ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What team does your child play on? Boys or Girls? I was considering my daughter for the U9/U10 team but have gotten no direction or information since a week ago.

Hmm, I'm not the person above but, fingers crossed everything works out when the dust settles because my daughter also wants to play on their U9 team.

[Anonymous]

ABGC and Villarreal made everyone believe that this was the best league ever when merging together. I know of a lot of players that left Villarreal they weren't getting any type of good training. I am so glad that we left ABGC a long time ago.

[Anonymous]

ABGC or Villarreal parents are very stuck up. The teams are run by the parents it always has been that away. some of the players aren't even good. in tryouts they picked players that were not even strong. just to make that money. it was all about making that money.

[Anonymous]

We have two kids currently in the VIVA program. Both love soccer and just want to get better. As parents, we expect the coaches to run efficient and effective practices and be accountable to the team. We expect the team to try hard and want to get better with every practice and game…and have fun. Winning games is not a priority. We saw a change in the club with Villareal’s involvement this year. Practices were filmed and the video was reviewed with coaches and players by Villareal (the staff from Spain). We saw a difference in the coaching. One respected VIVA coach said recently (paraphrasing), “I know I am a good coach, but I can truthfully say that I learned from Villareal this year”. Our kid’s and their teammate’s dribbling and passing skills are so much better than where they were last year. Our kids have tried out and played with other clubs; we know there are good options out there. We also know VIVA still as a lot to improve on, but Villareal and VIVA have a vision and can bring something that most other clubs don’t have...the backing, commitment, and reputation of a Spanish football club. We bought into the Villareal approach and committed ourselves to VIVA next season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ABGC and Villarreal made everyone believe that this was the best league ever when merging together. I know of a lot of players that left Villarreal they weren't getting any type of good training. I am so glad that we left ABGC a long time ago.

Which league are you with now? Can you describe how the approach/training is different from VIVA? Do your kids like it more? It would be helpful in considering other options.

[Anonymous]

ABGC/ Villarreal are all about the money. They kicked out teams that were independent because they weren't making any money for the league. That was very sad. ABGC had very good independent teams that were competitive and amazing teams. Coach Jose and Coach Fernando were the independent teams. all of Jose's players went to different teams with the Villarreal teams. most of them are now riding the bench and being controlled by the white parents. Coach Fernando was smart and left ABGC kept all his players they continue to be a good team. Very happy this happened when you get greedy that is what happens ABGC/ Villarreal got greedy. Good Luck with getting your money back parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ABGC or Villarreal parents are very stuck up. The teams are run by the parents it always has been that away. some of the players aren't even good. in tryouts they picked players that were not even strong. just to make that money. it was all about making that money.

Can you recommend a club where parents are "not stuck up" and all is well with the management and coaches?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ABGC and Villarreal made everyone believe that this was the best league ever when merging together. I know of a lot of players that left Villarreal they weren't getting any type of good training. I am so glad that we left ABGC a long time ago.

Which league are you with now? Can you describe how the approach/training is different from VIVA? Do your kids like it more? It would be helpful in considering other options.

How can they possibly comment on Villarreal when they left a “long time ago”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have two kids currently in the VIVA program. Both love soccer and just want to get better. As parents, we expect the coaches to run efficient and effective practices and be accountable to the team. We expect the team to try hard and want to get better with every practice and game…and have fun. Winning games is not a priority. We saw a change in the club with Villareal’s involvement this year. Practices were filmed and the video was reviewed with coaches and players by Villareal (the staff from Spain). We saw a difference in the coaching. One respected VIVA coach said recently (paraphrasing), “I know I am a good coach, but I can truthfully say that I learned from Villareal this year”. Our kid’s and their teammate’s dribbling and passing skills are so much better than where they were last year. Our kids have tried out and played with other clubs; we know there are good options out there. We also know VIVA still as a lot to improve on, but Villareal and VIVA have a vision and can bring something that most other clubs don’t have...the backing, commitment, and reputation of a Spanish football club. We bought into the Villareal approach and committed ourselves to VIVA next season.

I always find this interesting that somehow because "Spanish" club coaches are involved that somehow that is more valuable.

Messi did not go to Spain until 13. He is only somewhat a product of Barca. Barca did not train him at the ages most are talking about.

To me, the whole Villareal coaches watch our practice on film and tell us what to do is just odd and unlikely. And the some of our players will be selected to (pay for) a chance to train in Spain is also odd. Messi did not pay anyone for the chance to train in Spain nor does any other legit player. It is some kind of participatory tour you pay for it seems. Value??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have two kids currently in the VIVA program. Both love soccer and just want to get better. As parents, we expect the coaches to run efficient and effective practices and be accountable to the team. We expect the team to try hard and want to get better with every practice and game…and have fun. Winning games is not a priority. We saw a change in the club with Villareal’s involvement this year. Practices were filmed and the video was reviewed with coaches and players by Villareal (the staff from Spain). We saw a difference in the coaching. One respected VIVA coach said recently (paraphrasing), “I know I am a good coach, but I can truthfully say that I learned from Villareal this year”. Our kid’s and their teammate’s dribbling and passing skills are so much better than where they were last year. Our kids have tried out and played with other clubs; we know there are good options out there. We also know VIVA still as a lot to improve on, but Villareal and VIVA have a vision and can bring something that most other clubs don’t have...the backing, commitment, and reputation of a Spanish football club. We bought into the Villareal approach and committed ourselves to VIVA next season.

I always find this interesting that somehow because "Spanish" club coaches are involved that somehow that is more valuable.

Messi did not go to Spain until 13. He is only somewhat a product of Barca. Barca did not train him at the ages most are talking about.

To me, the whole Villareal coaches watch our practice on film and tell us what to do is just odd and unlikely. And the some of our players will be selected to (pay for) a chance to train in Spain is also odd. Messi did not pay anyone for the chance to train in Spain nor does any other legit player. It is some kind of participatory tour you pay for it seems. Value??

I am amazed that a coach like you cannot see the value of a starry-eyed kid in a soccer stadium in Europe taking in their surroundings and falling even more in love with the sport. Some of these dreamers will come home with passion and put their heart and soul into getting better at something they love. VIVA helps nurture that passion by inspiring them to be more.