Travel Soccer teams around NOVA let's discuss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First time back at the FPYC Tournament in a few years, with our youngest. What hasn't changed is that there are ringers all over the place (clearly, some players are too old). And that many of the refs can barely walk, let alone run, so they're forced to make some rather unusual, creative decisions. Bully for them for refusing to let go of the beautiful game until the grave.

In talking with an opposing coach, what I think has changed (and that is why I'm posting this here) is that a lot of the supposed rec teams had been coached by travel coaches and supported in different ways by travel programs. Also, they play a lot of tournaments (this coach told me his team did). That's right: these "rec" teams travel around seeking high-level competition.

Any opinions about the blurring of travel, all-stars, and rec?

Also, I would not necessarily consider the FPYC tournament to be a rec tournament anymore, so does anyone know of tournaments that actually are for just house-level kids? My team is terrible, to be honest. Good kids, but not elite athletes by any measure!

Some clubs put a lot more resources into All-Stars than others. Some have tryouts; some are just ad-hoc decisions among House coaches. Some train during the House season; some just get in a couple of practices and scrimmages after the House season.

To me, it's all the more reason you need more ODSL teams. Bring them into a more structured environment like that. And then maybe the parents will learn something about the game and quit freaking out on refs and their own teams all the time. And maybe you'll have coaches who are actually trying to have fair, fun games in which players can still learn and perhaps move up the travel ladder down the road instead of just training U9s to beat the crap out of each other to win a stupid All-Star trophy. (Good luck getting the young refs to make actual calls when players are getting pummeled.)

I'm still seeking that magic level of competition -- not elite like travel, not rough-and-tumble like All-Stars, but still above the beginner level you often find in House.

[Anonymous]

"I'm still seeking that magic level of competition -- not elite like travel, not rough-and-tumble like All-Stars, but still above the beginner level you often find in House."

Me, too. Let us know when you find it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First time back at the FPYC Tournament in a few years, with our youngest. What hasn't changed is that there are ringers all over the place (clearly, some players are too old). And that many of the refs can barely walk, let alone run, so they're forced to make some rather unusual, creative decisions. Bully for them for refusing to let go of the beautiful game until the grave.

In talking with an opposing coach, what I think has changed (and that is why I'm posting this here) is that a lot of the supposed rec teams had been coached by travel coaches and supported in different ways by travel programs. Also, they play a lot of tournaments (this coach told me his team did). That's right: these "rec" teams travel around seeking high-level competition.

Any opinions about the blurring of travel, all-stars, and rec?

Also, I would not necessarily consider the FPYC tournament to be a rec tournament anymore, so does anyone know of tournaments that actually are for just house-level kids? My team is terrible, to be honest. Good kids, but not elite athletes by any measure!

Opposite experience here. Refs were just "kids" who didn't know what they were doing and, worse, were bullied into making/changing calls by the loudest team parents on the sidelines. Whereas a year ago at FPYC, we had an older ref who was great and actually moved the yelling parents farther back from the sidelines and told them to keep it down. He wasn't bullied by anyone!

[Anonymous]

Try the Arlington Rec tournament in November - our team did well there and does terribly in the FPYC All-Stars tournament.

[Anonymous]

We also had a ref of advanced years, let's say, this past weekend, but he was spry. He could run like the wind. Did a good job overall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I'm still seeking that magic level of competition -- not elite like travel, not rough-and-tumble like All-Stars, but still above the beginner level you often find in House."

Me, too. Let us know when you find it

If you are talking about league play there is SFL (age 11 and up). Website is www.sflsoccer.org. Division 1 teams in SFL are on par with ODSL teams.

If you are talking about tournaments there is also the Herndon Tournament (which groups teams by ability for the second day based on results of first day mini-games) and the new VSTC rec tournament (in Fredericksburg). Both of those are in November.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try the Arlington Rec tournament in November - our team did well there and does terribly in the FPYC All-Stars tournament.

Isn't there one in August?

[Anonymous]

Just talking about U8s here...but I know that some of these clubs have a "select" group train once a week together throughout the season and play in the LMVSC crossover league. I know that some kids play rec for their club but train with McLean Juniors for additional training. I know that some of these kids have participated in local 3v3 and DC United Soccerfest tournaments in the past. The only criteria for this tournament is that they are not carded players and they play rec for your club. A lot of kids train very hard to improve. No reason they should be excluded from this tournament. If clubs are cheating by using older kids, then that's on the club.; not the tournament.

Upon registration, I believe clubs were supposed to register their team as either an "A", "B", or "C" team. Our "C" team contained kids that were truly rec. They practice once a week with their rec team and had a game on Saturday. They "lost" but were very competitive in all their games and they had a fantastic experience. Our "A" team trains very hard and was successful in the "A" division. My point is that I believe there is room for teams of all experience levels in this tournament.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try the Arlington Rec tournament in November - our team did well there and does terribly in the FPYC All-Stars tournament.

Isn't there one in August?

Arlington Soccer Association is hosting a 3 v. 3 tournament Aug 8&9. Details are available:
http://www.arlingtonsoccer.com/tournaments/arlington-cup-3-v-3-tournament/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First time back at the FPYC Tournament in a few years, with our youngest. What hasn't changed is that there are ringers all over the place (clearly, some players are too old). And that many of the refs can barely walk, let alone run, so they're forced to make some rather unusual, creative decisions. Bully for them for refusing to let go of the beautiful game until the grave.

In talking with an opposing coach, what I think has changed (and that is why I'm posting this here) is that a lot of the supposed rec teams had been coached by travel coaches and supported in different ways by travel programs. Also, they play a lot of tournaments (this coach told me his team did). That's right: these "rec" teams travel around seeking high-level competition.

Any opinions about the blurring of travel, all-stars, and rec?

Also, I would not necessarily consider the FPYC tournament to be a rec tournament anymore, so does anyone know of tournaments that actually are for just house-level kids? My team is terrible, to be honest. Good kids, but not elite athletes by any measure![/quot


If U8 just made their 1st travel team, opt them out of this tournment. Do not allow Travel Coaches in the tournment. Use "real and relvant" Rec All Star rules. Make the same rules for each club that enters the tournment. If it is a tournment for Rec.let it be Rec. Other sports use tournments like this to find players who's parents do not know about extra club training programs and/or can afford extra training and or travel programs. These parent coaches and travel coaches should feel really proud of themselves selecting travel quality players for a Rec tournment.

[Anonymous]

Don't even get me started with the DC Metro area parents yelling play by play from the side lines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First time back at the FPYC Tournament in a few years, with our youngest. What hasn't changed is that there are ringers all over the place (clearly, some players are too old). And that many of the refs can barely walk, let alone run, so they're forced to make some rather unusual, creative decisions. Bully for them for refusing to let go of the beautiful game until the grave.

In talking with an opposing coach, what I think has changed (and that is why I'm posting this here) is that a lot of the supposed rec teams had been coached by travel coaches and supported in different ways by travel programs. Also, they play a lot of tournaments (this coach told me his team did). That's right: these "rec" teams travel around seeking high-level competition.

Any opinions about the blurring of travel, all-stars, and rec?

Also, I would not necessarily consider the FPYC tournament to be a rec tournament anymore, so does anyone know of tournaments that actually are for just house-level kids? My team is terrible, to be honest. Good kids, but not elite athletes by any measure![/quot


If U8 just made their 1st travel team, opt them out of this tournment. Do not allow Travel Coaches in the tournment. Use "real and relvant" Rec All Star rules. Make the same rules for each club that enters the tournment. If it is a tournment for Rec.let it be Rec. Other sports use tournments like this to find players who's parents do not know about extra club training programs and/or can afford extra training and or travel programs. These parent coaches and travel coaches should feel really proud of themselves selecting travel quality players for a Rec tournment.

Can NOT afford extra training and travel

[Anonymous]

Leesburg FC are having tryouts this week coming for additonal U9 players for their boys team. They'll play in the ODSL - which is a good league for your child's introduction into travel soccer. Info will be on their website!


Players from anywhere in Loudoun can attend one of their tryouts!

[Anonymous]

My kid has another year or two before he has to try out for travel, so I'm not that familiar with how the clubs work? I keep hearing that it's not just your kids talent but politics plays a role. Is this true or is this just a few parents disappointed about how things worked out for their child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid has another year or two before he has to try out for travel, so I'm not that familiar with how the clubs work? I keep hearing that it's not just your kids talent but politics plays a role. Is this true or is this just a few parents disappointed about how things worked out for their child?

Depends on the club. And sometimes the club changes abruptly.

There's also a fine line between "coaches being familiar with players" and "politics." Is it unfair to give travel slots to politically connected families? Sure. Is it unfair, when choosing between two players of roughly equal ability, to pick the one who has been an eager and well-behaved player in the club's pre-travel training programs? I'd say no.

An NSCAA guide says coaches should "research the soccer background and family background of all players who will participate in tryouts." You probably won't see your local club doing that.

Of course, most official documents say we shouldn't be doing tryouts until U12. Your local club won't be doing that, either.