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It's inevitably amusing in the same way that every inmate in the asylum believes everybody else deserves to be there except for them.
Let's step back from this a minute. It is amusing to see parents grind under these circumstances, and also sad. But it seems that you think it is especially amusing because the kid won't succeed.
Which leads me to ask you what success is in this context. None of these kids is going to have a pro career that pays more than an average public school teacher. Others who sensibly opt for scholarship are not likely to be competitive with most kids who spend a lot more time on academics than on multiple practices, showcases, etc. The dividends from the investments in human capital pay out over a lifetime. There are comparably small and diminishing turns for yet another practice doing the same things over and over again. There is a tiny number of student-athletes who do well and have a combination of qualities that inevitably carry them forward to success in a variety of endeavors. Most kids getting scholarships are not going to what would be viewed as good academic schools or, ultimately grad schools. So they have spent an extraordinary time doing soccer to -- at best -- get a scholarship to a marginal school. I congratulate all of them on it. But I question whether they could not have spent their time doing something else likely to pay longer term dividends. By the end of their D-12 career, they will be playing in the equivalent of the NCSL or CCL of universities.
Now if you're spending all of that time and not even getting full rides -- and that is most kids in MLS Next and ECNL -- that truly is a total waste of time and both laughable and sad.
Good luck to your kids and don't laugh too hard at others.
Let's step back from this a minute. It is amusing to see parents grind under these circumstances, and also sad. But it seems that you think it is especially amusing because the kid won't succeed.
Which leads me to ask you what success is in this context. None of these kids is going to have a pro career that pays more than an average public school teacher. Others who sensibly opt for scholarship are not likely to be competitive with most kids who spend a lot more time on academics than on multiple practices, showcases, etc. The dividends from the investments in human capital pay out over a lifetime. There are comparably small and diminishing turns for yet another practice doing the same things over and over again. There is a tiny number of student-athletes who do well and have a combination of qualities that inevitably carry them forward to success in a variety of endeavors. Most kids getting scholarships are not going to what would be viewed as good academic schools or, ultimately grad schools. So they have spent an extraordinary time doing soccer to -- at best -- get a scholarship to a marginal school. I congratulate all of them on it. But I question whether they could not have spent their time doing something else likely to pay longer term dividends. By the end of their D-12 career, they will be playing in the equivalent of the NCSL or CCL of universities.
Now if you're spending all of that time and not even getting full rides -- and that is most kids in MLS Next and ECNL -- that truly is a total waste of time and both laughable and sad.
Good luck to your kids and don't laugh too hard at others.
akindc wrote:DC United just officially announced their academy teams...or at least I just saw their tweet about it.
On the U14 team, 3 are from BSC, 3 from PPA, 3 from Pipeline, 3 from Paragon, 2 from Manassas, 2 from Armor, and one each from Arlington, Cerritos, Achilles, and VDA.
Pretty much whom I would have expected in this group. The Paragon kids have played at a number of other clubs. One of the ex-Achilles U-14s is playing U-17. Good for him. A superb player and talent. U-15s also pretty much whom I would have expected.
RantingSoccerDad wrote:So no more Barcelona training methods?
Bo doesn't know soccer.
MadridFan wrote:From the SoCal Soccer Forum, there is a new youth Soccer Rankings app to replace the old YouthSoccerRankings site - https://www.socalsoccer.com/threads/youth-soccer-rankings.20477/page-4
Hello -
Since the youthsoccerrankings.us website was shut down at the end of March, I have been working long hours to create a new and improved system that runs as an app on your phone or tablet. Please check it out by searching for "Soccer Rankings" on either the Apple App Store or (in a few days) the Google Play Store.
In this first release you can view rankings for all teams from U10 to U19, view results, see game result predictions and correct errors in the team entry or playing record. I hope you will help me to get the data as accurate as possible. Some improvements you will see over the old system.
* More results.
* State rankings based on geographical state (e.g. CA, NY, OH, PA, TX)
* Better automation of merging results from different websites.
* Instant update to the rankings if you make corrections.
* Score prediction and win probability for any pair of teams.
* More predictive ranking algorithm.
* Secure tracking of who makes changes so we can block user's editing rights if they make careless or deliberate errors.
The next release will include bug fixes plus club rankings.
I would greatly appreciate it if you would spread the word about the new app in your soccer community. Hopefully we can get this into the hands of competition organizers and improve the experience of traveling teams across the country.
Please let me know if you see any issues or have any ideas for improvements.
New contact information: support@usasportstatistics.net
Kind regards,
Mark
FWIW, thumbs-up thus far and extraordinarily accurate based on what I know for my kid's age group and area.
UnidentifiedFlyingOboe wrote:My 14 year old is just starting high school. He has always just wanted to play soccer and he definitely wants to play D1 soccer in college. We love our current club but we have some concerns. The club is in ECNL-RL and EDP. They only have practices twice a week. In the past the club sent few players to D1/D3 schools, and I haven't heard of those schools if they did. His team is pretty good though, beat several ECNL and MLS Next teams in the past. He is a strong player on his team. His obvious weakness is he is on the thin side (puberty hasn't kicked in yet), but he has been working out and taking in calories and proteins following a schedule he made himself.
My son wants to play high school soccer as well. His high school boy's soccer team is one of the best in this region. I would say he's likely to make varsity team in the spring based on several coaches' opinion. I understand MLS next players cannot play HS soccer, but I am not sure how strictly that is enforced.
Our goal is to play soccer for the best academically ranked colleges within his reach. He's determined he will do his best to get "A"s, and he will focus on soccer outside of school.
We live in Northern VA and can travel to practices within 40 min drive on the weekdays.
Can you suggest a club or team that will provide this kind of support for my son?
Thank you in advance!
OK. My guess is you live on the western side of NOVA and your son could play at either McLean/VA Union or Fairfax BRAVE if your son was sufficiently good to make those ECNL teams. I don't think your team has played MLS Next teams qua MLS Next teams - you played have played first teams at younger ages, but those teams can change quite a bit at U13/14, as do ECNL teams. Isn't the new season already underway? I think finding a spot on an ECNL or MLS Next team at this late point may be challenging. But you should always feel free to reach out directly to coaches and see if they'll take a look at your son. Good luck.
Nova2Euro wrote:SoccerSkeptic wrote:Nova2Euro wrote:SoccerSkeptic wrote:Nova2Euro wrote:Regardless of what kids' leagues they're in, NVU is doing something really important by introducing to the area a European-style club construct that previously only existed at DC United.
They have two adult teams (4th and 5th tier, IIRC) that their advanced teenagers can train with and even possibly get game minutes with. It's hard to overstate how valuable this is if you want to have a career playing soccer.
Isn't that what some people touted on here about Barca? Learn the Barca way! That didn't last long. The difference between NVU and DC United is DC United takes the best of the best from the area so when they are looking for someone for their pro team, they don't need to look farther than their own academy team. NVU is in EDP. Players from other clubs are most likely better so they would 100% consider them for their semi-pro team.
Did Barca (assuming you're talking about NV Barca at Evergreen) ever have a senior-level team to which they could promote their players?
I'm gonna disagree with your statement that DC United not needing to look beyond their own Academy for players. I think DCU would also disagree with you. But it's great that they have Loudoun United, a lower-level senior team where players can break into the seniors without the pressure that comes at the highest level. And that's exactly what I'm talking about NVU offering. The shame is that in the NOVA area (and much of the US) there simply isn't enough opportunity for senior-level exposure.
Regarding NVU, what they're offering is extremely valuable. I state without hesitation that for just about any 16-year-old, training with an adult team will help them develop better than training with any MLS Next/ECNL in their age group.
I guess that's not quite as valuable to players whose goal is to get shoveled into the manure truck that is NCAA soccer. If you want to make that 30-person college roster, then MLS Next/ECNL is probably the way to go.
You want to be a pro footballer--train with adults.
Your post just reminded me of the very enthusiastic Barca Academy parents from several years ago. This is totally different! Barca is going to be the destination club! No one else trains the Barca way! The problem with Barca, much like NVU, is a lack of talent. There is a lack of talent because its not in a top league. How often will players train with the pro team? I'm guessing not that often because the pro players won't get anything out of training with a bunch of kids. Its a marketing gimmick. And you fell for it hook line and sinker.
Kids in the area dream about playing for DC United. None of them dream to play for NVU. So to compare the two is really silly.
The coaches mostly came from BRYC, who were bottom of the barrel ECNL. So why would a kid from a good MLSNext or ECNL team go to NVU? I'd rather have my kid play with better teammates and against better opponents than occasionally training with semi-pro players.
But you do you, and I'll do me.
Maybe English isn't your native language?
I'm not sure what you're saying I fell for. I live in Europe. My 17-year-old son gets paid to play senior football. Most clubs invite their advanced U17s (sometimes younger) to train with their senior teams to acclimate them to the speed and physicality of the senior game. Pro players do train with kids (although not a "bunch," most 16-year-olds are pretty physically developed, and usually no more than 2 at a time). And the pros kick their asses and make them improve. This is from the first division down to the 8th. Your dream team, DC United, also does this. Arlington does not. Alexandria does not. Loudoun does not. Because they don't have senior teams.
NVU has implemented what appears to be a European model (which would make sense with their Scottish coaching staff). If Americans can get past their youth league branding sadness (which is more for the parents' egos, of course), they might see the value in this. Every MLS Next kid in the country would benefit from training with semi-pros. You're right, though, about one thing--if the clubs junior teams aren't providing quality game minutes, then occasional training with the senior team isn't worth it. It will be a slow process to build up to it, too.
I agree with you on branding obsession. NOVA is perfect for this - adults who are overwhelmingly wealthy, risk-averse, follow-the-leader people who know little or nothing about sports will continue to go with much safer and established alternatives for their little ones. But a few clubs have broken through and continue to defy expectations on the boys side. It takes years of work and a critical mass of talented kids and families who know what they are doing, along with location next to areas where talent is most likely to reside (Woodbridge, Alexandria, Springfield). And you're wrong about Alexandria and SYC. They have older teams. I am not sure they can or should all practice with more talented younger players. But it has always amazed me that in every other sport, you begin playing against adults when you hit puberty. Not so much in soccer here in the US.
Size5Balls wrote:Go to where your kid can get quality training and play in games the most. My son's ECNL U15 team only has 6 players that were there in U9. So 2/3rds of the team have come in from elsewhere. It's not about where you start, but where you finish.
No doubt. And where you don't want to finish is being Captain Cliche dispensing wisdom based on his 14-year-old's long and arduous trek to the ECNL mid-atlantic. A moment in honor of the departed (who probably decided to play other sports, moved to better clubs, or who were wrongly selected based on preposterously bad instincts present at a few ECNL club U9 boys coaches - it's pretty easy to guess who).
I generally agree with the sentiment, but advise to pay more attention to where you are likely to get the best coaching at U9-12.
akindc wrote:DCUdad wrote:akindc wrote:Just looking through the schedules and standings at the MLS Next Cup.
I didn't see the U13 Bethesda team in the showcase, and was wondering why.
Anyone?
At U13, this was just a showcase, not a tournament (so no "cup"). So it's a little less surprising that a team (that parents pay for) might choose not to go to a U13 showcase in Dallas, in the summer. Maybe even more so if a bunch of the better players have already decided to move to DCU, as others have said.
If the poster is correct, and a bunch of BSC kids are moving to DC, it certainly makes sense.
But if not, I can't imagine them staying away from any kind of major showcase.
I can. They are U13s. What is the point at that age other than another competition, and one that nobody who matters will watch. Their U14s are also pretty good, and a year closer to college. Did they go?
akindc wrote:rabbithole wrote:akindc wrote:I noticed that BSC's excellent U13 MLS Next team didn't go to the Cup in Dallas, and asked why in another thread. Another posted said a bunch of their players moved over to DC United's new U14 Academy.
So now I'm curious what programs the other players came from for this new team. Anyone have any first-hand knowledge?
I think it was Pipeline (a very good ECNL team) that sent a lot of players to DCU U14, not Bethesda. Bethesda is already MLS Next. I heard the Bethesda U13(s) didn't go to the showcase because they did a lot of tournaments this year.
Not saying you're wrong, but it would be really weird for them to skip the biggest tournament of the year, far and away. Especially since they were in first place in their region during the regular season of MLS Next.
And yes, BSC is in MLS Next, but DC United has a much, much better path to pro soccer now that there are homegrown player rules in affect.
It's just a showcase for that age group. A lot of the best MLS Next academies took a pass for that age group on the showcase. It's obviously expensive and right in the middle of the summer.
It does not surprise me that Pipeline team is putting a lot of players on that DCU team. Probably the best in the area in that age group and one of the best in the country. Bethesda is strong as well. Good age group in this area on the boys side. We'll see how they do through the next few years of physical and mental development.
AnonymousNOT wrote:Interesting...
We moved from MLSNext to ECNL because we found it toxic. Lots of favoritism and lots of new kids coming in constantly. Lots of the part-time kids (play for other clubs) were starters. Practices were overcrowded and repetitive. My kid didn't regressed but didn't progressed either. A few kids left too. We're glad to be out that environment as well.
PS: The grass is not always greener.
You left a club, not a league, and clubs constantly using guest players and not structuring or managing practices is poor in any league.
RantingSoccerDad wrote:How would this be a league trait and not a club trait? If a club moves from ECNL to MLS, does the culture change?
If the top of the league pyramid are pro academies and pro prospects, then theoretically, it may have a trickle down effect on non-academy clubs and players - it's all about talents and wins/losses and therefore probably marginally more cutthroat and meritocratic. If, conversely, a conference or league targets college recruitment, the play may be elite, but perhaps a little less focused on raw talent and a little more political. And yes, over time, a club that moves from one to the other may change, just as a club that was not MLS Next may become a little more cutthroat after joining it. It's really too early to tell whether this would become something real in MLS Next, and there are plenty of extremely competitive ECNL programs on the boys side that have prospects with top talent and cutthroat environments.
MrNick wrote:Hey all, Wanted to get some parents thoughts regarding their soccer tryouts experience this year around the DMV. Our club is a MLSNext club with quite a few other travel teams in each age group. It looked like there were a lot of new faces trying out across the board in both MLSNext and regular tryouts (u14). I am guessing now that the pandemic is easing, people are more open to moving to other clubs. It also looks like MLSNext is taking off as their were quite a lot of kids trying out for that particular team. What is everyone else seeing?
I think you are right about MLSNext. It is beginning to separate at early age groups.
Dcum1300 wrote:We have a U10/11 DC that plays at one of the more competitive and successful clubs in the area for their age group. We were wondering what thoughts anyone had regarding staying with the current team next year and playing as a reserve with less playing time vs. playing on a top team for a smaller club and helping to lead that team with unlimited playing time. Practices and tournaments would be less competitive but gaining confidence and playing time are intriguing.
If this is a function of his size, and he is a serious player, then go to a smaller club and team with more PT so long as coaches are good and teammates are good and play the right way.
Mannschaft wrote:Choosing between two clubs for a 2014 boy. I have an older daughter that had a good experience starting travel at U9, so assume that I am going to choose one of these (ie. don't want to continue playing house). Both clubs are approximately the same driving distance to practice and games (very close).
Club A
Pros:
- Older daughter has played at every level of the club, and has generally had a good experience.
- Club is pretty large, and has probably twice as many 2014s trying out. I think the age group will be strong top to bottom as they age.
- Club is our local club, and my son goes to public school. He will have friends and classmates who play for the club, and will likely be in the same school (at some point) with his teammates.
Cons:
- I think there is a good chance my son will be placed on the bottom team.
- I'm not a fan of the bottom team coach. I like the other coaches in the age group, though.
- Only the top team practices 3 days a week. My son will get 2 days a week of practice, potentially widening the gap between him and the top team.
Club B:
Pros:
- Friends play for this club on the boys side, and like it.
- My son's best friend will likely play for this club's team. We could carpool, at least to practice.
- I suspect my son would play for one of their middle teams (ie. not the bottom).
- All kids at the club practice 3 days a week.
- We have attended camps at this club before, and liked them better than the camps at our current club.
Cons:
- Close by, but most of the club's kids will likely be in a different school pyramid than mine.
- About half as many 2014 boys, so the club may not be as competitive as they age.
- I feel a little disloyal putting my son in a rival club (they will play each other).
Thoughts?
B - better friends, better likely development, and probably better experience for him. At U9, plenty of smaller boys clubs are very competitive in this area - roster depth and potential player pool means a lot less 7 v 7.
Novaball wrote:Our club, and seems like most around, have started tryouts already. The whole idea of trying out for next year while still in the current season doesn't sit well with me.
Agreed. It's odd and inevitably unpleasant. Aside from competition between clubs and teams, the only other reason for earlier tryouts is ensuring that clubs and teams can retain coaches. Otherwise it would make more sense to have tryouts right at after tournaments conclude (usually Memorial Day weekend) or a week or two thereafter. Of course, most good clubs offer coaching slates ahead of tryouts, so the coaching retention rationale does not make much sense.